T&D India: Special Digital Edition – July 2020

This special digital edition is meant to be a user-friendly guide for accessing recent updates on www.tndindia.com. All editorial entries have been discussed in brief but the “read more” link will take you to the full story. The contents of this edition have been grouped into: News, Orders & Contracts, Interviews, Guest Articles, Special Reports and New Product Launches.

News

T&D News

• In a very significant move, the Union ministry of power has directed Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) to hive off its operations as the “Central Transmission Utility” (CTU) into a separate entity. (read more)

 

• Sterlite Power has announced the acquisition of Vapi II North Lakhimpur Transmission Ltd (VNLTL), a special purpose vehicle, from PFC Consulting Ltd. (read more)

 

• Adani Transmission Ltd has signed a share purchase agreement and completed the acquisition of the special purpose vehicle Kharghar Vikhroli Transmission Pvt Ltd (KVTPL), incorporated by Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. (read more)

 

• Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) said that its Real Time Electricity Market (RTM) accomplished volume of 515.46 MU (million units or million kwh) in June 2020 –the first month of operations of the new segment. A total of 237 customers participated in the RTM segment during the month. (read more)

 

• Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL)’s order inflow of Rs.13,414 crore in FY20 was equally balanced between RTM (regulated tariff mechanism) and TBCB (tariff-based competitive bidding) power transmission projects. (read more)

 

• Power Grid Corporation of India expects to complete the 800kV Raigarh-Pugalur HVDC line by December 2020, the Central PSU said in an investor presentation. (read more)

 

• With the first quarter of FY21 ending with little economic activity, Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has pegged its capital expenditure for the year much lower at Rs.10,500 crore, as against Rs.15,313 crore in FY20. (read more)

 

• During the COVID-19 lockdown months, smart meters boosted commercial efficiency of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, the utility said in a statement. These meters have also proved beneficial to consumers. (read more)

 

• Tata Power Delhi Distribution (Tata Power-DDL) successfully met the peak power demand of 1713 mw — the highest for this season — touched on June 18, 2020, without any network constraint and power outage. Delhi as a whole also touched season’s high of 5925 mw amidst the ongoing heat wave, a statement by Tata Power DDL said. (read more)

 

• The launch of real-time market (RTM) for power trading on June 1, 2020 is expected to lead to an efficient price discovery in the power trading market, feels rating agency ICRA Ltd. (read more)

 

• During the lockdown, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd received more than 90 per cent of its bill payments from digital modes. (read more)

 

• Power Grid Corporation of India, in a communication to stock exchanges, has informed that it has fixed the quantum of the one-time rebate that it would be extending to discoms. (read more)

 

• Tata Power-DDL, supplying electricity to a population of 7 million in North Delhi, has introduced a smart feature of self-meter reading for its consumers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (read more)

 

Renewable Energy News

• Adani Green Energy Ltd has won the first of its kind manufacturing-linked solar agreement from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (read more)

 

• Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd has received the letter of award from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL)  to develop a 100-mw solar project in Maharashtra. (read more)

 

• ICRA feels that reduction in REC prices will negatively impact REC-registered projects while it is a positive for obligated entities like discoms. (read more)

 

• Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has received a letter of award from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd to develop a 120-mw solar project in Gujarat. (read more)

 

• Vikram Solar has commissioned a solar project atop “The 42” — Kolkata’s tallest skyscraper. (read more)

 

Power Equipment News

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has commissioned a 270-mw unit at the Bhadradri Thermal Power Project in Telangana. (read more)

 

• Owing largely to a drop in export orders, Triveni Turbine Ltd witnessed a 7 per cent fall in order inflows during FY20. (read more)

 

General News

• ABB Power Grids India has signed an MoU with National Institute of Technology, Warangal (NITW) for cooperation to drive smart electric grid technology education, skills development and research activities. (read more)

 

• Power Finance Corporation ended FY20 on a strong note despite numerous challenges including outbreak of COVID 19. (read more)

 

• thyssenkrupp Elevator (India) has launched advanced elevator and escalator sanitizing solutions, with a view to making its every elevator and escalator a safe and healthy space for its passengers. (read more)

 

• The mega auction of 41 coal blocks by the Centre, announced on June 18, 2020, is expected to significantly boost domestic production while curbing imports of this mineral fuel. This is the first auction conducted after the passage of the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act in March this year. (read more)

 

• As offices prepare to reopen across India, buildings are the new front in the fight against COVID-19. Today, 75F has announced “75F Epidemic Mode^TM”, a new HVAC software sequence that ensures commercial buildings are healthier while keeping employees and customers safe. (read more)

 

• Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), on June 15, 2020, launched Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), the first nationwide online delivery-based gas trading platform. (read more)

 

• Latest industrial production statistics released by the Central government point to a sharp deceleration of industrial activity, albeit on expected lines. (read more)

 

• Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML), the largest power distributor in Mumbai, has announced monsoon preparedness safety measures taken across their divisions as the city welcomes the first showers this week. (read more)

 

• A clear policy framework regarding energy storage is needed in the new electricity law for the adoption of storage technologies in suitable areas, an industry body has suggested. (read more)

 

• Tata Power has signed an MoU with MG Motor, as part of which, Tata Power will deploy 50KW DC superfast chargers at select MG dealership locations and offer end-to-end EV charging solutions to MG dealerships spread across India. (read more)

 

International News

• Europe’s leading R&D and electric battery production company InoBat Auto has secured additional Euro 10 million investment to fund the development of a first-of-its kind 100 MWh R&D centre and production line in Slovakia. (read more)

 

• Siemens Smart Infrastructure and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) have signed an MoU to continue the cooperation on cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. (read more)

 

• Installation began in May 2020 on the first major project in Europe featuring ACCC AZR Conductor, CTC Global’s new conductor variant featuring the use of AT3 alloy for exceptional wind/ice performance. (read more)

 

• NKT has been awarded its largest order ever — of over 1 billion Euros .Placed by TenneT and TransnetBW, the contracts comprise the supply and installation of a 525kV XLPE high-voltage DC (direct current) onshore cable system with a route length of approx. 750 km for the German SuedLink corridor. (read more)

 

• RWE is making its power station control system fit for the future by adopting a new technology. Optime, a new SCADA system based on Siemens Spectrum Power, gives RWE a uniform control technology. (read more)

 

• Nexans has been awarded a major contract by SSE Renewables to design, manufacture and install the high voltage onshore and offshore export cables for Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm. (read more)

 

• A consortium led by Siemens Gas and Power (Siemens Energy) has been awarded a turnkey contract for two converter stations for the Greek high voltage direct current (HVDC) link that will connect Crete, Greece’s largest and most populous island, with the mainland of Greece. (read more)

 

• The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of the power grid division of ABB of Switzerland by Hitachi of Japan. (read more)

 

• Siemens has been awarded an order from Danish customer Semco Maritime to provide the main electrical equipment for the electrical service platform (ESP) of the offshore wind project Mayflower Wind LLC (read more)

 

Orders & Contracts

• Sterling and Wilson Solar Solutions, Inc (SWSS), the US-based subsidiary of Sterling and Wilson Solar Ltd announced that it has been awarded a USD  99 million (Rs.747 crore) contract to construct a 194-mw project in the USA. (read more)

 

• ANDRITZ has received an order from Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd to supply the complete electro-mechanical equipment for the 624-mw Kiru run-of-river hydropower plant located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir. (read more)

 

Interviews

Coimbatore-headquartered ELGi Equipments is India’s leading supplier of industrial air compressors, with a standing of six decades. ELGi has a product range of over 400 types of air compressors, designed for diverse industrial applications. In this interaction, we have Rajesh Premchandran, Director – ISAAME (India, South Asia, Africa & Middle East), ELGi Equipments Ltd, discussing the role of air compressors and heat-recovery systems in the power generation sector. Premchandran also observes that post-COVID19, ELGi will most definitely see sustained growth in pharma, food & beverages, essential goods and FMCG industries. (read more)

 

Guest Articles

This case study, authored by Amar Arsiwala, explores the impact of the installation of Static Synchronous Compensator technology at the existing 220kV substation located in Timbdi, Gujarat. The STATCOM solution has facilitated GETCO’s objective to mitigate voltage variation, thereby supporting industrial industry capacity in network area, as well as allowing for smooth integration of renewable energy into the grid. By extension, these outcomes are paving the way for economic and social improvements in the Saurashtra region. (read more)

 

Following a visit to the recent Elecrama 2020, India’s leading energy transition technology conference, Steve Jones, Sales Director, MIDEL reflects on the changing mindset of procurement for the country’s electricity infrastructure. (read more)

 

Special Reports

• The southern region comprising Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala account for most of the power transmission infrastructure currently under construction, according to government statistics. (read more)

 

• Pushing towards more renewable energy sources, and shifting to e-mobility are two areas in the energy space that India needs to seriously pursue, according to Cedrik Neike, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. (read more)

 

New Product Launches

• Fluence, a Siemens and AES company, has unveiled its sixth-generation energy storage technology stack combining factory-built hardware, advanced software and data-driven intelligence. (read more)

 

• OMRON Automation has announced the release of its new CP2E Series all-in-one controller that provides advanced control enabling IIoT connectivity for compact machines. (read more)

 

• Panasonic Life Solutions has introduced a decorative fan series that bring modernity into homes. (read more)

 

• The self-optimizing and dynamic Intelligent Valve from Siemens Smart Infrastructure has become more versatile, thanks to new features and applications for heating groups and air handling units. (read more)