In Focus

ABB’s turnkey shunt compensation system improved the efficiency, reliability and quality of power supplies in the Bangladesh power grid.

China has surged ahead of the US as the most attractive place for renewable energy investment. This is based on the Ernst & Young report. The two countries were tied in last year’s Ernst & Young's Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices. But with $34.6 billion in investments in 2009, China surpassed the United States by more than $15 billion, accounting for 30.5 percent of G-20 investment in renewable power. A full 71.1 percent of this investment went to wind power. Although only eight percent of China's renewable energy spending went into solar power, it has already become the world's largest producer of solar panels.  "China's steady rise to pole position has been underpinned by strong and consistent government support for renewable energy.  This, together with substantial commitment from industry and the sheer scale of its natural resources, means that its position as top spot for renewable energy investment is well merited," said Ben Warren, Ernst & Young's environment and energy infrastructure advisory leader. “

TNB signed three agreements with three parties for a 21- year supply of renewable energy.

Representatives from MRC member countries discussed increased levels of cooperation in managing Mekong River Basins with Chinese and Myanmar officials.

ADB will issue its inaugural Clean Energy Bond to support its clean energy projects in Asia and the Pacific.

The first phases of Penglai Hushan and Zhaoyuan Xiadian wind farms were approved by the Shandong Development and Reform Commission.

Huaneng New Energy will invest US$880.9 million in the construction of an offshore wind power farm in Jiangsu province.

The funds will be used to build a 40-kilometer 400-kilovolt transmission line, along with a high voltage direct current substation and connecting loop, linking the western electrical grid of Bangladesh with India’s eastern grid. Around 500 megawatts of power are expected to flow into Bangladesh by 2012 as a result of the project, with the possibility of more in the future.

The SGCC expects to complete its acquisition of seven Brazilian energy companies from Plena Transmissoras for $1.72 billion by October.

PGCB boosted its rural power supply with its Niamatpur 132/33 KV Grid Substation and Nawgoan-Niamatpur 132 KV Transmission line.

India’s wind farm power could account for 24 per cent of India's total power generation capacity by 2030.

All five Laxiwa Hydropower units are now connected to the grid after its Unit 1’s successful commissioning. The unit recently completed a 72-hour test run.

CEM temporarily lowered its power importation from Guangdong in half due to a safety fault the transmission towers in Zhuhai.

Japan will provide $5.85m in subsidies to 15 firms to undergo studies for emission-cutting projects overseas.

Unit 3 of Heimifeng Pumped Storage Plant was successfully connected to the grid for generation.    The successful grid connection of unit 3 indicated that commissioning for grid connection and power generation of Phase II Project will be carried out on full scale and tested the professional competence of plant professionals at Wuling Electric Power Co., Ltd.    At the moment, commissioning preparations for grid connection of unit 4 of Heimifeng Hydropower Plant are well under way and commissioning will be conducted soon.

Vestas has secured a contract for the delivery of 140 V112-3.0 MW turbines for the 420 MW Macarthur project in Australia.