CSMIA is 100% green energy powered; SWRE secures 1.56 GW DC solar plant order from NTPC REL; Avaada’s Rajasthan and Maharashtra plants to use Airtouch’s robotic cleaning solution’; Hartek Solar to build ‘largest’ floating solar park in North India; MoP implementing transmission system for 66.5 GW REZ by 2022.
100% green energy for Mumbai International Airport: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai has announced switching 100% to green energy sources for its energy consumption needs making it one of India’s 100% sustainable airports. Of the 100% green energy, it sources 5% of the electricity requirement from onsite solar generation, while the bulk, 95%, comes from a mix of green energy sources as hydro and wind energy. In April 2022, green energy accounted for 57% of its energy consumption, increasing to 98% between May 2022 and July 2022. In August 2022, it attained the 100% utilization of renewable energy sources. Its total installed rooftop solar PV capacity installed is now 4.66 MW. In April 2022, it deployed a hybrid solar mill comprising 2 kW TurboMill and 8 kW solar PV modules with an estimated minimum generation capacity of 36 kWh a day which it says is helping it inch closer to its target of net zero carbon emission by 2029 (see Hybrid Wind-Solar System For Mumbai Airport).
SWRE bags NTPC’s solar EPC order: Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited (SWRE) has emerged as the lowest bidder or L1 bidder for NTPC Renewable Energy Limited’s (NTPC REL) 1,568 MW DC/1,255 MW AC solar power plant in Gujarat. The project will be located in Khavda RE Power Park in Rann of Kutch. The contract has a total value of INR 22.12 billion ($268 million) including taxes, duties and operations and maintenance (O&M) for 3 years. For SWRE, this is the company’s largest domestic order to date, it stated in a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) filing.
Avaada hires Israel’s Airtouch: Avaada Group has signed on Israel based robotic solar cleaning technology company Airtouch Solar to maintain its modules deployed in projects in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Under the long term contract worth $2 million signed, Airtouch will provide its services for 25 years for Avaada’s plants in Bhadla, Rajasthan, along with Damangaon and Pangaon projects in Maharashtra. The projects will be able to save 80,000 to 100,000 litres of water per MW annually with these robotic solutions, and will also improve their power generation.
2 MW solar power plant in Chandigarh: Hartek Group’s rooftop solar division Hartek Solar will build a 2 MW floating solar power plant in Chandigarh and says it will be the largest floating solar power plant in all of North India. Foundation stone of the project was recently laid by the Indian President Droupadi Murmu on October 9, 2022. It will be situated at Sector 39 Water Works that supplies water to the entire city of Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Renewal Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) facility will generate 28,00,000 units of electricity annually.
Transmission system for 66.5 GW RE by 2022: The Ministry of Power (MoP) in India is working to implement transmission system for 66.5 GW renewable energy zones (REZ) by 2022, along with getting transmission system ready for ultra-mega solar power parks. The government is also establishing 13 renewable energy management centers (REMC) to address variability and uncertainty of renewable energy generation. It has carried out planning of transmission system for the integration of an additional 52 GW potential REZ by 2026-27. Transmission schemes for another 181.5 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 is planned and will be implemented in a progressive manner. “The future goals of National Grid are Transmission ahead of generation for seamless integration of RE, OSOWOG: One Sun, One World, One Grid, Facilitate green open Access and Ensure reliability of supply,” stated the ministry in a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to it.
