Latest news with #VGF
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
WtE plant to process refuse derived fuel, produce power
Lucknow: A waste-to-energy (WtE) plant will be set up at Shivri by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation soon. The plant will process refuse derived fuel (RDF) made from non-recyclable plastics, paper, cardboard and other combustible inorganic materials collected from the city and nearby municipalities and nagar panchayats. By processing RDF locally, the project is expected to cut down significantly high logistic cost of transporting waste to cement factories about 500 km away. The plant is part of city's plan to set up a 15 MW RDF-to-electricity unit aimed at managing waste and generating power from it. It will use 1,000–1,200 metric tonnes of RDF produced daily in Lucknow, which is transported to other locations. The project, estimated to cost Rs 450 crore, will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) structure. Funding will be divided among the private partner (50%), the state or urban local body (25%), and the central govt (25%), with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) proposed. Additional municipal commissioner Arvind Rao said the plant will handle waste and produce electricity. Mayor Sushma Kharakwal said the project aligned with goals related to waste and energy in urban and rural regions. "The plant is expected to be completed in over two years on 20–25 acres of land and will need 3 million litres water per day. It will create jobs, produce revenue through power sales and support carbon credit activities," she said. The facility will run on RDF with systems like stoker grate or fluidized bed boilers, high-pressure boilers, and turbines. Electricity produced will be sold to state's power utility under power purchase agreement. The plant has bag filters, scrubbers, and monitoring equipment for emission control to meet norms of Central and UP Pollution Control Boards. Residual ash may be reused in construction and cement-related work.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rajasthan: RERC approves tariff for 1000 MWh battery energy storage system project
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission ( RERC ) has approved the tariff for a 1000 megawatt-hour (MWh) standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. The RERC approved the tariff rates submitted by bidding energy companies, paving the way for the rapid development of energy storage infrastructure in the state. The project will be implemented by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited ( RRVUNL ) under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support from the Government of India. Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge), Hiralal Nagar , informed that leading companies participated in the competitive bidding process. The approved tariff ranged from Rs. 2.21 lakh to Rs. 2.24 lakh per MWh per month, the lowest rate in the country so far. The RERC has endorsed the tender process conducted by RRVUNL as fair, transparent, and in accordance with market standards. The process also aligns with the Central government's guidelines on battery storage systems, aimed at ensuring grid stability and effective integration of renewable energy. Hiralal Nagar emphasised that Rajasthan is moving decisively toward becoming a green energy hub. The approved BESS project will allow energy generated from solar and wind sources to be stored and utilised as per demand, significantly enhancing energy efficiency. The Central government is providing VGF assistance of Rs 27 lakh per MWh for these projects. BESS installations are planned at select strategic sites, including grid substations in Jaipur and Kota , and power stations in Suratgarh and Giral , chosen for their technical and operational suitability. The implementation of BESS will help reduce the dependency on expensive peak-hour power purchases by distribution companies (DISCOMs), potentially saving up to Rs 1 crore per day. Chairman and Managing Director of RRVUNL, Devendra Shringi, said that the Union Ministry of Power has recently allocated an additional 4,000 MWh BESS capacity to Rajasthan. Under this new allocation, VGF of Rs 18 lakh per MWh will be provided from the Power System Development Fund . He further stated that Rajasthan is fast emerging as a national leader in battery energy storage. The state government has set a target of developing 18.5 GWh of battery storage capacity by 2028-29. In addition to the 1,000 MWh BESS project by RRVUNL, separate tenders have been floated by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam for another 1,000 MWh project. This aligns with the state's budget announcement to establish 2,000 MWh of battery energy storage capacity, which is expected to attract investments of around Rs. 2,000 crore.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
16 power substations to get battery energy storage system
Patna: Power cuts in at least 16 cities of Bihar will be a thing of past soon. The state electricity department has planned to supply power through a battery energy storage system that will maintain supply for four hours like a home inverter from 16 substations in case of any fault. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy has approved a battery energy storage system project of 500MWh capacity in Bihar. This project will be operated under 'Viability Gap Funding' (VGF) scheme under the state plan. The Centre has approved a total VGF amount of Rs 135 crore for this project at a rate of Rs 27 lakh per MWh or 30% of the total cost capital, whichever is less. State energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav termed it a "historic step" towards creating a flexible, sustainable and consumer-friendly power infrastructure. "Bihar is steadily progressing towards energy self-reliance under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. This project will be a milestone in our pursuit of technological innovation and environmental stewardship," he said. These battery systems of 125MW capacity will be installed in the grid substations of 16 cities to supply about 500MW of electricity for four hours, in case of power supply disruption from the plant or grid. The project will be completed by Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited. Batteries of 5 to 20MW capacity will be installed at each grid substation in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Fatuha, Mushahari, Udakishunganj, Jamui, Asthawan (Nalanda), Jehanabad, Rafiganj, Sheohar, Siwan, Kishanganj and Banka. So far, tenders have been finalised for six grid substations. The process is going on for the remaining places. It is believed that this project will not only ensure uninterrupted quality power supply, but will also help in balancing the difference in demand and supply during peak hours. Maharashtra-based energy solutions firm Prostram has received a Letter of Intent from Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited. Patna: Power cuts in at least 16 cities of Bihar will be a thing of past soon. The state electricity department has planned to supply power through a battery energy storage system that will maintain supply for four hours like a home inverter from 16 substations in case of any fault. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy has approved a battery energy storage system project of 500MWh capacity in Bihar. This project will be operated under 'Viability Gap Funding' (VGF) scheme under the state plan. The Centre has approved a total VGF amount of Rs 135 crore for this project at a rate of Rs 27 lakh per MWh or 30% of the total cost capital, whichever is less. State energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav termed it a "historic step" towards creating a flexible, sustainable and consumer-friendly power infrastructure. "Bihar is steadily progressing towards energy self-reliance under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. This project will be a milestone in our pursuit of technological innovation and environmental stewardship," he said. These battery systems of 125MW capacity will be installed in the grid substations of 16 cities to supply about 500MW of electricity for four hours, in case of power supply disruption from the plant or grid. The project will be completed by Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited. Batteries of 5 to 20MW capacity will be installed at each grid substation in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Fatuha, Mushahari, Udakishunganj, Jamui, Asthawan (Nalanda), Jehanabad, Rafiganj, Sheohar, Siwan, Kishanganj and Banka. So far, tenders have been finalised for six grid substations. The process is going on for the remaining places. It is believed that this project will not only ensure uninterrupted quality power supply, but will also help in balancing the difference in demand and supply during peak hours. Maharashtra-based energy solutions firm Prostram has received a Letter of Intent from Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited.
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India plans to offer grants, ease regulatory norms for rare earth processing amid China supply woes
New Delhi: India plans to introduce a range of measures including the provision of grants to private companies to boost the processing of rare earth elements as the country copes with supply constraints from China, two people with knowledge of the development said. The measures include grants—or viability gap funding (VGF)—easing of the regulatory framework and fast-tracking auctions of rare-earth mines and acquisitions to counter the curbs imposed by China on sales of rare earth magnets and minerals, they said. "The government aims to achieve a 10% share of global rare earth processing within the country in the coming years. VGF, incentives for refining and regulatory easing are part of the broader strategy to achieve that target," one person said. The Indian government and industry are exploring ways to reduce reliance on China for these elements that go into several electronic components, particularly motors that drive electric vehicles. China imposed restrictions on its global export of rare earth minerals and magnets in April amid the trade and tariff war between the US and other nations. VGF provides financial support to infrastructure projects developed under public-private partnerships that may not be commercially viable. As much as 40% of the total project cost is provided—a maximum of 20% each by the Central and state government. The amount to be provided as grants for rare earth processing is being assessed, the people said. Companies that could benefit from these grants include NMDC, Coal India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Orissa Minerals Development Company, Hindustan Zinc, Vedanta and MOIL, formerly Manganese Ore (India), an industry executive said on condition of anonymity. Also Read | Automakers urge Indian govt for diplomatic outreach to China for rare earths Another person said that policy measures for rare earth elements (REE) would be taken under the Nation Critical Mineral Mission that the Union Cabinet approved in January. However, given the urgency of the situation, measures beyond the targets of the mission may be taken up. The government is already working on an incentive scheme for recycling critical minerals including rare earth elements, with an estimated allocation of ₹1,500 crore. According to the mines ministry, this is in the final stages of approval, after which it will go to the Union Cabinet. Pivotal role Rare earths are a collection of 17 elements—scandium, yttrium and 15 lanthanides, which are: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu). India imports most of its rare earth requirements. Imports rose 16.7% to 2,270 tonnes in FY24. These elements play a pivotal role in hi-tech industries, automobiles, renewable energy transition, defence systems as well as the electronics sector. 'India's imports of permanent magnets—many containing rare earth elements—nearly doubled to 53,700 tonnes in FY25 from around 28,700 tonnes the year before, according to official trade data. There is no domestic magnet production. India relies on imported magnets, mainly from China," said Rajib Maitra, a partner at Deloitte India. Considering the importance of these elements, India has categorised rare earth elements (not containing uranium and thorium) as critical/strategic minerals. This allows the Centre to auction exploration licences and composite licences to mine these minerals in the country. Previously, mining of these critical and atomic minerals was reserved only for state agencies under the Department of Atomic Energy. Also Read | India's top rare-earths producer IREL is headless amid mounting supply risks from China As per the US Geological Survey, India has the third-largest reserves of rare earth elements, at about 6.9 million tonnes, after China (44 million tonnes) and Brazil (21 million tonnes). However, there is no significant production of rare earths in India because of the lack of exploration, mining and processing facilities. China accounted for 70% of the global production in 2024, according to the USGS. "Considering the huge reserves of REEs in the country, it has immense potential to raise mining of REEs," said BK Bhatia, director-general of the Federation of Indian Minerals Industries. Currently, IREL (India) Ltd (formerly Indian Rare Earths Ltd), a company under the Department of Atomic Energy, is the only agency involved in production of rare earths from beach sand minerals. The mining of beach sand minerals was earlier prohibited for the private sector. The other source of REEs are hard rocks. Earlier this year, the ministry of mines auctioned four blocks of REEs. However, of the four blocks, only one in Uttar Pradesh is exclusively for REE and the rest are largely associated with other critical minerals. Mission mode Industry stakeholders said it is imperative to have a facilitating regulatory regime to attract the private sector, including overseas companies, to explore, mine, extract and process rare earths because developing a deep-seated or critical mineral deposit from the stage of prospecting to mining takes a minimum of 8-10 years. "Extraction and processing capabilities of REEs is a big challenge. There is a need to work on the same in mission mode by bringing synergy among R&D institutes, academia and industry for developing domestic processing technology on a commercial scale to achieve the ambitious target of 10% global REEs in the country," Bhatia said. Processing, a key part of the rare earth supply chain, is again dominated by China with its technological advancements. 'Extracting rare earth elements is only one part of the value chain; processing them into usable materials is equally critical," said Rajnish Gupta, partner, tax and economic policy group, at EY India. 'While mining is becoming more diversified globally, processing remains concentrated in a few countries, creating supply chain vulnerabilities." Also Read | China's rare earths aren't as rare as you think Gupta noted that rare earth deposits have unique chemical compositions, requiring customised processing techniques and ongoing research. Further, extraction needs optimisation and the environmental impact needs to be addressed, while specialised equipment is required. "India would need to gain access to specialised technology or develop it over time. Manpower and infrastructure issues also need to be addressed. Planning should start right away. All constraints must be examined, and production and processing need to be synchronised," Gupta said. A domestic processing industry would also be key to process and refine minerals imported through the ventures of public sector Coal India Ltd and Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, which are scouting for critical minerals and rare earth mines abroad. "We need to scale up processing capabilities for rare earth elements rapidly, for which technology is already available. The processing capabilities can be developed independent of domestic mining capacity since there was removal of import duties from critical minerals recently," said Maitra of Deloitte India. Queries sent to the ministry of mines remained unanswered until publishing time.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra: Feasibility study on water taxi routes in MMR presented; estimated capital cost Rs 2,500 crore
A techno-economic feasibility study for water taxis in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) was presented to the state government on Monday with a plan of operating 10 routes totalling 252 kilometers with an estimated capital cost of Rs 2,500 crore. During the meeting, a discussion was also held on starting additional water taxi routes on Mumbai's Western seafront. Among the 10 routes proposed in the report include, Narangi – Kharwadeswari near Virar (1 km length), Vasai – Mira Bhayandar– Fountain Junction –Gaimukh– Nagale (16 km), Kalher–Kolshet– Mulund–Aeroli– Vashi– DCT – Gateway (50 km ), Gaimukh-Kolshet– Kalher– Mumbra– Kalyan (31 km), New airport-Belapur-Vashi (14 km), Vasai– Marve– Nariman Point (61 km), Borivali– Gorai– Essel world- Marve- Manori (6 km), Rewas- Karanja- Gateway (19 km), Belapur-Gateway-Mandwa (38 km) and Gateway-Elephanta-Nhava (17 km). The report was drafted by the Kochi Water Metro and presented to state Ports Minister Nitesh Rane. According to an official present at the meeting, the government has decided to increase the number of routes before going ahead with the Detailed Project Report (DPR). 'The study does not include key Mumbai routes such as Worli, Juhu and Varsova. It will be added and the DPR of this project will be prepared,' the officer said. Out of these routes, five are projected to be financially viable after 2029 and two would require Viability Gap Funding (VGF) by the government to turn viable. While Rs 2,500 crore was estimated as the capital cost, for the upgrade of existing water transport terminals, the estimated cost is Rs 5 crore per terminal. As per the report, by 2031, the realistic number of trips on these routes will 2.44 lakh while in 2041, it will be 3.42 lakh. Among the civil infrastructure requirements, the study report has listed terminals or jetties with passenger amenities, floating pontoons and gangways, boatyards for vessel maintenance and repairs, night parking and fueling jetties, development of access roads and parking facilities and non-motorised transport (NMT).
