India can be solar power leader: PM

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid out ambitious plans to make his country a global leader in solar power on Monday as he launched a government initiative to boost use of the technology.

Solar can help secure India's energy independence and tackle climate change, Singh said, as well as offering new opportunities for industry in a country with a crippling shortage of power.

The National Solar Mission, launched Monday, could "establish India as a global leader in solar energy" in the areas of power generation and technology production, Singh told business leaders and government officials.

"The rapid spread of solar lighting systems, solar water pumps and other solar power-based rural applications can change the face of our rural energy sector," he said.

The Solar Mission has the goal of increasing solar energy capacity exponentially to reach 20,000 megawatts for the year 2022, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

That amount would provide enough power for 20 million homes, with each receiving one kilowatt of power.

Government figures show approximately 80,000 impoverished Indian villages have no access to grid electricity.

India currently produces just under nine megawatts of solar power, data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) showed in October.

The prime minister said India boasted some of the world's greatest science and techology minds and they had revolutionised atomic energy, space and information technology.

"I am convinced that solar energy can be the next scientific and industrial frontier in India," he said.

Indian companies which could benefit from the push include Tata BP solar, which is a joint venture between Tata Power and BP Solar and one of India's leading solar energy distributors.

India produces more than 15,000 megawatts of power from all renewable sources, according to the MNRE, with more than 10,000 megawatts from wind power alone.

Reliance power plans to become 3300MW company by 2012

Anil Ambani Group company Reliance Power today said it plans to become over 3,300-MW company by the end of the Eleventh Five-year Plan (2007-2012).

"By March 2012 we would be able to generate over 3,300 MW of electricity," Reliance Power CEO JP Chalasani told reporters while inaugurating the first unit of the company's Rosa Thermal Power Plant.

The 1,200 MW Rosa Power Project, 600 MW Butibori in Maharashtra and two 660 MW units of Sasan Ultra Mega Power Projects in Madhya Pradesh would be commissioned by the end of the eleventh five-year plan, Chalasani added.

The company today announced the first 300 MW unit of Rosa Power Project has commenced generation. The project is being set up in two stages of 600 MW each, of which 300 MW unit was inaugurated today.

NTPC to invest 30 billion Rupees in solar energy by 2014

The state-run power major NTPC today said it will invest about Rs 3,000 crore in solar energy to add over 300 mw of generation capacity by March 2014.

"The board of directors of NTPC has approved a roadmap to enter the solar power generation business for capacity addition of 301 mw by March," the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

An investment of Rs 10 crore is required to produce one mw of solar power.

"Out of the 301 mw, 190 mw will be added through solar thermal technology and the balance 111 mw through solar PV technology, the announcement said.

The company has already taken up 15 mw of solar thermal based project at Anta in Rajasthan. The power generated from this station will be fed into the grid.

Adani Power wins 1,200MW Bid in Rajasthan

Adani Power Ltd has submitted to BSE a copy of media release pertaining to Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd a 100% subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd has been awarded Letter of Intent (LOI) by Rajasthan Rajya Vidhyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVPNL) for purchase of upto 1,200 MW of power on long-term basis.

380 crore subsidy for wind power...

Indian government would offer Rs 380 crore in generation-based subsidies to wind power projects feeding power into the national grid, its ministry of new and renewable energy said on Thursday.

The subsidies are earmarked for developers till 2012, the ministry said in a statement put on its website.

Wind power projects will be given 0.5 rupees per unit of power fed into the power grid with a ceiling of 6.2 million rupees per mega watt for a minimum 4 years and maximum 10 years

Reservoirs swell; crops and power to gain

Water levels in India's main reservoirs rose above average on Thursday, the first time since end July, reducing the risk to crops from a failed monsoon and boosting hydro power supply. Reservoirs had filled up to 57 per cent of capacity by Thursday, just over the 10-year average of 56 per cent for India's 81 biggest reservoirs at this time of the year, government data showed. Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament last week that the country's wheat output was likely to surpass last year's record 80.6 million tonnes.

L&T wins Rs. 844 Cr Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Order from NPCIL

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) has informed BSE regarding a Press Release dated December 08, 2009 titled "L&T wins Rs. 844 Cr Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Order from NPCIL".

ABB wins Rs. 506 crore order to power Namma Metro in Bangalore

ABB Ltd has informed BSE regarding a Press Release dated December 07, 2009 titled "ABB wins Rs. 506 crore order to power Namma Metro in Bangalore".

NPCIL and L&T set up JV

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) has informed BSE regarding a Press Release dated November 30, 2009 titled "NPCIL and L&T set up JV to build facility for Special Steels and Ultra Heavy Forgings"

BHEL bags Rs 5600 orders in UP

State-run power equipment maker BHEL today said it has bagged a Rs 5,600 crore contract from an arm of Jaiprakash Associates for setting up a 1,980-MW thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

BHEL has secured the contract from Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd (PPGCL), a company-owned by Jaiprakash Associates, for setting up a 1,980-MW thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh, the company said in a statement.

As per the contract, BHEL would install three units with a capacity of 660 MW each of the Prayagraj Thermal Power Project in the Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

Suzlon receives 20 MW US order

Suzlon Energy Ltd has informed BSE that Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation, the USA, a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of the Company has received a new order for the community-based Grant County Wind Farm in South-Western Minnesota.

USA, Developed by Juhl Wind (Juhl) of Woodstock, Minnesota, the project consists of 10 Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines and at full capacity will produce 21 megawatts, enough energy to power 7,000 homes in the area. Construction on the site has already begun and the wind farm is expected to be in commercial operation in the first quarter of 2010.

L&T Wins Rs. 1635 Crore Order from Madhya Pradesh

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) has informed BSE regarding a Press Release dated November 09, 2009 titled "L&T Wins Rs. 1635 Crore Order from Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Ltd (MPPGCL) for 1200 MW Balance of Plant Package (BoP) for Shree Singaji (MALWA) Thermal Power Plant"

Power output up 4.5 yr/yr in Oct - regulator

Power generation in October rose 4.5 percent from a year ago, slowing from a 6 percent rise in the previous month as coal supply dwindled, Central Electricity Authority Chairman Rakesh Nath told Reuters on Wednesday

BHEL gets orders worth Rs 5040 crores

Bharat Heavy Electricals, said on Friday it had signed the contract for a power plant order worth 50.4 billion rupees ($1.07 billion) that was placed last year.

The order from Jindal Power to build a 2,400 megawatts power plant in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh was placed in December 2008 and signed on Thursday. Earlier on Friday the company issued a release saying it had won the order.

Under the agreement, BHEL will set up four units of 600 MW each for the plant.

PTC eyeing Indonesian firm for Coal

PTC Energy is in talks with an Indonesian firm to source 2.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) coal for its 350-400 MW power tolling arrangements, PTC India's top official said.

"The agreement is now being negotiated...once broad conditions of the agreement are finalised it will be signed," T. N. Thakur, chairman and managing director of PTC India told Reuters from New Delhi over the telephone on Thursday.

PTC Energy, a unit of power trader PTC India, may sign a contract to source 2.5 MTPA coal for a 10-year-term any time now

PTC eyeing Indonesian firm for Coal

PTC Energy is in talks with an Indonesian firm to source 2.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) coal for its 350-400 MW power tolling arrangements, PTC India's top official said.

"The agreement is now being negotiated...once broad conditions of the agreement are finalised it will be signed," T. N. Thakur, chairman and managing director of PTC India told Reuters from New Delhi over the telephone on Thursday.

PTC Energy, a unit of power trader PTC India, may sign a contract to source 2.5 MTPA coal for a 10-year-term any time now

Power Ministry is exploring Australian coal mines

The Power Ministry is exploring the option of getting coal mines on lease in Australia to narrow down shortage of fuel at power plants.

"I requested the Australian ministers recently while attending an energy conference in France that India would be very happy to have (coal) mines on lease in their country," Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.

Areva T&D wins 900 crore-rupee order from Maharashtra

Areva T&D India said on Wednesday it has won 900 crore rupee order to design and construct 36 substations on turnkey basis for Maharashtra state transmission utility.

The agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co requires Areva to supply these substations over a period of three years, it said in a statement.

Bhel to meet production target by Dec 2009

State-run BHEL today said it will meet its target of producing by December equipment for generating 15,000 MW of power.

"There are no constraints...and we will be able to achieve the 15,000 MW by December, 2009," CMD BHEL B P Rao told reporters here.

The company which has an order book of Rs 1,25,000 crore hopes to get new contracts worth about Rs 20,000 crore during the current fiscal.

BHEL has lined up a capital expenditure of Rs 2,400 crore for 2009-10. It further plans to manufacture equipment that can generate 20,000 MW electricity by 2012.

The company registered a turnover of Rs 28,033 crore in the financial year 2008-09 and a net profit of Rs 3,138 crore during the same period.

Suzlon completed a 19.5 MW project for GMDC

Suzlon Energy today said it has completed and commissioned a 19.5 Mega Watt wind farm project for Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) in Rajkot district of Gujarat.

The project, comprises 13 units of Suzlon's 1.5 MW wind turbines and has been commissioned almost two months ahead of the contractual commissioning period, Suzlon said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.