News

PN expects to generate an additional 135 megawatts of electricity from its three geothermal power plants that are set to go online this year.

Operation of nuclear reactors will be limited by the Japanese government to 40 years, although there would be exceptions if certain requirements are met.

A decision over antidumping penalties against Chinese solar module imports into the US has been delayed by a month.

Power crisis in Andhra Pradesh is expected to worsen with an average power shortfall of 1,180 million units from January-May 2012.

Power plants to be installed in Bangladesh by 2015 may not get adequate gas supply.

Beijing, China’s pollution capital, has just issued its first plan for new and renewable energy.

ABB has booked an order worth more than Rs. 4000 crores from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., to deliver UHVDC transmission system.

NTPC has signed a PPA with Madhya Pradesh Power Trading Company for supplying electricity from a 50MW solar plant, based in Rajgarh. It is expected to be commissioned by 2013.

China boosted its offshore wind power by launching its largest intertidal wind farm at the end of 2011.

Reliance Power is in talks with Shell to jointly set up a LNG terminal to secure supplies for its gas-fired power plant.

Tata Power Ltd, India’s largest integrated power utility, has confirmed its buy out of the 51% stake owned by BP Alternative Energy Holding in their joint company, Tata BP Solar.

China intends to triple the amount of electricity generated from solar energy despite its pricey cost.

China’s second largest solar panel maker offered $31.3m to buy the German company.

Viet Nam should join the growing trend of constructing environmentally-friendly buildings as an important step towards sustainable development, experts said a conference on Thursday, Nov 17. The second Green Conference, jointly organised by Kohler Viet Nam and HCM City Association of Architects, attracted more than 200 delegates representing property developers, architects, and design consultancy firms. 338614d88_giobaclieu.jpg Nguyen Truong Luu, deputy chairman of the HCM City Association of Architects said the green factor was indispensable, so property developers need to have a thorough understanding of the "green" concept and apply its standards in their construction projects. A green building will conserve resources, including energy, land, water and construction materials, limit pollution, protect the environment, help safeguard the health of community, said Prof. Nguyen Huu Dung of the Viet Nam Institute of Urban and Industry Environment. Participants stressed the need to pay special attention to installing wastewater treatment systems, minimising waste discharge and ensuring the quality of internal and external environments by reducing pollution to the maximum. Dung noted that environmental degradation as a result of wastewater discharge had reached alarming proportions at the moment, particularly in industrial parks, urban areas and buildings in HCM City and Ha Noi. There is an evident shortage of onsite wastewater treatment plants in many residential compounds, new townships, building towers and commercial complexes, he said. These places discharge untreated wastewater directly into the environment, he said. ‘Get serious' Dung informed the seminar of updated information about current water treatment regulations including Decision No 88 adjusting environmental fees for domestic wastewater generation and discharge in HCM City. He said the fees should be steep enough to deter violations. Joseph Azzarello, senior staff engineer at Kohler Co. a US-based firm that makes sanitary fittings, electric generators and small engines, said Viet Nam was a dynamic market with a strong growth rate that should seriously target building green buildings. He said Vietnamese builders and investors should seek the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a leading-edge system devised by the US Green Building Council. The LEED standard consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Green buildings have not only helped protect environment, but also brought an increase in return of investment for investors, Azzarello said. Nguyen Van Tat, deputy chairman of Viet Nam Association of Architects, said developers were concerned that applying sustainable technology in their projects would require more investment, raising it to two or three times the normal capital outlay. However, they should think of the advantages environmentally-friendly buildings confer, especially for large-scale projects, he said.

Mahagenco wants to convert loss-incurring thermal power stations/units into profit-making ones.  

The system combines 140 MW of renewable energy generation, 36 MWh of energy storage and a smart power transmission system.