NEW ENERGY IN INDIA

Gujarat pushes green energy; Over Rs 80,000 crore investment lined up in solar, wind energy
Maulik Pathak, January 9, 2009 (Business Standard)

“Gujarat is all set to emerge as one of the greenest states in the country! The government has chalked out a massive plan to add about 7,000 Mw of renewable energy in the next three to four years, attracting investments to the tune of about Rs 80,000 crore.
Gujarat is already among the top four states using renewable energy, having an installed capacity of about 1,400 Mw…

“The state government has recently come out with a separate solar power policy under which it proposes to purchase 500 Mw of solar power every year at an agreed cost…

“AES Corporation, a US-based Fortune 500 company, has firmed its plans to invest about Rs 6,000 crore for setting up “world’s largest solar project in the state by 2010” after going through the new policy…The size of the plant would be about 1,000 Mw.

“Clinton Foundation, headed by former US president Bill Clinton, which has initiated trials in Kutch with the Tata Energy Research Institute (Teri), is mulling a 5,000 Mw solar project in the state at an investment of over Rs 70,000 crore…

“The state government offers tariffs of Rs 11 and Rs 13 per unit for solar thermal and PV cells, respectively. This tariff is given for a period of 12 years, after which a tariff of Rs 3 per unit is offered for another period of 13 years.

“In wind power, the state currently ranks third but is aiming to overtake Maharasthra and Tamil Nadu in the next two to three years by generating over 5,000 Mw of wind power…The state is expected to draw investment to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the wind energy sector…The players… include…Abellon Bioenergy…Suzlon…NTPC… and Enercon…”