Cement, Energy and Environment

Wind energy sector benchmarking comparison with China (High Growth Market) A macro level benchmarking with China, one of the worlds largest wind energy markets is sufficient to bring out several deficiencies in the Indian wind energy sector. The Chinese wind power sector has grown at an exponential rate (above 50 per cent) from less than 1500 MW in 2006 to an estimated 22,500 MW in 2009. India, with about 1800 MW of wind capacity in 2006, has barely managed to grow to an estimated wind power generation capacity of 11 ,500 MW in 2009. Some of the key inferences are: 1. Feed-In Tariffs (FIT) in India are lower than those in China. This results in longer pay-back time for large– scale investors. The lack of a standard FIT structure across states hinders wind power development at the national level. 2. Major investors in China are utilities power companies and independent power producers (I PPs). This is mainly attributed to the ease of power sales to the state grid. 3. The average Plant Load Factor (PLF) in India is low on account of a large amount of individual investors who are focussed on availing tax benefits. Better machine uptimes and revenue for sale of power are secondary to these investors. This negatively impacts the very need of wind energy as an alternative to conventional power sources. 4. Investments in larger turbines along with better operational and maintenance procedures ensure better efficiency of wind farms in China. 5. No efforts are currently being undertaken towards assessment of offshore wind energy in India. The entire sector remains largely unexplored. On the other hand, developed countries like Italy and France, which were late entrants into the wind energy sectors, have successfully managed above 20 per cent growth in annual installed capacities. Courtesy: energetica India, Jan/Feb. 2010, Pp 35-36. WIND ENERGY SECTOR MUST GEAR UP, SAYS SUZLON Suzlon Energy CMD Tulsi Tanti expressed doubts about National Action Plan on Climate Change's (NAPCC) target. 'The NAPCCC's 15 per cent target requires an addition of more than 100,000 MW of renewable energy capacity in the next 10 years. Without concrete steps to support the growth of renewable, this cannot become a reality," Tanti pointed out. "China has recognized the contribution wind can make and has set truly ambitious targets for this sector. They have put in place the policies and frameworks that make the growth possible," Tanti said . India has an estimated potential of over 1,00,000 MW from onshore and offshore sites and it was simply a matter of foresight and commitment to make a difference, Tanti said. He was speaking on RE Regulation India 201 0' organized by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE) in Pune on 4.2.201 0. Tanti suggested steps such as penalty mechanism to give the RPS/RPO targets real teeth, enactment of the much - debated renewable energy law, reforms on land, improved grid planning, non-recourse project financing and strong bankable PPAs. Tanti said the Copenhagen conference brought together over 190 world leaders and fixed the world's attention on the problem but did not find a solution. Courtesy: The Financial Express, February 5, 2010. P4. INNOVATIONS GALORE IN OFFSHORE WIND With 31 ,000 MW of new capacity added worldwide in wind power in 2008, the sector is determined to push its ambitions further up. Technological innovation seems to be the buzzword in the sector with turbine manufacturers consistently pushing up the capacity barrier. It is here that the offshore segment is truly witnessing a revolution of sorts. Some latest innovations are presented in brief below. • BARD of Germany is upscaling its 5 MW turbine to 6.5 MW, equipped with a variable-speed planetary gear with integrated torque convertor. This enables direct grid connection, eliminating the need for an electronic power convertor, which is normally required with variable wind turbines. • REpower Systems of Germany has launched what it claims to be the world's most powerful turbine, the 6M, 6.15 MW model. Its rotor diameter is 126 m with a hub height of 80 -95 m (around 100 - 117 m for onshore). 55