Panchabuta News analysis and insights in Renewable Energy and Cleantech Industry in India

According to reports, despite bankruptcies and trade cases in the industry, global solar installations in 2012 totalled about 31GW, a 13% growth over the previous year. India installed 980MW in 2012, and has installed about 600MW of solar power, so far in 2013. With most of the concentrated solar power (CSP) projects that were due to be commissioned in May 2013 delayed, the forecast for installations in 2013 looks flat compared to 2012, according to Mercom Capital Group, a clean ... Read More »

According to reports, architects building the Nalanda International University at the ancient seat of learning in Bihar have decided to use the desiccant enhanced evaporative (Devap) air-cooling system. This is the first time such a system will be used in India. The Devap system works by using “dessicant” material that removes moisture from the air using heat, as also evaporative technologies that bring about cooling by using up to 90 percent less energy than conventional means. “We plan to use ... Read More »

According to reports, as part of its strategy to double revenues, the company will increase its market share in diesel-based power generation in India. The company plans to manufacture 12,500 generating sets by the year 2016 compared with 8,000 units now. The company has now started manufacturing generating sets at its Kalsar plant in Gujarat apart from Daman and Jammu units. This plant will be India’s largest integrated DG Set manufacturing facility and it will also focus on manufacturing of ... Read More »

According to reports, Bharti Airtel plans to use environmentally-friendly energy sources to power its telecom towers in Africa as part of an effort to reduce the operational costs of running the network. The company plans about 1,300-1,400 towers to be powered by solar energy and some more harnessing wind energy, reducing their consumption of diesel by 11 million litres of fuel just this financial year, said a company spokesman. An industry expert, who asked not to be named said there ... Read More »

According to reports, Telecom Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) is in “advanced talks” with West Asian carriers Saudi Telecom and OmanTel to supply green energy solutions for powering their tower networks, and in turn, optimise costs, a top company executive with direct knowledge said. The projects will be executed on a turnkey basis by TCIL’s offshore joint venture, TCIL Saudi Communications Ltd (TSCL), in which the state-run telco is the majority stakeholder. “TCIL plans to help Saudi Telecom and OmanTel choose ... Read More »

According to reports, after initial hiccups, the Centre’s debt restructuring scheme for power distribution companies has taken off with Tamil Nadu becoming the first state to issue bonds worth Rs 6,144 crore in the first phase. The Union government has, however, refused to accept the Kerala model of unbundling the power business, making it difficult for the state to subscribe to debt restructuring package. Jharkhand, which has not yet unbundled its power operations, may be able to get into the ... Read More »

According to reports, Tata Power, the country’s largest integrated private sector power player engaged in generation, transmission, distribution and trading, has consciously kept away from bidding for projects under the National Solar Mission. The company, with an overall 8,521 MW of generation capacity, finds tariffs under the mission ‘predatory’ and prefers to set up base in States that offer ‘good’ power purchase agreements. With a 440-MW wind and solar portfolio, Tata Power aims to add 170 MW of wind and ... Read More »