Page 23 - Energy Sector

NTPC wins 3,445 MW renewable energy projects in total during FY24

State-owned power giant NTPC on Monday said it has won 3,445 MW of renewable energy (RE) projects in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. "NTPC wins 3,445 MW RE bids in FY 2023-24. This records 58 per cent of total RE tenders the company participated during the financial year which is the highest since it started participating in the bids," the company said. Currently, NTPC has 3.5 GW of RE operational capacity with over 20 GW (gigawatt) in the pipeline. NTPC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power, is the country's largest integrated power utility having 76 GW installed capacity that contributes 25 per cent of total electricity demand in India.

Waaree Energies bags 220 MW solar module supply order from Sprng Energy

Waaree Energies on Monday said it has secured an order from Sprng Energy to supply 220 MW of solar modules. It will supply the modules for Sprng Energy's upcoming project in Gujarat, Waaree Energies said in a statement. "This collaboration stands as an opportunity for Waaree to take on a crucial role in advancing India's green energy sector, aligning with our dedication to national sustainability objectives," Hitesh Chimanlal Doshi, Chairman & Managing Director of Waaree Group, said. Waaree Energies is among India's largest manufacturers of solar PV modules with an aggregate installed capacity of 12 GW, as of June 30, 2023.

Adani Energy mulls borrowing up to $600 mn for smart meter projects

The Indian power distribution company is in talks with a group of global lenders, with the foreign currency loan's tenor likely to be around three to five years, the report added

UltraTech to buy 26% stake in O2 Renewable for green energy needs

UltraTech Cement on Wednesday said it will acquire 26 per cent equity of O2 Renewable Energy, a company engaged in the generation and transmission of renewable energy. This will help the Aditya Birla Group firm meet green energy needs, optimise energy costs and comply with regulatory requirements for captive power consumption under electricity laws. The cement maker company has entered into an energy supply agreement and share subscription and shareholders agreement with O2 Renewable Energy. "The acquisition is for the purposes of meeting the company's green energy needs, optimising energy cost and complying with regulatory requirements related to captive power consumption under electricity laws," UltraTech said in a regulatory filing. On the equity investment, the company said it would be a cash consideration of up to Rs 15.68 crore and expects to complete it within 180 days from the signing of the agreement.

Coal India achieves remarkable growth without major management rejig

Despite significant management restructuring, government-run mining company ONGC could not deliver a notable increase in output

Infrastructure takes centre stage as ministers ready Lok Sabha poll pitch

Energy security, safer travel to form the core of BJP's LS poll promises

NCC, NPCIL sign pact to raise awareness on peaceful use of nuclear power

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) on Thursday joined hands with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to conduct awareness programmes across the country to enhance public perceptions on peaceful use of nuclear power and disseminate scientific information. The memorandum of understanding between NCC and NPCIL, a public sector undertaking, also facilitates a unique opportunity to cadets to visit various facilities of NPCIL, thereby giving a "first-hand experience" on peaceful use of nuclear energy, its technical and technological aspects. The MoU was signed in New Delhi in presence of Director General of the NCC, Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh and Executive Director (Corporate Communication & Corporate Planning), NPCIL, BVS Shekhar, the defence ministry said in a statement. The agreement will entail conducting "various awareness programmes throughout the country to enhance public perceptions on peaceful use of nuclear power, and disseminate scientific and authentic information," ..

As domestic LNG output rises, imports will decline to 45% by FY26

With increasing local production, the import dependency of natural gas in general and LNG in particular, is likely to come down to 45 per cent by FY26, says a report. According to a Care Ratings analysis, with the rise in domestic natural gas production, the dependency on imported LNG (liquefied natural gas), which stood at 53 per cent in FY21, has gradually declined over the past three years and is expected to remain at around 45 per cent by FY26, the agency said. Higher demand for natural gas is also expected to be supported by sizeable growth in domestic gas production, wherein nearly 30 MMSCMD of new domestic natural gas production has gradually come on-stream over the past three years and another 15 MMSCMD of new domestic production is expected to come on-stream next fiscal alone. There has been a steady growth in natural gas consumption till FY20. However, following the pandemic and a sharp increase in imported LNG prices due to geopolitical situation, the demand for natural

GoodEnough Energy to invest Rs 450 cr to set up 20GWh equipment factory

Battery energy storage systems maker GoodEnough Energy will invest Rs 450 crore for setting up a 20 GWh per annum capacity plant in Jammu & Kashmir by 2026. Presently, the company is in the process to make its plant operational by October this year with initial battery energy storage systems (BESS) manufacturing capacity of 7GWh per annum. Talking to PTI on the sidelines of an event to unveil its BESS technology, founder of GoodEnough Energy Akash Kaushik said, "We have invested Rs 160 crore so far to create a BESS manufacturing facility of 7GWh. It will be operational by October this year." He informed that the company has chalked out a plan to invest Rs 450 crore for having a BESS manufacturing facility with total capacity of 20GWh per annum by 2026. In its endeavour to create a fully integrated ecosystem, the Gigafactory will produce advanced battery energy storage systems, empowering various industries to reduce carbon emissions. The company on Tuesday announced this largest .

NexGen Energia to invest Rs 1,000 cr for setting up EV unit in J&K

Sustainable energy solutions firm NexGen Energia on Monday said it will invest Rs 1,000 crore in setting up a manufacturing unit for electric vehicles (EVs) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Noida-based company said it is currently in talks with the authorities in the Union Territory and scouting for 100-acre land either in the Kathua industrial area or in the Kashmir Valley. The move comes soon after the company announced Rs 3,000 crore investment for setting up a Compress Bio Gas (CBG) plant in Gujarat. "Along with 'Make in India', we are on the way to fulfil the dream of self-reliant India. We will establish an EV plant in Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with the government in which we will invest Rs 1,000 crore," NexGen Energia chairman Piyush Dwivedi told PTI. "The manufacturing unit will provide direct and indirect employment to about 1 lakh people and we aim to launch NGE's most affordable electric two-wheeler on April 15 next month for just Rs 36,900 from our Noida unit," Dwived

Offshore wind's next big problem: Not enough ships, says report

As governments green their economies and utilities retire fossil-fuel power stations, wind installations are emerging as one of the most popular forms of alternative energy

PM Modi, Bhutanese counterpart agree to expand energy partnership

Hydro-power cooperation has been an important pillar of India-Bhutan bilateral economic partnership

Thermax plans commercial-scale trial on high-ash coal gasification project

Energy and environmental services major, Thermax Ltd, said on Friday that it is in discussion with several steel companies in the eastern region for a commercial-scale high-ash coal gasification project. This project will be the first of its kind in the eastern region. Thermax is also in dialogue with Coal India on coal gasification technology. CIL has plans to set up a coal-to-SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) project in the Eastern Coalfields Limited command area. In this domain, Thermax claims to have patented technology. "We are currently in talks with steel companies for a project that will pioneer high-ash coal gasification in the eastern region. Deliberations are going on regarding the funding, which is facing a viability gap of approximately 30-40 per cent of the project cost," Thermax MD and CEO Ashish Bhandari said. Although the government is expected to provide viability gap funding of around 15 per cent, companies will need to address the remaining funding gap, he said. "We

Adani Green Energy operationalises 126 MW wind power plant in Gujarat

Adani Green Energy on Thursday said it has operationalised the 126 MW capacity of a 300 MW wind power project in Gujarat. The 174 MW capacity was operationalised earlier. The project will produce 1,091 million electricity units, leading to a reduction of approximately 0.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, according to a statement. "Adani Wind Energy Kutchh Four Limited (AWEK4L), wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has operationalised an incremental 126 MW of merchant wind power project in Gujarat," the company said in a regulatory filing. With the operationalisation of the project, AGEL continues to strengthen its market leadership, operating India's largest renewable energy portfolio of 9,604 MW. Together with 174 MW operationalised earlier, an aggregate project capacity of 300 MW of wind power project is operationalised by AWEK4L, it stated. AGEL develops, owns, and operates utility-scale grid-connected solar, wind and hybrid renewable power ...

US leads global crude oil production for sixth year in a row: EIA

"The United States produced more crude oil than any nation at any time, according to our International Energy Statistics, for the past six years in a row," the EIA added

Rajasthan govt signs 5 MoUs worth Rs 1.60 trn to boost energy sector

These MOUs and purchasing power agreements (PPA) will increase thermal and renewable energy production in the state, the release stated

Analysts see more steam in power stocks as India eyes harsh summer

Coal reserves at power plants have also surged by 15 days to 43 million tonnes, marking the highest level in nearly three and a half years

Coal gasification is reliable, will strengthen India's energy security

Serious efforts are needed make this energy supply alternative a success

MERC partly allows Tata Power's plea for tariff hike, energy to get dearer

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) on Thursday partly allowed Tata Power's petition to hike electricity charges for its consumers in the financial capital. The regulator's order will give some relief to lower-end consumers, and the tariff hikes will be over 50 per cent as well. The revisions are for FY25, and effective from April 1. Earlier, the power utility, which serves over 7.5 lakh consumers in the city, had proposed a "rationalization" of tariffs where it was pitching for more than doubling the rate per unit paid by those consuming up to 100 units per month, while the extent of the proposed hike was lower for those at the higher end. In a statement issued after the MERC order, Tata Power said even after the order, its tariff for the residential category of up to 100 units remains "the lowest" when compared with competition. It, however, conceded that its tariff for the 101-300 units a month category is "slightly higher than other private player". The ..

SJVN receives 1,352 MW solar energy projects worth Rs 7,436 crore

State-owned power producer SJVN arm SJVN Green Energy has secured 1,352 MW solar power projects, entailing an investment of Rs 7,436 crore. "SJVN has received Letter of Awards (LoA) for 1,352 MW Solar Power Projects to be developed through SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJVN," a company statement said. According to the statement, these LoAs have been received in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, SJVN Director (Finance) Akhileshwar Singh and SGEL CEO Ajay Singh in Mumbai. SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Geeta Kapur informed that these projects of 1,352 MW will be developed at various locations in Maharashtra -- Nashik, Solapur, Ahmednagar and Pune under Mukhya Mantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0. The projects have been bagged by SGEL through a competitive bidding process in a tender floated by MSEB Agro Power Limited, Maharashtra. The total capacity of the tender was 7,000 MW and SGEL participated for 1,500 MW -- 5