CLP places turbine order for wind farm

Hong Kong-based CLP Power has placed an order with Denmark’s Vestas for supply of 60 units of its V82-1.65MW turbines. Vestas is expected to deliver the turbines before the end of the year. CLP, which already has 100MW of wind farms in India, will use Vestas turbines for its 99MW wind farm in Theni, Tamil Nadu. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

Tata Group pumps funds in Swiss solar firm

Switzerland-based solar start-up Flisom has secured funding from the Tata Group. The firms did not disclose the financial details of the deal. Flisom, producer of lightweight solar modules, is currently setting up a 5MW PV project in Duebendorf. Kishor Chaukar, managing director of Tata Industries, said that the firm sees value in solar technology and the resultant product not only as manufacturers or sellers but also as users of it. The group joined hands with UK’s BP Solar in 1989 to set up a joint venture Tata BP Solar.

Euro Multivision to set up PV cell factory

Optical disk manufacturer Euro Multivision is planning to raise nearly INR 660m (USD 14m) from an initial public offering. The firm will use the IPO proceeds to set up a 40MW PV cell manufacturing plant in Gujarat. The factory will be set up in EML’s special economic zone in Kutch to avail tax sops. In an interview to CNBC-TV18 the firm’s spokesperson said that it expects to begin solar manufacturing operations by January 2010 with revenues to come in by April 2011.

GMDC to foray into wind power

A report in Business Standard suggests that Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation is planning to set up a 100MW wind power portfolio. In the first phase, the firm will develop a 19.5MW wind farm in Rajkot district. The power generated will be sold to the state grid. Overall, GMDC plans to invest USD 125m in its wind power projects.

CERC sets tariff regulations for green power

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has rolled out tariff regulations for renewable energy projects promising nearly 19% pre-tax return on investment for the first ten years. The regulations specify the capital costs for projects using different renewable sources such as solar, biomass, small hydro and wind. The State Electricity Regulatory Commissions will now use this tariff regulation as the norm for fixing tariff in their states.

World Bank urges India to go green

A World Bank report claims that nearly 1.6bn people in the developing world do not have access to electricity, of which nearly 400m are in India. The report suggests that developing countries, including India, can shift to lower-carbon paths while promoting development. Interestingly, the report says that developing countries “will need assistance in adapting to the changing climate”. Technology transfer and international funding for clean energy solutions are two central pillars of India’s negotiations for Copenhagen meet in December this year.

Access the report here - The World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change.

Delhi eyes solar power from Rajasthan

A report in Times of India suggests that New Delhi Power (NDPL) is planning to set up a solar thermal plant in Rajasthan and “wheel” back the power to its customers in Delhi. The size of the proposed solar power plant is expected to be between 50MW and 100MW. The city of Delhi itself has no solar or wind power potential and is banking on drawing renewable energy from its neighbouring states.

NDPL, a JV between the Tata Group and Delhi government, aims to add at least 10-15MW of solar power to its distribution every year. It is already working on a 1MW rooftop solar project in collaboration with Tata BP Solar.

BP sells Indian wind assets to Green Infra

BP has finally laid to rest the on-going market speculation regarding its Indian wind assets. The oil and gas major has issued a press release stating that it has sold its 100MW wind power portfolio in India to Green Infra, a JV between IDFC PE and Emergent Ventures. The transaction deal, including debt assumed by Green Infra, is valued at nearly USD 95m. Green Infra currently owns a 24MW wind farm in Tamil Nadu.

Indowind says no to dividend!

Indowind Energy has decided not to recommend any dividend for FY09 in order to “conserve the resources for expansion activities”. The Chennai-based wind power project developer has opened branch offices in London and Dubai and is eyeing overseas acquisitions for expansion.

XL Telecom allots shares to Morgan Stanley

XL Telecom has allotted nearly 1m shares to Morgan Stanley Mauritius upon conversion of foreign currency convertible bonds valuing USD 4.5m. The Hyderabad-based PV cells and modules manufacturer allotted 0.6m shares to Credit Suisse (Singapore) last month.

Indian solar manufacturers miss deadline

A report in Hindu - Business Line suggests that the Department of Information Technology is likely to extend the deadline for solar manufacturing firms to achieve financial closure. DIT had earlier asked 12 solar firms to achieve financial closure before 31 August 2009 to be eligible for the incentives under the Special Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS). However, only six-eight firms have reportedly managed to arrange for funds for their proposed projects so far.


The government is estimated to have received proposals from 17 solar firms under the SIPS policy of which 12 were given in-principle approval based on the technical criteria.

Indian Railways to set up biodiesel plants

A news report in Business Standard suggests that Indian Railways is planning to set up three biodiesel plants with a total production capacity of 60,000 litres per day. The first plant 20,000 litres per day plant is likely to be located in Yelahanka near Bangalore and expected to be online by mid 2010. The Karnataka Biofuels Task Force is coordinating with the Indian Railways on this initiative.

IFC may invest in AuroMira’s biomass unit

World Bank’s International Finance Corporation is considering a USD 5.2m loan for Auromira Bio Systems Kanyakumari, a special vehicle promoted by Chennai-based Auromira. The SPV intends to set up a 15MW biomass power project in Tamil Nadu which is expected to be online by March 2011. IFC said that it may also consider making a small equity investment in Auromira Bio Systems Kanyakumari.