News Clipping Archive - Page 1181 of 1226

Renewables

4000 villages now have access to solar grids

30 November 2018

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Myanmar

The government said its solar electrification project has allowed almost 200,000 households to access power supply over the last two years.

Over 4000 villages and 180,000 households have been electrified during two years of five-year solar electrification project implemented by the agriculture ministry’s Department of Rural Development (DRD), U Sai Thura Kyaw, director of that department, told The Myanmar Times.

The government said its solar electrification project has allowed almost 200,000 households to access power supply over the last two years.

NEP has two components, with DRD carrying out one part and another one led by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE). Both projects are funded by the World Bank, amounting to US$400 million. MOEE received US$310 million while DRD secured the remaining $90 million.

In the fiscal year 2016-17, a total of 2708 villages (around 90,000 households) gained access to solar-powered mini-grids. The following year targeted 1366 villages, the director explained. With three years to go under the plan, Italy has provided an interest-free loan of €30 million for electrifying Chin State.

The department is carrying out to supply electricity to Southern Shan State with the help of KfW, German government-owned development bank. It expects to supply electricity to the entire country by 2030 with the government’s budget, foreign loans and other assistance, U Sai Thura Kyaw added.

Renewables

New rule says on-the-grid solar panel owners must get permission from PLN

30 November 2018

–

Indonesia

The government finally issued last week a long-awaited ministerial regulation on photovoltaic solar panels, which sets out guidance and requirements for people who want to install them on their house or facility.

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministerial Regulation No. 49/2018 on the use of solar panels on houses or in industry stipulates that the government intends the policy to help them reach the national target of renewable energy making up 23 percent of the national energy mix by 2025.

The new rule, obtained by The Jakarta Post on Sunday, stipulates several key points, including the requirement for those who wish to install solar panels to submit documents, comprising their customer ID number, a proposal to switch from a pre-paid to a post-paid scheme and the specifications of the solar panels that will be installed.

“PLN will evaluate and verify the proposal and later give approval within a maximum period of 15 days from when the proposal is submitted,” the regulation stated.

The owners also have to pay an additional fee, unless they install the panels on a house.

In short, solar panel owners who wish to “sell” electricity to PLN must get approval from the state utility on administration and technicality issues.

And then they must obtain a certificate indicating that the installation is good to operate (SLO), which will be issued by a state electricity inspection institution (LIT).

Those who are off the grid are exempt from having to get permission and pay an additional fee, but they must report to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Renewable Energy Directorate regarding the electricity capacity of the panels, the regulation went on.

The rules also say that the solar panels cannot exceed the existing electricity capacity of the building.

Under the regulation, PLN only counts 65 percent of the electricity produced by a solar panel. For example, if one panel produces 100 kWh from their solar panel, PLN only counts 65 kWh.

The rule says the export electricity will be calculated every three months, with the export amount starting from zero again the following quarter.

The new regulation took effect on Nov. 16. (evi)

Others

Diesel-electric hybrid buses to hit the road in December 2018

30 November 2018

–

Singapore

SINGAPORE – The first 10 diesel-electric hybrid buses in a fleet of 50 will be on the road from next month (Dec 2018), as part of the national effort to make the public bus fleet here more environmentally friendly.

They will be run by operators SBS Transit and SMRT, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) when announcing the move on Monday (Nov 26). Among the first routes to get the buses is service 272 , a feeder service operated by SBS Transit in the Bukit Merah area.

In a hybrid, when brakes are applied, the electric motor acts as a generator to recover kinetic energy, which is stored in the batteries as electricity.

The buses will run on electricity at speeds of up to 17 kmh, switching to the diesel engine only at higher speeds.

They are from Volvo East Asia, which won a $30 million contract to supply the vehicles in October last year (2017).

Two trials of a Volvo hybrid bus, conducted in Singapore in 2015 and 2016, reported fuel savings of up to 40 per cent as well as “significant reductions” in emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

On top of these hybrids, Singapore will start introducing electric buses on the roads from next year.

The hybrid buses are fitted with several features to benefit both commuters and drivers.

These include advanced driver-assistance systems to warn drivers of obstacles, while a camera trained on the driver’s eyes will sense if he or she is dozing off and trigger a device to jolt the seat.

For commuters, an enhanced information display system – comprising two LCD screens and two LED screens – will provide more information about their routes.

The LED screens, sited at the front and back of the bus, show the next stop as well as the bus service number and final destination.

As for the LCD screens, one facing out of the bus will show the next three MRT stations along its route, as well as which lines the stations are on. The other in the bus displays the next four stops, in addition to nearby MRT stations and their lines.

This enhanced information display system will also make audio announcements of the next bus stop.

All new buses will be fitted with this enhanced display systems to help commuters plan their journeys, said the LTA.

“All these will help make the commuter experience more pleasant and encourage more people to take public transport,”said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng, who rode on one of the new hybrids on Monday (Nov 26).

The buses will be progressively deployed on different services, with details to be announced at a later date, said the LTA.

“This progressive deployment will help us better understand the operational challenges that come with the wider deployment of such buses under our tropical climate and traffic conditions,” it said.

Also, it will give bus technicians and engineers more time to understand the challenges of maintaining such buses, the LTA added.

Renewables

New govt policies to boost affordable solar energy: Minister

30 November 2018

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Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The government intends to provide sustainable, reliable and affordable solar energy for Malaysians through new policies beginning Jan 1, 2019, such as the New Net Energy Metering (NEM) Scheme and Supply Agreement for Renewable Energy (SARE), says Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

“I hope our solar players will not only share the solar solutions pie in Malaysia but become market leaders by providing solar solutions to other countries in Asean,” Yeo said at a recent dialogue session with solar photovoltaic industry players organised by Seda Malaysia, the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).

In a statement today, the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) Malaysia said the new policies were introduced to create a fertile ground to grow the solar industry by opening the market and subsequently push the local players to become regional solutions providers.

The NEM scheme will upgrade from the net billing concept to the pure net energy metering scheme that will be applicable only to Peninsular Malaysia for registered TNB customers.

“Under the existing net billing (scheme), excess electricity is sold to TNB at displaced cost of 31 sen per kWh, but under the new scheme, monthly electricity bill will be consumption (from TNB) minus generation (from solar) multiply with the retail electricity tariff.

“This will result in additional electricity savings per month and will help the return of investment in PV systems,” Seda said.

The development authority added that other changes in the new NEM and SARE included purchase mode, and new policy and requirements for foreign investors.

Energy Cooperation ,
Renewables

Nuclear Cooperation between Australia and Viet Nam strengthened with the support of the IAEA

30 November 2018

–

Vietnam

With the support and input of the IAEA, the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on October 10, with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to establish and enhance a new, cooperative for the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during a visit by a Vietnamese delegation to ANSTO headquarters in Sydney, Australia. This cooperation has been supported by an ongoing national TC project[1], which aims to assist Viet Nam as it develops new nuclear infrastructure and expands its engagement with nuclear science and technology for development.

Signed by the CEO of ANSTO, Dr Adi Paterson, and by the Director General of VAEA, Dr Hoang Anh Tuan, the bilateral agreement establishes a strong basis for future activities in the areas of research reactor operation and utilisation, environmental monitoring of mining tails, and food provenance.

“ANSTO has worked with a variety of Vietnamese agencies for many years through multilateral fora such as the IAEA, the Regional Cooperative Agreement, and the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia,” explained Dr Adi Paterson. “This MoU will give us an opportunity to cooperate with Viet Nam more closely on areas of mutual benefit,” Dr Paterson continued.

In the addition to signing the MoU, this visit from VAEA delegates to Australia was the occasion for experts from the Tran Hung Dao Hospital and the Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) to engage in an intensive, week-long programme, financed and organized through the TC programme, to learn about the work of Australian institutes dealing with nuclear science and technology.

The delegation’s itinerary included a visit to the Australian Synchrotron to see the cutting-edge work conducted by ANTSO in the field of nuclear research. At the Victoria Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC), the delegation observed nuclear medicine professionals at work, and at the laboratories of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) the delegation members gained a better understanding of how the country conducts its regulatory standard-setting, dosimetry verification, and its environmental monitoring.

Bioenergy

Malaysia to fully implement new biodiesel programme from Feb 2019

30 November 2018

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Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Reuters) – Malaysia on Monday said it will start to phase in a higher biodiesel mandate from next month, with the new rule coming into full force from February in an effort to bolster the palm oil industry.

The so-called B10 biodiesel programme, which will raise the minimum bio-content that local producers must put in biodiesel to 10 percent from the current 7 percent, will be implemented for the transportation sector in phases beginning Dec. 1, primary industries minister Teresa Kok said.

“The petroleum companies will have two months to make the switch from the current B7 to B10 before its mandatory implementation on Feb. 1,” she said. (Reporting by Liz Lee, writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; editing by Richard Pullin)

Renewables

Krong Pa: hotspot for new solar energy projects

30 November 2018

–

Vietnam

Gia Lai (VNS/VNA) – Krong Pa district in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is considered a good area for solar power projects as the temperatures can rise to 40oC.

Solar power plant workers are now putting the finishing touches on a number of solar power plants that will connect to the national power grid this month.

The 49MW plant with 209,100 solar panels is built on an area of 70.2ha at a cost of 1.4 trillion VND (60 million USD).

Begun in March 2017, the project is expected to produce 103kWh and earn 200 billion VND (8.5 million USD) per year after being put into operation.

To Van Chanh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, was quoted by local newspapers as saying that the project would play an important role in socio-economic development and solve the employment problem in the district.

The 1,624sq.km area of Krong Pa district has the highest number of sunlight hours in Gia Lai province, with 1,700 hours per year.

The standard used to build a solar power plant is 1,500 sunlight hours per year.

Ta Chi Khanh, Vice Chairman of Krong Pa district’s People’s Committee, said that 17 investors were doing field research for solar power projects in 19 locations in the province.

According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, the province has allowed 23 investors to invest in 33 solar power projects with total capacity of 4,000MWp.

The 33 projects include two projects that have received approval from the provincial authority with the total capacity of 98MWp, 11 projects with the capacity of 675MWp that have been submitted to authorities for approval, and 20 projects with the total capital of 3,195MWp that are still being evaluated.

In addition, 12 investors are now looking at possible locations for another 17 solar projects with total capacity of 1,330MWp.

However, households that will be forced to move are asking for compensation of 600 million VND per hectare, much higher than the market price of 200 million VND per hectare.

The province is trying to solve the problem of site clearance and compensation, and ensure accommodations and employment for these households.

In recent years, the authority has reduced the unemployment rate in the province.

Ksor Doi, an ethnic Jrais and an installation technician, told a local newspaper that he was trained from theory to practice on how to install solar panels in accordance with standards. With such training, he will be able to work for the upcoming solar projects.

Bui Thi Quy, chairwoman of Van Phat Green Energy Co, Ltd, said the provincial People’s Committee had allowed the company to invest in a solar power plant in Chu Ngoc commune in Krong Pa district.

The company has committed to pay compensation and create jobs for ethnic minorities.

Solar power is a green energy source which the Government is promoting and supporting.

When the solar plants begin operating, they will create a cooler sub-climate in the area due to the heat absorption of solar panels. This will help the province reduce greenhouse gases and improve the environment.-VNS/VNA

Bioenergy

Philippines mulls tariff on palm oil imports

30 November 2018

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Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the existing tariff-free agreement within the ASEAN region, the Philippines is now mulling to impose duty on palm oil imports amid the possible dumping of the commodity in the country causing a slump in the prices of coconut.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now investigating the dumping of palm oil in the country after the volume that is being imported has expanded significantly.

“The Philippines right now will look into trade remedies because there was, according to statistics, a huge increase in the entry of palm oil from both Malaysia and Indonesia,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

“According to our WTO (World Trade Organization) negotiators, the Philippines could invoke a claim of injury of the industry. And for the next 200 days we could impose tariffs on these items so that we will be able to protect our local farmers and local industry from further injury,” he added.

Currently, Malaysia and Indonesia are enjoying tariff-free rates on palm oil in line with the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) that aims to achieve free flow of goods in the region resulting in less trade barriers and deeper economic linkages.

The agri chief maintained that the imports were legal in nature but could be a case of dumping, which is an “issue of concern” for the local coconut industry.

Data showed that total palm oil imports surged to 95 million kilograms last year from 47.1 million kilos in 2016.

In particular, imports from Malaysia went up nearly 100 percent to 56 million kilos last year from only 28.3 million kilos in 2016. Imports from Indonesia also escalated to 38.5 million kilos from only 18.4 million kilos.

Piñol has already instructed the DA’s WTO negotiators to draft an order which would impose a tariff on palm oil imports pending the results of the investigation.

“I would immediately sign the order to address the flooding of palm oil in the country. Because right now it is tariff free,” he said.

Meanwhile, at least 12 coconut oil mills, including processors of high value coconut products, have agreed to buy their supplies directly from organized farmers’ groups amid the slump in mill gate prices of the commodity.

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