Bellis India In Tech Transfer Tieup With Rolls Royce Arm

Allen Power Rolls Royce yesterday signed a technology transfer agreement with Bellis India for the production of turbines for power generation. The agreement was signed by Allen Power managing director Richard Buckland and Bellis India managing director Sumat Jain. Rolls Royce holds 40 per cent stake in Bellis India.

The agreement will allow Bellis to produce steam turbines for power generation upto a capacity of 30 mw.

Bellis India's present capacity is limited to eight mw. The technology transfer allows Bellis to produce in the country turbines similar to those produced in the UK.

The company plans to set up its manufacturing unit on the outskirts of Delhi, and is likely to produce five machines annually.

Buckland told Business Standard that the alliance was based on the potential market for captive plants and cogeneration. He said the Indian government's incentives for investments in small plants fired by biomass through its national cogeneration programme made the market for these very attractive. Buckland said the company would initially invest only in small capacity units and move to bigger plants in 5-10 years.

The agreement would enhance the company's ability to meet the growing demand for small and independent co-generation and captive power schemes, Jain said, adding, these power plants would not only serve companies but could also be exported to the grid. Allen Power has more than 10,000 steam turbines operating world wide and specialises in waste and cogeneration schemes. Bellis operates more than 1800 units in India.

Cogeneration is a process by which waste from an industry is used to produce power. Cogeneration from the waste of sugar industries has tremendous potential which has to be tapped more effectively, Jain said.