T&D India (March 2017): Privatization not a cure-all, but still worth pursuing

In the entire power value chain, it is power distribution that has most singularities. While power generation and transmission are largely institution-related businesses, it is power dis-

tribution that interfaces with the end-consumer. All the commercial losses that are talked about in the power sector originate in power distribution. Even Smart Grid architecture has a bearing on power distribution, much more than power generation or transmission.

Making the power distribution segment viable, leave alone profitable, has been every gov-ernment’s agenda since Independence. Bailout packages have been worked out for power discoms in the past but they remained largely ineffective. Now, it is the recent UDAY scheme on which hopes are pinned. However, only time will establish the UDAY’s efficacy.

Privatisation of power distribution has been a very complex subject. While there is broad agreement that private sector involvement will certainly make the sector service-oriented and profit-oriented, getting down to privatizing loss-making distribution circles hasn’t been an easy task at all. The overall success, even in a seemingly easy endeavour of appointing distribution franchisees, has belied expectations. The most obvious reason for the failure could be lack of political will. However, private entrepreneurs that ventured in the murky business of power dis-tribution have also alleged that there has not been enough hand-holding by the government.

While these allegations cannot be proved readily, it is a disconcerting truth that several power distribution franchises have been cancelled for a variety of reasons. The spate of cancellations is very disturbing. The list of cities where DF licences have been cancelled include Aurang-abad, Ujjain, Kanpur, Ranchi, Jamshedpur with the possibility of there being a few more. In some cases, a private franchisee doing extremely well in one circle has faced the ignominy of having its licence cancelled in another. While both parties are answerable for cancelled licences, the state governments must learn from the situation and try and fine-tune its policies to attract and sustain private enterprise under the DF model.

Even as the overall progress is not so enthusing, it is heartening to see a state like Rajasthan recently appointing franchisees in circles like Kota and Bharatpur. Even Jharkhand that failed to infuse private participation in key circles like Ranchi, Jamshedpur and at least five others, it did appoint rural distribution franchisees. Bihar, where AT&C losses are significant, has seen success in apponting distribution franchisees in the Gaya and Bhagalpur circles.

While privatization in power distribution cannot be the only solution to bringing down AT&C losses, it must be agreed that even schemes like UDAY cannot guarantee results if power discoms do not acquire the mindset of running a profitable business. Different approaches must be experimented depending on local conditions. The diversity in social conditions across various geographies of India has a deep impact on the power distribution segment, and this has to be factored in devising any approach in turning around loss-making circles.

March 20174T&D India

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Privatization

Not a cure-all, but still worth pursuing

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contents


8 NEWS l ADB sanctions $500-mln loan for India l Sikkim joins UDAY schemel Arunachal Pradesh reviews CSST&DS

12 iNtErviEW l Power utilities need to be made more sustainable Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, Chairman – Energy Meters Division, IEEMA

Also: l Renewables (29) l Orders & Contracts (40) l Achievement (41) l Short Takes (42)

24 SPEciAl fEAturE l the exciting journey of a 75-tonne power transformer

26 NEW lAuNchES l latest measurement software l compassPlus from Otisl receiver test solution l ‘Pipe’ from Opplel Software plug-in from Microchip l helio Plus for street lighting

28 q+A l the recent years have been good for our power t&D business Subhash Sethi, Chairman, SPML Infra Ltd

30 iN cONvErSAtiON l the rewa project has set a roadmap for cost optimization harish Kapoor, Group President — Corporate Affairs, ACME Group

16 SPEciAl StOry l the positive impact of tariff-based bidding

Focus: Power Distribution

32 PrOfilE l DEif ensures reliable power for your hospital

Focus: eFFicient lighting

18 iNtErviEW l indian utilities understand the value of proven technology Kavita Sinha, General Manager—India Region, Silver Spring Networks, Inc.

21 q+A l A smart grid makes a smart city hartek Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Hartek Group

22 iNtErviEW l Sensus can help india with next-generation technology Amit vaidya, Director- Strategic Customer Team, Sensus India

34 iNtErviEW l People are adapting to the changing times rambo Zhang, India Head,Opple Lighting

T&D News

he Government of India and Sikkim have signed a memorandum of understanding under the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme, for

operational improvement of the state’s power distribution department. With the signing of MoU, the total number of states covered under UDAY has reached twenty-two, a government release said. Sikkim would derive an overall net benefit of approximately Rs.207 crore through UDAY by way of cheaper funds, reduction in AT&C and transmission losses, interventions in energy efficiency, etc. during the period of turnaround.

The MoU paves way for improving operational

efficiency of Sikkim’s power distribution department. AT&C losses and transmission losses would be brought down through compulsory distribution transformer metering, consumer indexing and GIS mapping of losses, upgrade/change transformers, meters etc, smart metering of high-

end consumers, feeder audit etc, besides eliminating the gap between cost of supply of power and realisation. The reduction in AT&C losses and transmission losses to 15 per cent and 3.50 per cent respectively is likely to bring additional revenue of around Rs.179 crore, the release said.

Demand-side interventions in UDAY such as usage of energy-efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans and air-conditioners and efficient industrial equipment through PAT (Perform, Achieve, Trade) would help in reducing peak load, flatten load curve and thus help in reducing energy consumption in the state of Sikkim. The gain is expected to be around Rs.25 crore, the release added. n

runachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with Power Minister Tamiyo

Taga recently reviewed the progress of the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution System (CSST&DS), along with officers of implementing agency Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. Officials of Arunachal Pradesh power department could not be reached for comment.

The scheme funded by Centre at an estimated cost of Rs.3,200 crore involves the development of 132kV transmission lines covering about 1,917 km including 33kV line feeders covering 1,923 km. The scheme also includes several substations of varying voltage levels.

Planned by Central Electricity Authority in consultation with PGCIL and the state governments concerned, CSST&DS is likely to

be completed by late 2019. The scheme was evolved to strengthen the inherently-weak intra-state T&D systems of northeastern states.

Background: In September 2014, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the CSST&DS in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs.4,754 crore.

When the scheme was introduced, only 5 out of 20 districts of Arunachal Pradesh were connected to transmission network at 132/220kV with the 33kV system being the backbone of power distribution system in the state. Due to low population density spread over its geographical area of 84,000 sqkm, power demand in Arunachal Pradesh is scattered over large distances. Hence it is necessary to provide 132kV connectivity in the state for proper voltage management and lower distribution losses. In Sikkim

too, the distribution system in mainly relies on the 66kV network.

In view of this, it was proposed to take up projects for strengthening intrastate T&D systems of the two states through 31 new 132kV substations, 14 substations of 66/11kV. The project also involves 2,035 km of transmission lines (132kV and 220kV) and 2,204 km of transmission lines (33 and 66kV), across both the states. After commissioning, the projects would be owned and maintained by the state governments.

Initially the project was proposed to be funded by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER). But due to budgetary constraints, it was taken up through a new Central Sector Scheme under the ministry of power’s budget. The project is to be implemented within 48 months from the first fund release to PGCIL. n

Arunachal Pradesh reviews CSST&DS

T

T&D India March 20178

Sikkim joins UDAY scheme

A

New BRPL grid substation by MayBSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, one of the three private power distribution utilities in Delhi, is expected to commission a new substation in south Delhi by May 2017. Built with an investment of Rs.50 crore, and in the final stages of commissioning, this substation will be the first GIS substation by BRPL. The 66/11kV substation is expected to improve power supply to south Delhi, in areas like Molar Bandh, Mithapur, Saurabh Vihar, Jaitpur and Khadda Colony, which together have a population of 1.5 lakh. It is also learnt that with this substation, BRPL will be India’s first utility to have smart 66kV power cables with built-in fibre optic connectivity.

View of the 132/66kV switchyard at Melli, South Sikkim

T&D News


sian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $500-

million loan to help improve large-scale power transmission from the northern to the southern regions, while helping integrate renewable energy in the country’s power system.

Expansion of inter-regional connectivity enables bulk power transfer to the southern region which has, at times, been affected by power shortages. This loan will also help strengthen the transmission system to accommodate renewable energy-generation capacity, a release from ADB observed.

The program will facilitate power transfers among states and regions, and stabilize electricity supply and

improve the quality of power. It will also help connect renewable energy to interstate power system and enhance energy security in India.

The project, which is expected to be completed by December 2020, will help build 800kV and 320kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations and 765kV power transmission systems in India. It will

also help Power Grid Corporation of India add 6,000 MVA of transmission capacity between Raigarh in Chhattisgarh and Pugalur in Tamil Nadu; 2,000 MVA transmission capacity between Pugalur in Tamil Nadu and North Trichur in Kerala; and 3,000 MVA transmission capacity to accommodate renewable energy flows via Bikaner in Rajasthan.

The $500-million loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources will make up around 19 per cent of the $2.581 billion total project cost, with PGCIL providing counterpart financing of $2.081 billion. The loan has a 20-year term, including a five-year grace period with an annual interest rate determined in accordance with ADB’s LIBOR-based lending facility. n

ADB sanctions $500-mln loan for IndiaA

Omron showcases innovative solutions

OMRON, a player in ‘Sensing & Control + Think’ technologies, is all geared up to expand its presence in the smart energy segment in India. The company has updated its portfolio with an array of unique and innovative solutions to cater to some of the critical needs faced by utilities in the sector in the country, a company statement said. The solutions were displayed at the recently-held India Smart Grid Week-2017 at New Delhi.

Omron aims to support the utilities to manage a considerable proportion of their T&D losses caused due to power theft by providing first-of-its-kind sensing solutions which make the meters ‘tamper evident’ and provide remote disconnect with real-time monitoring. Another notable solution is the Line Monitoring Sensor that has the capability of detecting hooking and leakage at the distribution lines enabling the utilities further. This solution gains immense importance considering the country has about 400,000 km stretch of distribution lines needing an efficient monitoring and management, the release added.

ilver Spring Networks, Inc. has announced the expansion of its program with CESC

Ltd for two franchisees in Kota and Bharatpur, Rajasthan. CESC will leverage Silver Spring’s standards-based IPv6 platform to provide two-way connectivity to approximately 187,000 homes and businesses in the Kota franchise service area, which is spread across 150 sqkm, and approximately 50,000 homes and businesses across 50 sqkm in Bharatpur. Silver Spring will deploy Operations Optimizer™ for CESC Kota and Bharatpur through a Software-as-a-Service model. Operations Optimizer is a powerful analytics engine and user interface that enables utilities to help improve operational efficiency and develop business processes and workflows that can reduce energy loss and improve billing accuracy, a release from SSNI said.

“We are honored to expand our work with CESC, a true industry leader, as they reinforce the new

standard of electric service and grid modernization in India, and as we enable benefits such as grid reliability and better customer experience to Kota and Bharatpur,” said Mike Bell, President and CEO, Silver Spring Networks, in the release.

The new Kota and Bharatpur deployments are in addition to Silver Spring and CESC’s award-winning IoT program in Kolkata, India for Advanced Metering and Distribution Automation, recognized as the ‘Smart Grid Project of the Year’ at the 2016 Asian Power Awards. CESC, which signed a 20-year distribution franchisee agreement for power distribution for Kota and Bharatpur in 2016, with more than 3 million customer connections and serving approximately 17 million people in the state of West Bengal. n

[An exclusive interaction with Silver Spring Networks, Inc is

presented on pp18 of this edition.]

SSNI expands Indian program with CESCS

An HVDC converter hall (Photo: Siemens)


interview

Tell us about the membership of IEEMA’s metering division. How has the growth been over the recent years?IEEMA’s Energy Meters Division has more than 40 members, Almost all major meter manufacturers in India are members of IEEMA. Over the recent years, the membership has grown well and the division has represented the true voice of metering industry in all forums.

IEEMA is organizing ‘Metering India 2017’ in the next few weeks. What are the main attractions of the event?Indian power distribution utilities are incurring heavy losses. It has become imperative to deploy a right mix of people, process and technology in order to make the utilities sustainable. Metering India 2017…Towards Smart and Sustainable

Utilities aims at showcasing the global thought processes of the best minds in our ecosystem from policy, industry, utilities, regulatory, testing laboratories etc in order to cater to the blazing issues faced by various stakeholders. The event is expected to pick up and debate diverse perspectives, expectations and experiences in order to add tremendous value to the participating delegates through this collective knowledge sharing process on all the aspect of metering domain including smart meters, communication technologies, energy conservation, IT infrastructure, smart meter pilot rollout so far, etc.

This would be the seventh edition of Metering India. Tell us how the event has evolved over the years.The first Metering India seminar was held in 2004. Since then, more than

IEEMA is soon launching the next edition of its highly successful Metering India seminar series. “Metering India 2017…Towards Smart and Sustainable Utilities” to be held during April 6-7, 2017 at New Delhi, aims at showcasing the global thought processes of the best minds in the metering ecosystem. T&D India caught up with Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, to understand the current trends in the metering industry in India and the role of seminars like Metering India in the evolving milieu of smart meters and smart grids.

Power utilities need to be made more sustainable

— Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, Chairman – Energy Meters Division, IEEMA

File photographs of sixth edition of Metering India

interview

1,700 delegates representing various stakeholder groups have participated in Metering India seminars. The last edition was attended by over 400 participants representing more than 123 organizations comprising utilities, consultants, franchisees, institutions, testing labs, system integrators, regulators, solution providers and manufacturers.

Metering India has catered to diversified themes in the past like “Revenue Management” to “IT in Metering for Efficient Power Distribution”, “Smart Indian Dimension”, etc. Today, ‘smart’ features are impacting our lives like never before. The ‘business as usual’ scenario of a few years back has been reinvented by smart devices. The transparency and trust challenges are being answered through technology in every sector. Our lives are flooded with information. The awareness related to resource conservation in every form has taken over our lives like never before. At this juncture, it is imperative for us to take a stock of smartness for sustainability. Metering India 2017 targets to explore the use of ICT to make Indian power utilities more sustainable.

With India moving towards Smart Grid architecture, how do you assess the increasing significance of energy meters and that of events like Metering India?Very good question: I would like to brief you that in the entire smart grid

architecture “smart meter” is the most important component. Smart meters not only measures electricity consumption, but also provides useful information like power quality, tamper information, consumption pattern , load profile etc.

Metering India 2017… Towards Smart and Sustainable Utilities aims at showcasing the global thought processes of the best minds in our ecosystem from policy, industry, utilities, regulatory, testing laboratories etc in order to cater to the blazing issues faced by various stakeholders.

The ministry of power has also launched different schemes like IPDS, DDUGJY, UDAY, etc for the revival of entire power distribution system. The main objective of the schemes is to provide reliable and quality power 24x7 to consumers and bring down the T&D losses. The event is expected to pick up and debate diverse perspectives, expectations and experiences in order to add tremendous value to the participating

delegates through this collective knowledge sharing process.

Do you feel that India is self-sufficient in terms of locally manufacturing technically advanced energy meters?Deployment of indigenously designed anti-tamper static meters started way back in India in year 1994. In fact, the anti-tamper feature has spread across the world from India. Speaking of self-sufficiency, the Indian industry is technically equipped to develop cost-optimized meters with advanced features not only for Indian market but also for overseas market.

What is the role of foreign technology in the Indian energy metering industry?Indian field conditions and regulations are very typical and vary from state to state. Such a situation is not conducive for induction of foreign technologies.

As Chairman of IEEMA’s Energy Meters Division, what are the important points on your agenda for the Indian metering industry?As Chairman of IEEMA’s Energy Meters Division I would like share that the industry is very active and is providing full support to the vision of Hon’ble Power minister for rollout of smart meters in the country. We are also addressing various industry issues of different stakeholders from time to time. I would also like to brief you that the metering industry is ready with smart metering solutions to enable the ministry of power’s plan of smart meter rollout, as envisaged in the UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) scheme. n

[A commerce graduate with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management,

Jitendra Kumar Agarwal is also Joint Managing Director of Genus

Power Infrastructures Ltd, and director on the boards of Genus

International Commodities Ltd and Virtuous Infra Ltd.]

interview ieeMA - energy Meters division

‘Metering India 2017… Towards Smart and Sustainable Utilities is poised to be an important milestone in the quest of making power utilities more sustainable. Come and contribute your bit to shape our future….’

An important milestone

Manjushri Shah, Convener,

Metering India 2017


Last date for booking: March 31, 2017

Advertise in the special edition of“smArt meters”

CONTACTE: [email protected]

T: +91 (22) 6221 6617 M: (0) 98-210-06258

emsafetynetwork.org

april2017

VENUGoPAL PILLAI

s elements of nature, the sun and wind are closely related. The sun is the

ultimate cause for winds. In that sense, the wind follows the sun. India perhaps realized this and initiated new thinking in the solar power industry hoping that wind energy would follow; and it did. What we are talking about here is tariff-based bidding that was first introduced in solar energy and then in wind. In both cases, it has worked.

Nodal agency Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) recently opened bids for 1 GW of wind power to be sourced using the tariff-based competitive bidding route. The results have been astounding. Tariffs of Rs.3.46 per kwh were quoted by wind power developers for long-term purchase to state governments, via the Central transmission company Power Grid Corporation’s green energy corridor. Mytrah Energy, Green Infra Wind Energy, Inox Wind, Ostro Kutch Wind and Adani Green Energy have emerged as the lowest bidders quoting Rs.3.46 per kwh, it is learnt through reliable media reports.

Earlier, solar tariffs fell to below Rs.3 per kwh when power purchase agreements were firmed up for the 750-mw Rewa ultra mega solar park in Madhya Pradesh. Three developers—ACME Solar, Mahindra Renewables, Solenergi—quoting Rs.2.97 per kwh for a 25-year power

purchase period. The Rewa project might be exceptional as the Centre is extending assistance in the form of assured purchase, compensation for grid downtime etc. All the same, the tariff is very aggressive and is at least 25 per cent lower than the lowest till then.

What has worked for the solar power industry is the falling capital costs of solar cells and module, in the international market. Secondly, large capacities, of say 100 mw or more, do bring in great economies of scale. Developers are also perhaps lowering their expected rate of returns, as some industry players said.

In the case of wind, the tariffs hovered between Rs.4 and Rs.6 per kwh. In this reckoning, a tariff that breaches the lower limit is certainly aggressive. Wind has the advantage over solar in that the entire project cycle can be completed with local equipment and expertise. India locally produces even sophisticated wind turbines that can work efficiently even in low-wind regimes. In India, it should be remembered, wind power is a traditional industry that started off in the 1980s. In the case of solar, there is significant dependence on imports. Though prices of solar cells and modules are on a declining

trend in the global market, any shock could upset the tariff calculations for domestic players.

According to latest information released by the Union ministry for new and renewable energy, India’s operational capacity with respect to solar cells was 1.448 GW per year, as of January 31, 2017. That of solar modules was 5.286 GW as of the same date. Clearly, this is grossly insufficient in the wake of the national target of attaining 100 GW of grid-connected solar capacity by 2022.

Returning to wind energy, Tulsi Tanti, Chairman, Suzlon Group, “Currently wind projects are limited to 7-8 wind rich states in the country where capacity addition continues. Tariff based bidding is a game changer in the industry, coupled with indirect support from the government like central transmission utility (CTU) network connectivity will open new markets and lead to expansion of wind energy across the country.” Tanti also explained that low tariffs are the result of multiple factors like new breed of efficient turbines, softening of interest rate regime, lowering of return expectations by investors and the opportunity to enter new markets.

Meanwhile, there is another development that could push down solar tariffs further. The power ministry recently announced that it would set up additional 20 GW of solar capacity by way of solar parks, by 2020. Currently, 34 parks envisaging 20 GW of solar capacity are under various stages of development. This additional 20 GW of capacity, now proposed, is going to come from at least 50 new solar parks, each of capacity 500 mw or more. The new scheme also provides incentives to state governments, as well as developers. The Centre has envisaged total financial assistance of Rs.8,100 crore for this additional 20 GW. Solar developers have much opportunity to benefit from economies of scale, and power procurers, from even more aggressive tariffs. n


A

Special Story

The positive impact of tariff-based bidding


interview

To start with, discuss in brief your main products and solutions for the power distribution segment.At Silver Spring, we understand what it takes to enable critical IoT (Internet of Things) applications, because we’ve been delivering it for more than a decade. We do this by delivering a unique combination of strengths found nowhere else in the industry, and by building our solutions around recognized Internet standards.

Our single-minded focus since 2002 has been to bring the power of open standards to critical infrastructure systems. To achieve this goal, we built an open network optimized for IoT communications across millions of devices. We chose a platform-based approach so our customers could leverage a common set of technologies, including

networking and security, to support multiple applications, with choice throughout. This approach ensures that SilverLink, our suite of solutions for connecting critical infrastructure, is extensible and cost effective, providing customers with a flexible solution, supporting best-of-breed options, at a very reasonable price per home and business connected. It also means that our smart grid customers can leverage their network extend it to other applications and industries; for example, connecting street lights, buildings, parking meters, or other city resources as part of the Internet of Things. So, not only do our solutions help utilities solve business problems in their core utility operation but provide revenue upsides from other adjacent IoT business opportunities.

Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (SSNI) is a global player specializing in enabling critical Internet of Things (IoT) applications, with tremendous experience in harnessing the power of open standards to critical infrastructure systems. SSNI recently extended its association with Indian power utility CESC for the Kota and Bharatpur distribution circles in Rajasthan. SSNI’s IoT program for CESC’s Kolkata circle was awarded ‘Smart Grid Project of the Year’ in 2016. We have Kavita Sinha expounding on how SSNI can make Indian power distribution grids more efficient. An interaction by Venugopal Pillai.

Indian utilities understand the value of proven technology

— Kavita Sinha, General Manager—India Region, Silver Spring Networks, Inc.


interview


silver sPring networks, inc.

Tell us in particular about IPv6 platform and the significance of “open standards”.From a technology point of view, we see the biggest barriers and opportunities around the adoption of standards-based technology. Since its inception, Silver Spring has adhered to open standards and driven the creation of standards where they didn’t exist. Standards enable interoperability, which in turn ensures that the broadest possible set of products work together. Standard technologies deliver a wide range of benefits to customers, most important of which is vendor independence. Customers benefit from greater choice because of heightened competition, as well as higher-quality solutions, lower pricing, and reduced risk by avoiding vendor lock in. Standards also open a market to new players and speed the pace of innovation. Silver Spring has helped spearhead several key standards efforts, including:

Pioneering the use of IPv6 as a •networking protocol for the smart grid, from the back office to the endpoint Forming OpenAMI, a forum for •adapting IP to meet smart grid networking requirements Co-founding the Wi-SUN Alliance •to create an interoperable Field Area Network (FAN) standard addressing the requirements of OpenAMILeading the development of •IEEE 802.15.4g for RF mesh communications, including compliance of current installations Leveraging standard web services •to simplify software integrationFor these IoT networks for utilities

to yield their full potential they must be based on open standards. Standards enable interoperability, which in turn ensures that the broadest possible set of technologies work together. And customers benefit from greater choice because of heightened competition, which

delivers more rapid innovation, higher quality, lower costs, and reduced risk by avoiding vendor lock in.

When did SSNI enter India? Do you have any engagement so far, other than that with CESC?Our association with India has been long. Some of our international device partners are Indian firms who are successfully leveraging our footprint to access global markets. We have been working on expanding our partner ecosystem in India to bring the best-of-breed solution to utilities, cities and other IoT customers in the country.

Additionally, we have been in discussion with utilities in India for some years now. So far our engagement has been very productive. Utilities understand that the highest value (and lowest risk) to consumers is in using a technology that has been proven at-scale globally and is open and standards-based. Untested technology lowers consumer confidence and has resulted in many embarrassing failures and cost overruns internationally.

What technical solutions are you currently offering to CESC?For our program at CESC India in Kolkata, Silver Spring is deploying its IPv6 IoT platform, for both Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Distribution Automation (DA) applications. Through Silver Spring’s Operations Optimizer™ solution, a powerful analytics application that creates insights from a variety of data sources, the program will further help CESC improve grid reliability and safety, reduce time for outage detection and restoration, reduce energy loss, and ultimately, provide better customer service. The CESC program in Kolkata was also recently recognized as the ‘Smart Grid Project of the Year’ by the Asian Power Awards.

We understand that your association with CESC has extended to now include the Kota and Bharatpur circles. Tell us more.We recently announced our new agreements with CESC to its franchisees in Kota and Bharatpur, India. CESC will leverage Silver Spring’s standards-based IPv6 platform to provide two-way connectivity to homes and businesses in Kota and Bharatpur. Silver Spring will also deploy our advanced big data analytics software, Operations Optimizer, for CESC Kota and Bharatpur through a Software-as-a-Service model. This will enable CESC to gain instantaneous insights from the AMI data leading to greater operations efficiency, reliability, safety and services to consumers.

Are you in dialogue with any other Indian utility to provide technical support and solutions?We are speaking with various utilities and other local authorities across India to help them address challenges they face around reducing energy consumption, grid reliability and other operational improvements. We look forward to continuing the IoT conversation in the market.

From a technology point of view, we see the biggest barriers and

opportunities around the adoption of standards-

based technology. Since its inception, Silver Spring

has adhered to open standards and driven the

creation of standards where they didn’t exist.

Standards enable interoperability, which in turn ensures that the broadest possible set of products work together.

interview


silver sPring networks, inc.

What are the key benefits that can accrue to energy consumers when grids are equipped with SSNI solutions?While our technology is not sold directly to consumers, consumers benefit in multiple ways. By making our electricity grid smarter, we help consumers:

Get more control over their energy •usage. They can more easily track and forecast their usage and participate in energy (and money) saving programs.Experience fewer power outages •because of increased reliability.Experience better power quality •which would mean increase life for their appliances at home.

Help the environment by reducing •energy consumption, providing a framework to integrate more renewables into our energy supply and reducing the overall impact of our carbon footprint. Global climate change is not

only our most formidable collective challenge, but an enormous opportunity for the industry to grow markets, generate revenue, and create jobs.

The Internet of Things is an essential foundation toward this end. It begins with making the grid smarter to enhance energy efficiency and better integrate distributed

energy resources, including renewables, energy storage, and distributed generation. Looking ahead, it will accelerate electric vehicle deployment and streamline energy markets. Intelligent municipal infrastructure will smooth traffic flows and enhance public safety, while big data insights will boost economic productivity and liberate capital to create additional value for society.

Tell us about your engagement outside your home country, particularly in emerging economies.We believe there is a need to create interconnections between these IoT

entities and utilities at the edge to enable a fully connected and interoperable smart grid. Distribution utilities are great at operating large, long-lived assets. IoT represents the best-known opportunity to leverage a skill your company already has. Our technology was developed to make that transition fast, low risk and seamless.

As more digital devices monitoring more aspects of the grids become more critical to their efficient operation, improved reliability and service quality, empowerment of consumers, and increased integration of renewable energy sources, we see

even more opportunity in this space over time. Additionally, water and natural gas providers are beginning to accelerate deployment of two-way communications systems across their networks in a more meaningful way. This is a large and global opportunity.

How do you see the years ahead for SSNI in India, given that India is striving towards Smart Grid architecture and even Smart Cities?There’s a very real concept of “anchor tenants” that is becoming much more common within our customer base. This is the notion that there are a well-known number

of core or anchor tenant applications that have very strong business cases, are distributed throughout the service or coverage territory, and allow the organization to fund the development of what we’re calling an initial “canopy network” that can provide coverage for the entire service footprint that a company wants to be able to expand into. Once that initial canopy is funded and deployed, then the marginal cost of adding other devices and new applications drops dramatically.

Since there is both an emphasis on grid modernization and smart cities, we believe that stakeholders in India should have this top-of-mind as they approach their initiatives. India is a long term growth market for us and Silver Spring is willing to invest in a common network management platform that is built on open standards and delivers vendor choice to a city or utility so to they can very easily expand into future applications and try new device types without having to make large investments in either back office infrastructure or new networking equipment. n

Q+A


A smart grid makes a smart cityHartek Group recently won an award to commission SCADA relays at 55 power

substations in Punjab. The order placed by state utility Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd is a forerunner to Smart Grid architecture in the northern state.

We have, in this exclusive interaction, Hartek Singh dwelling on this order, explaining how it could form the stepping stone for Hartek Group’s

Smart Grid business. An interaction by Venugopal Pillai.

— Hartek Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Hartek Group

Is the Punjab substation SCADA order the first of its kind for the Hartek Group?We have undertaken SCADA projects in the past, but not at such a large scale. The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) order that we have clinched involves 55 substations spread across Punjab. The sheer scale of this prestigious project requires a specialised team of engineers and technical manpower with proven expertise in the T&D domain.

What is the detailed scope of the order?This smart grid order from PSPCL involves the supply, installation and commissioning of Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) relays at 55 substations in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar, including 29 in Ludhiana, 14 in Amritsar and 12 in Jalandhar. By equipping these substations with SCADA relays, the Hartek Group will enable collection and storage of information relating to any indications for troubleshooting and maintenance, thus making the power systems smart and robust.

The Hartek Group will make the power systems compatible with SCADA by arranging SCADA-related equipment to replace and retrofit old relays in the existing 11kV breakers of 66/11kV substations. From retrofitting and erection to testing and commissioning of all SCADA-related equipment/relays, the company will take care of the entire assignment.

When do you expect to start work on the project and what is the envisaged completion date?We were allotted this order in January. The deadline for executing it is June, but given our execution capabilities, we will complete the project much before that.

Does Hartek Power plan to induct technological expertise from outside for the project?We will be sourcing the SCADA relays from Schneider Electric.

What key benefits will accrue to PSPCL from the SCADA project?Acquiring real-time data and controlling the signals at the same time is extremely crucial for any state discom so that the power system network is well equipped to deal with any major or minor fault. Turning all the 55 grids into smart grids by replacing the conventional relays with SCADA relays will enable the PSPCL to control the grids and hence create a robust power system for the three cities.

Tell us how this SCADA substation project could be the basis for Smart Grids, and ultimately for Smart Cities.A Smart City is characterised by reliable and efficient operations, and smart grids have a crucial role to play in any Smart City by ensuring reliable and efficient power supply through adoption of technological applications like SCADA. So, it is smart grids which make Smart Cities. Though smart electricity in a typical Smart City is characterized by features like sustainability, affordability and smart and automated metering, it all starts with making a grid smart and responsive. The automated and computerised applications used under SCADA to detect faults and identify faulty equipments not only reduce the need for manpower but also bring down the costs, aided by lower operation and maintenance expenses, and ensure a faster response. Besides, the outages are fewer and the time taken to rectify faults is considerably reduced.

How do you see the prospects for more such orders and other mandates in the Smart Grid architecture?The scope is enormous. We expect work on upgrading grid infrastructure to be taken on a war footing across the country as the government sets out to achieve its target of “Power for All” by 2019. The potential in the T&D domain is huge, considering that 300 million people in India are still not connected to the grid. n

Q+A

For illustration only



interview

Tell us in brief about the various services provided by Sensus in the field of energy..We are a global supplier of utility-grade smart meters and communications systems. Along with next-generation smart meters we additionally provide FlexNet, a dedicated and secure two-way communications network to gas, electric and water utilities worldwide.

Building smart networks takes technology and solutions that can provide in-depth views and control over the deployed utility infrastructure. The Sensus FlexNet communication network delivers high speed, scalable and reliable two-way communications via long-range radio. The FlexNet network works with smart meters and sensors to securely transmit and receive customer usage data. Our clients can use that data to proactively manage their electric, water, gas, lighting and smart grid systems.

India is at the leading edge of a total electrification programme and Sensus can help India with the implementation of next-generation technology at the same time as its networks are being built out.

India is moving to Smart Grid architecture. In this context, how do you see opportunities for basic offerings like AMR and AMI?Smart grid technologies have become the need of the hour for emerging countries like India to circumvent lock-in of outdated energy infrastructure, attract new investment streams, and create efficient and flexible grid systems

that will be able to accommodate rising electricity demand and a range of different power sources. This provides an opportunity for us to offer our FlexNet communications network, which is a fixed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology that can support smart metering, smart grid, smart street lighting and smart water networks. Operating in a dedicated spectrum, it ensures security and provides utilities with a resilient and universal solution meaning there is absolutely no need for in-fill technologies which add complexity and cost. AMI also has characteristics that are different from point-to-point or session-based radio communication networks.

We observe that Sensus has a solution called “Conservation Voltage Reduction”. Please describe this in some detail.All electric utilities have a need to better gauge demand during peak load times. Too high, and everybody pays more and too low, there is a risk of brownouts and blackouts. Sensus Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) is a better way to monitor real-time voltage data and optimise voltage across entire distribution network. With this solution one can experience 2 to 5 percent voltage reduction as well as corresponding energy savings of 1 to 2.5 percent. This energy saved during peak events across the entire utility adds up to significant cost savings.

India is often victim to power outages. How do you see the potential for outage management solutions by Sensus in India?

Sensus helps water utilities, energy providers and cities do more with their infrastructure to improve the quality of life in their communities. Sensus enables its customers to reach further through the application of technology and data-driven insights. We have Amit Vaidya discussing the various services that Sensus offers in India. Vaidya is confident that Sensus can help India with the implementation of next-generation technology at the same time as its networks are being built out.

Sensus can help India with next-generation technology

— Amit Vaidya, Director- Strategic Customer Team, Sensus India


interview


Sensus’ outage management solution integrates the Sensus FlexNet communication network with the utility’s hosted or owner-managed outage management systems capabilities. Flexnet brings real-time and historical customer data together to alert the utility to any system-wide issue, even before a customer report is made.

This frees the management and maintenance staff to focus on the most important task; getting power back to customers. It also eliminates capital investments in IT resources, extra office space or specialised resources.

Benefits to the Indian utilities include:•Reduces outage time, restores

service faster using outage location predictions

•Maintains a positive perceptionby providing accurate outage and restoration information

•Enables and increases regulatorycompliance

•Reduces complaints to regulatorsdue to ability to prioritise restoration of emergency facilities and other critical customers

•Reduces outage frequency dueto outage statistics that help you target reliability improvements

•Expedites restoration viaintegration with SCADA systems, which automatically reports circuit breaker status

•Offersaccuratereportingofoutagestatistics, via network tracing

•Prioritisesimprovementprogramsby understanding common modes of failure

Assuming that Sensus has interacted with power distribution utilities in India, how has been the experience so far?The interaction with different power distribution utilities in India has been positive for our organisation. We had recently signed a MoU with Maharashtra State ElectricityDistributionCo.Ltd(MSEDCL)andBSESYamunaPowerLtd(BYPL)fora technological trial. The agreement

will enable BYPL and MSEDCLto use FlexNet, Sensus’ advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications network across their service areas.

Sensus is a global leader in utility infrastructure systems and resource conservation and this partnership is a testimony of UK-India technological collaboration. And, going forward we are expecting more such technological trials which willhelpusmeettherequirementofcoverage, capacity and longer-term needs of smart grids of different utilities boards without significant additional investment.

Tell us about your VantagePoint lighting solutions. Do you see India as a market for this solution?Sensus VantagePoint solution isan intelligent solution that uses a control module, software and FlexNet communication network to give greater control and automation of lights. In January 2015, PrimeMinister

Narendra Modi had announced a schemeforLEDbulbdistributionforstreet light is an initiative which is part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country. VantagePoint LightingControl is an intelligent solution that uses a lighting control module, lighting software and our FlexNet communication network to give you greater control and automation of your lights. Our solution helps you conserve energy, manage your assets, reduce maintenance costs and promote public safety. And because your lighting can be remotely managed from your operations center or even mobile applications, you have greater control over its

daily operation where and when you need it.

Globally, in which countries is Sensus actively present, currently? Sensus isheadquartered inNorthCarolina, US. It has presence in five continents across the globe, and employs 3,200 people. The US-based company started India operations in 2014 and has offices in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

How do you see the market for Senus in India? What would be the key growth drivers?India is at the leading edge of smart cityrollouts.Electricity,gasandwaternetworks are part of our society’s essential infrastructure here in India. Their operation and availability is critical and most tested at times of natural disaster, civil disturbance or terrorist activity. As technology enables the ‘digitisation’ of these networks for improved management and control, the communication networks that perform these functions become critical to the operation of these essential services.

We therefore believe that in India, the communication networks used by utilities for smart metering, need to be dedicated, secure and reliable, where performance levels of more than 99.5% are standard. In the 21st century, national catastrophes are all too common, so resilient control and information systems are more critical than ever.

Sensus aims to bring forth its best practices and technology, better governance, quality infrastructureand uninterrupted utility services. India is at the leading edge of a total electrification programme. Recently Sensus has announced its first global support center in Hyderabad. The new center represents a strategic investment for Sensus and will support business operations in India and across the globe. Sensus can help India with the implementation of next-generation technology at the same time as its networks are being built out. n

sensus inDia

P

Special feature

ower transmission and distribution is all about carrying electricity from one

point to another. The path that this electric current follows from the place it is generated to the point of final consumption is an intricate labyrinth. When one discusses complexities in the power T&D chain, one mostly talks about the technical challenges in the flow of electricity. Little does one realize that if electricity has to reach from one point to the other, there is also heavy power T&D equipment that also needs to be shipped from one point to another. The movement of critical equipment across hostile terrains and challenging topography often goes unnoticed and is seldom talked about.

In this special story, T&D India brings to light the shipment of a 75-tonne power transformer that successfully covered a 1,500 km and surmounted all challenges en route, thanks to the vast experience of the logistics firm. The case in point is that of Express Global Logistics (EXG) that shipped this consignment from the factory of ECE Industries Ltd, at

Sonepat in Haryana, to Ramnagar, West Champaran district in Bihar. The transformer was delivered to state power utility Bihar State Power Transmission Company Ltd.

Parts of the route in the Haryana-Bihar journey were very challenging but 1946-incorporated Express Global Logistics was equipped with vast experience in making the journey without a single untoward moment. Express Global Logistics was supported by EXM Project Movers Pvt Ltd by way of consultancy and

equipment, apart from experienced manpower. Recalling the shipment, officials of EXG said that the journey had patches of difficult terrain but the biggest hindrance was a river crossing. To be able to travel across the river, a bypass of around 55m in length was constructed. This included 10m of actual river crossing, 25m of entrance approach and 18m of exit road. The bypass was built swiftly thanks to meticulous planning and timely permission from regional authorities concerned.

The exciting journey of a 75-tonne power transformer

The exciting journey of a 75-tonne power transformer

T&D India January 201724

The entire shipment was transported in just ten days, much to the delight of all parties involved.

In an interaction with T&D India, Capt M.S. Momin, Chief Executive Officer, EXM Project Movers Pvt Ltd, said that he would regard this 75-tonne transformer shipment as amongst the most challenging ODC movements in recent times due to the construction of the temporary bypass as well as the strict timelines set by the customer.

There is no doubt that over the past decade or so, national highways have developed at a rapid pace and this has facilitated movement of goods. However, when it comes to heavy project-related equipment, it is the last-mile connectivity that is of critical importance. Capt Momin, expounding on this aspect, said that project sites are mainly located in the interiors, away of human population. Hence, one has to navigate through state highway, medium density roads and even local rural roads, which are being built under the Centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. “National highways

and bridges thereon are well maintained. Interior infrastructure is not as good and thus careful calculations are required while moving heavy loads. Movement of heavy shipments is tough but it can be tackled with proper coordination with authorities,” felt Capt Momin.

On the successful shipment, the

team at Express Global Logistics recalled that the entire project was handled meticulously from the transportation to the construction of the bypass. An extensive study and survey was conducted as part of this movement regarding the origin, destination and the travel route.

Capt Momin also expressed confidence of a growing volume of heavy electrical equipment shipments, especially transformers and reactors, given the country’s thrust on enhancing its power T&D infrastructure. He also felt that with foreign companies setting up domestic manufacturing units, the potential of movement of transformers as well as other over-dimensional electrical equipment is tremendous.

A successfully completed project is always a big morale booster. This transformer shipment was no exception. “After this flawless service, the customer is already considering us favorably for future business and this job has added credibility to our performance,” was how an exuberant Capt Momin expressed his satisfaction. n

Salient FeatureSOrigin Sonepat, Haryana

Destination Ramnagar, Bihar

Distance 1,500km

Time taken 10 days*

Shipment Power transformer

Total weight 75 tonnes

Trailer combination 6-axles

*including construction of bypass

January 201725T&D India


New LauNchesLatest measurement software

National Instruments has announced NI-RFmx 2.2, the latest version of its advanced measurement software for PXI RF test systems. When used with the second-generation PXI Vector Signal Transceiver (VST), engineers can test 4.5G and 5G RF components such as transceivers and amplifiers using a wide range of carrier aggregation schemes, even as the 5G standard is still being defined. With the second-generation VST, engineers can simultaneously generate and measure up to 32 LTE carriers, each with 20 MHz of bandwidth, and use the software to specify a variety of carrier spacing schemes. The latest release of NI-RFmx also features algorithm improvements for reduced measurement time. Engineers performing modulation quality and spectral measurements for wireless technologies such as UMTS/HSPA+ and LTE/LTE-Advanced Pro can experience EVM measurement time reductions of up to 33 percent1 by installing the latest version of the software.

CompassPlus from OtisBuilding owners and managers can now realize the benefits of the Otis CompassPlus destination management system in advance of a complete modernization of their existing elevators. The Otis CompassPlus system can be installed before or during an elevator modernization project, providing increased passenger efficiency, seamless security integration and a new customizable, contemporary design. Otis, the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of elevators, escalators and moving

walkways, is a unit of United Technologies Corp. Now, elevators of many makes and models, including non-Otis products, can benefit from Otis’ innovative and customizable technology at any stage of a modernization project. The system gets passengers to their destinations as much as 50 percent faster than conventional dispatching systems. It also works seamlessly

with the building’s security system to manage floor access, a release from Otis said.

Receiver test solutionTektronix has introduced the industry’s first receiver test solution with 100 percent coverage of the MIPI Alliance’s recently released D-PHY v.2.0 specification along with full support for the C-PHY v1.1 receiver test specification. Tektronix now offers MIPI designers, such as those working on autonomous driving systems or in-vehicle infotainment, simplified PHY receiver test set up and faster test execution combined with industry leading signal fidelity and flexible support for in-depth debug and margin testing. This solution expands Tektronix’ extensive portfolio of MIPI PHY transmitter and receiver and protocol test solutions for its industry leading real-time

oscilloscopes, arbitrary waveform generators and BERTScope bit error rate testers. MIPI standards continue to evolve quickly to support consumer demands for ever more powerful devices.

‘Pipe’ from OppleOpple has launched their new ‘Pipe’ table lamps. This product has been designed to offer smartness and portability to everyday life. This light comes with a flexible angle that can be twisted as per one’s own convenience. Along with this, it offers a clip that can be attached to any kind of base, like a table, laptop, etc. This handy light provides flicker free and uniform light output that is healthy for the human eyes and does not harm it in anyway. It also has another feature of adjusting the brightness as per requirement. A user can adjust its illumination to 10 per cent, 40 per cent or 100 per cent by use of a simple touch button. This way, it protects the eyesight and brings in additional visual relaxation.


New LauNchesSoftware plug-in from MicrochipAn advanced motor control software plug-in for Microchip’s MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with auto tuning and self-commissioning capability is now available from Microchip Technology Inc. The plug-in, called motorBench™ Development Suite, is a Graphical User Interface

(GUI)-based tool with automatic tuning of feedback control gains and offline accurate measurement of critical motor parameters such as resistance, inductances and the back electromagnetic force (EMF) constant. This plug-in collects all

the information relevant to the motor control system and automatically tunes the control algorithm gains. The software then uses this information to generate MPLAB X IDE project code ready to run on Microchip’s dsPIC33EP family of Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The generated code can then be reviewed and edited as needed and flashed as motor control firmware.

Helio Plus for street lightingNTL Lemnis has added Pharox “Helio Plus” to its product portfolio. The Pharox Helio Plus is a range of street lights has a unique modular arrangement, which was hitherto unavailable in the category. Pharox Helio Plus range showcases a high performance, energy efficient LED light for road lighting applications. With the option of customizing the wattages to achieve the desired lux levels and specially designed optics, with highest quality lens for desired coverage, this product can be used in Public Areas, Parking Lots & Highway Lighting Applications.

The high power factor and an exceptionally high efficacy of >100 lm/W makes it a one stop solution in street lighting applications. Pharox Helio Plus is available in various lens options to cater to the requirement of various spread patterns and has a wide sustainable voltage range of 140-300V. The product range is specially provided with Over Voltage Protection, Thermal Protection and Short Circuit Protection. It has been designed with an extruded aluminium heat sink for better thermal management. Pharox Helio Plus Range is available in 40W, 80W, 120W and 160W. n

[Source: Press releases of respective companies]

CTC Global and General Cable have announced the signing of an agreement which implements an expanded ACCC® licensing arrangement. Under this new agreement, General Cable has been granted the rights to manufacture, promote and sell high-capacity, low-loss ACCC bare overhead transmission and distribution conductor in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This agreement combines the unique strengths of both companies to deliver proven cost-effective electric grid efficiency solutions to utility customers, an official statement said.

Siemens and Allgäuer Überlandwerk GmbH (AÜW), based in Kempten, Germany, have formed a joint venture named egrid to commercially implement the results from IRENE and IREN2, two joint smart grid research projects in Wildpoldsried. It was agreed that Siemens would acquire a 49-percent share in the AÜW subsidiary, egrid applications & consulting

GmbH. The transaction is subject to clearance by the competent competition authorities. The joint venture will offer innovative consulting services for distribution grid operators and will continue to refine existing offers. The joint venture’s consulting services will focus on “intelligence instead of copper” solutions for smart grid expansion. The primary action areas will be the integration of large capacities from distributed generation plants and intelligent control of the distribution grid.

Siemens has been awarded an order to supply a link between the French and British power grids. The customer is ElecLink Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Groupe Eurotunnel SE. The “ElecLink” HVDC link will enhance power supply reliability in both countries and promote the integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid. Siemens will supply the two HVDC converter stations at both sides of the DC power line, which will be routed as a DC

cable through the Channel Tunnel. This cable is to be supplied by Prysmian and installed by Balfour Beatty. The volume of Siemens’ share of the order is around 315 million Euros. The link is scheduled to take up commercial operation early 2020. The foundation stone of the future converter station was laid on February 23, 2017.

Siemens and the Russian manufacturer of instrument transformers, Profotech, have demonstrated the interoperability of unconventional (fiber-optic) current and voltage instrument transformers connected to digital protection devices via process bus. Siemens and Profotech are thus taking process bus communications technology in energy automation a step closer to commercial deployment. One of the greatest challenges here is to ensure interoperability so that the connected devices can also communicate together without error regardless of the manufacturer.

GLobaL sNippets


The recent years have been good for our power T&D business

In this quick interaction, Subhash Sethi discusses the order book of his company’s power sector business. Sethi’s views were sought in the backdrop of a major Rs.460-crore order from Power Grid Corporation of

India for building substations in the northeast. Sethi is optimistic that power T&D will see a rising share in the company’s overall business portfolio.

— Subhash Sethi, Chairman, SPML Infra Ltd

SPML Infra recently won an order worth over Rs.460 crore for building substations, from PGCIL. Tell us about the scope of this order. Does this qualify to be amongst the single-largest orders for SPML in the power sector, in recent times? These are three different orders with combined cost of Rs.461.04 crore received from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd under the “North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project” scheme being funded by the World Bank.

The scope include design, engineering, supply, erecting, testing and commissioning of 16 units of 132/33/11kV substations, as well as substation extensions, in different parts of Tripura. The order also includes 5 years of operation & maintenance for communication equipment. These are substantial orders for SPML and we are hopeful to receive more orders under this scheme in north eastern region.

When do you intend starting work on this order and what is the scheduled completion date? We have already started our preparation with design and engineering of these orders and it will be completed within the completion period of three years.

Meanwhile, we have also started our initial preparation of other orders received from Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Ltd for 220/132/33kV (2x150+2x50 MVA) grid substation at Ratu (Burmu),

Jharkhand; and from West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd for 220/132/33kV GIS substation at New Town, 24 Parganas (North) district, along with two 220kV AIS feeder bays at Domjur substation at Howrah. All these projects will be completed within the stipulated period.

Tell us about some major ongoing orders in the power transmission space. Is there any major order that is likely to commission in the near future? We are currently executing a number of power transmission and distribution projects in several states. Apart from rural electrification works in Patna and Gaya districts and

Power distribution and management project in Bhagalpur, Bihar where SPML has introduced new age technology for smart metering solutions, asset indexing on cloud, mobile application for consumption & billing information, 24x7 consumer complaint centre among many other initiatives.

SPML is also executing substation projects — 400/220kV substation with 1x500 MVA and 400/220/33kV autotransformer in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh; 400/220kV substation with 1x500 MVA and 400/220/33kV Autotransformer in Sikar, Rajasthan; 220/132kV GIS substation in Alipurduar, West Bengal; 132/33Kv GIS Substation in Bajkul, West Bengal; 220Kv substation in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh etc.

Some of our projects including rural electrification work in Patna and Gaya, substation projects in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will be completed within this year.

What is the currently the share of power T&D-sector related orders in the total order book position of SPML Infra? Has this share improved over the years? SPML has received good orders in power T&D-sector in the last few years and it has contributed almost 30 per cent of company’s total revenue. We expect to get more orders in power segment and certainly the share of power projects in our overall business portfolio will increase. n

Q+A

International Finance Corporation, the private-sector investment arm of the World Bank, is planning to invest in Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd, a renewable energy service company. IFC said it intends to invest up to $15 million (Rs 100 crore) in Clean Max through compulsory convertible debentures. It has installed over 51 mw of solar plants in 10 states for 40 clients. The company plans to commission more than 250 mw of solar projects over the next three years.

Independent renewable energy company ReNew Power Ventures Pvt Ltd has announced that it has raised $200 million from Japanese power company JERA Co Inc that will now have 10 per cent equity stake in Renew Power. JERA is a joint venture between two of Japan’s largest utilities companies, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. As one of the world’s leading energy firms its capabilities expand across in the entire energy supply chain, from fuel transportation to power generation. This investment also marks JERA’s entry in India.

NTPC has commissioned 115 mw out of the total 260 mw capacity of its Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan. This has taken NTPC’s total solar capacity to 475 mw. NTPC’s total installed capacity, across all fuel types, has risen to 41,177 mw, taking into accounts plants wholly-owned by NTPC. Besides, the Central PSU has 7,002 mw of installed power generation capacity from plants owned by its joint ventures.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, Tata Power’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has announced the synchronisation of its 15-mw solar plant at Belampally in Telangana. With this development, Tata Power’s total installed operating capacity crossed 10,500-mw mark. The solar plant has been built over 80 acres of land, and includes an 18 km transmission line. Sale of power from solar plant has been tied up under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd, at a tariff of Rs.5.72 per kwh.

Statkraft BLP Solar Solutions, a joint venture between Norway’s State-owned utility Statkraft, and Bharat Light and Power, has started generation at its 5-mw solar power plant in Karnataka, the company said in a statement Thursday. Statkraft BLP is in pact to sell power from this project to three clients in Karnataka. This is Statkraft BLP’s first land-based solar project. Set up in 2005, the JV had so far completed only rooftop solar projects.

Private dairy firm Hatsun Agro Product has commissioned wind power plants with 24 mw capacity in Tuticorin district in Tamil Nadu, the company said in a statement. Besides, the company is also likely to commission a solar power plant with 550 KW capacity in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, soon. These green energy projects will help Hatsun Agro meet 75 per cent of its power requirements. The wind and solar projects cost about Rs.180 crore and are expected to generate around 73 million units of electricity per annum which will be utilised for captive consumption. The wind power project commissioned by Gamesa India comprises of 12 wind turbine generators of 2-mw each.

The Union Cabinet has given post facto approval to the MoU on renewable energy between India and Portugal, which was signed on January 6, 2017.The MoU aims to promote bilateral technical cooperation on new and renewable issues.The MoU envisages constitution of a joint working group which can co-opt other members from scientific institutions, research centres, universities, or any other entity, as and when considered essential. n


Renewables

CorrigendumDear Reader:The given photograph was published on page 30 of the February 2017 edition of T&D India in the interview with Rattan Lal Labroo, Joint

President – Power Group, Angelique International Ltd. The caption of the photograph should read “220/110/33kV Singa substation, Sudan” and not as printed. The error is regretted. The

correction has since been made in the digital edition of T&D India (February 2017) and the same may be accessed on www.tndindia.com

— Editor


In ConversatIon

We understand that ACME Group has won the rights to develop 250 mw of grid-connected solar PV capacity at the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park. Please tell us about the tariff quoted by ACME. What is the levelized tariff over the 25-year power purchase period?

The levelized tariff over the 25 year is Rs. 3.30 per unit (kwh).

The tariff is believed to be at a historic low. Please discuss how ACME would be able to sustain this tariff over the 25-year period.We are very confident. Rewa project has its own unique features.

Could you elaborate? One of the advantages of this project is that the selected bidder will sign a power purchase agreement with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Madhya Pradesh Power Management Corporation (MPPMCL). Since

DMRC is financially sound, there is no payment realisation risk.

Also, deemed generation is allowed which means if there is no offtake of power then the developer would be compensated for the power generation. Guaranteed generation is the additional key feature which enables each off-taker to get the supply. Firstly it will be supplied to DMRC and then rest will be provided to MPPMCL.

Madhya Pradesh state government has done the overall groundwork—identification of land for the project as well as land allotment to the developer. The developer has to pay land charges of Rs.5.4 crore for each 250-mw unit, infrastructure charges of Rs.3.57 crore for every six months for first 10 years for each 250-mw unit, administrative charges of Rs.75 lakh for each 250-mw unit, local area development charges of Rs.5 crore (in two installment), registration fees

The 750-mw Rewa Solar Park created history by recording the lowest-ever tariff in the Indian solar industry. ACME Group will develop 250 mw at the park. In this exclusive interaction, Harish Kapoor discusses the Rewa Solar Park in depth and explains how ACME is confident of sustaining this low tariff, albeit with state government support. Kapoor is confident of bright prospects for developers of the Indian solar industry—right from kilowatt to multi megawatt solutions. An interaction by Venugopal Pillai.

The Rewa project has set a roadmap for cost optimization

— Harish Kapoor, Group President — Corporate Affairs, ACME Group

In ConversatIon


aCMe Group

Rs.2.5 crore and project development fees of Rs.76 lakh. These features of the payment mechanism remove the uncertainties as compared to others projects.

I would add here that this is also the largest solar power tender led by a state government and not by a Central public sector unit.

What about financing?Loan for the development of 33/220kV pooling substation to evacuate power from the Rewa Solar power project is done through World Bank. It is one of the first projects to get funding from Clean Technology Fund (CTF) in India. In this project, a three-tier payment security mechanism for the procurer has been introduced.

There is no viability gap funding for developer. This is however a highly bankable project as all arrangements—from land to grid connectivity—have been done by the government. In this scenario, developers can tie up their long-term debt funding at lower costs.

India is planning to build 20 GW of solar capacity (out of the total 100 GW) by 2022, through solar parks. Do you think that the Rewa solar park model could be a healthy precedent more solar parks to follow?Yes, I think so. Results of the bidding for the Rewa project have created a win-win situation for all stakeholders in the Indian renewable energy sector. It has established a robust process of tariff-based bidding and has set the roadmap for a further optimization of cost per unit tariff. The path-breaking tariff discovery is

most competitive and a very positive development. With this, we expect an exponential growth in coming days for the renewable energy industry.

When do you expect to start work on the Rewa solar park project and what is the envisaged time by which you expect to turn the plant commercial?We have to commission 5 mw within eight months and remaining 245 mw within 18 months, as per tender guidelines.

Including the 250-mw Rewa project, what is the total solar portfolio of ACME Group as a solar developer? How much of this portfolio comprises operational projects?Our total solar projects portfolio is 1,804 mw. Out of this, 649 mw is currently operational.

ACME Group had bid for India’s first utility-scale solar energy-cum-storage project of SECI. Is there any latest development on this front? Financial opening of the bid is still awaited.

Please discuss the scope and limitations of storage-based solar projects in India.

We are in favour of storage-based projects as it will take care of cloud transition or in emergency situation to supply power to the grid for limited duration. It will also help power distribution utilities in frequency stabilization and load management. However, there is a financial constraint attached to increasing the storage time, which will increase the levelized cost of energy.

Given that there is so much traction in the solar power industry, how do you see the years ahead for ACME?The years ahead will be good both for ACME as well as the solar power industry.

India will be among the top three global solar markets in 2017. The leapfrogging growth that India has made in recent years is set be longer this year. We expect that an additional 9 GW worth of solar PV plants will be operational by the end of this year. The declining project cost accompanied with downward interest rate in domestic market will be a strong enabler for solar industry growth.

Overall, it will be a good time for both megawatt and kilowatt scale solar solutions. ACME is present and has committed itself in both these segments. n

Profile

IndIan healthcare sectorAccording to the department of commerce, Govt. of India, the Indian healthcare sector is one of the fastest growing industries and was sixth largest market globally in terms of size in 2015. Healthcare revenue in India is set to reach USD280 billion by 2020. Govt. of India has allowed 100% FDI in healthcare sector – a major growth driver for this sector. Medical tourism in India is on the rise because of state-of-the-art private hospitals and diagnostic facilities available at low cost. Treatment for major surgeries in India costs approximately 20% of that in developed countries. Patients from developing countries are also attracted due to lack of advanced medical facilities in their own countries.For healthcare sector to grow further by attracting foreign patients, availability of reliable power is the critical need.

Why Is It so crItIcal for hospItals?Designing electrical systems for health care facilities, especially hospitals, is more demanding than for conventional buildings due to complexity of the system, and its size. It involves many differentsystems consisting of alternate sources ofpower, switching equipment, controls, anddistribution equipment.The stakes are so highthat even a slightest interruption of power can result in to a tragic event. Seriously ill and injured people’s lives could be at risk. On the other hand, there is increased patient awareness while insurance companies play a crucial role through regulations. Hospitals come under the Clinical Establishment Act and Consumer Protection Act and any shortfall in patient care and safety will invite medico-legal consequences. Major accreditation bodies such as JCI (Joint Commission International), NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare

Providers), and ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) have stringent norms for electrical power availability.

Modern healthcare facilities depend on reliable availability of medical equipment.Without power backup, high-tech healthcare equipment are vulnerable to software or hardware damage. It would result in loss of respiratory devices and other critical equipment for patients in intensive care, neonatal or cardiac units. ECG Monitors, Ventilators, Incubators, Laparoscopy system, Electrocautery, Suction Apparatus, Defibrillator, Ultrasound, Biochemistry analysers, and other equipment can stop working. It would also result in loss of lighting, HVAC, refrigeration and water pressure, inability to sterilize instruments, transportation of patients and supplies between floors due to non-operational elevators.

Disturbances of the power translate into failed processes, lost electronic patient medical records, decreased efficiency, unhappy patients and lost revenue.

A primary challenge for many healthcare facilities is to provide a high-qualitysource of electrical power that is backedup with highly reliable emergency andstandby power systems to ensure uninterruptedflow of electricity to the entirefacility, particularly during crisis andnatural disasters.Power outages force hospitals to look for alternate power sources, where diesel genset are the most favoured option for in house power generation. Control system that would support future expansion for at least over a decade without major modifications is preferred.Availability of local service and support during sudden breakdown is most sought for.

We suffIce your requIrementsDEIF has a strong track record in developing emergency, standby and backup power solutions for hospital and healthcare facilities.Deploying DEIF’s solution will keep your life saving and revenue-generating medical equipment operational giving you the crucial business edge

DEIF ensures reliable power for your hospital



Profilewith satisfied patients and benefit you in numerous ways.

DEIF’s Automatic Genset Controller, AGC-4 features proven technology for a wide range of generation systems in critical power applications.• Increased reliability and flexibility

In DEIF’s redundant control system, two controllers operate in Hot Standby mode, with one as active controller while the other acts as a standby controller. The standby controller is connected to the active controller through CAN bus and remains updated with the latest events and information at all times. In case of any unexpected fault in the active controller, the standby controller assumes control without any load or speed jumps during transition, thus ensuring continuous flow of power.• Fast energy backup

AGC-4 controllers are capable of synchronous starting of multiple genset using Close Before Excitationand can deliver record start-up from an impressive less thanten seconds for multiple genset in parallel, redundant control

systems, or even an entire redundant power plant.• Fuel optimisation

DEIF’s controllers are designed to run optimum combination of genset thus reducing fuel consumption, cutting emissions and operating cost, and increasing efficiency of your backup genset power making it greener with fast ROI. • Remote monitoring

DEIF’s Advanced Graphical Interface - AGI 300 series,allows the user to view the entire system on a single screenthus facilitating convenient and effective monitoring and control of all systemsor any

other third party systems and critical parameters simultaneously;over one centralised IP based network from a remote location at the touch of the graphical user interface.• Scalability

Aiding your future growth and expansion plans, DEIF’s controllersystem is fully scalable multi-master system of up to 992 genset with plant management option in one application without making major modifications in the existing project.• Quick Service

DEIF India has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennaiand a repair centre for fault identification & rectification in Mumbai. Choosing DEIF means reliableand fast on-site service & support.

COMMUNICATE WITH USDEIF solutions enable you to fulfil the demand of end users and serve your patients better.If you care for your patients and desire to lend best of services to them, get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 022-4245 2000. n

ABB crosses 4.5 GW of wind generators in IndiaInside view of ABB’s wind generator factory at Maneja in Vadodara district, Gujarat. ABB India recently announced that it has delivered over 2,000 wind generators corresponding to a capacity of 4.5 GW from its Maneja plant. ABB, as a group, has supplied components to over 40,000 wind turbines globally.

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interview

What are the various lighting products that Opple Lighting markets in India?Opple caters to a large variety of products. It originated as a CFL and ceiling fixture manufacturer, which today has significantly expanded its product line to include a vast array of products and services—ranging from electrical appliances to large-scale commercial lighting solutions. With a motto of ‘We believe in Better Light for a Better Future’, and immense success has propelled the brand to be the largest home lighting company in the Chinese market with a wide network of sales outlets.

Opple currently supplies to three major categories:

Home Lighting: Along with LED bulbs, tubes and strips, Opple provides products that fit each and every element of the house. It includes lights for the Ceilings, Tables, and Walls, and most importantly lights for decorative purposes. All these products promote our motto of Healthy Lighting.

Commercial Lighting: Opple is home to products that hold a strong position in the commercial sector.

With products like LED Downlight, LED High Bay, Battens, LED Panels, LED Outdoor and many more, the brand is amongst the widely preferred ones in the industry.

Smart Cities: With the rise of Smart Cities, Opple manufactures products that work towards the betterment of the nation. It creates lights that are smart, robust, advanced, long lasting and irreplaceable.

In brief, discuss the efficiency of LED lighting versus conventional lighting like CFL and incandescent lamps.The answer to this is simple. Trends have kept changing. We don’t work in the same way we used to. Similarly the sector has also progressed towards development with the use of LEDs. These lights are easy to maintain and come in a relatively cheaper price as compared to the ones used earlier. These lights have a longer running life and are easily replaceable. They are available in several designs, colours, patterns, and are way cost friendly.

As compared to the conventional light sources, LED’s give off almost no heat. Therefore, a much higher

Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Opple is considered to be the fastest growing lighting company in the world. The brand forayed into the Indian market in 2014 and is being widely accepted by customers. In this interaction, Rambo Zhang discusses the Indian operations of Opple and notes that the Indian consumer is getting increasingly conscious of LED lighting as a means to achieve energy efficiency.

People are adapting to the changing times

— Rambo Zhang, India Head, Opple Lighting

Focus: eFFicient lighting

interview


percentage of the electricity used goes towards making light, rather than in incandescent bulbs where a good percentage of it ends up being converted to heat. These are direct and easy light sources. LEDs are eco-friendly and have a longer life. This simply means that the consumers don’t have to worry about changing them often. With the use of Opple LED’s, consumers can save up to 88 per cent of their electricity.

Also amongst many new technologies, controls are major topics of discussion these days. The rise of controls has come hand in hand with the rise of LEDs, which can be dimmed and have the ability to send and receive data. Improvements in user interfaces, and the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, are also helping. All of this wasn’t easy to deal with during the time of conventional sources.

In your opinion, what is the level of awareness of the benefits of LED lighting amongst Indian consumers?Since some time now, the people have adapted themselves as per the changing times. India is a country which is densely populated and most of it falls in the middle

class category and below. Keeping the same in mind these LEDs are designed in a manner which suits every pocket. Either rural or urban, LEDs fit in all kinds of categories and population type.

How has Opple grown in India? Opple started as a CFL and ceiling fixture manufacturer and today includes a vast array of products and services—comprising of electrical appliances to large-scale commercial lighting solutions.

Opple kicked off with its India operations in 2014. Since then the company’s portfolio has diversified into a strong portfolio outfitting to the demands of the Indian lighting industry. It has also worked for major projects including The Westin, Pune, Taj Palace, New Delhi, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, RBS office in Chennai, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida and many more.

Known for its strong commitment to R&D and innovation, Opple’s

Wujiang production center is the largest industrial lighting site in Asia, featuring fully automated assembly lines.

How do you see the road ahead for Opple Lighting in India? What will be your main business growth drivers?Opple currently holds a strong position in the Indian market with products in diverse categories. The market here is very vast and offers different products which suit almost all the major requirements of the consumers. Indian consumers are of the mindset of getting high quality products at a comparatively low price. Opple caters to their demands and tries to bring out the best.

The market has always appreciated our new launches and our existing line of products. We are currently working on reaching the untapped markets. Along with this, we aim to create awareness amid the consumers on the different categories of LEDs and their uses. This will help our brand gain more recognition. n

[Note: All photographs represent installations of Opple lighting in

India.]

opple lighting


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Orders & COntraCts

The power T&D business of Larsen & Toubro Ltd has won orders worth Rs.1,169 crore, the company said in a stock exchange filing. The business was mandated to build the 400/132kV Qabel grid substation by Oman Electricity Transmission Company SAOC. This is the highest voltage level currently operational in Oman. Two more orders were secured for design, supply, construction and commissioning of five 132 kV substations in UAE. In the domestic market, the power T&D business of L&T won a contract from West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd for strengthening the sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban area of Nadia district, West Bengal under the Integrated Power Development Scheme.

Siemens Ltd and Siemens Rail Automation Ltd. S.A.U Spain have jointly won an order worth Rs.287 crore, out of which Siemens Ltd’s share is Rs.146 crore (all inclusive). Siemens is to supply state-of-the-art signaling technology for the first two metro lines of the Nagpur Metro i.e. the North-South and the East-West Corridors, Siemens said in a stock exchange filing. The project comprises the deployment and installation of the Siemens communications-based train control (CBTC) solution Trainguard MT for 38.2 km of double track with 36 stations and two depots, as well as onboard equipment for 23 three-cars trains. The order was placed by Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. ABB India will deliver a 110kV digital substation to Technopark, the largest Information Technology (IT) park in India, based on built-up area, located in Kerala and spanning an area of 930,000 sqm. This will be among the first digital substations in India, a release from ABB observed. A digital substation is more compact, flexible, reliable, safer, cost effective over the lifecycle and simpler to maintain and extend than a conventional one. It is another example highlighting the integration of information and operational technologies (IT and OT) and will leverage digital communications via fiber optic cables that will replace traditional copper connections using analog signals. Using fiber optic cabling instead of copper enables reduced cost through the direct savings on copper, optimized panel design and less civil work required to lay the cables.

Siemens Ltd, in a stock exchange filing, said that it has received an order worth approximately Rs. 119 crore from Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Ltd. The order is for design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, supply and commissioning of equipment for 765/400kV air insulated switchgear (AIS) Substation at Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh) and 765kV AIS bay extension equipment at Dhule (Maharashtra) for Khargone Transmission Ltd. n

PML Infra Ltd has received new orders for power transmission & distribution projects in West Bengal and Haryana state, the company said in a release.

The first order, placed by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd, is for rural electricity infrastructure development for agricultural feeder separation works. The Rs.106.92-crore order, falling under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana in Murshidabad, involves 11 kV transmission lines, new substation, renovation/augmentation of existing 11 kV line and substation and replacement of LT meters to be completed in 24 months’ time.

Another order wroth Rs.89.40 crore, placed by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, relates to extension of seven substations - 400/220kV AIS Sub-station including two 500 MVA ICTs in Malda; 400/220kV Substation in Durgapur; 400/220kV Substation in Jeypore; 400/220kV substation in Rourkela; 400kV substation in Angul; two 400kV substation in Maithon of both Power Grid and Damodar Valley Corporation

under the Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme and all will be completed in 20 months’ time.

The third order of Rs.48.88 crore has received from Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd for design, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of 220kV GIS substation in Sector 46 in Faridabad, Haryana. Once the work of this GIS Substation is completed in 18 months’ time, the residents of Faridabad will get power supply with improved quality, SPML noted in the release. n

SPML Infra wins orders worth Rs.250 crore

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In BRIEF

Achievement

iemens has announced its involvement in three large static VAR compensators

(SVCs), with a total order value of 60 million euros, for Power Grid Corporation of India. Siemens will design, engineer, install and commission these SVCs.

The first and largest of the three SVC systems went into operation at the Ludhiana substation in Punjab in November 2016, followed by a second SVC with a slightly smaller reactive power control range at the Kankroli substation in Rajasthan. This one went into operation in December 2016. The third system at the New Wanpoh station in Kashmir is due to follow in 2017.

“With the Static Var Compensator in Ludhiana, which has a potentially record-breaking reactive power control range of one GVAr, we have successfully put into operation the largest SVC that we have built up to date,” said Ralf Christian, CEO of the Siemens Energy Management Division.

According to Mirko Düsel, CEO of the Siemens Transmission Solutions Business Unit, “It was also an important step that in this three SVCs project in one of the largest markets in the world for flexible AC transmission systems, the thyristor valves and the protection and control systems for the SVCs were manufactured and tested locally in our own factories.”

The three 400kV SVC systems at the Ludhiana (-400/+600 MVAr), Kankroli (-300/+400 MVAr) and New Wanpoh (-200/+300 MVAr) substations not only provide inductive or capacitive reactive power for the high-voltage grid in normal static operation. Depending on the grid fault situation, they also dynamically supply the reactive power required in order to reliably counteract grid under-voltages or over-voltages in the shortest possible time. The SVC systems also provide the reactive power to enable the

transmission voltage in the grid and in the substations to be maintained at an optimum value. The SVCs thus enhance the transient and dynamic stability of the power supply grid.

Siemens carried out this order for the Indian network operator with a high degree of local content. For example, the protection and control system cabinets of the three Static Var Compensation systems were manufactured in Kalwa, Mumbai, at the Siemens factory for network automation components. The protection tests of the cabinets were conducted by their engineering team located at the factory in the Indian state of Goa. The functional and dynamic tests on the three

SVC protection and control systems itself, which took several months, were carried out for the dynamic simulation test laboratory of the newly built Siemens facility located in Goa as well. This factory builds up the second and very important part of the localization. The thyristor valves for the SVC in New Wanpoh were manufactured and routine tested as this factory for the first time. The thyristor valves of the two other systems Ludhiana and Kankroli were sourced from Nuremberg, Germany.

Siemens has also won a larger order, worth 78 million Euros, from PGCIL for design, engineering, installation and commissioning of four Statcom systems of the SVC Plus series. n


Achievement

Siemens to commission three large SVCs for PGCIL

Subset of FACTSReactive power compensation technology is a subset of flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS). These systems can regulate the parameters that determine the operation of a power supply grid and account for the quality of transmission. Such parameters include transmission impedances, currents, voltages and phase angles between the different nodes. Reactive power compensation is divided into parallel compensation and serial compensation. While series compensation is primarily used to increase the power transfer capability on transmission lines, parallel compensation systems as SVC and Statcom systems primarily regulate the voltage at the connecting point and thus facilitate a stable, reliable grid operation.

S


Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approval an annual tariff of Rs.184 crore for the Parbati-Koldam transmission scheme in Himachal Pradesh, it is learnt. The Rs.957-crore project is being implemented by Parbati Koldam Transmission Company Ltd, a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (74 per cent equity) and Power Grid Corporation of India (26 per cent). The transmission scheme was developed to evacuate power from the Parbati-II (800 mw), Koldam (800 mw) and some other hydropower projects in the Parbati Basin in Himachal Pradesh.

NTPC’s Power Management Institute has inked a pact with the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to impart training to state discom staff across the country for capacity building under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). PFC is the nodal agency for implementation of IPDS in the country. The objective of IPDS is to provide 24x7 power supply to consumers, and to reduce AT&C losses. The Union Budget has provided for Rs.5,821 crore under IPDS for FY18 against the revised estimate of Rs.4,524 crore for FY17.

Mumbai-headquartered IMP Power Ltd has informed stock exchanges that the company has company has successfully conducted the dynamic short circuit test on a 160 MVA, 220/66kV power transformer. The test was successfully done in its first attempt. The transformer is being supplied to state power distribution utility Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd (HVPNL). “This testing is for one of the highest-rating transformers done by Central Power Research Institute (CPRI)-Bangalore within India,” the stock exchange communication said. In the first week of February 2017, IMP Power had announced that it won an order from HVPNL for the supply of 2100-MVA power transformers, worth Rs.52 crore.

Crompton Greaves Ltd announced that its name has been officially changed to CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd, effective February 27, 2017. A fresh certificate of incorporation has also been issued by the Registrar of Companies. The company is presently a fully integrated B2B power transmission and industrial solutions provider with a diverse portfolio of products, solutions and services for power and industrial equipment and solutions.

The Kolhapur zone of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd has managed to recover only Rs.1.85 crore out of the total dues of Rs.28.08 crore from its customers, during the past three months, it is reported. The Kolhapur zone, comprising of the Kolhapur and Sangli districts, has over 7,500 customers in the residential, commercial and industrial categories.

Coal India Ltd is planning to produce oil and gas from its coalfields in the wake of depressed growth in its core activity coal production. It also plans to enter commercial production of coal bed methane (CBM) and expand its presence in thermal and solar power generation, according to reports.

Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has an agreement with Energy Efficiency Services Ltd for replacement of existing 48,000 street lights with LED street lights in Chandigarh. The civic body is expected to save 50-60 per cent of its current annual electricity bill of Rs.12.64 crore. The project will include financing, supply, installation, infrastructure requirement, commissioning, service and maintenance of LED street light, including post-installation maintenance and warranty replacement during the project period in order to achieve the agreed energy savings. The contractual period is seven years.

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd is planning to float is first tender to procure one lakh inverter air-conditioners (of 1.5 tonne capacity). These ACs will be retailed at Rs.30,000 per unit as against the market price of Rs.37,000 per unit, of reputed brands.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to jointly inspect storage areas of power distribution companies where hazardous e-waste is allegedly being stored. NGT has also issued notice to the AAP government, BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, DPCC and others while seeking their reply before March 30, 2017.

Vertiv, formerly known as Emerson Network Power, announced a lucrative, ‘Bill More Gain More’ program for its Value Added Resellers (VARs) in India. This unique offer applicable to

small and micro Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) solutions (up to 20 kVA) has been unveiled to reward channel partners for their continued commitment towards the company. This offer gives channel partners a chance to redeem payback points and avail payout options for all sales made within the quarter ending March 31, 2017.

KONE has announced the launch of “SmartElevator Challenge” for developers and hackathon enthusiasts in association with IBM & HackerEarth. Organised by HackerEarth, the hackathon will be powered by IBM Watson IoT platform on IBM Bluemix Cloud platform.The goal of the Hackathon is to encourage developers to come up with ideas for smart elevators to enhance user safety and experience and develop utility tools for KONE by applying open ideation using IBM’s Watson IoT platform. This platform will enable device connectivity and provide the ability to derive real time insights based on rules, which developers can leverage to build intelligent elevator solutions.

The Assam government has asked NTPC to prepare a detailed project report for the proposed 2x800-mw supercritical power project at Margherita in Upper Assam. State utility Assam Power Generation Company Ltd will promote the project while Coal India Ltd will supply linkages from its subsidiary North Eastern Coalfields Ltd

India is expected to see investment of around $45 billion in its Smart Grid infrastructure during the period 2017-27, a study by Northeast Group said. The largest market for smart grid opportunities exist in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal and Kerala, the study further said.

CyanConnode, a global player in narrowband radio mesh networks, announced that it has signed an MoU with Tech Mahindra Ltd. Accordingly, CyanConnode and Tech Mahindra have agreed to collaborate to market, sell and deliver expertise in narrowband mesh technology for the smart grid, smart city and Internet of Things (IoT) markets. As part of the collaboration, Tech Mahindra will integrate CyanConnode’s enterprise-level Head End Software (HES) with leading Meter Data Management Systems (“MDMS”) and Enterprise Business Applications to create an end-to-end utility specific solution, a release from CyanConnode said. n

Short takeS

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Date post:	07-Apr-2017
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T&D India (March 2017): Privatization not a cure-all, but still worth pursuing

Small Business & Entrepreneurship