Renewable energy certificates planned

Renewable energy certificates are expected to be introduced by April next, according to Pramod Deo, Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Indian Wind Power Association here on Saturday he said the certificates would be issued to renewable energy generators by a National Registry. These would be valid for a year. It would be an incentive to invest in green energy.

He added that preferential tariff for grid interactive renewable energy would be finalised in two months. The States had preferential tariffs now. But these varied from State to State. The tariff variations should disappear.The preferential tariff would be applicable to new projects when the new tariff regulations come into force.

By 2010-2011, the share of green energy in India’s total energy consumption should be 5 per cent (in energy terms), almost double the current share, he said.The Indian Wind Power Association presented its “Wind Energy Excellence Award” to Mr.Deo.

Prasad R. Menon, managing director of Tata Power, said the key drivers of renewable energy in the country were energy security, environment and economics. He said China was looking at scaling up capacities and this would bring about major changes in the industry.China had several support mechanisms too. India should also focus on scale and this needs a tremendous policy thrust. Denmark had tapped off-shore wind energy potential and India should also do it.

Mahesh Makhija, vice-president (renewables) of CLP Power, said there should be a long-term sustainable energy policy. Resource optimisation was important as resources were an important factor in renewable energy generation.

K. Kasthurirangaian, the newly-elected chairman of the association, said India had seen a relatively lower growth in wind energy capacity addition during the last two years. Evacuation infrastructure should be in place in order to maintain momentum of growth.The association gave away awards to best wind farms for 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

TNEB educates Students

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is educating school and college students on energy conservation so that the message reaches more people, according to P. Annadurai, Superintending Engineer of the Board, Coimbatore South.

He said that assistant engineers in the board here had been asked to educate the students in their respective area, whenever possible, about energy conservation methods. This included use of CFL instead of ordinary bulbs, use of solar water heaters and switching off lights, fans and other home appliances when not used.Energy conservation week celebrations were held in every division, apart from the circle-level programmes.

In December, energy efficient equipment were displayed to create awareness, he said.Though the education programmes for school and college students were not held according to specific schedules, the engineers organised such events whenever there was an opportunity, he said.

For instance, at a meeting organised by the Residents’ Awareness Association of Coimbatore on Friday, Mr. Annadurai gave tips such as having sufficient number of doors and windows in a building to have free flow of light, using electronic chokes, electronic regulators, switching off mobile chargers and computers when not used, and avoiding lavish lighting, to achieve energy conservation

Coimbatore Corp plans to tap renewable energy

Coimbatore Corporation on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)-Local Governments for Sustainability, to implement Local Renewables Model Communities Network in Coimbatore Corporation. Emani Kumar - Executive Director of ICLEI, South Asia and Corporation Commissioner, V.K. Shanmugam, signed the MoU.

Coimbatore, Nagpur and Bhubaneswar have been chosen for this special project launched at ICLEI’s 2006 World Congress.

The project aims at motivating and enabling local governments in India to incorporate renewable energy services in their municipal development strategies and to initiate related activities. These cities have to formulate local policies that will include the development of renewable energy sources.

A long-term objective of this project is to serve as an example for governments world over.

The project includes establishing capacity centres in these cities, conduct awareness programmes about renewable energy and build private partnerships. The project aims at improving access to low cost energy services at the local level for the urban poor, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, finding healthier, cheaper and sustainable sources of energy as well as creating jobs.