NTPC Plans To Achieve 1 Lakh MW By 2025
“NTPC is shaping up well for the future with its diversification plans and as a responsible corporate, NTPC is committed towards environment and the fast growing capacity addition in the renewable portfolio is testimony to the commitment”, said R K Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, New and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.Speaking on the occasion, Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary Power, GoI congratulated NTPC for its glorious 45 years of excellence. Shri Sahay said, “I am glad to see how NTPC is looking to reinvent itself and move forward with its investments in the renewable sphere.”
Union Cabinet Approves National Program on ACC Battery Storage ; Invites Comments by 14th December
Union cabinet has recently accorded its in-principle approval for the “National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage” ACCProgramme).Regarding the same NITI Aayog has published (NITI Website) the first draft of the Model Bid Documents to initiate Stakeholders Consultation.All stakeholders are instructed to provide their written comments by or before 14 th December, 2020. The comments are to be sent in the enclosed format, in electronic and editable form. Stakeholder’s meet is scheduled at NITI Aayog, New Delhi on 18th December, 2020 at 11:00am through virtual mode and details will be shared separately. All those interested in attending the meet should send a line of confirmation latest by 16 th December 2020 by email.
Sanjay Malhotra Assumes Charge of Chairman & Managing Director at REC Limited
Sanjay Malhotra, IAS assumed the charge of Chairman & Managing Director, REC Limited w.e.f. 09.11.2020. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) had approved the appointment of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri Sanjay Malhotra as Chairman & Managing Director of REC Limited, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power. Shri Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Director (Technical), REC Limited was hitherto holding the additional charge of post of CMD since 13.06.2020.Prior to his joining as Chairman & Managing Director of REC Limited, he was posted as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power.
MNRE Issues Concept Note To Develop Wind and Wind-Solar Hybrid Parks
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently issued Concept Note on Development of Wind Parks/ Wind-Solar Hybrid Park.Ministry has also invited suggestions and comments by stakeholders by 28-11-2020.To speed up the installation of wind power projects, the scheme for “Development of Wind Parks/ Wind-Solar Hybrid Park” is proposed. The Park will be a concentrated zone of development of Wind/ Wind-Solar Hybrid power projects and will provide an area that is well characterized, with proper infrastructure including evacuation facilities in place and where the risk of the projects can be minimized. Wind Energy Park will provide a plug and play solution (availability of land, transmission, necessary infrastructure and necessary approvals) to the investors for installing wind/ wind-solar power projects.
MNRE Issues Amendment For KUSUM Scheme
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued amendments in the implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme. Amendments are as follows:For Component-A, Besides barren, fallow and agricultural land, solar power plants can also be installed on pasturelands and marshlands of farmers. To support small farmers, the solar power projects smaller than 500 kW may be allowed by States based on techno-commercial feasibility,For Component-B, MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nation-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, For Component-C, MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nation-wide IEC activities. (ii) MNRE may release 50% of eligible service charges for the sanctioned quantity to State Implementation Agencies after placement of LoA for preparatory activities.
EESL Signs MoU With DNRE Goa To Establish 100 MW Of Decentralized Ground Mounted Solar Projects
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power and Department of New & Renewable Energy (DNRE), Goa, have signed a memorandum of understanding today to discuss rolling out of India’s first Convergence Project in the State. The MoU was signed in the august presence of R K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Nilesh Cabral, Power Minister, Goa, Sanjiv Nandan Sahai , Secretary, Ministry of Power and other senior officers of the ministry.Under the MoU, EESL and DNRE will carry-out the feasibility studies and subsequent implementation of decentralized solar energy projects. EESL shall implement the solar energy projects, establishment of 100 MW of decentralized ground mounted Solar Power projects on government lands to be used for agricultural pumping, replace approximately 6,300 agricultural pumps with BEE star rated energy efficient pumps and distribute approximately 16 Lakh LED bulbs for rural domestic households.
PM Modi To Inaugurate 3rd Global REINVEST- 2020 On 26 November 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-INVEST 2020), on 26 November 2020. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK & President COP-26; and the Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark will attend and speak in the inaugural session. R.K. Singh, Minister for New and Renewable Energy, informed that the 3rd RE-Invest will build upon the success of the first two editions held in 2015 and 2018 and provide an international forum for investment promotion in renewable energy. It will also send signals to the global renewable community about India’s commitment to the development and scaling up of renewable energy to meet its energy requirements in a sustainable manner.
Earnest Money Deposit & Performance Security Will Be Relaxed For Govt Tenders: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced support for construction and infrastructure, she stated that Earnest Money Deposit (EMO) and performance security requirements will be relaxed for government tenders. Performance security on contracts will be reduced to 3 percent instead of 5 to 10 percent. This would be extended to ongoing contracts which are free of disputes.It would also be extended to public sector enterprises, she said, adding states will also be encouraged to adopt the same. Earnest money deposit (EMD) will not be required for tenders and will be replaced by bid security declaration. These relaxations will be given till December 31, 2021, she said, adding the move would give relief to contractors by reducing locking up of capital and cost of bank guarantees.
Association Of Power Producers Writes To Finance Minister To Mobilize Unlocking Of Funds Stuck In Arbitrations And Receivables From Government Agencies
The Association of Power Producers wrote to Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman on 17 November 2020, highlighted the concerns of power debtors and extended litigations that have been egging the power sector. The letter titled, ‘Request for key financial support required for revival of the infrastructure industry’, laid out the major issues pressing the sector and suggestion for its solutions.It then went on to suggest that a mechanism or policy framework be formulated, in lines of MSME Act & Consumer Dispute Resolution Act, wherein at least 75% of the claim amount has to be paid by any party in order to file an appeal challenging the orders of regulatory commissions. The amount can be adjusted in future once the final judgement from higher courts are given.
BSES Launches Solarise Safdurjung & Solarise Karkardooma Projects To Boost Adoption of RoofTop Solar In Delhi
BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) are committed to aggressively promote roof-top solar in South, West, East and Central Delhi. As a result, there are over 2800 roof-top solar installations in BSES areas with a installed load of above 90 MWp. Taking this commitment further, BSES discoms have expanded the BSES Solar City Programs by launching ‘Solarise Safdurjung” and ‘Solarise Karkardooma’.This initiative has been rolled-out in partnership with SmartPower, a US based non profit organisation focused on local community campaigns to increase consumer adoption of clean energy, WeeGreen and Council on Energy Environment and Water (CEEW), a leading not-forprofit policy research organisation.Led by BRPL and BYPL, the ‘Solarise’ initiative aims to maximize the utilisation of solar roof top potential in a targeted area. The program’s objective is to create a market based approach for scaling-up roof-top solar and introduce community-led demand aggregation for deployment.
