Feature Article

The bidding for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects under the second round of Phase I of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) yielded unexpectedly low tariffs, ranging from 7.49 per unit to Rs 9.41 per unit. While the results have been welcomed by some industry observers as an indication of the solar power sector inching towards grid parity, there are many who express serious doubts about the financial viability of projects awarded at such low tariffs. Sector experts discuss the implications of the JNNSM bid results.

Before the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010, not much attention was paid to solar radiation assessment in India. The country had 45 meteorological stations managed by the Indian Meteorological Department to operate as weather observatories, which were not equipped to collect data on direct normal irradiance (DNI), a measure of solar radiation received per unit area, along with weather parameters at various locations.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) released the draft Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination from Renewable Energy Sources Regulations, 2012 in November 2011, specifying technical parameters for tariff determination for renewable energy projects set up during the Twelfth Plan period. The draft regulations are a welcome step as they offer tariff visibility for the upcoming plan period and, therefore, help renewable energy developers in determining future expansion strategies.

After CNG, the national capital is all set to run its public transport fleet on biogas. Ambitious as it may sound, but Delhi plans to run its buses on biogas. In collaboration with the Swedish government, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans to set up a biogas plant inside Kesopur Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) complex in West Delhi. The plant will receive raw gas emitted by the STP and upgrade it so that it can be used to propel vehicles.

Countries protect their renewable energy equipment. Exporting nations see it as trade barrier. The world is witnessing an increase in trade disputes in the renewable energy sector. Countries are trying to strengthen their renewable energy base by preferring indigenous products over imports. This is an obvious dampener for countries with good renewable energy equipment manufacturing capabilities and advanced technology. They argue that such policy measures hinder free trade. Their complaints at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are piling up. India is the latest to be in the spotlight.

Large-scale research facilities need to reduce their energy consumption and begin moving towards sustainability, says Thomas Parker.

Lowest bid in second batch of solar energy projects was for Rs7.49/unit. The way the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is making progress, it is expected that solar energy will soon be as cheap as energy from conventional sources. At least, that is what emerged from the second batch of bidding under the National Solar Mission held on December 2 for 350 MW capacity. The lowest bid was for Rs7.49 per unit, which is 50 per cent lower than the benchmark tariff of Rs15.39/unit fixed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

As the latest round of United Nations climate negotiations began in Durban, South Africa, expectations could scarcely have been lower. A globally binding deal is further away than ever. That makes considerable warming from climate change inevitable.

The traditional contango of the UK natural gas curve has smoothed out in recent weeks, with summer seasons now at parity and the winters either on a par or even dipping into backwardation. Tom Wooley investigates the trend and its likely impact on consumers.

The greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels have been under discussion for years. Now studies commissioned by the European Union are putting pressure on biodiesel in particular.