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Anti-nuclear protesters held a series of large rallies in Japan's southwestern city of Fukuoka on Sunday.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is lending $170 million to build a new power plant in Thailand that will provide clean, affordable electricity to help meet the country’s increasing demand for supply. “This is the first large independent power producer (IPP) project to reach financial close in Thailand since the 2008 global economic crisis,” said Daniel Wiedmer, Investment Specialist in ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department. “It incorporates state-of-the-art technology to generate electricity far more efficiently than coal fired systems, which are the only domestic alternative for IPPs.” The 1,600 megawatt natural gas-fired plant, which will be built in Nong Saeng district north of Bangkok under a public private partnership arrangement, will help meet Thailand’s rapidly increasing appetite for electricity. By using clean burning, combined cycle technology to curb harmful carbon releases, the plant will avoid an estimated five million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be produced by coal-fired generators. Affordably priced power is crucial for supporting Thailand’s post global crisis economic rebound, for making Thai businesses competitive, and for expanding livelihood opportunities to help reduce poverty. A subsidiary of J-Power?Japan’s largest wholesale power supplier?will develop and operate the plant, with the electricity to be sold to the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Thai energy firm PTT Public Company will supply the gas, and a group of companies led by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the facilities. ADB’s participation and willingness to provide a long-term loan helped draw co-lending support from commercial banks at a similar tenor. The availability of long dated finance gives J-Power the ability to pay down the plant’s high upfront costs over a longer term, allowing it to provide low-cost energy to consumers in Thailand. ADB is heavily involved in clean energy development in Thailand where it is helping to finance two private sector solar power projects, including one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic plants in Lopburi. Alongside the investment by J-Power and ADB’s 23-year loan, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and commercial banks – Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., KASIKORNBANK PCL, and Siam Commercial.

The Asian Development Bank is lending $170 million to build a 1,600MW natural-gas fired power plant in Thailand.

India boosted its wind power maintenance technology by creating lubricants and sealants that helps windmilsl function properly.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said that there was no immediate impact on its ratings on Australian utility companies following Australia's carbon tax legislation to be implemented from July 1, 2012.

Chinese people and enterprises are greatly dissatisfied about U.S. attempts to blame Chinese exports for its sluggish development, according to Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang. Shen warned in the statement posted at the ministry's website that United States' anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into Chinese exports of solar panels could damage energy cooperation between the two countries and impede the progress of global efforts to deal with climate change. China reserves the right to adopt corresponding measures within the framework of the World Trade Organization, Shen said. The U.S. Department of Commerce said Wednesday that it will conduct an investigation to determine whether Chinese companies have been selling solar panels in the United States at unfair discounts and receiving illegal government subsidies. The U.S. probe would not only hurt Chinese solar panel enterprises, but also hamper U.S. exports to China, said Zhan Jie, a new energy analyst with Huachuang Securities. For the source of this story, please click here.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. and National Aluminium Company Limited have formed a Joint Venture to set up nuclear power plants across the country.

More than A$13 billion in government funds may be invested by Australia for clean energy that could boost large solar power stations.

India plans to have two gigawatts of solar power generation capacity by March 2013.

Electricity rates in Vietnam will remain unchanged this month, according to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Renewable Energy Corporation said it was unlikely to set up its manufacturing presence in Indiadue to unfavorable government policies.

Blame it on the 8.7% decline in the rupee.

Essar Energy Monday said it expects to complete three power projects by March next year that would increase its total generation capacity to 4,510 Mw. The company, a part of Ruias-led conglomerate Essar group, is also planning to float a sponsored ADR programme this year that would allow American investors to trade in Essar Energy shares. London-listed Essar Energy also has interests in oil and gas and owns the Vadinar oil refinery in Gujarat. “In Power, we expect to commission three projects, Mahan I, Salaya I and Vadinar P2, by end March 2012 which will increase our total generation capacity by 2,910 MW to 4,510 MW,” Essar Energy said in its interim management statement for the period ended September 30. “We expect to complete a further 7 power generation projects by the end of March 2014 to take our total generation capacity to 9,670 MW,” it noted. The 1,200 MW Salaya I and 510 MW Vadinar P2 projects are located in Gujarat while Mahan I is in Madhya Pradesh. According to the statement, the company is looking to initiate American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme, for which BNY Mellon has been appointed as the depository bank. “To further enhance the ability of a wide range of institutions to invest in Essar Energy, the company has decided to establish a Level 1 (Over-The-Counter) sponsored ADR programme. “… it is expected that the ADR programme will be in place before the end of 2011, opening up a new source of potential investors in Essar Energy,” it said. When contacted, an Essar spokesperson said the proposed ADR programme is just to allow US investors to trade in Essar Energy shares and that there would not be any kind of share issue or raising capital. As on September, Essar Energy’s net debt stood at USD 5,507 million, which is in line with its plans.  

With an installed capacity of over 14,150 MW, India is currently the fifth largest market in the world for wind energy. Estimates put the available potential for wind energy at around 65,000 Mw which leaves a lot of room for expansion. India is being considered as a market of the future by many global wind energy majors who are lining up to enter the market. With an estimated wind potential of 8,591 Mw, Karnataka produces 1,576.2 Mw according to the World Institute for Sustainable Energy. While this places the state behind others like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat where wind energy has taken off on a bigger scale, there are many small producers. Windmill management is no easy job, however, as industry experts point out, it is a huge investment of financial resources and planning. “Windmill maintenance is a very demanding sector, it is not very easy to get up there and fix problems whenever they occur as there are no lifts,” said Bhagwant Divate. “Windmills need to function for 20 years which is their average life span. During this time they see strain on all their parts due to varied velocities, vibrations and idle time, and lubrication and sealants play an important part,” he added. The height of the windmill increases each MW of extra power it generates. Some windmills can reach up to 80 m in height with blades that spin up to 22 times per minute. Blade manufacture is a science that ensures proper functioning of the windmill. “A minor crack in the blade before installation can run up a bill of crores in repairs if installed improperly. It is very important to use a proper release agent when manufacturing,” said Gerard Lourduraj, Chem Trend. The release agent helps in freeing the blade from the mould in which it is cast without causing cracks in the blade. “Proper management of financial resources is essential for small players, they are strained by land expenses, lack of regulatory framework in the state for power sales to other states and inadequate government incentives, investment in proper machinery is very important,” added Divate. Express News Service.  

Robert Rice has been appointed as China Sunenergy's chief sales, marketing and strategy officer as well as its vice president.

A top IAEA expert said nuclear scientists need to change the way they communicate with the people at large, particularly on safety aspects of an atomic power plant.