Latest Wind Power News in India July'21

Latest Wind Power News from around India

1. NTPC & ONGC partnership: Power generation company NTPC Limited and oil and gas exploration company ONGC Limited have announced a partnership to set up offshore wind energy projects. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding last year. The partnership agreement also covers other clean energy sectors like storage and e-mobility.
2. Siemens: Siemens Gamesa has bagged a 322 MW wind power project order from ReNew Power to be executed in Tondehal in Karnataka. In total, Siemens Gamesa will deliver 180 of its new SG 3.4-145 wind turbines in Karnataka, covering 93 units for the Tondehal project in the Koppal district, and 87 units for the 301 MW Hombal project in the Gadag district (87 units, 301 MW).
3. Deadline Extension: At a meeting between renewable energy companies and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in June, wind companies have requested the government to extend the deadline for project completion to at least 24 months, according to people who attended the meeting.
4. Government guidelines regarding assessment: As a follow-up of the government’s notification of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in 2015, which provides the basic framework for developing the offshore wind sector in the country, authorities would work towards developing offshore wind power in the country. The government is also conducting offshore wind resource assessments and related studies through the NIWE to confirm the offshore wind resource potential in designated locations off the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
5. Saudi entry into India: Alfanar, a Saudi company, has announced its entry into Indian energy sector through 100 per cent acquisition of wind turbine OEM Senvion India from Senvion GmbH. Through this acquisition, Senvion India will provide full EPC and O&M solutions for wind power projects to customers in India. Senvion has localised 85 per cent of its turbines in India and has created over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
6. CERC order regarding Bank guarantee against connectivity: The petitioners’ request to adjust the BG against the Stage-II connectivity in respect of NTPC LoA sought on SECI LoA was not accepted by CERC.Upon considering the submissions of the petitioners and the respondent, PGCIL, the commission stated that during the hearing dated in June 2020, the commission had made it clear that the BG under Transmission Agreement of January 2019 against NTPC LoA cannot be linked to connectivity applied against SECI LoA and that the petitioners will be required to comply with the provisions of the 2009 Connectivity Regulations and the RE Connectivity Procedure and submit requisite BG in terms of Transmission Agreement to be signed for connectivity applied against SECI LoA.
7. 70% of equipment used in wind power generation is made in India: The Government has taken several steps to promote renewable energy, including wind energy, in the country. These include permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route, Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025 etc.