Category — Renewable Energy

According to the Hindu Business Line, solar panels will be installed in the state of Gujarat (northwestern India) to generate power. Those panels will use the 11,807 miles long network of Narmada canals.

Narendra Modi, Gujarat’s Chief Minister, inaugurated the “Canal Solar Power Project”, a 1 Megawatt pilot project on 24 April 2012. The project is situated on the Narmada branch canal near Chandrasan village of Kadi taluka in Mehsana district. This pilot project has been developed on a 0.45 mile stretch of the canal by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation  with support from Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd, which owns and maintains the canal network.

The state of Gujarat has attracted investments of $1.7 billion on solar energy projects while Gujarat invests nearly $370 million a year on renewable energy.

As the government of India does not have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure or land acquisition, the cost of solar power per megawatt is expected to be less than the estimated $1.85 million.

Panasonic India launched its 100 thousand solar lantern project, a project to contribute 100,000 solar LED lights to people without electricity by 2018, the year which would mark the 100 th anniversary of the company.

By the end of this fiscal year Panasonic plans to contribute 10,000 units of solar lights in 3 regions across Asia and Africa. As the first stage, 3000 solar lights were distributed in February in Myanmar. About 5,000 compact solar lights have been allotted to off-grid areas in India and 2,000 more will be given to a refugee camp in Africa, according to a statement from the company.

Panasonic’s solar lights can be used as a small lighting fixture at night. It poses no risk of fire or harm to human health, and generates no CO2 emissions during use.
This project in India has been launched in collaboration with four leading non profits and social enterprises to tackle social issues by contributing 5,000 units of solar lights in fiscal year 2012. These include  World Health Partners, Swayam Shikshan Prayog, Plan International India and Sahaj in the areas of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the Hindu Businessline, Atul Singh, president and CEO of Coca-Cola India grappled with  a challenge many small town and rural retailers faced when visiting Uttar Pradesh during the summertime: It was difficult to supply ice-cold drinks due to the frequent  power outages.

Upon his return from the trip, he collaborated with his technical team and launched a project of “eKoCool” solar coolers, a product that would not only aid retailers in delivering ice cold confections, but also empowered women.

These coolers are distributed to women retailers, and this multipurpose cooler keeps drinks cooled for two and a half hours after sunset, charges cell phones, lanterns, and ultimately provides a means for women retailers to earn a little extra.

What Singh is particularly excited about is the work the company has done for communities. Asked about the cost the company incurs for its projects, he replies, “My view is this is just good business. Operating in a sustainable manner, building communities is what we have been doing. People call it CSR, we have just done it as good business,” he said.

From small retail shops to mango farmers, the benefits of this  device have truly impacted a variety of communities across UP.  Singh explains that if communities are not sustainable then “our business will not be sustainable.” For example, if a community does not have proper drinking water, Coca-Cola cannot operate a bottling plant.

Another initiative Coca-Cola India was involved with includes a partnership with Jain Irrigation to create “Project Unnati”, a program dedicated to train 50,000 farmers over five years. The program uses buses with in-built classrooms to provide on-the-go training in high density mango farming plantation techniques, which can help farmers double their yields.

According to Bloomberg, Welspun Group (a multinational industry dealing in steel,  energy  and textiles) has raised $161 million from lenders led by Central Bank of India to finance the building of a new solar plant in India.

According to the company, this 130-megawatt  plant, Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, which will be the largest one in India, will power 660,000 homes when switched on in May next year. This was possible thanks to long-term loans the company signed for its venture in the .

The central state of Madhya Pradesh has an annual power deficit of 18 percent, according to Welspun. Welspun has more than 300-MW of clean energy projects in construction and the company is hopes to add  1750 megawatts of solar and wind power in the next few years.