RENEWCONNECT - All about renewables & power sector

  🏛️ Overview of the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to revise the Electricity Act, 2003 to address persistent challenges in India’s power sector and align it with the country’s developmental vision of “Viksit Bharat @ 2047.” The amendments aim to improve financial sustainability, promote clean energy, enhance regulatory accountability, and support industrial competitiveness. 🔑 Key Objectives of the Amendment Ensure financial viability of distribution companies (DISCOMs) Promote cost-reflective tariffs Enable open access and competition Support clean energy transition Strengthen regulatory institutions Improve ease of living and doing business ⚡ Major Amendments and Their Implications 1. Financial Viability and Tariff Rationalization Cost-Reflective Tariffs : Regulatory Commissions must now determine tariffs that reflect the actual cost of electricity supply. This aligns with the Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment...

Regulatory Assets (RAs) are deferred costs recorded by power distribution companies ( DISCOMs ) when their average cost of electricity supply (ACS) exceeds the revenue they collect (ARR) through tariffs. Instead of immediately increasing consumer tariffs to cover this gap, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) allow DISCOMs to recover the shortfall in the future—thus creating a regulatory asset . 🧾 How It Works (Example) Average Cost of Supply (ACS) : ₹7.20/unit Approved Tariff (ARR) : ₹7.00/unit Revenue Gap : ₹0.20/unit Units Sold : 10 billion Regulatory Asset Created : ₹2,000 crore This ₹2,000 crore becomes a regulatory asset , to be recovered later through future tariff hikes, often with interest. 📉 Why Are they Created? Non-cost reflective tariffs : Tariffs kept low for political or social reasons. Delayed subsidies : State governments delay payments for subsidized consumers. Fuel price shocks : Sudden increases in coal or gas prices. Operational ...

GIS Visualization refers to the process of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visually represent spatial data on maps. It allows users to analyze, interpret, and present geographic data in a way that reveals patterns, relationships, and trends. 🧭 Key Components of GIS Visualization 1. Spatial Data Layers Base Maps : Satellite imagery, terrain, street maps. Thematic Layers : Power lines, substations, solar parks, land use, population density, etc. 2. Interactive Mapping Zoom, pan, and query features. Real-time overlays (e.g., weather, grid load, solar irradiance). 3. Data Integration Combines geographic data with attribute data (e.g., capacity of a substation, status of a transmission line). Supports formats like shapefiles, GeoJSON, and raster data. 4. Analytical Tools Heatmaps : Show intensity (e.g., energy demand). Buffering : Analyze impact zones (e.g., around substations). Network Analysis : Optimize routes for transmission lines. ⚡ In the ...

The “Plug and Play” model in the context of Solar Parks in India refers to a developer-friendly infrastructure setup where all the essential groundwork is already completed, allowing solar power developers to quickly install and operate their solar projects without facing delays related to land acquisition, permits, or infrastructure development. 🧩 Key Features of the Plug-and-Play Model ✅ 1. Pre-Developed Infrastructure Land : Identified, acquired, and leveled by the implementing agency. Transmission : Internal evacuation and grid connectivity are pre-established. Access Roads, Water, Drainage : All basic utilities are in place. Statutory Clearances : Environmental and regulatory approvals are pre-obtained. ✅ 2. Reduced Risk and Time Developers can focus solely on solar plant installation . Avoids delays due to land disputes, permits, or infrastructure bottlenecks. Faster commissioning and lower project costs . ✅ 3. Implemented Under MNRE’s Solar Park Scheme La...

 Here’s a comprehensive summary of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) tenders in India from 2023 to 2025 , including capacity, location, tendering authority, due dates, and tariff results where available : ✅ BESS Tenders in India (2023–2025) Tender Name / Authority Capacity (MW / MWh) Location Due Date Tender Type Tariff / Bid Result Rodrigues Island Project (PSU) 2 × 1 MW / 2 MWh Delhi Oct 24, 2025 EPC Refer Document [tenderdetail.com] KSEBL Standalone BESS 250 MW / 500 MWh Kerala Nov 11, 2025 Tariff-based Global Competitive Bidding Refer Document [tenderdetail.com] Multi-State Tender 250 MW × 4 hrs (1,000 MWh) Multi-State Oct 30, 2025 Tariff-based Refer Document [tenderdetail.com] Jharkhand Load Flow Study Feasibility Study Ranchi Nov 3, 2025 Consultancy ₹6.30 Crore [tenderdetail.com] West Bengal Goaltore Project 250 MW / 1,000 MWh (+ Green Shoe Option) Paschim Midnapore Nov 14, 2025 Tariff-...

When you combine clean energy , renewable energy , and green energy , you're essentially referring to the broader concept of a sustainable energy system or sustainable energy transition . Here's how they relate and what the combined term implies: 🌍 Unified Concept: Sustainable or Clean Energy Ecosystem 🔹 Clean Energy Refers to energy sources that produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions . Includes: Solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, and sometimes natural gas (if paired with carbon capture). 🔹 Renewable Energy Derived from naturally replenishing sources . Includes: Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. All renewable energy is clean, but not all clean energy is renewable (e.g., nuclear). 🔹 Green Energy A subset of renewable energy that has minimal environmental impact . Typically includes: Solar, wind, small-scale hydro, geothermal, and some forms of biomass. Focuses on sustainability and ecological balance . ✅ Combined Term: You can refer to the ...

After hydrogen, several next-generation energy technologies are emerging that could significantly shape the future of global energy systems. Here's a look at the most promising technologies gaining momentum beyond hydrogen: 🔋 1. Advanced Energy Storage Technologies Solid-State Batteries : Safer, more energy-dense than lithium-ion. Flow Batteries : Ideal for large-scale, long-duration storage. Thermal & Compressed Air Storage : For grid-scale balancing of renewables. These technologies are critical for stabilizing intermittent sources like solar and wind. 🧠 2. Artificial Intelligence in Energy Predictive Maintenance : AI forecasts equipment failures. Smart Grids : Real-time optimization of energy distribution. Energy Trading : AI-driven forecasting for demand and pricing. AI is becoming the brain of modern energy systems. ⚡ 3. Decentralized Energy Systems Microgrids : Localized energy networks powered by renewables. Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading : Enabled ...

Socio-economic analysis is the systematic study of the social and economic effects of a specific intervention, product, or policy. It considers both quantitative (e.g., income, employment) and qualitative (e.g., well-being, equity) aspects. 🔍 Key Components 1. Social Factors Demographics : Age, gender, education, ethnicity. Health and well-being : Access to healthcare, nutrition, safety. Social equity : Inclusion, access to services, gender equality. Cultural norms : Traditions, community values, behavior. 2. Economic Factors Income levels : Affordability and purchasing power. Employment : Job creation or displacement. Productivity : Efficiency gains or losses. Cost-benefit analysis : Financial viability and return on investment. 🛠️ Applications Public policy : Assessing the impact of government programs. Infrastructure projects : Evaluating benefits of roads, lighting, water systems. Business strategy : Understanding market potential and consumer behavior. ...

If you are considering a solar street lighting systems that were installed in the country with some 25 lakhs at PAN level, the following steps that are to be considered for conducting a Socio-Economic study to know the impact at different beneficiaries at small, mediam and larger scale.  1. Define Scope and Objectives Product : Solar Street Lighting Systems (SSLs) Objective : Assess the socio-economic impact of SSLs installed across various Indian states (25 lakh units), including benefits to communities, economic viability, and policy implications. 2. Understand the Target Population Beneficiaries : Rural and semi-urban populations, local governments, commuters, vendors, students, and law enforcement. Demographics : Focus on areas with poor grid connectivity, low-income groups, and high public space usage. 3. Gather Economic Data Installation Costs : Capital expenditure per unit, maintenance costs. Funding Sources : Government schemes (e.g., MNRE), CSR, internation...

Some of the key critical components that are used in the Transmission System:  Power Generating Stations The source of electricity (thermal, hydro, nuclear, solar, wind, etc.). Electricity is generated at relatively low voltages (e.g., 11–33 kV). Step-Up Transformers Increase the voltage to high levels (e.g., 132 kV, 220 kV, 400 kV, or higher) for efficient long-distance transmission. Located at generating stations. Transmission Lines High-voltage overhead or underground lines that carry electricity over long distances. Typically made of aluminum conductors reinforced with steel (ACSR). Transmission Towers / Poles Support overhead transmission lines. Designed to maintain safe clearance and withstand environmental conditions. Substations Intermediate stations that monitor, control, and route electricity. Include equipment like transformers, circuit breakers, isolators, and protection systems. Step-Down Transformers Reduce voltage levels for distr...

A utomatic Generation Control (AGC) is a system used in power grids to automatically adjust the output of multiple generators in real-time to maintain the balance between electricity supply and demand, and to keep system frequency and inter-area power flows within desired limits. 🔧 Key Functions of AGC: Frequency Regulation : Maintains grid frequency close to nominal (e.g., 50 Hz in India). Load Balancing : Adjusts generation to match real-time demand. Tie-Line Control : Manages power exchange between different control areas or regions. Automatic Dispatch : Sends control signals to generators to increase or decrease output. ⚙️ How AGC Works: AGC receives real-time data from grid sensors (SCADA systems). It compares actual frequency and tie-line flows with scheduled values. Based on deviations, it sends signals to participating generators to adjust their output. This happens every few seconds to maintain grid stability. 🌐 AGC in India: AGC implementation is part of I...

AI-based long-term demand forecasting is transforming how businesses predict future demand by leveraging advanced technologies like machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and big data analytics. Here's a comprehensive overview based on recent insights: What Is AI-Based Demand Forecasting? AI demand forecasting uses artificial intelligence to estimate future demand for products or services. Unlike traditional models that rely heavily on historical data and fixed statistical assumptions, AI models incorporate: Real-time data (e.g., IoT sensors, social media, weather) Unstructured data (e.g., customer reviews, news) External factors (e.g., economic indicators, competitor actions) This enables more adaptive, accurate, and responsive forecasting. Key AI Technologies Used Machine Learning (ML) : Algorithms like Random Forest, XGBoost, and Support Vector Machines (SVM) Used for pattern recognition and predictive modeling Deep Learning (DL) : Neural networks (...

Some key cost reduction initiatives in the power sector and their impact on power purchase cost , based on recent industry insights: 🔑 Key Cost Reduction Initiatives Optimizing Plant Operations Baseload vs. Peaking Plants : Baseload plants remain fully resourced, while intermediate and peaking plants can be operated with leaner staffing and maintenance. Mission Reassessment : Utilities are reassessing plant missions to align resources with actual usage patterns. Fuel Switching and Renewable Integration Coal to Gas Transition : Switching from coal to natural gas reduces fuel costs and emissions. Renewables (Wind & Solar) : Continued cost declines in solar and wind technologies make them increasingly competitive, reducing long-term power purchase costs. Digitalization and AI Predictive Maintenance : Using AI and IoT for predictive maintenance reduces downtime and operational costs. Smart Grid Technologies : Enhance efficiency and reduce transmission losses. ...

  The standard testing procedure for AC-to-AC efficiency and degradation verification —especially for air conditioners and heat pumps—follows a combination of DOE regulations , AHRI standards , and ISO protocols . Here's a consolidated overview of the key procedures and standards: 🔧 1. DOE Test Procedures (U.S. Department of Energy) The DOE mandates testing under Appendix M1 and Appendix M2 of 10 CFR Part 430 for central air conditioners and heat pumps: Appendix M1 uses updated metrics: SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2) EER2 (Energy Efficiency Ratio 2) HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2) Appendix M2 introduces: SCORE (Seasonal Cooling and Off-mode Rating Efficiency) SHORE (Seasonal Heating and Off-mode Rating Efficiency) These procedures include: Controls verification for variable speed systems Low-temperature heating performance Defrost cycle impact Power consumption of auxiliary components Represented values and enforcement provisions...