Key Developments
Course Correction
The hydropower sector in India has been witnessing a lull for the past few years. This is largely due to the lack of policy focus as well as inherent risks associated with hydroelectric project (HEP) […]
Specials
Segment Review
Creating Change: New policy and regulatory initiatives aimed at sector reform
In the past one year, the power sector has witnessed several policy and regulatory developments broadly aimed at addressing the power distribution issues, facilitating the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources and maintaining grid stability. […]
Segment Review
Trading Trends: Rise in short-term volumes and prices
With thermal power plants facing a demand crunch and discoms not signing any power purchase agreements (PPAs) beyond their baseload, the short-term power trading market has emerged as a necessary tool in recent years for […]
Specials
Recovery Steps: Government sets up panel to resolve stressed assets as RBI deadline ends
As the 180-day deadline for the resolution of high-value non-performing assets (NPAs) of around Rs 20 billion and above comes to a close end-August 2018, there is heightened anxiety among industry stakeholders. The Allahabad High […]
Specials
Call for Flexibility: MoP issues draft note on merit order operation
In recent years, the growth in electricity demand has not been commensurate with the generation capacity addition, which has led to a decline in the plant load factor (PLF) of thermal power plants (TPPs). While […]
Specials
Mapping Performance: Government launches the first state energy efficiency index
In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at tracking the states’ energy footprint, the Ministry of Power (MoP) recently launched the State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index. The nationwide index is a joint effort of the NITI Aayog […]
Specials
Cleaning Up Coal: Deploying ultra-supercritical technology for improved efficiency and reduced emissions
In recent years, there has been considerable debate on whether coal can continue to play an essential role in the global energy mix. Coal is the most widely available fossil fuel resource. It forms the […]
Specials
Innovative PPP Model: Argentina takes steps to boost private investment in power infrastructure
After years of limited investment, the power sector of Argentina is witnessing a fresh growth spurt with the government’s rising focus on developing core infrastructure sectors. To this end, the government has taken various steps […]
Specials
Turning to Imports: Utilities start overseas coal procurements as domestic supplies tighten
It’s a trend that marks a significant u-turn in the government’s approach towards coal imports. After two straight years of decline, in 2017-18, coal imports rose to 213 mt, increasing by almost 11.5 per cent […]
Specials
Discom Ratings: Gujarat discoms lead for the sixth consecutive year
Power distribution remains a weak link in the sector’s value chain. This is evident from the latest discom ratings released in July 2018 by the Ministry of Power (MoP) and the Power Finance Corporation in […]
Specials
Hydro Woes: Uttarakhand High Court stays HEP construction in the state
The woes of Uttarakhand’s hydropower sector do not seem to end. The High Court of Uttarakhand has recently imposed a stay on the construction of all hydropower plants in the state, owing to improper waste […]
Specials
Waste Value: Promoting refuse-derived fuels to channelise municipal solid waste
Out of the 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in the country, over 80 per cent is disposed at dumpsites in an unhygienic manner. With the growing urban population, environmental concerns and stressed resources, […]
Specials
Major Relief: Government allows pass-through of costs incurred by TPPs for emission control equipment
In a significant policy development this month that came as a big relief to thermal power plant (TPP) owners, the government has issued a notification stating that investments in the installation of emission control technologies […]
Specials
Optimising Coal Transportation: Ministry releases methodology for linkage rationalisation for IPPs
The Ministry of Coal (MoC) has released the methodology for the rationalisation of coal linkages for independent power producers (IPPs), kicking off the process for private developers. Until now this was only available for central […]
Distribution
New Payment App
The delay in payments by distribution utilities has been an issue of concern for generation companies for a long time. Owing to their precarious financial condition, distribution utilities are often irregular in their payments to […]
Specials
Getting Tough: MoP tightens lending to discoms with high AT&C losses
It has been two years since the path-breaking Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) reform was introduced; however, the performance of discoms has not been as expected. In 2017-18, the aggregate technical and commercial losses for […]
Specials
Greater Flexibility: Thermal generators allowed to use renewables to meet contractual obligations
As the power sector gears up to integrate 175 GW of renewable energy into the grid and meet its climate commitments, grid balancing mechanisms and optimal utilisation of resources have gained significance. Acknowledging this, the […]
Specials
Towards Full Electrification: One milestone achieved, one more to go
On April 28, 2018, India’s last unelectrified village, Leisang in Manipur, comprising 14 households was electrified, marking the achievement of the 100 per cent village electrification target. Village electrification in the last couple of years […]
Specials
Smart Meter Tenders: EESL undertakes bulk procurement to cut costs
The benefits of smart meters are immense for both discoms as well as consumers. However, the high upfront cost of smart meters has been one of the key reasons for their slow adoption by discoms […]
Specials
At the Helm: Anil Sardana takes over as head of Adani Transmission Limited
Anil Sardana recently took over as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of India’s largest private transmission company, Adani Transmission Limited (ATL). He brings to the table over three decades of experience in […]