Rise of clean tech in India ... the Urjas story on social.yourstory.com

Clean technologies seem to have been on the rise in India and China in the past four years. 

However, US has seen a growth in clean technologies from early 2000; especially from 2002 to 2008. According to New Energy Finance, $96 billion was pumped into organisations dealing with clean tech by venture and private funding in the US.

Even though, late, India is catching up. Corporate organisations believe that clean technologies will be worth close to trillions of dollars in India and China in the coming years. According to a report by ASA associates published in 2013, the renewable energy market in India was estimated to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent. ... read more on social.yourstory.com

Urjas raised 100000 USD in angel funding. Covered by Economic Times

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Mumbai-based Urjas Energy Systems raised $100,000 in angel funding to fund its expansion plans. The three-year old clean technology company makes multi-fuel gasifiers that work with a variety of agrowastes to generate high quality producer gas, which can replace fossil fuels used today for heating in industries. Its other product plastic pyrolyser is due for commercial launch in the next few months and would be India's first small scale plastic to oil device. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46710069.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Tata Power & Reliance Power bet big on renewable energy, to spend Rs 1,500 cr each

According to reports, two of the country’s largest power producers Tata Power and Reliance Power are betting big on renewable energy and will spend about Rs 1,500 crore each on clean energy projects this fiscal.

While Reliance Power has big plans in the renewable energy segment with a special focus on solar, Tata Power said that all the new capacity that it is planning to add over the next two years, close to 800 MW, comprises clean energy projects in the wind, hydro, solar and waste-gasses space.

“Renewable energy is absolutely key for us, in fact we are the only utility in India to voluntarily say that 20-25 per cent of our asset capacity base will always be in the clean energy space, also our entire new capacity addition of 800 MW that will come online over the next two years is in the renewable space,” said Anil Sardana, MD & CEO, Tata Power.

“We have already crossed the 500 MW milestone of renewable energy generation in India and our new projects are slated to come up in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bhutan, South Africa and Zambia over the next two years,” he added.

Tata Power also said that it’s the only private utility to voluntarily declare that 20-25 per cent of its total installed capacity will be in the green energy space. Reliance on the other hand said that it has already finalised renewable energy projects of about 200 MW for the current fiscal and is keenly looking at upcoming opportunities to enlarge its renewable portfolio.

“With an operating renewable portfolio capacity of close to 100 MW and 125 MW nearing completion, the company has laid out grand plans to play a dominant role in the renewable energy segment,” said Reliance Power in a statement to ET.

“As rightly indicated by the new Central Government, the renewable energy space will have to be developed, if issues such as ever increasing demand supply gap for power, limited sources of fossil fuel and dependency on imported fuel are to be addressed. Reliance Power is confident that environment is now ripe to provide a big thrust to the renewable energy space in particular to solar PV projects,” the company added.

This comes at a time when the the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE)plans to set up giant solar projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ladakh and Kargil. This is a part of the government’s target of achieving 20,000 MW of solar capacity by 2020.

“Reliance Power is keen to be a part of the journey to position India as one of the world’s major solar power producers in the coming years. Given the exciting new opportunities such as the ultra mega solar PV projects and the shortfall in meeting the renewable purchase obligations by various state discoms,” said the company.

Budget proposes schemes to promote use of clean energy

According to reports, to promote use of clean energy, the government plans to launch multiple schemes including on solar pumps and solar energy parks near irrigation canals in the current financial year.

Besides, the government would provide assistance for developing around 3,770 MW of grid connected renewable energy capacity.

These proposals, spelt out in the union budget 2014-15, would be taken up by the New and Renewable Energy Ministry which has a plan outlay of Rs 5,519 crore for this fiscal.

This amount includes Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) of Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 1,578 crore from National Clean Energy Fund.

“It is also proposed to launch new schemes on solar pumps, solar energy parks and schemes on solar parks near irrigation canals. It also includes provision of central financial assistance for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries,” said the budget document.

The Ministry would provide assistance for developing wind, small hydro and solar projects among others.

Renewable energy initiatives for urban, industrial and commercial applications such as deployment of solar thermal systems, promotion of energy-efficient buildings and master plans for solar cities would be carried out by the Ministry.

Further, renewable energy would be utilized for “construction of 1.10 lakh family-type biogas plants and start of a new programme on cook stoves,” the document said.

Telangana to develop a 1,000 mw solar park

According to reports, the Telangana Government has zeroed in on the backward district of Mahbubnagar to set up an integrated 1,000 mw solar power generation park.
The project will to be taken up by Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in partnership with Solar Energy Corporation of India. The SECI has given in-principle approval for the park, K. Pradeep Chandra, Principal Chief Secretary, Industries, Government of Telangana, said.
Speaking on the sidelines of CII PaperTech conference, he said that typically one MW requires an investment of about Rs 6 crore. The developers of projects will bring in these investments. The Government role will be limited to facilitation and creation of necessary support infrastructure.
He said that the Government will soon come out with a new industrial policy for the period for the next five years outlining the areas of thrust and incentives. The industrial policy of the unified State is valid between 2010-2015.
Pradeep Chandra said that the Government is also in the process of encouraging companies engaged in renewable energy sector, green technologies and waste management to set up their projects in the State as a cluster.
Earlier, during the year Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited had announced its decision to set up a mega solar park in the State and five more such parks in other parts of the country.
Referring to the State Government moves to set up a National Institute of Packaging, the official wanted the paper sector players to partner in this initiative of the Government.

Airports Authority of India to build solar power plants at 30 airports

According to reports, in a bid to tap alternative sources of energy, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to build solar power plants at about 30 of its airports across the country.
AAI plans to install 50 MW capacity plants in the first phase, which would be enhanced to 150 MW over a period of time, an AAI spokesperson said today. The plants would be established on surplus land available with it at these identified airports or on the large roof tops of the airport structures.

In all about 30 airports have been identified by AAI for establishment of these solar power plants, which would not only meet its own requirements but also feed the surplus power to the local grid. An MoU for construction of these plants was signed between the state-run airports body and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) here earlier in the day.
Speaking on the occasion, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa said the projects would have to be accomplished in a time-bound manner and airport-wise specific timelines should be worked out for effective implementation.
The AAI spokesperson said the solar plants would not only achieve significant savings in power bills over a period of time but also lead to significant saving in carbon emissions. The plants would also make airports self-sustainable so far as energy requirement is concerned, he said.

Chennai start-up Ather tools up premium e-bike

According to reports, Ather Energy is a start-up based in Chennai with a vision to design premium electric two-wheelers for the Indian market. Housed at IIT Madras Research Park, Ather’s young owners, alumni of the prestigious institute, want to change the lack-lustre image associated with the current crop of battery-operated scooters (e-bikes). They want to offer a bike that brings out all the positives of an electric vehicle and matches the performance of gasoline scooters, needs zero maintenance and is topped with premium features not yet available in any Indian scooter.

Emphasis is on in-house development as this allows Ather to implement quality and cost controls effectively. “We have outsourced fabrication of the design to a private garage in Ambattur. Everything else associated with the scooter is our responsibility,” says Mehta. The duo plans to launch the e-bike around 2015.

“Our scooter will have the capacity to out-accelerate normal petrol scooters while not compromising on comfort due to better suspension. We are using better technology with the battery, which will ensure its longer life,” he says.

These e-bikes will be much lighter than other e-bikes due to minimal ‘unsprung mass’. The weight of the wheels, tyres and brakes are considered to be the unsprung mass of a vehicle and Mehta says they have succeeded reducing its weight by as much as 70 per cent. This makes manoeuvring easier and suits city riding better.

Expected to cost around ₹85,000, Ather Energy has cast its eyes on the premium segment. “People who buy electric scooters aren’t necessarily looking at a low-cost alternative to the petrol scooter. They are looking for a green alternative, something that would make them stand out in a crowd,” he says. Besides, ownership costs on these bikes will be low due to the better battery life, lower charging time and the performance, he added.