Special Report
India falters on power transmission upgrade in FY20
India could add barely 50 per cent of the targeted power transmission line capacity in FY20, according to statistics recently released by Central Electricity Authority.
Major power distribution reforms on the cards
- Mar 14, 2020
Union power minister, R.K. Singh, was the chief guest at the mega event ELECRAMA 2020 that was held at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, during January 18-22, 2020. In his inaugural address, Singh discussed overall trends in the power sector, particularly highlighting concerns in the power distribution segment. The minister asserted that the government was working towards an early resolution of the problems faced by distribution utilities, and was confident that the new wave of reforms, proposed to be initiated soon, will make power distribution commercially viable and even profitable. This special story is based on R.K. Singh’s address.
Pursuing the distribution licensee model
- Feb 2, 2020
In a very significant recent development, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) awarded the letter of intent to Tata Power as the successful bidder to own the licence for the distribution and retail supply of electricity in Odisha’s five circles, together constituting Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU).
Schneider Electric opens first smart distribution centre in India
- Nov 26, 2019
Schneider Electric, on November 11, 2019, opened its first Smart Distribution Centre in India. The Smart Distribution Centre, located at Bhiwandi — the commercial hub of Mumbai, has been digitally transformed with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture to be more energy efficient and provide real time access to information right across the supply chain. Early results from this digitization initiative are showing expected energy savings of 10 to 12 per cent and an increase in logistics efficiency of 5 per cent at the site.
Power T&D: New thinking, new frontiers
- Sep 17, 2019
Apex industry body IEEMA (India Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association) recently held its Annual Convention 2019 in Mumbai, on September 17, 2019. The event, themed “Transformative Reforms,” saw the confluence of path breaking ideas coming from an erudite set of speakers and panelists. This story is based on insights gained during individual presentations and the panel discussion.
TBCB-based Green Energy Corridor projects taking off
- Sep 15, 2019
Power transmission projects, structured on the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism and associated with large-scale evacuation of renewable energy, are seen to be taking off, after a sustained period of lull, recent developments suggest.
Mega transmission projects see slowdown in FY19
- Jul 15, 2019
Large power transmission projects being developed under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route appear to be progressing very slowly. During FY19, not a single new project was awarded. This inference is based on an analysis done by T&D India, using data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Digitalization is the way forward
- Jun 17, 2019
Siemens recently held its “Innovation Day 2019” in Mumbai where top management personnel as well as technical experts gave detailed presentations on digitization, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and related topics. It was very clear that digitalization—as a philosophy with varying implications—is the way forward. From running machines efficiently to having a cleaner and healthier world, digitalization could positively influence human life, in ways that are quite unimaginable right now. This story by Venugopal Pillai is based on some striking points made during the presentations, and it attempts to bring readers a little closer to this all-pervasive phenomenon of digitalization.
Torrent Power plans Rs.500 crore capex in Dholera region
- Jun 1, 2019
Torrent Power expects capital expenditure of Rs.500 crore in the Dholera Special Industries Region (DSIR) for which the Gujarat-based company was given the mandate of an additional distribution licencee last year. Torrent Power expects the investment to made over the next five years, it said in a recent investor presentation filed on the stock exchanges.
Consolidation phase for private power transmission
- May 18, 2019
Independent power transmission line concessions, both at the regional and state level, are witnessing a phase of consolidation, notes Venugopal Pillai, in this special study.