SunEdison launches solar water pumps for farms in India

If you have problem with intermittent power interruptions and unreliable supply quality, or your are too far away from the power grid, bringing the power generator closer to you is the best solution.

In India, a specially designed high performance solar-powered water pump was recently launched by SunEdison meant for agriculture purpose. Featuring rugged structural design, pumps are available in 3HP (horsepower), 5HP, 7.5HP and 10HP variants.


SunEdision solar powered pump system. Photo: EPCworld

Designed by R&D teams in California and Bangalore, the latest innovation is claimed to be a perfect solution for farmers who need year-round cultivation and predictable daytime irrigation.

“SunEdison’s solar water pump solution addresses and enables a large and growing market. It is a tremendous opportunity for us to grow our business and help people transform their lives.”
- Ahmad Chatila, President and CEO of SunEdison

There are about 26 million irrigation pumps in India and of this, about 8 million run on diesel power with the rest using grid power. The solar powered pumps will enable farmers to grow cash crops that require predictable irrigation and more importantly, they will be able to utilize land that they previously could not irrigate.


The company expects this innovation to help farmers to increase crop yield by delivering reliable irrigation without dependence on expensive diesel fuel or intermittent electrical power supply. Photo: PR-newswire


Pump features

The solar pumping systems are designed to be rugged, and provide best-in-class performance. It is fitted with high-efficiency 3-phase AC pump complete with pump controller, VSD.

Rugged industrial design ensures reliable performance in the most adverse operating conditions and ensures reliable and safe operation for over 15 years, while allowing for easy maintenance.

How much

The solar water pump will cost around Rs 6 lakhs (RM30,900) which is quite expensive for the rural poor but with some innovative partnership between interested business organisations and the government, this should be made affordable to many.


TheGreenMechanics: The report mentioned that the company has already installed 250 such systems across India, and that the next generation of the solar pumps, which the company is planning to launch, would supply power to farmers' houses as well.

This is indeed a great intended progression of such initiative. No household should be deprive of power, not even those in the rural area.

Solar Power: India passed 2 GW mark

India did it again! Just last year, the world's second most populous country announced that it has passed the 1 GW mark in solar PV installation.

At the end of September this year, India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy says grid-connected solar in the country has passed the 2 GW point.


Grid-connected PV projects, like this Gujarat solar park, have passed the 2 GW mark in India.


Renewable Energy on the rise in India 

The Indian government has announced the nation has passed the 2 GW mark for cumulative installation of grid-connected solar power.

In a statement on its website, the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said that at the end of September, 395 MW of grid-connected PV had been installed in the 2013-14 financial year, as part of a 1.1 GW target.

With the government recently publishing the guidelines for the 750 MW phase II, batch I of its Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the installation figures are impressive but remain dwarfed by wind power generation in the country.

A further 808 MW of wind power has been installed in the current financial year to take the cumulative figure to 19.8 GW with a 2.5 GW wind power target this year alone.

Small hydro, with a cumultaive 3.7 GW, and bagasse – or sugarcane pulp – with 2.4 GW, also lead solar. Biomass (with a cumulative 1.3 GW installed) and energy-from-waste (99 MW) complete the list of grid-connected renewable energy sources listed by the ministry.

Solar amounts to 139 MW of off-grid renewables generation, behind non bagasse biomass (491 MW) and biomass gasifiers (163 MW).

Those figures mean solar is the third most important renewable enrgy source for off-grid energy, ahead of energy-from-waste (116 MW), water mills (11 MW) and aero generators/hybrid systems (2 MW).


TheGreenMechanics: Impressive! While not intending to measure ourself up with big and power hungry country like India, we should take cue from their initiatives, particularly with the resources and the favourable climate here - we should have more solar PV system installed in Malaysia.

Note that we have many internationally known solar panel manufacturers in Malaysia.


Source: PV Magazine

Mega solar plant in India to sell power at record-low rate: $0.089 per kWh

This is interesting as India is showing the world that solar PV power can be as cheap as one that is generated from finite sources.

India’s solar industry has announced ambitious plans to construct a 4 GW mega PV plant selling solar power at just $89 MWh – a record-low. This is an equivalent of 5.5 rupees per kWh (approx. 28.32 Malaysian sen per kWh).

That's about the current rate we are paying for electricity in Malaysia - SESB charges 33.5 sen/kWh and TNB charges 21.8 sen/kWh to 45.4 sen/kWh.



The state of Rajasthan has been identified as the location for the country's planned 4 GW solar plant. Photo: pv-magazine


India’s ultra-mega solar plant plan
Source: pv-magazine

The venture, which would more than double India’s current sun-powered capacity, is being driven by a consortium of six state-owned companies, which includes Power Grid Corp. (PWGR) of India Ltd., and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL).

The report states that the first gigawatt will be ready by the end of 2016, from which point it will begin selling solar power at just $89 MWh (5,500 rupees), which is 10 rupees cheaper than the current-lowest solar power bid, and approximately 32% below the global average.

The solar plant will be India’s first of such an ultra-mega magnitude, and will rival the nation’s 100 GW of planned coal-fired plants that are also in the offing.

This clean energy venture will receive unspecified government funding, while BHEL will own 26%. Bids are expected to be sought for a contractor to design and then build the plant. It is expected to be constructed on an 18,000-acre site near Sambhar Lake in the state of Rajasthan.

After the first gigawatt comes online in 2016, the remaining 3 GW will be put in place before 2020, which private companies may be invited to bid for.


TheGreenMechanics: Cool! That's the way to go!

India seeks to double Renewable Energy capacity from 25GW to 55GW

India's 12th 5-Year Plan seeks to do two things to promote Renewable Energy:-

1. Double the RE capacity from 25GW to 55GB by 2017
2. Setting up international R&D centre for solar energy (solar PV and solar thermal)

"It is proposed to double the renewable energy capacity in our country from 25,000 MW in 2012 to 55,000 MW by the year 2017. This would include exploiting non-conventional energy sources such as solar, wind power and energy from biomass."
- Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh

These initiatives were announced as part of the prime minister's presentation of India's 12th Five Year Plan.

Developed countries are the ones best poised to help meet the challenge of climate change, he said, adding that India has set a goal of cutting its energy use by 20 to 25% by 2020 by increasing its energy efficiency.

Another measure the prime minister called for is an international research and development center for solar energy. This National Institute of Solar Energy could be operational by 2015, he said. Research into solar thermal and solar photovoltaic would be part of this initiative.

The price of producing solar power was cut in half over the past two years, he said, going on to acknowledge that fossil-fired power generation, such as coal power, is still less expensive. The difference, he said could be made up for with subsidies.

About 87.5% of India's electricity is generated from non-renewable sources. Coal constitutes 57% of India's installed capacity.

Source: Renewable Energy World


TheGreenMechanics: That's inspiring and it is very much achievable when there is commitment and focus.

India exceeds Renewal Energy targets

The world’s second-most populous country is making the right move in ensuring sustainability of its energy resources, and what better way than by exceeding the targets for Renewables!

As of June 2012 , green power capacity in India is 25 GW:

Wind                  : 17,644 MW
Small Hydro        : 3,411 MW
Biomass             : 1,182 MW
Solar PV            : 1,030 MW
Waste to Power  : 93 MW (urban areas)
TOTAL : 25.4 GW

and by Feb 2013, according to Renewablefacts, total energy generated from renewables is 26.9 GW.

Wind farm in Satara, India. Photo: SUZLON

As reported by Renewable Facts:

During the last 3 years (2009 - 2012), India added 10,431 MW of new renewable energy capacity to its energy mix, against a target of 9,623 megawatts.

India is seeking to generate some 41 gigawatts of power from renewable sources by 2017 (excluding large hydro).

Wind power accounted for the biggest increase, at 8.3 gigawatts, followed by 1.8 gigawatts of biomass, 1.2 gigawatts of solar and 1.1 gigawatt of hydropower.

The current installed capacity of power generation from renewable energy in the country is 26,920 MW. During 2012-13, a capacity addition of 2,005.57 MW has been achieved up to 31.01.2013 against the target of 4,125 MW.

Tamil Nadu is the State with the most renewable capacity at 3,113 MW, followed by Gujarat 2,389 MW, Rajasthan 1,930 MW, Maharastra 1,699 MW, Karnataka 1,394 MW and Andhra Pradesh 408 MW.

India has a comprehensive strategic plan for the development of renewable energy schemes through to 2017 with a view to growing grid-interactive, off-grid, rural and industrial renewable power from a mix of wind, biomass, small hydro and solar power.


TheGreenMechanics' take: Despite the major blackout in India that affected more than 600 million in July 2012, India's RE initiative is still very much an inspiration.

India to have highest transmission voltage at 1,200 kV

Malaysia's TNB transmission lines maximum voltage is 500kV while it is 275kV for Sabah. The quest for higher voltage substations and transmission lines is driven by the increasing amount of power consumption. The higher the voltage, the more power can be transmitted over hundreds or thousands of kilometres.

For now China is still holding the record with its 800kV lines, but this would be soon overtaken by India with the proposed construction of 400/1,200kV substation in Deoli.

To put things into perspective, the distribution lines voltage right before your low voltage (230V) home supply is 11kV in most cases.

Any danger or health effect of high voltage lines to human? There're concerns but No evident to show so far.


World's max voltage substation in Vidarbhaites
Times of India

NAGPUR: The project may not benefit the region but Vidarbhaites can take pride from the fact that Deoli, near Wardha, will have world's maximum voltage substation in four to five years. Powergrid, a central sector PSU, has decided to set up a 400/1,200 KV substation at Deoli. 1,200 KV is the highest voltage proposed in power transmission. Presently, the highest voltage used is 800 KV by China, which is also developing a 1,100 KV system.

Powergrid will lay a 380 km long 1,200 KV transmission line from Deoli to Aurangabad in the first phase. In the next phase, it will construct a 400/1,200 KV at Deoli and then a 1,200/400 KV substation at Aurangabad.

A company official said that a substation was being set up in Bina (Madhya Pradesh) for testing the 1,200 KV system. "We are developing 1,200 KV equipment with the help of private companies like Crompton Greaves, ABB, etc. as they are not available in the world. The test substation will be ready in three years and then we will begin work on the Deoli substation. Once the technology is commercially successful, we will also market it abroad."

Elaborating on the Bina project, the official said that the project cost is estimated at Rs 40 crore. "We will have a 400/1,200 KV transformer at one end and a 1,200/400 KV one at the other. We will then do a load test and find solutions to whatever problems we encounter. Bina was chosen as we have 400 acre land available there."

He said that a 400 KV line could transmit 600 MW power while a 800 KV line's capacity is around 2,000 MW. However, a 1,200 KV line could transmit over 6,000 MW.

Explaining the need for such high voltages, another official said that transmission distance was less in most countries due to their small size.

"United States is a big country but it has distributed generation. However, in India power generation is concentrated. Most thermal plants are located in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand while hydel plants are coming up in the Himalayas. However, demand for power is elsewhere. The higher voltage lines can not only carry more power, but they also have lower losses."

Source - Times of India

India’s RE industry interested in Malaysia’s FiT system

My understanding (from the article) is that India is interested in doing RE business in Malaysia, rather than on "Malaysia's feed-in tariff system" itself. The report implied that India's renewable industry is interested to learn from Malaysia's way of implementing the FiT. It's a bit funny as India's RE industry is more matured than ours.

For instance, while we are struggling to register our first 50MW in cumulative energy generation from solar, India's solar power capacity has surpassed 1GW as of June 2012.

India’s renewable energy industry interested in Malaysia’s feed-in-tariff system
November 06, 2012 - Bernama

NEW DELHI: India's renewable energy (RE) industry is interested to partake in Malaysia's feed-in-tariff (FiT) system, said TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd's head (business development), Mohd Azhar Abdul Rahman.“They are keen to know more on micro grid and FiT and are interested to be technology partners,” he said.

The FiT system is Malaysia's new mechanism under the Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan and the Renewable Energy Act 2011 to catalyse generation of renewable energy, up to 30 MW in size.

This mechanism allows electricity produced from indigenous renewable resources to be sold to power utilities at a fixed premium price for a specific duration.

Mohd Azhar, who participated in the two-day Asean-India Workshop on Cooperation in RE, told Bernama that allowing foreign stake of up to 49% in FiT mechanism was among the attractions to the RE industry in India.

According to Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia, which manages and oversees the FiT system, a company incorporated in Malaysia having a foreign person, (alone or together with other foreign persons), holding no more than 49% of voting power or the issued share capital of such company may also apply for feed-in approvals.

Malaysia, Mohd Azhar said, could also tap into India's technology in RE.

“They are aggressive in RE. Their industry is matured. They have good RE equipment and manufacturers that we can explore and adapt too,” he said.

Among others, Mohd Azhar said, India's solar panels and modules were impressive.“We can explore them further and suit them to our needs,” he said. - Bernama

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TheGreenMechanis: However, if India is interested in doing Renewable Energy business in Malaysia, we will be more than happy. In return, 49% ownership is not bad for foreign companies.

They are welcome to invest here. Why not.

Solarator - the portable 600W solar power generator

If you are living in a remote location where grid power is not available you would be familiar with the portable 600W or 1200W-rated gasoline generators. These are good enough to power up few fluorescent lamps, a couple of table fans, and your radio/TVs. Sorry, no air-contitioners please.

Save the petrol and go for the sun instead. Because HHV Solar (India) may have just helped you with what you need - a sustainable power supply without the need to re-fuel.

A suitcase you can bring anywhere? Not quite, it weighs 415 kg - not really portable. Pic: HHV Solar.

A leading solar module manufacturer, HHV Solar Technologies, in April 2012 announced the launch of its revolutionary solar device called Solarator, a trailer-mounted, solar PV power generator ideally suited for remote locations and as an emergency power source.

The company claims that it is the first such product developed in India  and the big advantage of the Solarator is that it is a “green” power device.

The Solarator was displayed at the London Solar Energy Exibition as reported by Syllogic.

The Solarator power generator

It consists of 2 high efficiency solar modules, each of which can generate 300 Watt of electricity. The modules utilise mono crystalline silicon cells which convert sunlight into electricity. During transport, the modules are folded compactly and at the site, unfolded to catch the sun’s rays.

The generator and the two-wheeled trailer on which it is mounted, together weigh only 415 kg which makes it easy for the system to be hauled or even air-lifted to remote places. A completely sealed water proof compartment at the bottom of the trailer houses all electronics and electrical, to avoid any short circuits. This compartment also has space for luggage/camping equipment which needs to be carried along. - HHV website.


Specifications

Product name             : Solarator
System power             : 2kVA on continuous AC power
Solar module capacity : 600 Watt
Solar module               : 2 x 300W, mono-crystalline. Make - HHV Solar
Storage                      : 300 Ah, maintenance free battery bank. Make - Powersonic
Power outlet                : 230Vac x 50Hz, 24Vdc, charger socket
Inverter                       : 2000 VA. Make - Outback
Weight                       : 415 kg, together with its 2-wheel trailer
Price                          : Estimated 3.5 lakh (US$6,500) although yet to be fully commercialised.

TheGreenMechanics:
Thanks to innovation, we can have more 'fully-functional' portable solar power generators; not just some solar-powered lantern lamps for the remotely located folks. With the many solar module manufacturers in Malaysia, there should be some innovations somewhere by some practical guys. How I wish I am in the solar photovoltaic industry.


Note: Pictures are from HHV Solar website and Syllogic whose active links are provided in the respective images.

Worst blackout in history - Over 600 million people in India affected

Nation-wide blackout, affected more than half the population.

A familiar news to you? I bet my money you won't be totally surprised (although perhaps totally annoyed) by what happened in India yesterday.

This was the worst blackout in the second most populous nation's history involving more than half the country, as an electrical grid collapse in 14 states - then spread to a total 19. The incident deprived more than 600 million people of power. Some journalists put the figure as 620 to 670million people.


Massive traffic jam in New Delhi, following a power outage (one of the world's worst) that spread over half of India, July 31, 2012. Photo: AP/Rajest Kumar Singh


It is that bad, but how bad?

If you live in Sabah, Malaysia, you will understand how it feels to be deprived of power supply on a frequent basis. Recently in April 2012, we experienced a state-wide blackout for almost the whole day and in some areas, power was only restored completely the next day.

One hour of blackout is bad. What more with going through the day in total darkness; and added to that, a bonus of another half a day during the next.

In India's case, many were still without power on the second day. The blackout, one of the largest in global history by the number of people affected, dramatically underlined the concerns industry leaders have raised for years — that the nation's horribly inefficient power sector is dragging on the economy and could undermine India's longer-term ambition to become an industrialised nation.


What caused the blackout?

The power grid collapsed because some states apparently drew more power than they were authorised to do to meet the rising demand during the summer.

According to NDTV, the blackout was allegedly triggered after four states - Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan drew much more than their assigned share of power. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have denied they exceeded their limit, though. Uttar Pradesh is said to over-drew its quota from the Northern Grid by 1200 MW, nearly a third of what a city like Delhi is entitled to in a day.

Blackouts are a frequent occurrence in many Indian cities because of shortage of power supply and an old-fashioned electricity grid. Too bad, this the common excuse/explanation offered by the power utilities everywhere. That's us included.


And its implication?

Nothing!

There is no need to even look at 'what would its implication be' unless people start looking at the underlying problems/issues, such as what the New York Times reported:

[...] For a country considered a rising economic power, Blackout Tuesday — which came only a day after another major power failure — was an embarrassing reminder of the intractable problems still plaguing India: inadequate infrastructure, a crippling power shortage and, many critics say, a yawning absence of governmental action and leadership.

India’s coalition government, already battered for its stewardship of a wobbling economy, again found itself on the defensive, as top ministers could not definitively explain what had caused the grid failure or why it had happened on consecutive days. Theories for the extraordinarily extensive blackout across much of northern India included excessive demands placed on the grid from certain regions, due in part to low monsoon rains that forced farmers to pump more water to their fields, and the less plausible possibility that large solar flares had set off a failure.

By Tuesday evening, power had been restored in most regions, and many people in major cities barely noticed the disruption, because localized blackouts are so common that many businesses, hospitals, offices and middle-class homes are equipped with backup diesel fuel generators.
“This is a huge failure,” said Prakash Javadekar, a spokesman for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. “It is a management failure as well as a failure of policy. It is policy paralysis in the power sector.” [...]

Time to reflect

The situation and power supply issue in Malaysia, and particularly in Sabah is somewhat similar in the India case in the sense that we are facing shortage of supply and the generally antiquated electricity grid/equipment. We can always give excuses and say that we fare better when bench-marked against India but that would be more of a 'feel-good' kind of assessment rather than the absolute meaning of the word 'better'.

It's time to be firm and aggressive in dealing with power supply problems. Allocate more fund in the coming budget preparation as electricity is now a need rather than want.

Cheapest Computer

Super cheap but is it fit-for-purpose?

Students showing off the new Tablet - Aakash. Image from Voice of America.

If you recall, a week a or two ago, India introduced a super cheap computer, the Aakash for Rs.2250 (US$45/RM135). Well, a tablet computer to be exact. Over the years India has been well known for its initiatives in producing cheap and affordable stuffs. Not too long ago India's Tata stunned the automobile world with its US$2,000 car, Nano.

It is understood that the tablet can be had at $35 with subsidy from the government, specifically for students. A commercial version would cost around $70 to be made available later.

Enter Bangladesh.

It seem that India is not the only nation building cheap computers. Bangladesh this week introduced the Doel, Android-based laptop in Dhaka priced at 10,000 Taka (US$130/RM390), according to BBC.

Compared to Aakash, the price of Doel is a bit steep but for a $130, who can complain much about a fully functional laptop. I wouldn't. It is a very decent effort by creative individuals. For some, the ability to connect with the rest of the world and the convenience of being able to do away with papers is far more important than the built quality of the tool itself.

Think about people with low household income of $300 to $400 but with decent educational infrastructure available around them. The Aakash or Doel may just be what they need, not iPad2 or the latest HP dv6 series.

Alright, let's have a look at the brief highlight of the comparison between the two latest cheap gadget, see for yourself if the price gap is justified:

In two words - pleasantly cheap. Period. My only hope is that people don't sacrifice green with cheap. Please consider your e-wastes and the environment as you design your stuff, hopefully the smaller (and cheaper) the gadget the smaller the production waste will be.

The Doel is essentially a scaled-down laptop like Aspire One, Lenovo IdeaPad, Inspiron Mini but priced much lower. Come on Malaysian IT enthusiasts, bring on your homegrown RM399.00 laptop/tab now. Afterall, who invented the thumb drive? Phua Khein Seng. He's a Malaysian.

Call it Nuri, Bangau, Kenyalang, or even your name.

Nano, the world's cheapest car: $2,500 (RM7,500)

(Photo by AP)

You read it correct, it's RM7,500 or starting from USD2,000 for basic model. Welcome abroad Tata NANO, the world's cheapest car unveiled in India by car manufacturing giant Tata Motors. Remember those days when we see a lot of TATA lorries and buses plying our roads?

The Nano was designed to let people in India who currently risk their family on scooters, motorbikes, and trishaws to be able to afford alternative mode of transportation which is safer.

It was reported that Tata has 206,703 orders for the car as at launching day. Wow, that is about 4 months of Malaysia's total sales of new vehicles, note that that figure is Tata's alone. Malaysia's projected volume for 2009 is 480,000 cars compared to a total sales of 548,000 in 2008. In one year, our very own Proton sold a total of barely more than half of Tata's order for a single model (Nano).

Why? Because Tata makes cars inspired by need and requirement of the market. Can we say the same for Proton? If not because of "forced buying" tactic of Proton - through imposing high taxes, fees, tariff, etc. on imported vehicles - its local sales may fall well below those of Toyota's and Honda's.

If Tata is too far for Proton to look upon, look no further. Perodua, without Proton knowing it, has overtaken it by selling more cars that the masses need. Did Proton take cue of that? Or, the false sense of invinsibility is still very much intact and drilled forever in the management's head?


Tata's Nano at a glance

Put aside Proton for a little while and let's take a look at the summary of what is offered by the back-to-basic car, Nano (Image by AP):





Read the rest of the news here.