Eb's october november 2013 issue by EnergyBlitz

IN BETWEEN Renewable Energy Certificate (REC): A Renewable Energy Market Experience By Rajesh Kumar Mediratta

ESCOs: The need of the hour for Energy Efficiency in India By Shishir Athale and Mohan Chavan from Sudnya Industrial Services Pvt. Ltd, Pune

VIEW POINT: The Three-Decade Delay of a Nuclear Waste Repository By Alan Caruba

The Future for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greenâ&#x20AC;? in the GCC's Energy Sector By Staff Writer

New Technology: Solar panel made with ion cannon is cheap enough to challenge fossil fuels By Sebastian Anthony

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Global News Round Up: Solar power export to Europe planned by KSA

Middle East is targeting more than 40 GW of solar energy by 2032

Market and industry highlights and ongoing trends Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs And Promoters Association (KREEPA)

World Future Energy Mission 2014 UAE ratifies IRENA Headquarters Agreement: Agreement is final milestone in the formation of Permanent Missions for Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency

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ENERGY

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OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2013

Advisory Board Dr. A. Jagadeesh | India Dr. Bhamy Shenoy | USA Er. Darshan Goswami | USA Elizabeth H. Thompson | Barbados Pincas Jawetz | USA Editorial Board Salman Zafar | India Editor & Publisher M. R. Menon Business & Media P. Roshini Book Design Shamal Nath Circulation Manager Andrew Paul Printed and Published by M.R.Menon at Midas Offset Printers, Kuthuparamba, Kerala Editorial Office 'Pallavi' Kulapully Shoranur 679122, Kerala (E-Mail: editor.energyblitz@gmail.com) Disclaimer: The views expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and the Editorial team | energy blitzdoes not take responsibility for the contents and opinions.energy blitz will not be responsible for errors, omissions or comments made by writers, interviewers or Advertisers.Any part of this publication may be reproduced with acknowledgment to the author and magazine. Registered and Editorial Office 'Pallavi, Kulapully, Shoranur 679122, Kerala, India Tel: +91-466-2220852/9995081018 E-mail: editor.energyblitz@gmail.com Web: energyblitz.webs.com

India is already the world's 4th largest consumer of energy. Experts believe that the current energy demand could increase two-fold by 2030. Import dependence has also constantly been rising. Already more than 70% of petroleum is being imported. It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the fuel demand, especially for gas power plants. National energy supply is not able to keep pace with the current 6% growth rate of the Indian economy. In order to keep import dependency in the conventional energy sector as low as possible, strategies for enhancing energy efficiency and utilizing renewable energy are increasingly becoming the focus of India's energy policy. The question of energy efficiency is perhaps one of the most important issues facing the human race as a whole. The reasons for this are numerous. Not only is energy efficiency a sound economic platform, but also a vital part of an overall approach to the way in which mankind relates to the environment around them. In short, energy efficiency can be seen as a necessary universal philosophy that must be adopted in order to ensure the future of the planet. The economic aspects of adopting an agenda of energy efficiency across the board are themselves founded in practical sense. The resources that are used to fuel transportation and provide power for all of the various functions that have become an integral part of the way in which the modern world operates are not as endless as was once believed. Natural gas and fossil fuel sources that have been relied on so heavily for over a century are being depleted from a lack of energy efficiency at rapidly increasing rates, due to the demands of booming populations of developed nations and infrastructure improvements in developing nations. Further research and development of alternative means of producing needed energy provide a means of increasing energy efficiency to conserve existing resources, while at the same time reducing energy costs overall. Advancements in bio-fuel technology, wind and hydraulic power sources, solar energy, and new designs in fuel cells and electric batteries for transportation have already been proven to increase energy efficiency. In time, the costs associated with these forms of power will decrease as they become more integrated into the current global infrastructure.

Ramanathan Menon

Renewable Energy Certificate (REC):

A Renewable Energy Market Experience By Rajesh Kumar Mediratta With the vision of promoting renewable energy in the country, seeking development of grid interactive renewable power and having serious concerns for improving energy security, India launched National Action Policy on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008. NAPCC suggests increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix by at least 15% by 2020. Also, in order to promote under the JNNSM, the Indian government aimed to develop 20,000 MW of solar energy by 2022. Section 86 (1)(e) of Electricity Act 2003, empowers SERCs to set targets for distribution companies to procure certain percentage of their total power requirement from renewable energy sources, further National Tariff Policy 2006 reiterates the SERC's to fix 'minimum' percentage of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) to be procured by non-conventional energy sources. Thus, renewable energy has been promoted in India through number of policies and regulatory provisions but challenges such as variability of generation, temporal fluctuations, and geographical dispersion of resources restrict enhanced integration of renewable. To resolve these constraints Forum of Regulators in association with CERC and SERC institutionalized Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism.

REC mechanism is a market based instrument to promote renewable energy and facilitate compliance of RPO. It seeks to address mismatch between availability

of renewable energy sources and the requirement of the obligated entities to meet their renewable purchase obligation by purchasing green attributes of renewable energy in the form of RECs. One REC represents 1MWh of energy generated from renewable sources. The RE generators will have two options either to sell the renewable energy at preferential tariff fixed by the concerned Electricity Regulatory Commission (such generators are not eligible entities) or to sell the electricity generation and environmental attributes associated with RE generation separately. On choosing the second option, the environmental attributes can be exchanged in the form of REC. Price of electricity component would be equivalent to weighted average power purchase cost of the distribution company including short-term power purchase but excluding renewable power purchase cost. The obligated entities are the distribution companies, open access consumers, captive power plants (CPPs) who will have option of purchasing the REC to meet their Renewable purchase obligation (RPO).

Salient Features of REC Mechanism CERC in its order dated 23rd August, 2011 revised the

floor & forbearance price for the period April, 2012 to March, 2017. The revised prices are as follows:

Procedure to participate in REC mechanism CERC has approved the procedures for RE generators intending to participate in REC Mechanism in June, 2010. The brief description of the procedures is as given below: ?Accreditation: This is the process by which the State Nodal Agency (SNA) authorizes the Renewable Energy Project of the concerned Renewable Energy Generating Company and recommends it for registration. -RE Generator can be accredited not before 6 months before its date of commissioning. -Accreditation valid for 5 years. -Separate applications for multiple RE generator projects from same applicant. ?Registration with the Central Agency: National Load Dispatch Center (NLDC) is the Central Agency responsible for registration of RE generators, issuance of RECs, maintaining accounts and repository and any other function incidental to the implementation of REC Mechanism. Registration with the Central Agency is mandatory to participate in REC mechanism. -The registration granted by NLDC is valid for a period of 5 years. ?Issuance of REC: Within three months from electricity generation, an RE producer shall apply to Central Agency for issuance of RECs in its account. Upon verification of actual electricity generation from respective SLDC, Central Agency, within fifteen days of

application, issues RECs into applicant's account. -Electricity Generation and Renewable Energy Accounting (REA): The electricity generated from RE

project is injected into the grid. The metering of quantum of electricity injected into the grid and energy accounting will be done by the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC). ?Trading of RECs: RECs are traded only through CERC approved Power Exchange and not in any other manner. The shell life of a REC is 730 days i.e. it has to be traded within two years from the date of issuance.

Current Scenario The installed grid connected renewable energy in our country is now 28,905 and its source wise generation is shown in the figure below: The share of RE capacity registered under REC mechanism is increasing day-by-day. As on 3rd October2013, more than 77 lakh RECs have been issued in total and 31 REC trading sessions have taken place. Currently 837 projects having capacity of 4,138 have been accredited under State Nodal Agency out of which 781 projects with an aggregate capacity of 3800 MW have been registered under the REC mechanism. As of now total 1969 participants are registered in the REC segment at IEX out of this,504 are eligible entities (RE Generators),1452 are Obligated Entities (DISCOMS, Open Access Consumers & Captive Generators ) and 13 are registered as Voluntary Entities. At IEX more than 31.5 lakh RECs have been traded till September 2013.The REC trade of the last month held on

25th September'13 saw the highest REC Non -Solar sell bids of 23, 25,171 as well as highest REC solar sell bids of 37,028 out of which highest Solar RECs of 5,880 were traded during this session. A graph showing the total

REC volume traded as of now is shown below:

in the market is 47,398 and thus the total inventory of 37, 66,465 RECs are lying in the market. The graphs shown

The demand and supply gap of RECs in the market is increasing and have shown major gap in the Non -Solar RECs leading to the inventory of 37,35,073 Non-Solar RECs in the market. The volume of Solar RECs unsold

below illustrate demand and supply for solar and non solar RECs available in the market.

REC market challenges and its way forward

Equipping SNAs

Compliance enforcement and monitoring

Provisions are required to enable SNAs to undertake the responsibility of ensuring compliance by introducing accountability provisions. A forum of State Nodal Agencies (FoSNA) may be formed under MNRE to review, discuss, share experiences and best practices, and formulate model templates to encourage RPO compliance. Furthermore, the SNAs (State Nodal Agencies) must maintain a database of the obligated entities and also provide periodic updates on their compliance status on their website. Additionally, the Government for its part may chalk out a scheme to incentivize the states that are compliant on the RPO front. The incentives could be in the form of financial incentives from the Central Government. This would create competition within the states and would push the under-performing states to take ardent steps to fulfill their RPO.

The slackness on the compliance front is reflected in the REC Market, particularly the non solar RECs where the supply is in abundance but demand has not been keeping pace. A quick analysis of REC/RPO regulations across states as notified by the respective SERCs reveals that almost all regulations have a provision to impose penalty on the obligated entities if they fail to fulfill RPO compliance. A majority of regulations have proposed penalty at REC ceiling price. However, the irony of the situation is that none of the SERCs have invoked penal provisions mentioned in their regulations. As a result, the obligated entities do not accord much importance to fulfilling compliance. In case of cash strapped utilities, mechanism to finance RPO fulfillment through NCEF could be put in place instead of relaxing the regulations. Quarterly RPO compliance in place of annual compliance might be a step in the right direction. In order to build a sustainable REC mechanism and achieve the desired level of penetration of renewable energy, stronger enforcement is crucial lest the demand is likely to remain lackluster. Recent order by MERC on MRV sets good practices and can be adopted by other states as well.

Level playing field for Vintage Projects With the capex (capital expenditure) going down for Solar PV, floor price for S-RECs will also decrease, to safeguard project developers and their investments made earlier there is a need to introduce a Vintage Based Multiplier where, the old generator gets more REC for 1 MWh of electricity produced. This can be calculated based on the decrease in the floor price i.e. Multiplier =

Rajesh Kumar Mediratta has over 25 years experience in apex organizations of India's power sector. He was with Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the apex planning organization, for about 8 years as Assistant Director. He worked with Western Regional Load Despatch Centre, POWERGRID (a Regional System Operator) for next 10 years. He played key role in implementing ABT (availability based tariff a new Settlement Systems at regional level), the first region in the country to implement ABT. He has played key role in commencing first power exchange in India i.e., Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and managed its Business Development and held other key roles in commencing the exchange. He has been with IEX since its inception in year 2007. He has to his credit several papers on power markets, commercial mechanism, power system operation and settlement systems presented at international and national conferences. Mr. Mediratta holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA (Finance). He is currently holding the position of Director (Business Development) at IEX. His contact email: rajesh.mediratta@iexindia.com

ESCOs: The need of the hour for Energy Efficiency in India By Shishir Athale and Mohan Chavan from Sudnya Industrial Services Pvt. Ltd, Pune Abstract: An ESCo is a company that provides integrated energy services to its customers (mainly large energy users, but also utilities), which may include implementing energyefficiency improvement projects, on a turnkey basis. An ESCo provides performance and savings guarantees, and its remuneration is directly tied to the energy savings achieved. An ESCo ensures that savings are achieved through its projects because they are focussed on and motivated to ensure large savings that can be sustained. Since energy efficiency improvement is their primary business, projects are more likely to be implemented than through in-house teams where such activity is a secondary or even a tertiary responsibility. There are some barriers to the growth of ESCos in India, but these can be overcome. ESCos can help Indian industry become cost competitive in the global marketplace. Barriers to Energy Efficiency Improvement: There has been a great interest in energy efficiency improvement since the first oil price shock in the early seventies, and recently interest has heightened further because of the global warming effects of high energy use. This three decade long experience in implementing energy efficiency projects in the OECD countries has provided substantial documentation of both the economic and the environmental benefits of adopting energy efficiency improvement measures. Yet, even in these developed economies, there remain a number of barriers to more widespread application of energy efficiency measures. Those associated with energy efficiency related work in India will identify similar barriers here. These include: 1.Customer inertia: Many facility owners and managers realize that opportunities to save energy and lower costs may exist, but they never move forward with them. Others do not perceive the need, or feel a sense of urgency, to implement energy efficiency measures. It is a low priority compared with other mission objectives. 2.Lack of technical resources: Managers often lack detailed energy consumption information about their facilities to help them understand their own energy and infrastructure needs as well as to identify and implement more beneficial energy savings choices. They also may lack the analytical tools to determine whether their facility is a good candidate for an energy efficiency retrofit and the technical expertise to implement a retrofit using existing staff. 3.Absence of focus: Energy efficiency is not a core functional area. Many organizations have competent and knowledgeable technical staff that can successfully

implement energy efficiency improvement programmes. However, their core functions and responsibilities are quite different: maintenance, or production. Given this emphasis they do not have the time or other resources necessary to successfully develop and implement energy efficiency improvement projects. 4.Poor understanding of project synergies: Most facility owners and managers are not aware that comprehensive energy efficiency projects can meet multiple objectives. Energy efficiency retrofits not only decrease energy use and costs; but they also improve the facility infrastructure, lower operating and maintenance costs, reduce environmental impacts and improve comfort levels. In many instances energy efficiency helps a facility owner to improve its competitiveness by lowering operating costs. 5.Capital Constraints and Unattractive Hurdle Rates: Often, facility owners are leery of taking on long-term debt. Because of this, they are unwilling to undertake energy efficiency projects even though the debt required to finance the projects would be paid out of the energy savings. Additionally, many facilities, particularly in the commercial and industrial sectors, expect a higher rate of return on capital invested in energy efficiency projects than that of projects undertaken as a part of the facility's core mission. In many cases this means an energy efficiency project will be rejected outright, though the financial returns on the investments are similar. 6.CEOs & CFOs are not interested in Energy Efficiency Improvement: Perhaps the greatest barrier to energy efficiency improvement in India is that this is still considered to be the engineer's domain, and CEOs and CFOs are not yet aware of the potential that energy efficiency improvement has to improve the profitability of their companies. A study in the late 1990s showed that the average energy cost of companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange was 5% on sales; the average profit before tax of these companies was also about 5% on sales! It is possible to reduce energy costs by 25% or more through concerted efforts. This translates as a 25% (or greater) improvement in the profit before tax without assuming market and financial risks associated with introduction of new products or attempting to increase market share. The Indian cement industry, where CEOs have been interested in energy efficiency because of business reasons, in 20 years has transformed from being one of the world's most inefficient cement businesses, to one where international benchmarks are Indian companies. Energy audits may draw the attention of management to areas that might qualify for improvement and investment, but they do not ensure (for reasons mentioned above) that measures are actually

implemented to save energy. Some solution other than in-house development and implementation of projects is necessary if the Indian economy is to become energy efficient. (Presently the energy intensity of the Indian economy is about 50% more than the world average, and India being a large energy user in absolute terms, contributes significantly to the world average.) One answer is an ESCo. What is an ESCO? Energy Services Companies (ESCos) originated in France before the Second World War when engineers evolved this mechanism as a means to providing expert services to reduce heating bills of property owners and occupiers that could be paid from savings. The concept moved from Europe to the USA in the 1970s. Thanks to the pressure from Regulators who demanded that Electric Utilities adopt Demand Side Management and undertake Integrated Resource Planning before sanctioning the costs of new power plants as part of the electricity rates, ESCos became popular. Many Utilities themselves established or took over ESCos and this business model became quite successful after an initial period of evolution. A recent estimate of the US ESCo market is US$ 6 billion (mainly under the US Federal Government sponsored Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)). There are over 100 active ESCos in that country. From the USA the concept has travelled to many countries and there is a great interest in ESCos in emerging market countries. An ESCo designs, implements and finances energy efficiency and energy conservation projects on behalf of its customers on a guaranteed performance basis. The project design is such that the savings will usually be large enough to service the debt assumed to implement the measures and leave a surplus that is shared between the customer and the ESCo. An ESCo risks its payments on the performance of the measures implemented and the equipment installed. Because the payments to an ESCo are contingent upon the magnitude of the actual savings,

ESCos are often called Performance Contractors. Some ESCos may even finance projects, recovering their investment from the resulting savings. In other words an ESCo is a single-window solution to all aspects of energy efficiency improvement. A typical ESCo project includes the following elements: * Investment grade energy audit; * Identification of possible energy saving and efficiency improving actions; * Comprehensive engineering and project design and specifications; * Guarantee of the results by proper contract clauses * Code compliance verification and guarantee; * Procurement and installation of equipment; * Project management and commissioning; * Facility and equipment operation & maintenance for the contract period; * Monitoring and verifications of the savings results; and * Project financing. While the ESCo will ensure all the above actions, the ESCo may not necessarily conduct all the work itself. Some work can be and is subcontracted; however, the ESCo has to ensure project implementation and be responsible for the result. Financing of ESCO projects? A number of financing options are available for Energy Performance Contract Projects. These include: * Bank Financing * Direct Customer Financing * Public Financing (bonds) * ESCo or third party financing No matter which option is used to finance the project, the financing of the project is ensured through two main types of contracts: * Shared Savings, and * Guaranteed Savings.

Shared Savings:

Shared Savings: Under a shared savings structure the ESCo finances the project, usually by borrowing money from one or more third parties. This structure is much less common than the guaranteed savings structure. In the case of shared savings, the ESCo assumes not only the performance risk, but the financial risk as well (including the underlying customer credit risk). The customer assumes no financial obligation other than to pay a percentage of the actual savings to the ESCo over a specified period of time. This obligation is not considered debt and does not appear on the customer's balance sheet. The portion of savings paid to the ESCo is always higher for shared savings than the guaranteed savings projects, reflecting the ESCo's significantly greater risk and expense for borrowing money.

depending on the degree of risk assumed and the extent of services provided by the ESCo. It is important to note that in a typical guaranteed savings project, the ESCo has no contractual relationship with the bank or leasing company. The ESCo's guarantee is to the customer, and is a guarantee of performance (that the project will result in enough cost savings to repay the loan assumed to finance it), not a guarantee of payment. As a consequence, the bank or leasing company confines its risk analysis to the customer's general credit standing. The financial institution may regard the performance guarantee as a form of credit enhancement.

Since the ESCo is a service company, it typically has few assets that it can offer as a security to a lender. To add to this, the ESCo assumes the risk of non-performance of the measures as well as the credit risk of the customer. This makes borrowings by ESCos expensive. As a commercial entity, the ESCo has no option but to recover this cost from its customers, and this results in higher share of the savings going to the ESCo: something not quite in the customers best interest. For this reason this model was found to be less attractive as ESCo markets matured. The Guaranteed Savings system overcomes this hurdle.

ESCos prefer the guaranteed savings structure for three general reasons: 1. A third party financier more qualified in credit assessment than most ESCos, bears the customer credit risk. 2. This structure keeps the ESCo's own balance sheet clear of project debt. Thus, it imposes the lowest debt service cost overall because the bank or leasing company provides the based on the creditworthiness of the customer. 3. By segregating credit risk from performance risk for the ESCo, the guaranteed savings structure serves as an incentive for the customer to resolve on-going project issues expeditiously since the customer bears on-going debt service

Guaranteed Savings: Under a guaranteed savings structure, the customer finances the project in return for a guarantee from the ESCo that the project's energy savings will cover the customer's debt service. Thus, the customer assumes the obligation to repay the debt to a third party financier, which is often a commercial bank or a leasing company. If the project savings fall short of the amount needed for debt service, the ESCo pays the difference. If the savings exceed the guarantee amount, the customer and the ESCo usually share the excess savings. The size of the share and the method of calculation vary widely,

obligations. Typical projects that would be implemented by ESCos include (but not be limited to) the following: * HVAC systems improvement in Buildings; * Installation and operation of combined heat and power plants; * Industrial facility refurbishment and operation; * Industrial process improvements; * Public lighting refurbishment and operation;

* Public water works refurbishment etc. What are the customer benefits of using an ESCo's services? A customer derives a number of benefits through engaging an ESCo. Benefits of using ESCo include: *

* * *

The customer does not need to commit its own human and financial resources into non-core activities like energy efficiency improvement. High probability of reduction in energy costs because the ESCo's remuneration is contingent upon savings being actually achieved and measured. The ESCo service fee is paid from the savings achieved, so there is no burden on existing cash flows, in fact there is usually a net positive cash flow throughout the relationship with the ESCo. The customer benefits from the latest energy efficiency expertise and technology The ESCo can arrange financing for the project The ESCo can arrange grant financing, potential subsidies and other public investment incentives as carbon credits. Most importantly, energy savings can begin to affect the company's profitability rather than remain as a project in some engineer's pending folder.

Some Misconceptions about ESCos: There are a number of misconceptions in India about ESCos. 1.An ESCo always finances its projects: This is about the most common misconception about ESCos. Customers often believe that the only benefit that an ESCo brings in is the finance required to implement the measure. We have seen above that this is only one way of financing energy efficiency projects and probably not the least expensive method of financing such projects. 2.An ESCo bring in technologies that we do not know: While ESCos are usually aware of new energy efficient techniques they may consider deploying them only if they believe that the risk of failure is low. An ESCo has to guarantee performance and is naturally risk averse. Since an ESCo implements proven techniques for energy cost reduction, it is very likely that the measures recommended by an ESCo are well known to engineers working in a facility where an ESCo is engaged. So what is the benefit engaging an ESCo? This is more easily answered by an analogy: while a physician knows and can diagnose and say that surgery is required to cure an ailment, only a surgeon can do the work efficiently. So also it is the ability to actually implement the solution that is vitally important for success in energy efficiency projects and this is what the ESCos bring to the project. 3.An ESCo is a consultant/ energy auditor: This is another common equivalence in the minds of customers. While consultants and auditors provide essential services they do not assume project risks. They provide fee based advisory services without bearing any risk of nonperformance or poor performance of the projects. This is

one of the major distinguishing features of an ESCo: it carries performance risk! Making ESCos popular in India: ESCos in India face a number of surmountable barriers that need to be worked on. Most of the barriers will fall with the lapse of time as the market becomes more familiar with the business, but some do need action by large organisation or the Government. 1.The concept is new and not widely known. Many customers find the model too good to be true, and believing that there is some “catch” in it, do not risk engaging an ESCo to help them. 2.Customers are reluctant to sign a long-term contract, which unfortunately has to be a long document to cover all the eventualities that might arise during the association of the customer with the ESCo. Successful cases of ESCo-Client projects will help customers to surmount their fears about such relationships. 3.There are too few ESCos in India. This is largely because there are very few persons who have the technical, financial and contracting knowledge to be able to deliver a good service. 4.Most ESCos are small companies with limited geographical reach who cannot meet the most common demand that they invest in the projects promoted by them. 5.Customers often want the contractual guarantees to be backed up by Bank Guarantees. This places an enormous demand for capital to be locked up to provide the collateral to be placed with banks that will extend the guarantee. This could be overcome by the creation of Guarantee Funds by a suitable Government agency or a large bank, insurance company or a financial institution. 6.As mentioned earlier, perhaps the greatest barrier to energy efficiency improvement in India is that this is still considered to be the engineer's domain. Getting CEOs and CFOs interested in energy efficiency improvement will certainly give a fillip to ESCos. Conclusion: ESCos can help the Indian industry to significantly reduce its energy costs through economically attractive measures while reducing the risk of projects “going wrong”. ESCos can assure that the return on investments in energy efficiency improvement which are not exposed to market and financial risks, can be sustained over long periods and thus actually bring in the results that the investments were made for. ESCos complement existing company resources that can then focus on the core areas of the company's activity, thus bringing in even greater returns to the company. In the current economic scenario, ESCos have a major role to play in helping Indian companies become more competitive in the global market.

VIEW POINT:

The Three-Decade Delay of a Nuclear Waste Repository By Alan Caruba

There was a time when the United States was a can-do nation that built canals, bridges, railroads, and highways. Now we are a nation whose civil engineers annually report the dangers of decaying infrastructure. A perfect

example of how incompetent our government has become is the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. In 1982 the U.S. Congress established a national policy to solve the problem of nuclear waste disposal. As far

back as 1957, the National Academy of Sciences had recommended that the best way to address the problem was to dispose of it in deep underground rock. In 1987, Yucca Mountain in Nevada was designated as the site. It was immediately opposed by both environmentalists and others. Congress approved the site in 2002.

the majority (2 to 1) opinion. “It is no overstatement to say that our constitutional system of separation of powers would be significantly altered if we were to allow executive and independent agencies to disregard federal law in the manner asserted in this case by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”

An Associated Press article on August 13 reported on a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruling that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had to complete the licensing progress and approve or reject the Energy Department's application for the site.

It is not just the President and the NRC that will not uphold the law that Congress passed. It is has been the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada. Kim Strassel noted in an August 15 commentary that “Mr. Reid has for years singlehandedly thwarted Congress's will to create a deep storage facility…Such has been one senator's ability to render the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 30 years of work, and $15 billion of federal funds moot.”

“The court's decision was hailed by supporters of the Yucca site, which has been the focus of a dispute that stretches back more than three decades,” reported the AP. “The government has spent an estimated $15 billion on the site but never completed it. No waste is stored there.” The failure to open the Yucca Mountain repository is an obscenity. Instead of storing nuclear waste in the most studied piece of U.S. geography in the history of the nation, it is stored at more than seventy (70) sites around the nation. The Yucca Mountain site was supposed to begin accepting spent fuel by January 31, 1998, fifteen years ago. The Appeals Court delivered a serious rebuke to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which has essentially been treated as a political instrument of the Obama administration. The Court said the NRC was “simply flouting the law” when it allowed the Obama administration to continue plans to close site. This is especially egregious insofar as federal law designates the site as the nation's nuclear waste repository. “The President may not decline to follow a statutory mandate or prohibition simply because of policy objections,” said Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh who wrote

The arrogance of Sen. Reid, with the support of the President, is that of imperial kings and other monarchs for whom their personal agenda outweighs the welfare of the rest of the nation. The project was abandoned in the President's first term; in 2011 the NRC, a supposedly independent agency, allowed the shutdown to stand. The present claim is that there is no money to move forward with the completion of Yucca Mountain and it is true that opponents in Congress, led by Sen. Reid, have cut nearly all funding in the last three years, but the court said that the NRC has about $11 million remaining for the purpose of funding a review of its safety. Congressional staffers who have seen a redacted draft of the review to date say that is safe. Nuclear waste, the by-product of electric power generation at commercial nuclear plants and of highlevel radioactive waste from reprocessed spent fuel, must be stored somewhere. Congress addressed that in 1982, more than three decades go. We are still waiting for a rational, practical solution because of politics, not science, nor common sense.

Alan Caruba is the founder of The National Anxiety Center, a clearinghouse for information and commentary on "scare campaigns" designed to influence public opinion and policy. Begun in 1990, the Center has attracted national attention and a vast audience for Caruba's weekly commentary, "Warning Signs", posted on the Center's Internet site, www.anxietycenter.com, and excerpted widely on other sites. These days, he writes about a broad spectrum of public issues including environmentalism, education, energy, immigration, the United Nations, and international affairs. He has authored three "pocket" guides, "The Pocket Guide to Militant Islam", "America: A Nation Without Borders", and "The United Nations Versus the United States", each available from the Internet site of The National Anxiety Center. The CEO of The Caruba Organization (www.caruba.com), he is a veteran public relations counselor. He can be contacted by email at acaruba@aol.com or by writing to him care of The Caruba Organization, 28 West Third Street, Suite 1321, South Orange, NJ 07079 (E-Mail: ACaruba@aol.com)

The Future for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greenâ&#x20AC;? in the GCC's Energy Sector By Staff Writer

Introduction The world's consumption of energy is becoming a major issue, as forces of industrialisation, urbanisation, depleting hydrocarbon reserves and energy security threaten to overwhelm conventional supply options. According to Frost & Sullivan, global energy consumption increased by 48% from 1990-2010. Further, energy consumption is expected to increase by 33.5% for the period 2010-2030. While this growth is lower than what was experienced up to 2010, the concern is that the supply through conventional sources of energy cannot keep pace with this expected growth, as it did in the past. This demand-supply issue, coupled with the impending need to conserve, reduce emissions, and increase energy security through a reduction in dependence on conventional energy sources, has led to an increase in adoption of unconventional sources of energy at a global level, with highest penetration across the United States (US) and Europe. However, in-spite of significant

measures by many nations, renewables contributed only 6.3% of the total global energy mix by 2010, clearly indicating that there is still a long way to go. The contribution of renewables to the global energy mix will change, with high growth forecast for various renewable technologies. Wind energy to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16-20%, Solar photovoltaic (PV) based generation to grow at a CAGR of 25% and Concentrated Solar power (CSP) to grow at a CAGR of approximately 40% for the period 2010-2020. Some key factors that are resulting in this growth are the heavy incentivisation of renewables by nations, enhanced bankability of renewable projects and technology advancements that have resulted in enhanced efficiency and reduced costs. 4 At the other end of the spectrum, the Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) industry too, is going through a major evolution in its lifecycle, with the

emergence of smart grids as a solution to address efficiency and clean energy challenges. Given the various definitions of smart grids that are currently floating around, for purposes of this document, smart grids have been defined as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a strategy aimed at automating, improving efficiency, and increasing the availability of the electric grid, ranging from generation, to transmission systems, and distribution levelsâ&#x20AC;?. Currently a US$ 23.97 billion industry globally, the smart grid market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.6% to reach a size of US$ 125 billion by 2017. One of the major factors contributing towards the success of smart grids is the aggressive growth in demand for electricity, which, in the recent past, has been outstripping the corresponding growth in generation, leading to an unyielding demand for investment in power generation to chase peaking demand (defined as a surge in power demand at specific times in the day and/or year). A significant percentage of the world's T&D networks are expected to be approaching the end of their design life, and will need to be replaced with future-ready technologies that are environment-friendly. The increasing adoption of renewable sources of energy is resulting in distributed sources of generation, which need to be properly integrated into future grids. These are needs that a smart grid effectively addresses. Echoing similarities with the global power generation and T&D situation, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), formed by the six neighbouring countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is also struggling with similar energy related issues. 5 This is in spite of possessing 22.5% of the world's proven Natural Gas reserves, and 35% of the world's proven Oil reserves. The GCC's energy issues are compounded by their high levels of energy consumption, with some of the nations reflecting the highest per capita energy intensity globally. Although the GCC has been impacted by the recent global economic recession and the Arab Spring, development plans for the period up to 2020 and 2030 are expected to go ahead, fuelled by sovereign wealth funds, hydrocarbon exports and a need for infrastructure and economic development. Cumulatively, the GCC's plans for growth will challenge the power sector, which is expected to fall short of the expected demand unless a change is brought about into the energy mix. While the GCC has been lagging behind in adoption of renewables and smart grids, recent developments augur well for the coming future.

The GCC Power Sector Rapid Growth and Changes Envisaged The GCC is expected to invest nearly US$100 Billion in power Generation and T&D projects in the next five

years, and will add 36 GW of generation capacity over this period. This investment is essential to meet demand emanating from the aggressive diversification attempts and infrastructure development commitments by the GCC countries. Investments in power generation are expected to be supplemented by efforts to expand and modernise the T&D network, to cater to increased power generation and the on-going urbanization / industrialisation. This escalated demand cannot be catered to through conventional energy sources. While diesel has been used as an option to manage peak loads, it is not a long term sustainable solution. Nuclear is an available option, though not achievable in the current decade except for the UAE, which is on the path to implement it currently. This demand-supply gap, and the abundant availability of solar as a resource in the GCC, has led to Solar power being considered as a viable energy source to meet emerging needs. The GCC has been active in announcing plans for adoption of renewable energy. Based on the current announced plans, there is a 25 GW potential for solar energy in the GCC up to 2020 a commendable though ambitious effort on part of countries, which have significant hydrocarbon wealth.

The UAE is leading the way: *The Abu Dhabi (UAE) Shams and Noor projects for 200 MW *The setup of the pioneering Masdar city, and the Masdar initiative *Being host to the IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) *Abu Dhabi adopting a target of achieving 7 per cent of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020, amounting to nearly 1500 MW of power from renewables to be achieved over the next nine years, with an expected investment of US$ 7-10 Billion in these projects

GCC Renewable Energy Targets, 2020 7 *The Mohammed bin Rashed Solar Park in Dubai (UAE) with a proposed capacity of 1000 MW by 2030 *Qatar's recent success in playing host to the 2022 World Cup is expected to boost the penetration of renewables in the country, attributable to declared plans to cool the stadiums using solar power, and utilise other measures to manage carbon emissions *Bahrain recently awarded a contract to Fichtner for the setup of a pilot project for renewable energy generation *Oman awarded a project in 2011 for the development of a power project with an expected capacity of up-to 200 MW using solar PV *Kuwait's 60 MW Al Abdaliyah Integrated Solar Combined Cycle *Saudi Arabia, in spite of its massive proven Oil

reserves, was faced with power shortages last year, and is investing in alternate energies, as listed below: (a) 3.5 MW power plant to be built by Aramco, tendered in 2011 (b) Using Solar power for powering Control Panel devices to fend off pipeline corrosion (c) Trials to power a village and a school already underway using solar power (d) Upcoming polysilicon production facilities in the country (e) The 100 MW solar Makkah project and (f) The 600 MW Dibba 1 IPP project, which would be the Kingdom's first Concentrated Solar Power integrated combined cycle plant The adoption of renewables is expected to yield multiple benefits for the GCC, namely, ·Generate skilled jobs: For the GCC, with a fast growth youth segment and relatively high unemployment rates, the potential of renewables to generate skilled jobs is a highly valued benefit ·Free up fossil fuels: Currently, the GCC is burning up expensive Oil and Gas at highly subsidized rates to generate power. With renewables, this fuel can be freed up for potential export at market rates, allowing for a windfall ·Industrial development: A review of proposed plans laid out by some of the GCC countries reflects the strategic importance that is being attributed to renewables. Some countries, especially, Saudi Arabia, are pushing for the development of a localised value chain, including both services as well as products. Considering the domestic demand and export potential, this could result in the development of an entirely new industry in the GCC. However, these efforts on the part of the GCC could fall short of attaining stated targets, resulting in the achievement of just one third of targets, if adequate measures are not taken to handle some specific challenges that could hinder development of renewables. ß. Intermittency is a major issue with renewables, which is likely to hinder these sources from taking on the role of base load power generation; ß. Irrelevant Research and development (R&D) is another issue to be tackled. The GCC has a unique environment and the combination of dust, humidity and high heat can prove to be challenging for the various technologies that exist today. The GCC requires regionspecific R&D, which is currently lacking; ß. The continued usage of subsidised hydrocarbons is the largest issue that needs to be managed. With the GCC Governments supporting subsidised electricity and feedstock, the cost of solar power generation is still at least six times higher than the cost of generating power using subsidised gas. This has created a significant obstacle that has curbed the flow of investments into renewable energy in the past;

ß. Globally, renewables adoption has flourished in a supportive regulatory framework. However, vital components of such frameworks are missing in the GCC, and this could lead to a decline in potential; ß. There is a perennial threat of flow of available capital to other zones that offer a higher return and/or lower risk on such investments, given that the investment climate is extremely nascent One of the other key challenges that will impact the GCC's goal to attain the stated goals for renewables is the capability of Utilities to integrate this intermittent source of power with the T&D network in a stable manner. This is an issue best addressed by smart grids. Currently, no smart grids are under development in the GCC. However, a number of countries are in the pilot or planning stages and this is expected to accelerate in the next 5-7 years. ·Qatar is currently implementing a USD 13 Million plan to evolve towards smart grids through a mix of smart meters, broadband powerline communication networks, Global Positioning System modules and an integration with existing back-office IT systems ·The UAE has three initiatives underway, through the efforts of DEWA, ADWEA, and Masdar ·Bahrain is in the process of introducing smart grids with the objective of integrating a proposed 5 MW solar plant into the grid, through a mixed solution involving outage management, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and demand response. The generic drivers for global smart grid adoption apply to the GCC, as well. There are certain unique nuances, which are expected to drive the case for smart grid adoption in the GCC: 1. Need to upgrade and expand the T&D infrastructure Increasing sections of the T&D network are expected to reach end of design life in the next 5-10 years, rendering them obsolete and necessitating the need to upgrade and replace. Utilities are expected to invest with a focus on ensuring longevity of investments, leading to a market for smart grid components and solutions. Given ongoing diversification attempts, the GCC nations are witnessing a need to expand infrastructure to cater to emerging economic/industrial cities, and increasing urbanisation. Utilities are expected to focus on energy-efficient equipment and communication and automation technologies, while expanding the grids, to ensure future-readiness. 2. Integrate distributed sources of generation Most GCC countries are in advanced stages of planning to incorporate renewable sources of energy into their future energy mix. However, these sources are known for intermittency/variability and require a different configuration of the Grid for integration purposes. This is expected to drive the case for smart grids in the region.

3. Reduce peaking demand Historically, the GCC countries have invested in power generation to chase the constantly increasing power demand. While alternate sources of power (renewable/nuclear) and region interconnectivity are expected to provide respite, they are not a complete solution in themselves. Hence, there is a definite need to either â&#x20AC;&#x153;shave off â&#x20AC;? peak demand, or shift loads with an objective to reduce the peaking curves. Considering the significant savings that Utilities can achieve from deferring or avoiding power generation increases, there is a concrete case for investing in Demand Response Management (DRM) and Smart Metering, both critical components of smart grids. 4. Increase reliability and stability The GCC countries have recently accomplished regional interconnection of individual country grids through the GCC Interconnection Authority. This has resulted in a strong case to ensure stability and reliability of the infrastructure, which can be catered through smart grid components. 5. Increase customer awareness The GCC countries fall into the top 10 energy-intensive countries in the world. The per capita energy footprint is one of the highest in the world and hence, any attempts at achieving energy efficiency will require a strong effort to increase consumer awareness with regards to power consumption and encourage thrifty utilization. 6. Implement Flexible tariff schemes Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have already adopted different implementations of flexi-tariffs. This move is expected to gain momentum, with other countries following suit, and more advanced implementations over the future. This can only be supported through a comprehensive implementation of an AMI. With such strong drivers for their adoption, there is no doubt that smart grids hold potential in the GCC. However, there are certain restraints and challenges that will need to be ironed out. The most significant challenge that needs to be overcome is that of inappropriate business models for Utilities. The GCC Utilities stand to lose by decreasing energy consumption, especially, given the stringent moderation of tariff structures by governments and regulators. This challenge can be overcome through new regulatory models and business incentives that can provide some form of compensation to offset the Utility's loss of revenues, for example, tax exemptions. Subsidies and tax exemption mechanisms need to be structured in a way to encourage Utilities to invest in new technologies, which in turn would increase efficiency, clean energy production, and reduce demand.

renewables and smart grids in the GCC. While there are a number of challenges, none of these are insurmountable. There is need for a customised and focused approach to create an environment that can nurture the growth of renewable energy and smart grids in the GCC. 1. The development of supporting infrastructure is perhaps the most critical prerequisite for renewables and smart grids in the GCC. Such a structure can facilitate manufacturing in the GCC, which in turn can contribute to its adoption. Additionally, this can be facilitated by increasing their attractiveness from a financing point of view, making future projects bankable. 2. It is also important for the GCC to work towards developing an appropriately localised value chain to ensure that only relevant components are manufactured in the GCC, capitalising on the offerings available locally. In addition to manufacturing, it is also important to ensure that sufficient effort is focused on developing storage systems and locally relevant R&D, both of which are critical to the future of renewables, and important for smart grids growth. 3. The GCC needs to relook at policies and related framework, to ensure that it is appropriate for the highly customised requirements of renewables. Capital subsidies, feed-in-tariffs, renewable purchase obligation, public-private-partnership agreements are some examples that need to be considered for the development of a framework. 4. It is also important for the GCC to facilitate a cultural and mind-set shift in the population residing in these countries. It is well known that the GCC boasts of some of the highest per capita consumption and emission statistics globally. It is therefore quite important to educate the population on the benefits of conservation and clean fuel, which in turn builds up a bottom-up support for renewables. The GCC is going through a turbulent time. Renewables, through underlying benefits of employment opportunities, increased export potential of hydrocarbons, enhanced industrial development and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, can prove to be the one key stabilising factor that can support the GCC's plans for accelerated development. Smart grids present significant potential in terms of increased potential for equipment sales, increasingly skilled manpower, and value added services, all of which can act as an impetus for the economic growth of the GCC and neighbouring countries. The onus will thus lie with the industry and vendors, to guarantee a seamless integration and a comfortable transition for the GCC into renewable energy and smart grids.

The Road Ahead (Source: Frost & Sullivan) Considering the GCC's requirements to expand the power infrastructure, there is a strong potential for

New Technology:

Solar panel made with ion cannon is cheap enough to challenge fossil fuels By Sebastian Anthony

Twin Creeks, a solar power startup that emerged from hiding recently, has developed a way of creating photovoltaic cells that are half the price of today's

around the outside edge of the big, spoked wheel. A particle accelerator bombards these wafers with hydrogen ions, and with exacting control of the voltage

cheapest cells, and thus within reach of challenging the fossil fuel hegemony. The best bit: Twin Creeks' photovoltaic cells are created using a hydrogen ion particle accelerator.

of the accelerator, the hydrogen ions accumulate precisely 20 micrometers from the surface of each wafer. A robotic arm then transports the wafers to a furnace where the ions expand into hydrogen gas, which cause the 20-micrometer-thick layer to shear off. A metal backing is applied to make it less fragile (and highly flexible, as you see on the right), and the remaining silicon wafer is taken back to the particle accelerator for another dose of ions. At a tenth of the thickness and with considerably less wastage, it's easy to see how Twin Creeks can halve the cost of solar cells.

As it stands, almost every solar panel is made by slicing a 200-micrometer-thick (0.2mm) wafer from a block of crystalline silicon. You then add some electrodes, cover it in protective glass, and leave it in a sunny area to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect (when photons hit the silicon, it excites the electrons and generates a charge). There are two problems with this approach: Much in the same way that sawdust is produced when you slice wood, almost half of the silicon block is wasted when it's cut into 200-micrometer slices; and second, the panels would still function just as well if they were thinner than 200 micrometers, but silicon is brittle and prone to cracking if it's too thin.

According to Technology Review, ion beams have been considered before, but particle accelerators were simply too expensive to be commercially viable. This is the flip side of Twin Creeks' innovation: It had to make its own particle accelerator which is â&#x20AC;&#x153;10 times more powerfulâ&#x20AC;? (100mA at 1 MeV) than anything on the market today.

This is where Twin Creeks' ion cannon, dubbed Hyperion, comes into play. If you look at the picture above, 3-millimeter-thick silicon wafers are placed

When all's said and done, if you buy Twin Creeks' equipment, it is promising a cost of around 40 cents per watt, about half the cost of panels currently coming out

of China (where the vast majority of solar panels are made). At that price, solar power begins to encroach on standard, mostly-hydrocarbon-derived grid power but, of course, we still need to create batteries that can store solar power over night. Maybe Stanford has the answer to that problem, though, with its everlasting nanobattery and then there's Nortwestern University's graphenedoped lithium-ion batteries, and, perhaps most realistically, electric cars like the Nissan Leaf that can double up as a glorified house battery.

increasing responsibility leading to Director of Technology and Key Account Management at Novellus Systems Incorporated, where he led the commercialization of 300mm CVD equipment. He began his career as a Technologist in the R&D division at Lam Research Corporation. Dr. Singh received his Bachelor of Technology with honors from Indian Institute of Technology - BHU.

Twin Creeks, a San Jose, Calif.-based company, having Siva Sivaram as its CEO only launched its first tool, called Hyperion, in March this year. Twin Creeks was founded in 2008 and had raised $93 million from investors including Crosslink Capital, Benchmark Capital, Artis Capital Management and DAG Ventures.

Dr. Singh holds MS and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University. He also holds 20 patents and has authored over 10 major technical publications.

GT Advanced Technologies of Nashua. N.H., has bought an ultra-thin silicon wafer technology that it says will help reduce the price of producing solar electricity and creates new markets beyond solar for the company, said GT's CEO, Tom Gutierrez. The factory equipment developer snatched up Twin Creek Technologies' thin wafer technology, called Hyperion, and a portfolio of patents for $10 million from Twin Creeks' lenders. GT also agreed to pay royalties that will be based on how well it can sell the thin wafer equipment. GT plans to bring the Hyperion technology to market in late 2014. Vikram Singh is GT Advanced Technologies vice president of advanced systems development. Singh brings to the company nearly two decades of experience in the capital equipment arena. Dr. Singh was most recently at Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates as Sr. Director of New Product/ Business Developments, where he led the commercialization of Plasma Doping technology. He previously served in various roles with

Dr. P.S. Raghavan, is GT Advanced Technologies' Chief Technology Officer. Raghavan brings over 23 years of industrial and academic experience in Crystal Growth Instrumentation, Crystal Growth of semiconducting (Silicon, III-V and II-VI) materials, Oxides, NLO materials, Scintillation detecting materials and advanced electronic and photonic devices. Prior to joining GT Solar in 2002, he was involved in crystal growth research and held positions as Visiting Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, NTHU, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Assistant Professor, Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, and Reader and Head Instrumentation, Alagappa University, India. Dr. Raghavan holds a masters degree in Physics, and Master of Philosophy degree in Physics and a Ph. D. in Crystal Growth of III-V compounds. He worked as Postdoctoral Fellow at internationally acclaimed laboratories worldwide and has 60 research publications in international journals, 4 patents and 100 publications in National/International conferences. He has co-authored 3 books on Crystal Growth and has earned several international awards for his contribution to the field of crystal growth technology. (For more information: call +1 603-681-3906 or email ProductSupport@gtat .com)

Scientists discover new breakthrough in producing clean hydrogen and new energy efficient led lamp designed by Philips Scientists have harnessed the principles of photosynthesis to develop a new way of producing hydrogen in a breakthrough that offers a possible

"There are so many things we can do with cells this size. We can set them into advertising signage, powering lights and other interactive elements. We can even embed them into laptop cases to provide backup power for the machine inside," said CSIRO materials scientist, Dr. Scott Watkins. These cells produce 10-50 watts of power per m2, and could be used to laminate the windows of skyscrapers, giving them an additional source of power. Or they could be printed onto materials such as steel, meaning they could be embedded into roofs of buildings.

solution to global energy problems. The researchers claim the development could help unlock the potential of hydrogen as a clean, cheap and reliable power source. In a paper published today in the journal Nature Chemistry, scientists at the University of Glasgow outline how they have managed to replicate the way plants use the sun's energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen at separate times and at separate physical locations.

Believe it or not!! Solar energy sounds like a dream, but buying and installing the equipment necessary to harness the power of the Sun can be expensive. But what if you could print your own solar panels? The researchers at Australia's Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC) a collaboration between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Melbourne, Monash University and industry partners have managed to print photovoltaic cells the size of an A3 sheet of paper.

Photovoltaic cells the building blocks of solar panels have been printed before, but the printing process was different. For their printable solar cells, the VICOSC team used photovoltaic ink, a $200,000 printer, and techniques similar to those you'd use "if you were screen printing an image on to a t-shirt." One of the most important aspects of this approach, claims Watkins, is accessibility. "We're developing our processes to be able to use these existing printing technologies so that the barrier to entry for manufacturing these new printed solar cells is as low as possible," he said.

Image courtesy of CSIRO

Global News Round Up: Solar power export to Europe planned by KSA “Saudi Arabia aims to install 24 gigawatt of renewable power capacity by 2020 and 54 gigawatt by 2032, which would make Saudi Arabia one of the world's main producers of renewable electricity”

studied. Transmission cables could go either via North Africa or via Turkey and Bulgaria, but the latter route is less advantageous because Bulgaria is a net exporter of electricity. The Saudi electricity export plan is similar to the Desertec initiative, which aims to bring power to Europe from North Africa. Al-Sulaiman said that, unlike Desertec, KACARE's plan would not require a third party to install generation capacity since KACARE would lead generation and connection investment. He said he hoped European authorities would study the idea."If we could reduce the need to install generation capacity by, say, 10 to 20 percent through the ability to trade effectively, the savings would be tremendous," Al-Sulaiman said.

The Kingdom, which is planning massive investment in renewable energy, hopes to export solar electricity to Europe in winter, says a senior official. It would be viable for Saudi Arabia to export up to 10 gigawatts, the equivalent of 10 nuclear plants, via North Africa and Italy or Spain, Khalid Al-Sulaiman, vice president for renewable energy at the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) was quoted as saying at a conference in Paris. "It is not a project, it is a potential. It has to be examined thoroughly by all," Al-Sulaiman told Reuters. According to Reuters, he said solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia is “almost non-existent” at the moment, with only about 10 to 11 megawatts of capacity installed in the entire country. But the Kingdom has huge ambitions to build renewable and nuclear capacity as it tries to reduce domestic oil consumption. The world's top oil exporter said in February it aims to install 24 gigawatt of renewable power capacity by 2020 and 54 gigawatt by 2032, which would make Saudi Arabia one of the world's main producers of renewable electricity. Al-Sulaiman said the first solar tenders will be offered this year. A challenge for Saudi's electricity sector is that during winter and parts of spring and fall, 45 percent of generation capacity sits idle. Cooling accounts for more than 50 percent of electricity demand in summer. "We have thoroughly examined the potential for exporting electricity from dormant capacity during the off season to countries where peak demand coincides with our low demand season," Al-Sulaiman said. He said studies show that the grid investment required to bring Saudi electricity to Europe would amount to between 15 to 20 percent of the total investment required to install some 20 gigawatt renewable generation capacity. "Our study demonstrates that trading with the EU is economical, depending on the route chosen," he said. Export capacity levels of 3, 5 and 10 gigawatt had been

He said the project would take five to 10 years to implement but declined to give a cost estimate. Desertec has been estimated to cost up to 400 billion euros ($ 512 billion). Jerome Pecresse, president renewable energy at French Alstom, which specializes in power grid equipment, said a Saudi Arabia-Europe link was technically feasible, provided financing is available. Antoine Cahuzac, head of French utility EDF's renewable energy unit, said public resistance to high-voltage lines will be an obstacle to all long-distance grid projects. Saudi Arabia has equally ambitious plans to build 17 gigawatt of nuclear power capacity by 2032, and French utility EDF and reactor builder Areva hope to win a slice of the market. EDF CEO Henri Proglio told the conference Saudi personnel are already in training in EDF facilities.Recently, UAE reports said Masdar is bidding for a slice of Saudi Arabia›s burgeoning solar market after opening the 100 megawatt Shams-1 plant in Abu Dhabi. The company is seeking to capitalize on an emerging market as regional oil-exporting economies seek to boost their renewable energy output.“In the near future we will be announcing projects in the Middle East and North Africa region,” said Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, Mubadala›s clean energy unit, was quoted saying by the UAE media. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Shams plant, the first of a series of renewable energy projects that will provide 7 per cent of the emirates electricity by 2020, according to government plans.Masdar is the majority owner of Shams, with France›s Total and Spain›s Abengoa sharing the remaining stake. “Saudi Arabia is one of our target markets,” he said. “We will go wherever the projects make sense, as long as there is a regulatory framework that is solid, that›s reliable, and as long as the returns meet our commercial thresholds.” The first tenders for solar plants are scheduled for the first half of this year, when 500 MW to 800MW of generation capacity will be bid for, according to a February white paper by the King Abdullah Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the body overseeing alternative energy development. (Source: http://www.arabnews.com)

Middle East is targeting more than 40 GW of solar energy by 2032

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world's largest producer of oil and gas is finding it increasingly difficult to suffice its own needs. An unprecedented increase in population and growth in industrial and economic activity has triggered newfound interest in renewable energy development for six major Middle Eastern economies. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, together known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have turned their focus towards the exploitation of renewable energy sources in the regionâ&#x20AC;? The Middle East Countries being in the oil producing region, their economies are highly dependent on their exports of crude oil and natural gas and even oil derivatives but the economic growth in the past few years has increased the domestic consumption tremendously leading to a disturbed productionexport balance, resulting in decreasing exports, thus, moving towards an impending financial crisis. Electricity production is the most energy intensive industry in these countries and is produced mostly from fossil fuels. The climatic conditions of the region make air conditioning a must resulting in more than average

power consumption as compared to the rest of the world. About 99 percent of water in these countries comes from desalination, another energy consuming process, working mainly on gas feeds. Water and electricity together are the most energy consuming sectors in the region and some of these countries are the highest per capita consumers of power and water. With depleting oil and gas reserves and export quotas and commitments to fulfill, it is vital for the GCC countries to diversify and look at renewable sources of energy for power and water production. The Middle East region is one of the world's largest carbon emitter but the perception is bound to change with the kind of initiatives the respective governments are taking for renewable energy development. The total renewable energy investment has reached US$ 148 billion in research studies and live projects installed and planned. This indicates the seriousness with which renewable energy sources is being approached by the national governments. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Sultanate of Oman have individually declared their plans to produce at least 10 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 and are leaving no stone unturned to secure their future with renewable energy sources.

Saudi to invest US $109 billion in renewable energy sources over the next 20 years The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is planning to invest US $ 109 billion over the next 20 years to enable them to take advantage of its excellent solar resources and diversify its energy mix. The Kingdom plans to purchase electricity generated not only from solar resources (PV and solar thermal) but also wind, geothermal and wasteto-energy plants. Their cumulative target of renewable capacity is anticipated to be more than 54,000 megawatts (MW) by 2032 with 41,000 coming from solar. Currently, many solar plants are under construction in Saudi Arabia with a total capacity of some 15 MW. Until now, the Hamburg-based Conergy has built 2 projects in Saudi Arabia. In 2010, Conergy erected the first large scale solar system in the Kingdom, at 2 MW on the roof

of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal. Since then this plant has over-performed by +6.7% and has also served as a learning tool for the students at the university. In 2012, Conergy built a rooftop system for the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh. With this solar system, the KAFD has chosen sustainable architecture with the aim of achieving one of the most significant eco certifications in the world - the LEED Gold certification awarded by the US Green Building Council. At close to 200 kilowatts (kW), the KAFD solar plant will not only be the first but also the largest rooftop plant in Riyadh.

Internationally Funded $1 Billion Solar Plant Planned for Upper Egypt Egypt is a land of ancient mysteries. It is a desert country with one long river flowing through it. Desert means lots of sun. Egypt is preparing to build a billion dollar solar power plant with help from a suite of international donors. Construction of Kuryamatt, a 150-megawatt hybrid power plant that will use both solar energy and natural gas to generate electricity, is underway 90 kilometers south of Cairo. Plans for a second large solar plant, in Upper Egypt's Kom Ombo, are also underway. These moves come after severe power cuts crippled the country last year during the hot summer months when Egyptians blast their air-conditioning units, and power up their stoves to prepare Ramadan feasts.

The Egyptian government is preparing for the establishment of a solar power plant at Kom Ombo region in Aswan within the framework of a strategy designed to diversify energy sources as an implementation of the ministry's plan, which provides for expanding the use of solar energy. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy report stated that the plant will produce 100MW, yet financial sources are currently considered as the project is expected to be financed by African Development Fund and UN's Clean Development Mechanism.

In part this is necessary given that the project, which is expected to cost approximately 5.5 billion Egyptian pounds, will be funded by international aid and development organizations that demand transparency to ensure that new development projects are as environmentally and socially sound as possible. Among the groups supporting the project are Clean Energy Fund, The World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Agence Francaise de Developpement, and the German Kreditanstalt f端r Wiederaufbau, according to Minister of Energy Ahmed Imam. The project is necessary because the country suffers from severe power shortages. It is a land that is 94% desert. Kom Ombo is an agricultural town in Egypt famous for the Temple of Kom Ombo. It was originally an Egyptian city called Nubt, meaning City of Gold (not to be confused with the city north of Naqada that was also called Nubt/Ombos).

The plant capacity will be added to the national grid to meet the development process and the electrical loads evolution. Moreover, the establishment of this plan reflects Egypt seeking to keep abreast of developments in the use of natural energy sources and give serious consideration to the use of solar energy.

Promoting energy efficiency in India is the need of the hour Hon. Pranab Mukherjee The President of India, Hon. Pranab Mukherjee while speaking at the Annual Convocation of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) on August 26, 2013 said that India is the fourth biggest consumer of energy in the world, after US, China and Russia. He stated that to sustain high levels of consumption, our energy resources are inadequate. Energy Intensity, which is a measure of energy efficiency of an economy, indicates that India uses more energy to produce one unit of GDP, than nations like UK, Germany, Japan and US. The President said that to achieve a high growth rate while meeting the energy needs of the population poses a challenge to us. It calls for higher energy production and for devising measures that promote energy efficiency. He said that we must explore alternative energy models to reduce our dependence on conventional sources. A greater intensity of science and technology in the energy sector is required today. There is need for domain knowledge, for developing capabilities and strengthening systems through innovation. He said that UPES, as a specialized energy university, has a crucial role to generate state-of-art knowledge to fulfill the needs of the energy sector.

74 companies bring about huge energy savings: CII 74 short-listed companies have achieved energy savings of about Rs. 1,000 crore a year, according to findings of

the Confederation of Indian Industry (CFII). Naushad Forbes, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Summit 2013, hosted by the CII said these short-listed companies had achieved this recurring saving by implementing over 2,700 projects. Promoting energy efficiency measures is

A solar panel mounted on rotating blades for wind energy displayed at the 12th Energy Efficiency Summit of CII in Hyderabad

the surest way to improve competitiveness and become world-class, he said. The CII felicitated India's 'Excellent Energy Efficient Industrial Units' at the 14th National Award for Excellence in Energy Management, providing a major impetus to the energy conservation movement in the country. 37 companies were presented with the 'Excellent Energy Efficient Unit' award and the other 37 short-listed companies with the 'Energy Efficient Unit' award.

UNIDO, and a group of foundries in Coimbatore join hands to improve energy efficiency A group of foundries in Coimbatore, mainly in the micro, small and mediumscale segment, will take measures to improve energy efficiency. The initiative is a cluster programme by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in association with other industrial associations and government agencies. According to Ayumi Fujino, UNIDO representative for

India the organisation has identified 12 clusters in the country in five sectors foundries, dairy, brass, hand tools and ceramic. In foundries, the clusters in Belgaum, Indore, and Coimbatore are identified for the four-year project. Environment and energy are two major areas in which the UNIDO is working in the country and on the energy front, the focus is on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its budget for the project in the 12 clusters is $7.8 million. The industries and government agencies will also bring in funds. Partners The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Ministries of Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprises(MMSM) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are part of the initiative. It will be implemented in Coimbatore jointly with the Institute of Indian Foundrymen and other related industrial associations.

in global experts, conducting studies, energy audit and setting up a pilot project to demonstrate the new technologies. An energy management cell will be established in the clusters. The 12 clusters were identified based on an energy audit and analysis conducted by the BEE on energy intensive programmes.

The programme will look at capacity building, bringing

Vodafone white paper discusses energy management solution for businesses Vodafone is helping businesses monitor their energy efficiency at a detailed level in real-time with its new energy managemen t solution Energy Data Managemen t (EDM). Energy Data Management is beneficial for companies in retail, manufacturing, the public sector and for any organisation that has many energy suppliers, different types of contracts and bills. In these situations, an overall picture of energy usage is difficult to achieve. It has been noted that operating across a wide range of sites can lead to tough decisions regarding energy

management and efficient solutions. Individually, each system that uses power might be using just a few hundred watts. But over the year and across multiple sites, these power costs add up. Vodafone's Energy Data Management is a machine-tomachine (M2M) solution that can give you essential information so you can make better decisions about the energy-efficiency policies, processes and technology of an organisation. Vodafone has now been monitoring its energy consumption for over 10 years and has smart meters installed in 40,000 base stations with a plan to extend the implementation of EDM in the future. The company has also started to deploy the solution to large offices and other sites consuming large amounts of energy. Around 60% of Vodafone's energy consumption was spread across more than 230,000 base stations, 25% on data centres, and 15% on offices and retail sites. Vodafone has recently published a white paper about its energy management solution EDM, as well as monitoring energy efficiency.

Business houses opting for energy-saving technology At a time many of those who went in search of alternative energy resources are finding themselves at the receiving end, construction materials which can reduce energy consumption of buildings by over 30 to 40% are getting more buyers in the state. A number of multinational business houses, including world's leading financial advisers Ernst and Young, have incorporated this technology, mainly Europe-based, with several energy-efficient features for their buildings in the state. Light-weight clay hollow bricks, clay-ventilated facades, roofing sheets and tiles with recycled cellulose fibre, fabric false ceilings are fast gaining popularity in the state with some major business houses opting for them in the last three years. As many as 200 multi-storied buildings in the state have used these materials which reduce heat inside the building as these are thermal and acoustic insulators. Light-weight clay hollow brick was available before

also. But it had not captured the market as it did not belong to any organised sector. Things have changed and now there are many takers as it is professionally manufactured,” says architect Jacob Cherian, who is in the profession for the last two decades. “It works on the principle -- reduce, reuse and recycle. Though these materials can add up to 15 to 20% to the initial cost of the building, the amount is compensated in 5 to 10 years by less energy consumption. Light-weight clay hollow brick is manufactured at a factory in Bangalore which uses Australian technology. “The brick could also be made from desilting sand in water reservoirs,” said P. K. Abhay Kumar, managing director of a firm that markets these products in the state. “Light-weight clay hollow brick has double the strength of normal brick and less width. Likewise, the cost of plastering is also less. “Thus planned use of clay hollow bricks can reduce the cost of foundation building by over 25%,” said Reji Zaccaria, structural engineer who had constructed his house using these materials.

Noida Glass Inc. warms up to energy saving Energy efficient glasses are increasingly becoming the inthing for the Delhi-NCR glass industry. Despite the slow down in the country's economy and the real estate sector in last half decade, the manufacturers, processors and traders are laughing their way to the banks. The focus has shifted to energy-efficient glasses not only to meet the increasing energy requirements, but also to improve balance sheets of the company. "In India, energy costs have risen by more than three fold in the last decade," said Somasundaram Senthilkumar, National Sales Head - Projects, ASAHI Glass India Ltd. Senthikumar added, "Typically the heat gained or lost through glazing in a normal building in India is anywhere between 40-50% and using the right type of glass can bring down the energy consumption by 30-40%."

India creates online renewables database With the aim of spreading information on the renewable energy and energy efficiency policy along with regulatory framework in India, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have created an online Indian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Database (IREEED). IREEED provides succinct summaries in a clear and simple format of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, regulations and incentive programmes at the union government and state government level for the benefit of project developers, businesses, industry and consumers. The final version of the database that was released on 30 September 2013 include policies, regulations, and incentive programmes offered by the central government and all states for both energy efficiency and renewable energy. Such a database is very much required in the present scenario as the world is focusing on the use of renewable energy and finding ways of achieving energy efficiency. Currently, the MNRE is welcoming views on its present format, suggestions for improvement and additional formats etc from all sections of the society including academia, research institutions, NGOs and individuals. Feedback is invited at feedback-ireeed@nic.in

Schneider Electric Launches “50for50”, A New Brand Campaign to Mark its 50th Year in India Marking 50 years of its presence in India, Schneider Electric, the global energy management expert, announced its new India brand campaign “50for50”. Aimed at creating a powerful connect with Indians at large emphasizing the need to save energy to ensure access to energy for all. The new campaign is focused on generating innovative and practical ideas that will kick-start an initial contribution of 50 million kWh* of energy savings. While celebrating 50 years of Schneider Electric's presence in India the campaign effectively straddles a century as it encompasses a vision for coming India's energy needs in coming years. Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Anil Chaudhry, Country President, Schneider Electric India said, “It is a moment of immense pride for all of us, as we look back on the journey

of Schneider Electric in India over the past five decades. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step. This step was taken way back in 1963, when Merlin & Gerin entered into a joint venture with Tata Sons and Voltas Limited to form Tata-Merlin and Gerin Limited.” Adding to this, Mr. Anil Chaudhry also mentioned that “India is one of the most important markets for Schneider Electric globally and we have had an increasingly active presence in the country both in terms of contributing to infrastructural growth as well as strong CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives. Despite the significant social and economic initiatives that make India a global powerhouse today, the demand and supply gap for energy is a cause for serious concern. There is no better time to be initiating this nation building campaign. We are a young

country, full of opportunity and the drive to achieve our full potential. The need for automation, reliability, security and energy efficiency will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. As leading energy management experts, Schneider Electric is fully committed to making energy

safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green.” Aimed at making Schneider Electric a household name in India, “50for50” will be an integrated campaign (print, outdoor, digital, social media, television and out-ofhome), reaching out to millions of Indian households and industry encouraging them to save energy.

Germany to loan 900 million euros to India on development cooperation Germany will make available almost 900 million Euros for India to be used for investment in economic development cooperation, energy generation and efficiency as well as environmental protection. This is the major outcome of the Indo-German government negotiations on development cooperation recently. German Ambassador Michael Steiner said that "with the latest round of Indo-German negotiations, our development cooperation has reached an all-time high." Noting that India is a global power in the making and yet it faces enormous challenges in strategic areas such as economic development, energy and environment, the envoy said quick progress is a necessity. "Germany has excellent know-how particularly in these areas. This is

why we join hands and step up our cooperation right now. Sustainable development cooperation with India stands for our long-standing bilateral commitment and a partnership at eye-level," he said. Mr. Steiner said the commitment places the focus of IndoGerman development cooperation on sustainable economic development, especially in rural areas. He added that Germany will provide a loan to India to help improve energyefficiency and connection of renewable energy sources to the Indian grid. "Germany will also continue to partner with India in the field of climate and environmental protection. For instance, targeted measures are being undertaken to reduce erosion and enhance biodiversity," he added.estimated at 350 GW.

Government plans Rs. 43,000-cr green energy corridor To facilitate flow of renewable energy into the national grid, the Government plans to roll out a Rs. 43,000-crore 'green energy corridor' project. The project will be implemented with the assistance of Germany, which has promised to provide development and technical assistance of €1 billion as soft credit,” said Ratan P. Watal, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). Speaking at the 'National Consultation of Stakeholders regarding Development of Offshore Wind Energy in India' last August, he said the Government is committed to providing a conducive environment for harnessing offshore wind energy. He said India's onshore wind energy deployment had crossed 19.6 GW attracting $16.5 billion of investment in 2012 and it is estimated that by 2030 installed capacity will reach 191 GW.

(NOWEA), under the aegis of MNRE, will be constituted shortly. The authority will act as the nodal agency for offshore wind projects. The authority will carry out resource assessment and surveys in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and simultaneously enter into contracts with project developers for offshore wind energy projects within the territorial waters (12 nautical miles). A single window agency, it will coordinate with Ministries/Departments concerned for clearances. However, the authority will only act as a facilitator for getting clearance and application for clearance will be dealt in entirety by the Ministry/Department concerned, Watal said. A January 2012 study by Scottish Development International had indicated the potential to establish around one GW wind farm each along the coastline of Rameswaram and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. India's offshore wind energy capacity is

He further said a National Offshore Wind Energy Authority

US $4-million project launched to promote clean energy among SMEs The MSME (Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises) during last August launched a US $4-million project in association with Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy among small and medium enterprises. "Of the total funding, the ministry will provide US$ 3-million and grant of US$ 1million will come from the GEF for a period of three years to help small units to use clean energy and become energy efficient," MSME Secretary Madhav Lal said. Stating the need for these SMEs to become globally competitive, the MSME Secretary said, "We are considering to use industry associations as the platform for creating awareness among their members about saving energy and benefits of adoption of green technology

innovation." The key activities of the Cleantech programme include mentoring and training, linking of value chain, technological transfer and upgradation, access to capital and scaling up. "We aim that by 2025 all energy consuming MSMEs in the country shall be energy efficient and will be using clean energy," Development Commissioner in the MSME Ministry Amarendra Sinha said. The project will adopt an inter-disciplinary approach involving SME clusters, national ministries, industrial associations, state governments, partner agencies and autonomous research centres in India and abroad to promote innovative technologies in energy-intensive SME clusters.

ADB to invest $30 million in NSL Renewable Power The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in last August announced its first equity investment in India's private sector renewable power generation. The Manilaheadquartered bank has decided to invest $30 million in Hyderabad-based NSL Renewable Power Private Ltd. ADB did not divulge the percentage of stake it is buying in the firm. NSL Renewable has a book value of Rs. 525 crore as on March 31, 2013.

invested $2.3 billion in renewable projects in Asia in 2012-13. In 2013-14, it targets to invest another $2 billion, said Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Vice-President (Private Sector and Co-financing Operations) at ADB. A few years ago, ADB joined hands with NTPC and Japan's Kyuden International Corporation to develop renewable projects. However, the project has not seen light of the day. NSL Renewable will use the investment proceeds to partially finance the construction of its 100 MW Tidong run-of-rover hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh and the 75-MW Chilarwadi wind power project in Maharashtra. NSL Renewable is the part of the Rs. 5,500-crore NSL Group that has interests in sugar, textile, and cotton and seed businesses, among others. The firm plans to have 1,000 MW operating renewable power capacity by 2017, said M. Prabhakar Rao, Chairman of NSL Group.

The investment is also ADB's first private sector assistance to India's hydropower sector. The bank has

NSL Renewable currently has 185 MW of installed capacity across wind, solar, bio-mass and hydro and has under construction of over 200 MW in wind and 150 MW in hydro. The company also has a development pipeline, which will enable it to reach 1 Giga-watt capacity by 2016. This announcement comes a few days after NSL Renewable entered into investment agreements of $60 million from a group of investors. In 2011, NSL had raised $40 million from FE Clean Energy and $20 million from International Finance Corporation.

Pressure on Government to achieve climate change targets Renewable mix

Parliamentarians involved with clean energy are concerned that there is no firm Government commitment yet for achieving the target of 15% renewable energy in the total electricity mix of the country by 2020. The target was spelled out in the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC). The Climate Parliament Group, a multi-party forum of Parliamentarians, will soon meet the Prime Minister to suggest adequate financial, fiscal and policy measures for achieving the NAPCC recommendation, and the 12 {+t}{+h} Plan targets for renewable energy.

The budget allocations in the first two years of the 12th Plan are not promising enough to meet the NAPCC and Plan targets, said Sanjay Jaiswal, BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bihar and Convenor of Climate Parliament. The NAPCC had proposed a 5% renewable mix in the electricity basket in 2010, and 1% increase annually till 2020. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There must be adequate budget allocation to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), keeping in view the recommendations of the Parliamentary Estimates and Energy Committeesâ&#x20AC;? Jaiswal said. Stressing on alignment of MNRE budget according to NAPCC targets, Jaiswal said the 12th Plan had allocated a budget of about Rs. 19,000 crore for the 30,000 MW target, but only 14% of this has been allocated in the first two financial years of the Plan. Also, both the Plan and annual budgets do not meet the Estimates Committee's recommendation of allocating one per cent of the total Union Budget to MNRE, he pointed out.

India slips to 8th position in renewable energy rank High entry-barriers for foreign investors and the rising cost of financing have led to the country slipping to a low eighth position on the renewable energy country attractive index in the first quarter of 2013, says an Ernst & Young survey. According to the report 'Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index', India's ranking slipped from fourth position to eighth in this period. The reasons included high cost of finance, entry-barriers for external investors, among others. "A high barrier to entry for external investors causes India to score lower than most of its top 10 rivals. Also, bankability is jeopardised by the high cost of financing and significant infrastructure barriers here," said E&Y India partner and national leader for clean-tech, Sanjay Chakrabarti. However, the index sees the country gaining the "hot spot" as the market with increased focus on the role of renewable energy driving new levels of power sector investment and aiming to nearly double the amount it generates from renewable sources. "While the

country's rating may have slipped, there are significant positives. India is only behind Belgium in the priority the renewable sector receives," he said. At the operational level, E&Y said, "Withdrawal of accelerated depreciation, caused the overnight disappearance of the wind retail market. However, this has also brought to the fore the independent power producers, mostly backed by large PEs. The wind sector's size has therefore shrunk, but it has also arguably resulted in a stronger market, with IPPs committed to setting up quality assets". On the solar energy front too, there has been active interest in the bids across states, the phase-II of the national mission is eagerly awaited, Chakrabarti said. Sanctioned for another 2,500 villages. It's a bright spot for the industry. (This article was published in the Business Line print edition dated September 2, 2013)

Solar: Not living up to the promise After a burst of development that saw 1,800 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity being built, things have slowed down in the solar power sector. Gujarat's feed-in tariff programme kick-started the solar movement, creating over 800 MW of capacity. Under the Government of India's National Solar Mission, 627 MW of capacity has come up, with another 30 MW or so likely to be commissioned shortly. All this happened in just three years. But things are now at a standstill. Phase II of the National Solar Mission, long overdue, is nowhere in

sight. Several States, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, have launched their own solar programmes, but these are all very modest. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh showed promise, each seeking to create over 1,000 MW capacity. Andhra Pradesh's plans have been undone by political hurdles. In Tamil Nadu, the bedrock of solar policy was the 'solar purchase obligation' imposed on specific consumer classes. But the matter is in court. Projects with a capacity of 708 MW are ready to be signed. A 'consultative paper' by the State's Electricity Regulatory Commission, recommending a low tariff of Rs. 5.78 a unit, has compounded the uncertainty. The industry is worried on the bearing this will have on the 708 MW waiting to be signed, where the tariff Rs. 6.48 a unit with an annual escalation of five per cent for ten years was discovered through a bidding process. There is one big positive for the sector, and it has nothing to do with megawatts of capacity. It is about the tiny, solar power systems providing basic electricity to villages and transforming them. As of the June 30 this year, 10,154 villages, which would never have got electricity otherwise, are being supplied with solarbased power at a cost of Rs. 714 crore. Funds have been

Market and industry highlights and ongoing trends Biomass for heat, power, and transport: Use of biomass in the heat, power, and transport sectors increased 23% to approximately 55 EJ. Heating accounted for the vast majority of biomass use, including traditional biomass, with modern biomass heat capacity rising about 3 GW to an estimated 293 GW. Bio-power capacity was up 12% to nearly 83 GW, with notable increases in some BRICS countries, and about 350 TWh of electricity was generated during the year. Demand for modern biomass is driving increased international trade, particularly for biofuels and wood pellets. Global production and transport of wood pellets exceeded 22 million tonnes, and about 8.2 million tonnes of pellets were traded internationally. Liquid biofuels provided about 3.4% of global road transport fuels, with small but increasing use by the aviation and marine sectors. Global production of fuel ethanol was down about 1.3% by volume from 2011, to 83.1 billion litres, while biodiesel production increased slightly, reaching 22.5 billion litres. New ethanol and biodiesel production facilities opened, although many ethanol plants operated below capacity. Geothermal Energy: Geothermal resources provided an estimated 805 PJ (223 TWh) of renewable energy in 2012, delivering two-thirds as direct heat and the remainder as electricity. The use of ground-source heat pumps is growing rapidly and reached an estimated 50 GW of capacity in 2012. At least 78 countries tap geothermal resources for direct heat, while two-thirds of global capacity is located in the United States, China, Sweden, Germany, and Japan. Geothermal electric generating capacity grew by an estimated 300 MW during 2012, bringing the global total to 11.7 GW and generating at least 72 TWh. Hydropower: An estimated 30 GW of new hydropower capacity came on line in 2012, increasing global installed capacity by 3% to an estimated 990 GW.Hydropower gener-ated an estimated 3,700 TWh of electricity during 2012. Once again, China led in terms of capacity additions (15.5 GW), with the bulk of other installations in Turkey, Brazil, Vietnam, and Russia. Joint-venture business models involving local and international partnerships are becoming increasingly prominent as the size of projects and the capacity of hydropower technologies increase. Ocean Energy: Commercial ocean energy capacity (mostly tidal power facilities) remained at about 527 MW at year's end, with little added in 2012. Small-scale projects were deployed in the United States and Portugal. Governments and regional authorities continued to support ocean energy research and development, while major power corporations increased their presence in the sector, which is seeing measured but steady progress. Solar photovoltaic: Total global operating capacity of solar PV reached the 100 GW milestone, led by Europe,

with significant additions in Asia late in the year. Driven by falling prices, PV is expanding to new markets, from Africa and the MENA region to Asia to Latin America. Interest in community-owned and self-generation systems continued to grow in 2012, while the number and scale of large PV projects also increased. Cell and module manufacturers struggled as extreme competition and decreases in prices and margins spurred more industry consolidation, and several Chinese, European, and U.S. manufacturers went out of business. Thin film's share of global PV production declined further, with production down 15% to 4.1 GW. Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP): Total global CSP capacity increased more than 60% to about 2,550 MW. Most of this capacity was added in Spain, home to more than three-fourths of the world's CSP capacity. No new capacity came on line in the United States, but about 1,300 MW was under construction by year's end. Elsewhere, more than 100 MW of capacity was operating, mostly in North Africa. The industry is expanding into Australia, Chile, China, India, the MENA region, and South Africa. Falling PV and natural gas prices, the global economic downturn, and policy changes in Spain all created uncertainty for CSP manufacturers and developers. Solar Thermal Heating And Cooling: By the end of 2012, global solar thermal capacity reached an estimated 282 GW for all collector types, with the capacity of glazed water collectors reaching an estimated 255 GW. China and Europe account for about 90% of the world market (all types) and the vast majority of total capacity. Solar space heating and cooling are gaining ground, as are solar thermal district heating, solar cooling, and process heat systems. The industry continued to face challenges, particularly in Europe, and was marked by acquisitions and mergers among leading players, with rapid consolidation continuing in China. Automation of manufacturing processes increased in 2012, with innovation spanning from adhesives to materials and beyond. Wind Power: In another record year for wind power, at least 44 countries added a combined 45 GW of capacity (more than any other renewable technology), increasing the global total by 19% to 283 GW. The United States was the leading market, but China remains the leader for total installed capacity. Wind power is expanding to new markets, aided by falling prices. Almost 1.3 GW of capacity was added offshore (mostly in northern Europe), bringing the total to 5.4 GW in 13 countries. The wind industry has been challenged by downward pressure on prices, combined with increased competition among turbine manufacturers, competition with low-cost gas in some markets, and reductions in policy support driven by economic austerity. (Source: Renewables 2013 Global Report REN21)

Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs And Promoters Association (KREEPA) Institutions and individuals who are engaged in renewable energy activities in the south Indian state of Kerala had formed themselves into an association called Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs' And Promoters' Association (KREEPA). On 15 October 2005, KREEPA was formally inaugurated by Sri Oommen Chandy, Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala at a simple function in Kochi. The objective of the association is to accelerate the use of renewable energy in the State of Kerala so as to make Kerala a leader in the use of renewable energy.

Biomass besides various awareness programmes for public. Those who like to become member of KREEPA, can apply for membership by submitting the application form along with copy of the credentials, a brief description of the activities, flyers, communications, paper advertisements and other relevant materials related to their firm says the secretary of the association, Sri. Georgekutty Kariyanappally, Managing Director, Lifeway Solar (P) Ltd. Save Solar Industry in Kerala: KREEPA

The association, formed for the purpose of making Kerala a model for other States in the use of renewable energy, has been regularly arranging energy workshops in schools all over the State. It had also initiated steps to impart technical training to plumbers on solar thermal hot water system installation, rainwater harvesting and to electricians for solar house electrification. The office bearers of the association said that most of the developed countries are now opting for renewable energy and are successful in the area. India has also kept up the pace with a separate Ministry for Nonconventional Energy Sources (MNRE) and a number of projects in renewable energy application. At present the Head Office of the KREEPA is situated in Mithradham, a Renewable Energy Centre in Alwaye which is the first fully solar educational institution in India, fully devoted for the promotion of environment and renewable energy. The centre inaugurated in the year 2000 conducts yearly one week training programmes for Solar Drying, Solar PV installations and energy from

KREEPA had organized a meeting in the wake of the crisis the industry facing due to the solar scam. Fr. Dr. George Peter Pittappillil, President, KREEPA, said that the meeting convened on 11th August at Renewable Energy Centre, Mithradham, Aluva, had urged the State Government to take effective measures to save Solar Industry in Kerala. Demands of KREEPA 1. The use of renewable energy should be made compulsory for the high income group in the society preparing the way for all people towards solar energy; 2. Government should invite the experienced people in this field in Kerala in all the projects it undertakes; 3. The promised subsidies should be disbursed at the earliest to those who deserve it. Government should prepare a code of conduct for solar system integrators and should make it available to the people. In preparing such norms, the service of experienced people should be

The Renewable-energy Park, a part of the Indira Priyadarshini Children's Park, at Marine Drive, Kochi. (K Rajesh Kumar/EPS) made use; 4. The Government should take the business people in confidence and should involve them at the time preparing such documents; 5. People should be well informed of solar energy through awareness programs in schools and other organizations; 6. The government should recognize those people who have rendered remarkable services in this area; 7. The solar energy should be made affordable for ordinary people by offering tax incentives for those who install solar and other renewable energy systems. KREEPA says it's game for infusing park with renewed energy The Renewable-energy Park, a part of the Indira Priyadarshini Children's Park, at Marine Drive need not worry any more about repair and maintenance of the solar and wind equipment there. KREEPA (Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs and Promoters Association), the association comprising major solar panel manufactures and system integrators in the state, has offered to do it free of cost. “We came to know that the district administration is finding it difficult to maintain and repair many of the equipment in the renewable-energy park in Kochi. KREEPA is ready to undertake an initiative to maintain or repair the equipment, free of cost. But a facility for the same has to be provided,” said Sivaramakrishanan, executive member, KREEPA.

said they have to receive the request officially . “It is true that the equipment requires some periodic maintenance. For any such move, there should be an approval of the executive committee after the request is made,” said K J Tomy, Additional Development Commissioner (GL), District Council for Child Welfare(DCCW) which manages the Children's Park. The District Collector is the head of the DCCW and the park is the only one of its kind in the state, according to authorities. The renewable energy park was set up at a cost of Rs. 1 crore jointly contributed by the Union Ministry for NonConventional Energy Sources (MNRE), Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), DCCW and George Eden MP's fund for local development. The park has equipment working on renewable energy sources like solar, thermal, wind, micro-hydel, biomass and bio gas which have been set up in a solar home, solar hospital, traffic park, energy village, solar TV kiosk, two outdoor kiosks, indoor exhibition hall and a bio-energy area. The Children's Park situated in one-and-a-half acres of land is open throughout the year from 10 am to 8 pm. “We charge only a nominal fee, Rs. 5 as entrance fee. We have to meet all the cost for maintenance and the salary of 11 staff members from the amount collected from the visitors. The traffic to the park depends upon the climate. The park receives maximum number of visitors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

While welcoming such a move the district authorities

Managed by GCC CIGRE and organized by IFP, the 9th GCC CIGRE International Conference and 18th Exhibition for Electrical Equipment, GCC Power 2013 Conference & Exhibition, will be held in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates from 18 to 20 November 2013 .In addition, Tutorials will be held on 17th of November.This event gives participants the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the electricity and energy industry, as well as providing exhibitors with access to the most lucrative deals.

The conference offers the ideal forum for all those concerned with the power sector to develop business relations and discuss the issues and challenges facing the power sector in the region. Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss the latest trends, challenges, developments and strategies to meet the region's rapidly expanding energy needs through a series of panel and technical sessions

The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2014 will bring together global leaders in policy, technology and business to discuss the state of the art, develop new ways of thinking and shape the future of renewable energy. Building on the high profile successes of WFES 2013, the 7th annual gathering of future energy's world leaders will be home to brilliant minds and inspiring thinkers for three days of expert debate and world class innovation in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The scale of WFES marks it out as a true global landmark in sustainability. WFES 2013 brought together 25, 831 attendees from 155 countries and 650 exhibiting companies were joined by 91 official delegations and more than 160 keynote and expert speakers. All of which was reported on by 728 media representatives from around the world.

After a highly successful inauguration of the International Water Summit in 2013 which attracted 4,736 attendees from 75 different countries, the second edition of the International Water Summit will take place in Abu Dhabi on January of 2014. IWS presents world leaders, field experts, international organizations and academic luminaries with a high-level platform for forming partnerships and drawing up effective strategies that will help develop a sustainable water lifestyle at the government, business and consumer levels. For the first time EcoWASTE will be integrated with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2014), an international exhibition dedicated to waste management, recycling and sustainable development in the Middle East and beyond, from from 20th to 22nd January, 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

UAE ratifies IRENA Headquarters Agreement: Agreement is final milestone in the formation of Permanent Missions for Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency Under an agreement that goes into effect immediately, the United Arab Emirates has formally ratified the agreement granting Permanent Headquarters status to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The ratification marks the confirmation of the Permanent Headquarters of IRENA in Abu Dhabi and grants the agency all the legal protections necessary that enable it to function as an international organization. Effective

Director-General of IRENA, Adnan Z.Amin and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan immediately, IRENA will begin welcoming applications for the accreditation of Permanent Representatives and formation of Permanent Missions in Abu Dhabi representing its Member states. The ratification of the IRENA Headquarters Agreement is the final protocol needed to pave the way for the establishment of such diplomatic missions. Headquartered in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and founded to promote renewable energy worldwide, IRENA has expanded to encompass over 160 participating countries, including nearly 120 full members and over 40 countries in the accession process, which convene three times yearly to discuss the goals of this first-of-its-kind agency. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ratification of the IRENA Headquarters Agreement represents a major step forward for the Agency and proves, yet again, the UAE's firm commitment to renewable energy. The ratification is another indicator of Abu Dhabi's emergence as a key actor in global efforts to ensure a sustainable energy future,â&#x20AC;? said IRENA's Director-General, Adnan Z. Amin. Formally established in 2011 after a two-year preparatory phase, IRENA was the first major international agency to be set up in decades and is the first global intergovernmental organisation with its headquarters in the Middle East. The establishment of Permanent Missions to IRENA will

promote year-round collaboration between the Agency's Member States and its Secretariat, on projects related to policy and technology development, as well as partnerships to support countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. Permanent Missions will also enable Member States to participate actively and continuously in IRENA activities. "The UAE's emergence as a global renewable energy hub is reinforced by Masdar's successful projects and strengthened by IRENA's headquarters in Abu Dhabi," said HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and CEO of Masdar. "The IRENA missions agreement is unprecedented in the region and underscores the UAE government's commitment to a sound business and political environment for clean energy." Upon ratification of the Headquarters Agreement this week, member countries are now being invited to appoint permanent representatives and open permanent missions to IRENA. IRENA's new global headquarters building is currently under construction in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City and is slated to be completed in the middle part of 2014. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is mandated as the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange by 118 Members (117 States and the European Union). Over 40 additional countries are in the accession process and actively engaged. Formally established in 2011, IRENA is the first global intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in the Middle East. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and lowcarbon economic growth and prosperity.

Gearing up of the 39th edition of Middle East Electricity from 11-13 Feb. 2014 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre-Investments worth US$ 200 billion to be pumped in MENA power sector by 2020

Consumption of electricity in the MENA region is forecast to grow at a faster pace over the next decade, with investments worth more than US$200 billion set to be pumped into the region's power sector by 2020, according to a report. The MENA Power 2013 report published by MEED Insight earlier this year, said that demand for electricity has grown so rapidly in the MENA region, that in many instances utilities have struggled to keep up, resulting in investments worth billions of dollars in new power

plants. The report added that more than US$100billion of investment is required by 2020 to meet the additional capacity with the same amount to be invested in the transmission and distribution sectors representing a lucrative growth opportunity for anyone working in the power market. This will come as good news to more than 1,200 exhibitors from 100 countries around the world that will

participate in the 39th edition of Middle East Electricity, one of the world's largest energy events focusing on the power, lighting, renewable and nuclear sectors. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai , Middle East Electricity will take place from 11-13 February 2014 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. “Soaring demand and rapid industrial developments are the prime factors that have fuelled the growth of the electricity industry in the Middle East and North Africa region, said Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Middle East Electricity. “Middle East Electricity is the largest and longest running power event in the region, and one of the largest in the world, covering more than 50,000 sqm of exhibition space. After a highly successful edition in 2013, where 18,166 unique visitors walked through the exhibition halls, we are now looking forward to a successful 2014 edition, which will host some of the biggest names in the global energy industry.” Middle East Electricity is co-located with the second edition of Solar Middle East, and returns with the successful Green Energy Middle East Conference held in partnership with Dubai Municipality. The three-day event also features the popular Middle East Electricity Awards. Taking place on the opening night of the event

at a gala dinner, the Middle East Electricity awards cover eleven individual categories: ? Power Project of the Year ? Lighting Project of the Year ? Solar Project of the Year ? Best Innovation of Technology of the Year ? Power & Water Utility of the Year ? HSE Project or Initiative of the Year ? Young Engineer of the Year ? Best Marketing Campaign Award (exhibitor award) ? Best Product Launch at Middle East Electricity 2014 (exhibitor award) ? Power Personality of the Year (special award) ? Green Champion of the Year (special award) Nomination deadlines for the awards have been extended until 19thDecember 2013. Middle East Electricity is supported by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), Dubai Municipality, Emirates Green Building Council, Society of Engineers- UAE, Environmental Center for Arab Towns, Clean Energy Business Council and Energy Institute Middle East. Middle East Electricity 2014 is partnered with, Power Nigeria in Lagos and Africa Electricity in Johannesburg. To be involved as an exhibitor, sponsor or delegate, contact the Middle East Electricity team at +9714 336 5161 or email: meelectricity@iirme.com.

Youth awarded for innovation at the World Future Energy Summit and International Water Summit

From left to right: Dhruv Bakshi, Anjaneya Malpani, Sager Saleh Al Musabi and Abhyuday Sooriyeh

? Innovative solutions for water and energy sustainability showcased at the Green Ideas Expo in a competition organized in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority

for the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation, and the aim of the awards was to encourage young people to develop innovative solutions for regional and global water and energy challenges. The winners were decided by the highest votes received from visitors during WFES and IWS 2013.

Abu Dhabi, 30 October 2013: With sustainable development being an important challenge for future generations, the Green Ideas Expo awards, organized in partnership with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA)and conducted during the 2013 World Future Energy Summit and the International Water Summit, hosted by Masdar, will go a long way to ensuring that the youth of the region are actively involved in developing solutions for a greener, cleaner world.

Commenting on their involvement with these awards, His Excellency Fares Obaid Al Dhaheri, Business Support Director at Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;ADWEA is keen on providing all the necessary support to nurture the talents and creativity of our youth. The participation of young people in such competitions is a great way to enhance their skills and encourages competitiveness and innovation amongst them, while also benefiting their societies. This competition provides the youth with an ideal platform to showcase their achievements, which is considered a source of pride for them and their countries.â&#x20AC;?

The Green Ideas Expo coincided with global celebrations

Naji El Haddad, Show Director for the World Future Energy Summit, organized by Reed Exhibitions, said: “The challenges facing the water and energy sector, on both the local and global level, require realistic and achievable solutions to overcome such challenges, and it is very important that we involve young people today who have the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way with their innovations”. El Haddad added: “The winning projects from the Green Ideas Expo show that young people are willing and capable of playing a vital role when given the chance. The projects they developed highlight the importance of this initiative, and with the support of the private sector, we hope they can transform these ideas and plans into actual projects that can make a substantial contribution to sustainable development in the future. I thank all the participants for their efforts and bright ideas, and we hope that many more young people take an active interest in water and energy sustainability by attending the 2014 World Future Energy Summit and 2014 International Water Summit as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week next January”. The team of Anjania Malpani, Dahrof Pakashi and Abhidi Soryeaihwas awarded first place, with Omar Al Ameri and Sultan Al Kaabi, two Emirati students with scholarships from ADWEA, coming in second place and third place respectively. Explaining the idea behind the winning project, Anjania Malpani said: “The idea was to turn mechanical power into electricity by walking on certain materials such as crystal in what is called pressurized electricity. The team will initially adopt this idea at Dubai Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport which witness a high percentage of passenger traffic”. Runner-up Omar Al Ameri said: “My project was to produce water and electricity from heat extracted through deep wells from the ground where temperatures reach 300°C. After digging the wells, a liquid is extracted and then injected into a desalination plant to produce water and electricity. This project does not require any fuels and unlike solar power, which is available only at daytime, it can be carried out any time throughout the year”. “I thank Reed Exhibitions and ADWEA for organizing this innovative competition, considering the benefits it provides to the participants, specifically the opportunity to shed light on their ideas and discuss their projects with visitors to the event. The International Water Summit is very importantas it demonstrates the efforts being made towards finding better solutions for the many problems and challenges that face the water sector, locally and globally”, said Sultan Al Kaabi, a graduate student in Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

The winning team received a cash prize of US$2,000, with the second place getter receiving US$1,000, and the third place getter receiving US$500. Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, WFES is the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), a global platform that addresses the interconnected challenges that affect the widespread acceleration and adoption of sustainable development and renewable energy. WFES and IWS 2014 will be co-located with the first EcoWaste exhibition, also hosted by Masdar, from 20 -22 January 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Notes to Editor: World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2014 Held under the patronage of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 7th edition of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) runs from 20-22 January 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre with the theme of 'Powering the Future of Energy Innovation and Investment'. Since its inception in 2008, WFES has grown to become the leading discussion platform for renewable energy, clean technology and sustainability, and it is now considered the preeminent international event for government and industry decision makers to find viable, sustainable solutions to the world's growing energy challenges. Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, WFES 2014 is the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the largest ever gathering on sustainability in the Middle East. The event comprises a world-class conference that offers an unparalleled forum for political, business and intellectual debate and a largescale exhibition which facilitates networking and transactions between manufacturers, suppliers and customers across both the public and private sectors. WFES 2014 also features a Project and Finance Village, a Sustainable Living Area, a Young Future Energy Leaders programme, round table discussions, and various corporate events and social engagements. For more information, visit www.worldfutureenergysummit.com About International Water Summit 2014 (IWS): IWS 2014, hosted by Masdar with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) as a strategic partner, is a global platform that hosts world leaders, government organizations, policymakers, public and private sector investors, business leaders, consultants and water experts to interact, negotiate and finalise plans to develop diverse and sustainable water portfolios in the GCC and other regions. The inaugural edition of International Water Summit 2013, hosted by Masdar with the strategic Partnership of

ADWEA, was attended by over 4700 attendees from 75 countries and contributed significantly to addressing global water issues such as water scarcity in Arab regions, sustainable growth and economic development in arid regions, the future challenges of water availability and cross-boundary collaboration through international water governance and the water energy nexus. IWS 2014, from 20-22 January 2014, is co-located with World Future Energy Summit, also hosted by Masdar, as a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), a global platform that addresses the interconnected challenges that affect the widespread acceleration and adoption of sustainable development and renewable

The Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) has submitted a proposal to the Centre to avail of central subsidies for grid-connected rooftop solar power projects - worth approximately Rs. 18 crore - in the state. Under this project, rooftop solar projects of varying capacities will be established at various government and non-governmental institutions, including 10 collectorates including here - the State Assembly and the Kerala University's Kariavattom campus, ANERT director M. Jayaraju said. “The projects together total 1.83 megawatts (MW) in capacity and would cost approximately Rs. 18 crore. We have now applied for the 30% discount offered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),” Jayaraju said. In fact, work has commenced on a 100-KW project at Ernakulam Collectorate, he said.

energy. For more information, visit www.iwsabudhbai.com For further media information, please contact: Dania Ghalayini Ian Mason Reed Exhibitions ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller Email: dania.ghalayini@reedexpo.ae Email: ian.mason@bm.com T: (971) 2 491 7615 T: (971) 2 633 4133

“In each place, the projects depend on the area available. So the capacity varies. In some places we have proposed 50 KW projects, in others, 100 KW ones,” he said. Although the projects are envisaged as gridconnected facilities - meaning they can be connected to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) grid this part may take time to materialise as a foolproof mechanism is yet to be put in place. Last year, ANERT had kicked off the 'Solar Homes' rooftop solar power projects, a flagship initiative of the UDF Government, which envisages the installation of rooftop solar power systems in 10,000 homes across the state. According to the ANERT director, the bookings so far have crossed 12,000 and 5,000 systems have been installed. Under this scheme, 1 KW rooftop non-grid connected systems are being installed in households. The Centre is providing a subsidy of Rs. 53,262 and the state, Rs. 39,000. The systems are being installed by firms empanelled by the ANERT.

People in the News:

Dr. Abdullah Al-Alshaikh Named President of The

Decommissioning of a Nuclear Power(IDA) Plant: International Desalination Association The International DesalinationCosts, Association (IDA) on Challenges, Consequences and Remedy duties of the Deputy Governor. In 2006, he was October 21, 2013 had announced that Dr. Abdullah By Staff Writer

Al-Alshaikh, Deputy Governor for Planning and Development of Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) in Saudi Arabia, has been named President of the International Desalination Association (IDA) for the 2013-2015 term. In addition, IDA announced that Emilio Gabbrielli, Vice President Business Development of Toray Membrane, has been named st 1 Vice President, and Miguel Angel Sanz, Director of Development and Innovation of DegrĂŠmont, 2nd Vice President. Dr. Al-Alshaikh's first postgraduate position was working with ADA (Ar Riyadh Development Authority) as an engineer from 1988 1994. In 1992 he was appointed as Director of the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and headed the department for two years. He was involved in the construction and maintenance of the Diplomatic Quarter as well as operations management of such facilities as theCultural Palace (City Hall), Twaiq Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter.

promoted to Deputy Governor of SWCC for Planning and Development, the same position he holds today.

Dr. AI-Alshaikh has been a member of the IDA Board of Directors since 2009 and has served as Chairman of the IDA R&D Committee since that time. Additionally, in 2006 he was elected a Vice Chairman of Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) & Chairman of Project Management Chapter and in 2009, was elected a Chairman of Project Management chapter at the SCE for the second time. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia and a Master of Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, State College, USA. In 2004, he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Business Administration by Hull University, UK for his thesis, " A Contract Model for Private Sector Participation in Water Resources Management: The Case of Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;?. About IDA The International Desalination Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non-profit association that serves more than 2,400 core members in 60 countries and reaches an additional 4,000 affiliate members. Its membership comprises scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). For More Information, please contact:Ann Seamonds +1-978-887-9959; mobile +1-978-764-5528 seamonds@seamonds.com

He began working with SWCC in 1994 as a Project Engineer in the Studies & Designs Department, where he was involved in reviewing of designs and technical proposals for the major Shoaiba Phase II Pipe Line Project, a 122 km long pipe line with pumping stations and storage tanks to supply water to Jeddah and the holy city of Makkah and Taif. In 1996 he was appointed as General Manager of Projects in SWCC's head office, leading the department involved in bid evaluation, awarding and implementing contracts and interacting with governmental agencies, consultants and several contractors in the construction activities of major multimillion power and desalination projects. In 2002 he was promoted to Assistant Deputy Governor of SWCC for Projects & Technical Affairs while continuing to work as General Manager of Projects and, in the absence of the Deputy Governor, conducting the