Energy Department

US Energy Dept flags thousands of nonessential jobs for possible DOGE cuts

The Energy Department has identified thousands of federal workers it deems "nonessential and would not be protected if there is another round of large-scale firings, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. The jobs at risk include more than 8,500 positions across the Energy Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration -- which upgrades and maintains the nation's nuclear warheads. The department identified them as eligible to be cut to meet the goals of President Donald Trump's executive order for mass reductions in federal employees. It was not clear if every position identified as nonessential would be eliminated. All federal agencies had until March 13 to identify what departments and positions could be consolidated in a planning process to streamline the agencies and ready them for potential large scale reductions in force, Trump's February 26 order directed. Asked if large-scale firings are coming, the Energy Department, through spokesperson Ben

Don't depend on freebies, produce own solar power, says Prahlad Joshi

Union Minister for Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi urged people on Thursday not to be dependent on the governments for freebies, but to produce their own solar power. Joshi attended a consultative meeting with the consumers, electricity supply company (ESCOM) officials, and people's representatives to discuss Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana here on Thursday. "I will not comment on what the motives were behind the distribution of free power generated using environmentally harmful core sector material. But sustainability in the power sector is going to be the key to a safer future for the country," said Joshi, who is also the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. According to Joshi, Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2024 aims to provide free electricity to households in India by providing a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs. The subsidy will cover up to 40 percent of the cost of the solar panels.

IEX trade volume increases nearly 21% to 11,370 million units in September

Indian Energy Exchange's (IEX) total trade volume rose 24 per cent year-on-year to 11,370 million units (MU) in September this year. The electricity volume increased 21 per cent year-on-year to 10,332 MU in September, an IEX statement said on Monday. According to the statement, IEX achieved total monthly (trade) volume (including certificates) of 11,370 MU in September 2024, marking a 24 per cent year-over-year increase. The Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) at 1,031 MU, increased 100 per cent year-on-year. At Rs 110 per certificate, the REC market recorded an all-time low price in the trading session held on September 25, 2024. These prices provide an opportunity to obligated entities (DISCOMS and Captive Power Producers) to meet their Renewable Purchase Obligations, and voluntary customers to meet their sustainability aspirations. With a steady monsoon in September, there was a significant rise in hydro and wind power generation, which led to a substantial drop in Day-Ahead Ma

ONGC acquires Equior stake in Azerbaijan oilfields for $60 million

ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas investment arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has acquired Norwegian firm Equinor's stake in an Azerbaijan oilfield and an associated pipeline for USD 60 million, the firm said in a statement. OVL "has signed a definitive sale purchase agreement (SPA) for directly acquiring 0.615 per cent participating interest (PI) in offshore Azeri Chirag Gunashli (ACG) oil field in Azerbaijan from Equinor. The agreement also includes acquiring 0.737 per cent shares of the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline company through its wholly-owned subsidiary ONGC BTC Limited," it added. The acquisitions, expected to be completed in the upcoming months, involve a total investment of up to USD 60 million. OVL currently has a 2.31 per cent stake in the ACG field and 2.36 per cent in the BTC pipeline. The buyout of Equinor will help raise its stake. Equinor, in December last year, announced an agreement to sell all its remaining assets in Azerbaijan to SO

L&T's power transmission biz bags multiple orders in India, overseas

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said its power transmission and distribution business has bagged multiple orders in the country and overseas. The business has bagged orders to set up two floating solar plants in India. Floating solar projects involve mounting solar modules on structures that float in a water body, typically a reservoir/lake/abandoned quarry. Compared to ground-mounted solar plants, floating solar plants do not require land acquisition and typically involve less civil work. There are other site-specific merits too, besides reduction of water evaporation. The power transmission and distribution (PT&D) vertical has also received orders to set up transmission lines and a gas insulated substation to integrate solar energy zones in Rajasthan and Karnataka. These crucial links will enable the evacuation of renewable energy to load centres in various parts of the country. The company has also another order to build a gas insulated substation overseas. "The ...

SJVN gets govt approval to form JVs for 8778 MW hydro, renewable projects

State-owned power producer SJVN Ltd on Monday said it has received the finance ministry's permission to form four joint venture firms for the development of hydro and renewable projects with a total capacity of 8,778 MW in India and Nepal. SJVN will be the leading partner in three joint venture companies, whereas SJVN's wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) will be the leading partner in the fourth JV, a company statement said. According to the statement, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance, Government of India has agreed to the proposal of SJVN and Ministry of Power to form four joint venture (JV) companies for the development of Hydro and Renewable Projects in India and Nepal. SJVN will form a JV with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd to develop 5,000 MW Renewable Energy Projects. Another JV will be formed between SJVN, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Navyuga Engineering Company Ltd. The JV will ..

Steps initiated for financial stability of Energy Department: Bommai

he said, "Both the Energy and Transport Departments are in losses due to subsidies, and two committees have been constituted to suggest measures to strengthen them economically"

US Energy Dept concludes lab leak caused Covid-19 pandemic: Report

The Energy Department now joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory, reported WSJ

Preventive measures by Odisha energy dept minimised cyclone Yaas damage

The impact of Cyclone Yaas on Odisha's electricity supply infrastructure was minimised significantly because of timely action by the state Energy Department, said an official

Biden Administration appoints Indian-Americans to key posts in Energy Dept

The administration appointed Tarak Shah as the Chief of Staff, making him first Indian-American to serve in that position

Wildlife now roam where US once manufactured its deadliest weapons

Despite the complicated and expensive cleanups, significant contamination has been left behind, some experts say

Zero means trouble

Hard-pressed for time and resources, a senior official in an energy department of the government was heard telling his colleagues that there were more people in the government monitoring various programmes than actually executing them. "You give them an achievable target and they just add one more zero at the end and send it back to you to chase," he said in exasperation while reviewing a recently announced government programme.