Staff Reporter

Chinese nuclear power companies have established a strategic alliance for development of the fast reactor industry chain in China. Called the Fast Reator Industrialization Technical Innovation Strategy Alliance, it seeks to keep a foothold on self-innovation, creation of the fast reactor industry chain, promotion of the commercialization offast reator technology, and co-creating the sustainable development nuclear power industry of China. The alliance is led by CNNC and China Institute of Atomic Energy, and includes the China First Heavy Industries, Shanghai Electric, Lantai Group, and the Fujian Sanming Nuclear Power Co.,Ltd. Mr.Wan Gang, the director of CIAE, will serve as the alliance's president, while  and the General Manager of CIAE's Engineering Department,Mr.Zhang Donghui, will undertake the role of the alliance's secretary-general.

China and Russia has formalized their agreement for the construction of units 3 and 4 Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. 

Construction of Unit 2 of Changjiang Nuclear Power plant is now ongoing. When completed, it could combine with Unit 1 to bring the plant's annual generation capacity to 9 Twe,  It will largely relieve the shortage of disposable energy in Hainan province and ensure the stabilization, safety and sustainability of the electric power supply in Hainan province. The unit is jointly funded constructed by China National Nuclear Corporation the and China Huaneng Group Company. Located in Tangxing village, Haiwei Town, Changjiang Lizu autonomous county, Hainan province,  Unit 1 was completed on April 25th, 2010 and plans to combine to the grid at the end of the year of 2014. On the other hand, Unit 2 is scheduled for commercial operation in 2015.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam is developing plans to increase electricity price in 2011. This will be based in coal price and prices of other inputs. According to Mr. Tran Viet Ngai, Chairman of Vietnam Energy Association, electricity price in 2012 and 2013 has to increase to 7 to 8 cents per KW from 5.3 cents. "If electricity price and the profit rate of enterprises are too low, the power sector shall be at a loss, unable to borrow from foreign investment and no one shall invest in the power sector of Vietnam. The increase should be implemented from early 2011. In the coming dry season, if there is no electricity, damages and losses due to power shortage shall be even bigger", said Mr Ngai. According to Vietnam Electricity Corporation or EVN, the current electricity price of 5.3 cents per KW  is too low, and should be increased to 6.5 cents, which has been approved by the Government for 2011 to ensure profitability and attract investors. “In 2011, if we are not affected by natural disasters like this year, there will be more water for hydro-power reservoirs, and the 30 per cent increase in electricity price shall be sufficient to compensate for the electricity sector”, shared an official of the power sector. But Minister of Finance Vu Van Ninh said that while the price of electricity in 2011 will certainly be increased, the amount and time of increase should be calculated so as not to affect low-income people, and not distort the economy because of the subsidized price.

The third ring of the containment vessel shell of CPI Haiyang NPP Unit 1 was successfully put in place. It indicates that all six milestones of NI of Unit 1 this year have been achieved. About 39.6 meters in diameter, about 12 meters in height and nearly 600 tons in weight, the 3rd ring is the 4th assembly in CV. The welding of CV 3rd ring started on July 26 this year and main work was completed on November 20, lasting 118 days.  

Unit 1 of Pingdingshan phase I has been commissioned to cover up for 1000MW void in mid-west China. The 2×1000MW unit recently passed the 168-hour test run. It is a key project of CPI and Henan province in the 11th Five-year Plan, and also the first project nationwide with single unit capacity of 1000MW that was approved to “replace small units with big ones”. The completion and commissioning of Unit 1 is of profound significance for enhancing safety and stability of 500kV grid in Henan Province, improving the hydro-thermal dispatching ability of central China grid, optimizing the asset mix of CPI Henan Branch, and helping CPI realize the Three-step strategic goal.  

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda urged Asian-Pacific governments to invest in solar energy to help ensure environmentally sustainable growth. He also took the opportunity during the opening the second meeting of the Asia Solar Energy Forum in Tokyo to announce that ASEI will increase the amount of solar power generated in the Asia and Pacific region six-fold to 3,000 megawatts by mid-2013.The forum, a major component of the Asia Solar Energy Initiative or ASEI, is the premier platform for sharing solar energy knowledge, tracking solar development projects, and discussing new solar power proposals and incentive mechanisms.The Asia Solar Energy Initiative or ASEI is a major program launched by the Asian Development Bank in May this year to identify and develop large capacity solar projects Mr. Kuroda noted that Asia and the Pacific's high economic growth rates, continuing population growth, and current and projected energy demand gap provide a huge market opportunity and potential for solar energy development."Asian countries will need to aim to maintain economic progress and improve energy security, while simultaneously charting a new low-carbon development path," he said.Mr. Kuroda hailed Asia and the Pacific's embrace of renewable technologies, such as solar energy, which he said should benefit from finance and technology transfers from developed countries irrespective of the formal outcome of the COP-16 negotiations.

China Huaneng Group will acquire a 50 percent stake in Intergen for US$1.2 billion.

Major Chinese power companies are expanding their business in the coal industry.

The 285-kilometre India-Sri Lanka power link has been commissioned. Power Grid Corporation of India will likely to sign an MOU for developing the Rs 2,500-crore project with Sri Lanka by next month.

All thermal power projects and transmission systems will be awarded on competitive tariff bidding and trading in renewable energy certificate by 2011. This was announced by India's power sector regulator, according to the India Times.

NTPC has added a 500 MW coal fired unit at Korba in Chhattisgarh.

India gave environmental clearance for a nuclear power plant to be built in collaboration with French firm Areva. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the go-ahead for the Jaitapur plant in Maharashtra state, which will use nuclear reactors supplied by Areva, was granted with 35 conditions and safeguards.

ADB will inject up to $40 million in two new private equity funds that supports clean energy development.

Goldwind is eyeing an 85 percent stake in Golden Concord Wind Power and a 25 percent stake in Golden Concord Xilinhot. These will be purchased from Golden Concord Wind Equipment Holdings. according to powertechnology.com. In addition, Goldwind intends to acquire a 15 percent stake in Golden Concord Jiangsu from Shanghai Guoneng Investment through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Goldwind Investment Holdings. The stake purchases will cost approximately US$29.9 million in total for Goldwind. Upon the completion of the transactions, Goldwind will hold a 100 percent stake in both Golden Concord Jiangsu and Golden Concord Xilinhot. Goldwind expects to obtain advanced technology for the design and production of wind turbine blades and to lower its production costs. Furthermore, Goldwind will inject US$82.4 million into a wholly-owned subsidiary, Jiangsu Goldwind Wind Equipment Manufacturing, for the research of 6MW wind turbine direct drive permanent magnets, an offshore wind turbine test site and engineering work on ocean wind power.

India’s ONGC will invest US$109.4 million on research and development of non-conventional energy sources. According to the Business Standard, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation chairman and managing director R. S. Sharma stated that India has only 0.5 per cent of the world's hydrocarbon reserves and will find it difficult to meet its growing energy demand without utilising alternative and renewable sources.