Solar Energy Corporation of India to Supervise Indian Federal Solar Program

31 Jan, 2012
Energy,Solar Energy

Solar Power in India has taken off under the ambitious JNNSM government subsidy scheme with almost 400 MW of Solar Capacity installed in 2011 . With various states like Gujarat, Karnataka coming up with aggressive solar subsidy schemes on their own as well, solar power capacity in India should surge by around 1 GW in 2012. This has made India one of the fastest growing solar markets in the globe right now.

India’s JNNSM scheme was managed by MNRE which is the Central Ministry for Renewable Power and NVVN which is the state owned utility’s NPTC trading arm . However note NTPC is a listed company and is getting into the production of solar power as well. So to have a regulator which is also a participant makes little sense. With the first phase of JNNSM to be complete next year, the scheme is being overhauled. The Indian government is going to turn over the supervision of its 20 GW by 2022 Solar Power scheme to a new entirty called Solar Energy Corporation of India.

JNNSM part 2 will start in 2013 and it will need more funding as it proposes to build 4-7 GW of capacity. The funding agency IREDA does not have the resources to finance such a big outgo which could easily see more than $5 billion in funding requirements. Note a number of international financial institutions like Exim Bank , ADB and KFW are already involved in funding solar energy in India.

JNNSM

he Indian Government’s launch of the ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission(JNNSM) was done with much fanfare with a target of reaching 20 GW of Solar Capacity by 2022 under 3 phases from the 81 MW currently.While the government had the best intentions and had laid down a well defined 10 year plan with subsidy support for both Solar Thermal and Solar PV Technology,it has already run into problems.Due to high interest the government went in for bidding of projects which led to irrationally low bidding from unknown firms.This has put the entire exercise in question with the the biggest private utility saying JNNSM is a failure.Without extensions of deadlines it looks highly unlikely whether the 37 winners will actually put up the plants.

JNNSM is divided into 3 phases with the ultimate goal of reaching grid parity with coal by 2030.I don’t know where they came with the 2030 figure as I think solar should reach grid parity much earlier and should be below coal cost much  before

1)Phase I (up to 2012/2013) – remaining period of 11th five yr plan & first yr of 12th yr plan Target of 1100 MW
2) Phase II (2013-2017) – remaining 4 yrs of 12th five yr plan Target of 3000-10000 MW
3) Phase III (2017-2022) – 13th five yr plan 20000 GW overall

Funding of the JNNSM will be done by

1) Renewable Energy Credits (REC) – State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC) to fix a minimum
percentage of energy purchase from renewable sources of energy

2) NTPC’s Trading Arm NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd ) is chosen as the nodal agency for entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with solar power  developers.NTPC will mix expensive solar power with cheaper coal power .

3) Incentives

  • Zero import duty on capital equipment, raw materials and excise duty
    exemption
  • Low interest rate loans, priority sector lending
  • Coal tax
  • Budgetary Support for MNRE though 2011 Budget has not given anything
  • UNFCCC Funds – Again not certain as no international agreement ( another pipe dream)

Why European Union might have to Rescind the Green Tax on Airlines as India,China and USA gang up

11 Jan, 2012
Climate Change

Europe which has been one of the greenest regions on earth in terms of promoting green energy and reducing carbon emissions is set to face a severe test. Europe is going to impose a Carbon Tax on Airlines flying into the region from 2012 . This has got the other major countries seeing red, with most of them planning retaliation. This Green Tax will add around $3 billion per year in terms of extra fees from airlines or around $6 per extra passenger. While airlines from USA and Canada approached the court, airlines from India and China are refusing to pay the tax outright. Indian airlines won’t supply their carbon data while China won’t pay the taxes . Note European Union is isolated in this fight against climate change . Though Carbon Trading is not a perfect system and open to abuses, at least it makes a pretense to fight global warming. On the other hand,these other countries have no plan or intention to fight climate change.

With global public opinion focused on the economic crisis , governments don’t care a hoot for a problem that is a decade away . So instead of enacting some policies to reduce carbon emissions from airlines which is around 3% of the carbon emissions or around 300 million tons, they want to browbeat the European Union.

Why European Union might have to Rescind the Green Tax

1) Retaliation by other countries on European Airlines like putting up overflight fees

2) Action against the European Airline Industry (Airbus), if countries like India and China prefer Boeing for their aircraft orders

3) Flights will be diverted away from Europe to avoid the Green Tax. The main beneficiaries will be Emirates, Ethihad over Lufthanse and British Airways on transworld flights

4) Ruling against European Union in international courts against violation of international airline treaties

EU stops the Free Carbon Lunch – Airline Prices to Increase to factor in Carbon Emissions

Airline Ticket Prices are set to go up as European Union implements its ETS Scheme on the Airline Industry from 2012.Note EU as a region has been one of the most active players in the climate change arena  and has an active carbon emissions market.Though this market has encouraged fraud and profiteering by unscrupulous players making it a good target for the fossil fuel lobby,the principle to fight against global warming is a good one.Compare that to USA,Canada and Japan who have done nothing to fight climate change despite the wealth of these nations.Canada has been guilty of abandoning the Kyoto Plan after missing its previous target.It has faced no penalties as it is not legally enforceable.The country continues down the pollute as much as you can pushing oil extraction from tar sands which is much more dangerous to the environment than normal oil drilling.

Europe’s Doomed Flight of Decarbonizing Fancy

The decision to include the airlines – responsible for just 3 percent of global CO2 emissions – in the EU cap-and-trade scheme came in the wake of the failure to agree a global agreement. While airlines will only pay for 15 percent of their emission allowances in 2012, around €256 at current market prices, from 2013 they will have to pay 18 percent. The airline industry estimates the cost over the first 8 years will be in the region of €17 billion ($23.8 billion). Although the carbon pollution bill kicked-in on January 1, 2012, invoices will not be sent to airlines until 2013; which is why non-EU governments are considering their next moves carefully.

At the heart of the “legal options” for the airline lawyers is the international agreement regulating air commerce known as the Chicago Accords. More prosaically known as the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, its opening section specifically states, “The contracting states recognize that every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.” The new EU carbon regulations clearly violate the terms of this agreement by seeking to regulate air flight above nations outside Europe.

EU stops the Free Carbon Lunch – Airline Prices to Increase to factor in Carbon Emissions

3 Jan, 2012
Climate Change,Europe

Airline Ticket Prices are set to go up as European Union implements its ETS Scheme on the Airline Industry from 2012.Note EU as a region has been one of the most active players in the climate change arena  and has an active carbon emissions market.Though this market has encouraged fraud and profiteering by unscrupulous players making it a good target for the fossil fuel lobby,the principle to fight against global warming is a good one.Compare that to USA,Canada and Japan who have done nothing to fight climate change despite the wealth of these nations.Canada has been guilty of abandoning the Kyoto Plan after missing its previous target.It has faced no penalties as it is not legally enforceable.The country continues down the pollute as much as you can pushing oil extraction from tar sands which is much more dangerous to the environment than normal oil drilling.

Not only have other countries not done anything to curb emissions they have protested against EU as well for imposing carbon emission taxes on airlines.Note airlines are a big carbon emitter and this part can be easily be avoided through use of biofuels and carbon mitigation efforts.However everyone wants a free carbon lunch.In my view it is a great move and other polluting industries everywhere should be made to pay for the global common goods.The voracious use and exploitation of world resources has to stop sometime .

Gulf carriers say EU scheme may inflate fares: Report

Fast-growing Gulf airlines Emirates andEtihad Airways warned of higher ticket prices on Tuesday as they look to pass on costs of a European Union carbon trading scheme to passengers. Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, Dubai’s flag carrier and the world’s largest long-haul airline, told the Gulf News newspaper that the company would spend over 40 million euros ($51.93 million) in 2012 to purchase additional emission allowances. The EU says the new scheme, which already applies to other industries, is the fairest way to cope with aviation’s contribution to global warming.

However, it has sparked a trade spat, with the United States, China, India and others accusing it of infringing their sovereignty.

Note USA has completely given up its carbon emission plan as well despite high hopes with the election of Obama.Most firms and exchanges that were set up have closed down.EU carbon credit prices are touching new lows as the apathy towards global warming keep growing.It will only take a massive crisis to wake everyone.Lets hope its not too late.

Curtains Fall on only US Carbon Trading Chicago Climate Exchange on Republican Ascendancy

Chicago Climate Exchange the only USA Exchange to allow trading of Carbon Emission Credits has been shut down by its owner ICE.While I am no fan of Carbon Emissions Cap and Trade Policy as it gives rise to Frauds and  Misplaced Incentives,the mechanism is one of the popular subsidy tools in combating Global Climate Change.Note Carbon Cap and Trading was on the Policy Agenda of the Obama Administration,however a deadlock in the Senate prevented any move in 2010.The US has been a huge laggard in the global warming fight and  with the Republican Ascendancy following the MidTerm Polls,things are  set to stay the same.Despite the BP Oil Spill and Record Global Temperatures,US remains blind to its climate obligations.With US reluctance,the Climate Change has been in Cold Storage with little progress  expected in Cancun Meet.

European Carbon Trading Market goes into a Huge Slump on Greek concerns,post 2012 Kyoto uncertainity

28 Jun, 2011
Climate Change,Europe

The European Carbon Trading Market which is the biggest cap and trade market in the world has gone into a monster slump with carbon credit prices having fallen to around 10 euros which is the lowest since March 2009 when almost every global asset had fallen to multi year lows.The trigger for the correction in prices is the future of the EUA scheme in which major carbon emitters in Europe are restricted to quotas and have to buy carbon credits if they exceed their limits.A huge amounts of United Nations CERs are sold into this market as they are allowed to to so.This has led to the mushrooming of a huge growth of carbon consultancies in India and China which help projects in obtaining these lucrative CERs.Note this has recently become highly controversial with a number of frauds happening in trading of these carbon credits.Top investment banks have been convicted of fraud and big sellers of CERs like the HFC producing companies have made ludicrous windfalls of hundreds of millions of Euros.Some of these companies have now started focusing in winning these CERs which are much more profitable than their core operations.

With the global talks on climate change failing and none of the major countries interesting in doing anything about global warming what will happen to the post 2012 Kyoto Framework which allowed the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a big question.This plus the upcoming debt default/restructuring of Greece has thrown the entire future of carbon trading in Europe into major uncertainity.This has led to a 33% fall in the price of carbon credits in the last month as fear grips the major participants.Note in my opinion CDM and Carbon Trading are one of the worst thought out mechanism to control climate change and have given risen to profiteering and frauds and not much to tackle climate change.

Carbon offsets fall below 10 euros, new 2-year low

International carbon offsets fell below 10 euros per metric ton for the first time since March 2009 early on Monday morning, but traders were unsure whether carbon prices were poised to drift lower or stage a rally.

The ultimate fear is for the robustness of the whole EU project in the event of a possible Greek and other sovereign defaults, given that emissions trading is a creation of EU states.

CERC to increase Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) frequency compliance to facilitate lumpy REC Trading

31 May, 2011
Green Investing

Central Energy Regulatory Commission (CERC),India’s Electricity Regulator is planning to increase the frequency of compliance of the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for states from an annual affair to a bi or quad annual affair.Note Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Trading in India started in 2011 to facilitate the development of the Renewable Energy Industry in India.According to the RPO,a certain percentage of a state’s electricity generation must come from clean energy sources.States and utilities which can’t meet their  renewable energy requirements can buy REC from Indian Energy Exchanges to meet their needs.Power Exchanges in India have already set the ball rolling in terms of trading in RECs.

However the trading has been lacklustre as there is no urgency for states to buy REC until the end of the fiscal year in March when they have to meet their compliance numbers.This has led to low illiquid trading of Renewable Energy Certificate which has made price discovery difficult.Also it acts as a major problem for green energy producers as they can’t get remunerative prices as the market does not exist in a proper form.Note the REC Trading in India only takes place on the last Wednesday of each month.Non-Solar and Solar RECs are the two types of REC being traded.Note CERC seems to be proactive in developing the market which is essential if it wants to meet its own target of 15% of generation of electricity from renewable energy.

States may have to buy renewable power more often

The Central Energy Regulatory Commission (CERC) proposes to spread the renewable power purchase obligation of states staggered over one year and at specified intervals.The proposal comes as a move to make renewable power trading on the exchanges more vibrant and gain volumes. Officials explained that states have to take five per cent of their entire annual power requirement from renewable resources, a mandatory obligation, called as renewable power purchase obligation (RPO).

He further aid this was no way for any market to develop. “It is not only detrimental to the market and price discovery but also for the renewable energy generators who could not even recover cost this way.Thus, the proposal envisages making the five per cent RPO staggered twice or four times annually. “It is proposed to make it mandatory for the states to meet a certain percentage of their entire five per cent RPO biannually or four times a year. Discussions are underway with various stakeholders right now,” said an official.Besides, CERC has also decided to audit the price discovery mechanism being used at the country’s two power exchanges — Indian Energy Exchange and Power Exchange of India.

Solar Mission of India Explained – Objectives,Targets,R&D,Manufacturing,Three Phases of JNNSM,Off Grid Solar

7 Apr, 2011
Energy,Solar Energy,Solar Heaters

India launched its Solar Mission by the name of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) with a lofty target of 20 GW by 2022.The Solar Mission has been divided into 3 phases and promotes solar energy installation,solar industry,solar heaters and off grid solar.Note the Solar Mission provides subsidies and incentives to promote the use of Solar Energy from the Central Government.Different States such as Gujarat have enacted laws to support solar energy on their own which is separate from the Federal Target for Solar Power.I think the 20 GW target for 2022 is very low and will be easily exceeded but that is a separate discussion.The Solar Mission is not a rigid document but is a work in motion as the second and third phases will be implemented taking in the feedback and success of the first phase of the Solar Mission which has already announced the Solar Project Winners.

Objectives of the Solar Mission in India

1) Solar Lighting-Deploy 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas

2) Solar Heaters – Achieve 15 million sq. meters  by 2017 & 20 million by -2022 of solar thermal collector area

3) Solar Manufacturing – Global Leader in Solar Manufacturing ( Seems a Pipe Dream right now) with Targets 4-5 GW equivalent of installed capacity by 2020 including setting up of dedicated manufacturing capacities for poly silicon material to annually make about 2 GW capacity of solar cells

4) Off Grid Solar Applications – Solar Mission has set a target of 1000 MW by 2017

Three Phases of JNNSM

First Phase

1) First Phase (How it has fared so far)

Smaller 2 MW PV Projects

India has set a target of 1100 MW for the first phase with around 100 MW allocated for 2 MW projects which have the best chance of being built.Note the 2 MW project winners are already flipping the projects as many non-serious players won the projects.These companies were speculators and has no intention of building the plants anyway

Migration Projects

It has also allowed 80 MW projects to be transferred to JNNSM rate which has led to strong state objections.The State nodal agencies have also started objecting to the tariff policy as 80 MW of Solar Projects were awarded the base FIT of Rs 17.91 as they were transferred to the Indian Federal Subsidy from their initial PPAs with individual states.Note these solar project developers who have managed to get transferred will get tariffs which are almost 60% higher than the lowest bidder for the 5 MW Solar Project at Rs 10.95.This will also mean a much large taxpayer outgo to the 16 Project Winners for the 80 MW than for the 150 MW projects

Larger PV 5 Projects and Bigger Solar Thermal Plants

The rest of the 620 MW projects are in serious trouble with no major construction happening.The developers might find it profitable to lose their deposit money rather than building the plant.The government will have to potentially bailout these companies if it wants to see its Solar Mission be successful.While the first phase is already in trouble the government is already thinking of auctioning another 296 MW of solar projects in April.Don’t know how that will help as the majority of the First Phase projects are already in trouble

2) Phase II (2013-2017) – Remaining 4 yrs of 12th five yr plan Target of 3000-10000 MW
3) Phase III (2017-2022) – 13th five yr plan 20000 GW overall

Funding of Solar Mission and Role of CERC and NVVN

In order to facilitate grid connected solar power generation in the first phase, a mechanism of “bundling” relatively
expensive solar power with power from the unallocated quota of the Government of India (Ministry of Power) generated
at NTPC coal based stations, which is relatively cheaper, has been proposed by the Mission. This “bundled power”
would be sold to the Distribution Utilities at the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) determined prices.
The Mission also provides for NTPC’s Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd or NVVN to be the designated Nodal Agency for
procuring the solar power by entering into a Power Purchase Agreement or PPA with Solar Power Generation Project
Developers who will be setting up Solar Projects during the next three years, i.e., before March 2013 and are connected
to the grid at a voltage level of 33 kV and above. For each MW of installed capacity of solar power for which a PPA is
signed by NVVN, the Ministry of Power (MoP) shall allocate to NVVN an equivalent amount of MW capacity from the
unallocated quota of NTPC coal based stations and NVVN will supply this “bundled” power to the Distribution Utilities.
This Scheme is referred to as the ‘Bundling Scheme’ in these guidelines. – Source MNRE

Solar Manufacturing

Targets 4-5 GW of capacity by 2020 by setting up of dedicated manufacturing capacities with 2 GW of Solar Cells.Manufacturing to get incentives like Zero import duty on capital equipment,Low interest rate loans,Incentives under Special Incentive Package.The JNNSM also hopes to promote of Solar Thermal Technology through setting up of  2-3 large solar manufacturing tech parks.

Solar Research and Development

  • National Centre of Excellence (NCE) to be established
  • Research Council to be set for Guidance
  • 50 startups to be funded to develop solar related technologies
  • Government Fellowship program to train 100 scientists
  • Ultimate Aim to reduce solar costs and BOS costs to achieve grid parity

Solar Heater Incentives

Off Grid Solar Subsidies

The main objectives of this section of the scheme are:

  1. To promote off-grid applications for meeting the targets set in the JNNSM.
  2. To create awareness about the usage of solar systems
  3. To encourage and promote sustainable business models
  4. To support channel partners and potential beneficiaries
  5. To organize consultancy services and seminars, awareness campaigns
  6. To help replace kerosene and diesel, wherever possible
  1. For off-grid  Solar PV Installations of a maximum capacity of 100 kW per site, and for mini-grids for remote electrification with a maximum capacity of up to 250 kW the subsidies are as follows
  2. Subsidy, which is calculated on the basis of a cost benchmarked by MNRE, is notionally equal to 30% of benchmarked cost of solar power systems. For 2010 it is fixed at Rs. 90 per Wp with battery storage, and at around Rs. 70 per Wp without battery storage. These subsidies will be changed every year.
  3. Solar PV plants in micro-grid mode/local distribution network, to meet unmet community demand for power in unelectrified rural areas, will be provided a capital subsidy of Rs 150/watt  In special category states of North East Inida, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, a capital subsidy of  90% of installation cost .In Border areas and islands like  Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands  the subsidy availed will also be 90% for solar PV installations.Note soft loans of 5% interest rate can also be availed.

Role of Different Entities in the Solar Power Mission

  1. RESCOs (renewable energy service providing companies): These companies install, own and operate the renewable energy systems.
  2. Financial and Microfinance institutions: These institutions are mainly into providing loans to the consumer and accessing the interest subsidies through refinancing
  3. Financial Integrators: These firms serve the manufactures and service providers by integrating different sources of finance available for them.
  4. System Integrators: These entities are the ones which provide design, supply, integration and installation and O&M to the clients.
  5. Program Administrators: Administrators include central and state ministries and departments, state nodal agencies, utilities, PSUs and reputed NGOs. These bodies are responsible for implementing the scheme.

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