MNRE Appoints Nodal Officer for Solving Grievance Redressal In Reference to Make in India Order
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an office memorandum stating that for any grievance redressal purpose with regards to Implementation of Public Procurement on its order Preference to Make in India’, industry stakeholders can contact the nodal officer. The nodal officer Sutapa Majumdar, Economic Adviser can be contacted through email – sutapa.m@nic.in or through phone no – 011-24362891 with regards for addressing any grievances regarding the implementation of MNRE’s O.M.MNRE has directed the nodal officer to ensure that the high-value grievances, which are not resolved either at the level of MNRE or the Standing Committee formed under PPP-MII Order 2017, and remain pending for over 3 months, are posed to the Committee of Secretaries for directions.MNRE assured stakeholders that the nodal officer is expected to resolve all complaints within 30 days of receipt thereof.
SECI Organizes E-Meet To Finalize Broad Contours of Bidding Methodology
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) recently announced that it is organizing a stakeholder consultation to explore the possible options to achieve the trinity of Flexibility, Firmness, and high PLF in RE Projects and also to finalize the broad contours of a bidding methodology in this regard. The meeting will be held online and details for the same will be provided shortly according to the notice published by the company. Further, it stated that stakeholders who are interested in attending the meeting must register themselves by mailing to pratikpr@seci.co.in and jayansh.gaur@seci.co.in.It has been informed that the meeting links will be emailed to the participants through email before 22nd June 2020. Besides, it requested the participants to mail their presentations to ybkreddy@seci.co.in, and prashantu@seci.co.in the latest by 19th June 2020.
NTPC Gives INR 1363 Cr Rebate On Fixed Charges To Discoms
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), Indian Public Sector Undertaking has recently announced about the Update on deferment of capacity charges and rebate to DISCOMs.NTPC states that it will be giving a rebate of Rs 1363 crore to distribution companies (Discoms) on fixed or capacity charges that they owe during the lockdown period this fiscal year.NTPC stated that its board of directors meeting which was held on 9th June 2020 approved deferment of capacity charges of Rs 2,064 crore to Discoms, to be payable without interest after the end of the lockdown period in three equal monthly installments.The board has also approved a rebate of Rs 1,363 crore on the capacity charges billed during the lockdown period to discoms on account of COVID-19, in the financial year 2020-21, according to an announcement by NTPC.
APERC Directed AP DISCOMs To Acquire Consumption Charges Without Any Fixed Charges
Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) passed an order in concern with granting reliefs claimed by five petitioners against Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd. (APSPDCL), Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) and The Chief Engineer / IPC. The commission orders original Petitions to dismiss without costs. The four petitioners were South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA), M/s. K.C.P. Sugars & Industries Corporation Limited, M/s. Nava Bharat Ventures Ltd, M/s. EID-Parry (India) Ltd Formerly Parry Sugar Industries Ltd and M/s. SNJ Sugars and Products Ltd. This Commission concluded by stating that “This Commission is not inclined to grant the reliefs claimed and accordingly these Original Petitions are dismissed without cost”.The Commission has directed the consumption charges for use of power for start-up operation for plant maintenance to be without any Fixed Charges and minimum charges for FY 2017-18 continue to exist.
15 GW Wind-Solar Hybrid Power to Come Up Over 5 Years: CRISIL
Wind-solar hybrid (WSH) power, which harnesses both solar and wind energy, is fast emerging as a viable new renewable energy (RE) option in India, says CRISIL, a global analytics company. The generation of solar energy tends to peak during the day and that of wind energy at night. The resulting intermittencies in supply impact grid resilience, which makes distribution companies (discoms) reluctant to buy power from standalone wind and solar projects. In the hybrid option, however, these two energy sources complement each other, which could help overcome the problems of the variability of generation and grid security, and thereby discoms’ reluctance. According to CRISIL Research, there are proposals to set up 3.9 GW of pure-play WSH projects and 4.5 GW of WSH projects with energy storage systems currently. According to CRISIL Research, “15 GW of WSH power will come up over the next five years, riding on strong support from the central public sector undertaking Solar Energy Corporation of India and several state governments. Of this,10 GW is already in the works either under construction or being tendered and will start feeding the grid by fiscal 2024. To put things in perspective, the country had 37.69 GW of standalone wind energy capacity and 35 GW of solar capacity as of fiscal 2020”
Adani Green Energy wins 8GW+2GW solar tender; to invest $6 bn for solar projects and manufacturing
Adani Green Energy Limited has won the first of its kind manufacturing linked solar agreement from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). As a part of the award, AGEL will develop 8 GW of solar projects along with a commitment that will see Adani Solar establish 2 GW of additional solar cell and module manufacturing capacity. This award, the largest of its type, ever, in the world, will entail a single investment of Rs. 45,000 crores (the US $6 billion) and will create 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. It will also displace 900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. With this win, AGEL will now have 15 GW capacity under operation, construction, or under contract thereby accelerating its journey towards becoming the world’s largest renewables company by 2025. This award will take the Company closer to its target of achieving an installed generation capacity of 25 GW of renewable power by 2025 which in turn will see it committing an investment of Rs. 112,000 crores ($15 billion) in the renewable energy space over the next 5 years.
Power Ministry Requests Finance Ministry To Dispose of Custom Duty For Solar till 31st December 2023
Power Minister, R.K.Singh has recently written a letter to Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister for Finance proposing basic custom duty structure and to suspend any custom duty for raw materials used for manufacturing solar. The letter mentioned that “Against the target of installing 175 GW of renewable power capacity by the year 2022, we have installed more than 81 GW, of which 30 GW is from solar. Another 55 GW of solar power projects are either under installation or have been bid out. Ministry also requested to dispose of any customs duty for solar PV cells and Modules, there should be no duty On Wafers, EVA, Glass, Silver Paste, Aluminium Frames, Structures and other raw materials used for manufacturing of solar PV cells and modules till 31st December 2023 to promote ‘Make in India’.After 31 st December 2023, 15 % customs duty should be levied on all items used in the manufacture of solar cells and modules, the ministry suggested.
India and Denmark Signs MOU To Develop Cooperation In Power Sector
The Memorandum of Understanding on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Power, Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to develop a strong, deep and long-term co-operation between two countries in the power sector based on equality, reciprocity and the mutual benefit was signed on 5th June 2020. The MoU was signed by Mr. Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary (Power) from the Indian side and Mr. Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India from the Danish side. The MoU provides for collaboration in areas like offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, consolidation of grid codes to integrate and operate efficiently variable generation options, flexibility in the power purchase agreements, incentivize power plant flexibility, variability in renewable energy production, etc.
Azure Power withdraws 300MW Petition Against NTPC For Imposition Of GST
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission recently issued an order in concern with the Power Purchase Agreement inter alia seeking declaratory and compensatory reliefs on account of a ‘Change in Law’ viz. the issuance of Notification Nos. 24 and 27 of 2018- Central Tax (Rate) and 25 and 28 of 2018 Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 31.12.2018 by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, inter alia effectively amending the Goods and Services Tax rates applicable on setting up of solar power projects, resulting in additional non-recurring expenditure in the form of an additional tax burden applicable with effect from 1.1.2019. Azure Power India Private Limited had filed a petition against NTPC Limited seeking a declaration that imposition of GST is Change in Law event under Article 12 of the PPA dated 22.4.2019 entered into with NTPC for sale of 300 MW to NTPC for onwards sale to the Bihar Discoms on a back-to-back basis. During the hearing, Azure Power submitted that after the filing of the Petition, the Respondent, NTPC has terminated the PPA due to non-fulfillment of conditions subsequent by the Discoms. Accordingly, Azure sought permission to withdraw the Petition.
India Among Few Countries Walking The Talk On Climate Commitments: Prakash Javadekar
The Energy and Resources Institute held online the first pre-event on the theme ‘Redefining our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All’—a prelude to the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2021 which is TERI’s flagship event that will be held next year on 10-12 February 2021 in New Delhi. In a video message, Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Prakash Javadekar said, “With only 4% of rainwater resources and 2.5 of the world’s land, India is home to 8% of global biodiversity. India’s ethos is to be one with nature and lead sustainable lifestyles to live with nature. India in its Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has decided to accept the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing and we are implementing it through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. We are among the few countries walking the talk on the issue of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). India has voluntarily set out ambitious targets through NDCs about reducing energy and emissions intensities as well as to have 2.5 to 3 billion metric tonnes of carbon sequestration. On a climate-friendly growth path, climate change adaptation, technology, and capacity building, we value our partnership with TERI to meet our commitments.”
