BHEL to expand its solar power capacity in Karnataka

The Bharat Heavy Elec-tricals Ltd (BHEL) has bagged Rs 68 crore worth order for setting up a 10 MWp (mega watt peak) grid-connected solar power plant for the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL). The solar power plant will be set up at Shivanasamudra, Belakavadi village in Mandya district. BHEL’s scope of work in the turnkey contract envisages design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of the 10 Mw solar power plant including grid inter-connection, operation and maintenance of the plant for three years, the company said in a statement. BHEL has executed similar projects for the KPCL that include a 3 MWp Grid Connected Solar Power Plant near Raichur and a 5 MWp Grid Connected Solar Power Plant at Belakavadi village near Shivanasamudra in Karnataka. By placing the present order for 10 MWp Solar Power Plant, the KPCL has once again shown its confidence in BHEL. BHEL has become a leading player in the field of solar photovoltaics in the country by successfully commissioning a number of large size solar power plants in different parts of the country. The mega watt-size solar power plants, ranging from 2 Mw to 10 Mw rating, set up by the company in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, besides Karnataka, are operating successfully and generating environment-friendly, clean power and supplying the same to the main grid. BHEL is also installing its single largest 15 Mw grid-connected solar power plant for NTPC at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh. more at: http://www.business-standard.com/article/company/bhel-to-expand-its-solar-power-capacity-in-karnataka-114072800646_1.html

BHEL to foray into solar in big way

BHEL has firmed up renewed plans for a big presence in renewable energy, especially solar energy. It wants to play a significant role in establishing ultra mega solar photovoltaic plants of 1000 MW each. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had unveiled plans to create 4000 MW of solar power by setting up 4x1000 MW solar units on the lines of thermal ultra mega power projects. The average per MW cost of solar energy is upwards of Rs 7.5 crore. BHEL, along with Hindustan Salts, Power Grid Corporation, Solar Energy Corporation and Sutlej Jal Vidyug Nigam are forming a consortium to take up this challenge. The initial plants are expected to come up in Gujarat and Rajasthan, where Hindustan Salts owns a considerable land bank, said B. Prasada Rao, Chairman and Managing Director. Another major initiative that BHEL is trying to accelerate is the setting up of the 500 MW capacity plant to produce silicon wafers. The project entails an investment of around Rs 2,700 crore. BHEL is hoping to get up to 40 per cent project funding from the National Clean Energy Fund. The union project has been cleared by the inter-ministerial group and will be taken up shortly, Prasada Rao told Business Line in a recent interview here. BHEL has been involved in solar energy research and small projects for sometime. There has been slow progress due to various factors related to technology and costs, but now "we are confident of growing big, especially in India, which has many small players", he said. The utility is looking at States which give competitive incentives to take up solar projects and go there in the near future. ref: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/bhel-to-foray-into-solar-in-big-way/article6241734.ece

Consortium moves court for Tangedco action against BHEL

A consortium, which participated in a tender for setting up the 2X660 MW Ennore SEZ Supercritical Thermal Power Project at Ash Dyke of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station, has sought a direction from the Madras High Court to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) to take action on its representations against BHEL’s delayed execution of all pending power projects in the State. The State-owned company had also participated in the tender. The petitioner, CSEPDI-Trishe Consortium comprises Trishe Energy Infrastructure Services Pvt. Ltd. and Central Southern China Electric Power Design Institute, a power engineering, survey and design and general engineering contracting company. The institute, lead partner of the consortium, was one of the largest enterprises for electric power survey and design and general engineering contracting in China. The consortium, represented by its Managing Director, Sanjay K. Pillai, said it participated in the tender. Tangedco should have awarded the contract to one of the two shortlisted bidders, viz., BHEL or the petitioner. The consortium had quoted Rs. 9,207 crore. more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/consortium-moves-court-for-tangedco-action-against-bhel/article6239124.ece

BHEL to set up 4000 MW solar power project in Rajasthan

The plant will be set up in two phases over a period of 7 years with Phase I comprising 1,000 MW and the balance 3,000 MW in subsequent phases An Ultra Mega Solar Power Project (UMSPP) with a cumulative capacity of 4,000 MW will be set up in Rajasthan in the Sambhar Salts Limited (SSL) area close to Sambhar Lake, about 75 kms. from Jaipur. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Sambhar Salts Limited (SSL), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), Sutlej JalVidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) and Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this year for formation of a Joint Venture Company (JVC) for setting up of a Ultra Mega Solar Power Project (UMSPP) with a cumulative capacity of 4,000 MW in phases at Sambhar in Rajasthan on build, own and operate basis. The proposed equity participation in the JVC is: BHEL - 26 percent, SECI - 23 percent, SSL - 16 percent, POWERGRID - 16 percent, SJVNL - 16 percent, and REIL - 3 percent. The project set up on land provided by SSL will have equipment supplied by BHEL, power evacuation by POWERGRID, sale of electricity by SECI, O&M by REIL and project management by SJVNL. The plant shall be set up in two phases over a period of seven years with Phase I comprising 1,000 MW and the balance 3,000 MW in subsequent phases. The JVC shall be incorporated as a public limited company under the Companies Act, the JVC, under DHI and will have at its registered office in Delhi/NCR. The solar Power Plant will rely on proven and reliable Crystalline Silicon technology supplemented by refinements in encapsulation hardware and Mounting configuration to surmount the harsh tropical environments. With an estimated plant life of 25 years, the generation potential of the 4,000 MW Solar plant is estimated to be 6400 million units of (Solar) electricity per year. This is expected to reduce the Carbon footprint by over 4 million tons per year. The mega scale project will not only demonstrate the reliability of Solar PV power but also provide further impetus to this clean, cheap and abundant source of power. ref: http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/217919/bhel-set-4000-mw-solar-power-project-rajasthan

CBI searches seven places in connection with BHEL fraud

The CBI searched seven places associated with officials of Bharat Heavy Engineering Corporation (BHEL) and private vendors today, for allegedly submitting inflated bills causing a loss of Rs 59.8 lakh to the company. "After obtaining search warrant from the Special CBI court, searches were conducted at seven official and residential premises of accused public servants and private persons at Bhopal," a CBI release issued .. more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/engineering/cbi-searches-seven-places-in-connection-with-bhel-fraud/articleshow/38625368.cms

BHEL bags just 21% of target orders in Q1

The lack of fresh orders and a general slowdown in the power sector continues to trouble power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals. The company bagged orders worth just R1,120 crore or 21.2% of the Q1 target. The company is facing a tough time for last two financial years, when both its sales and profits took a big hit. In 2013-14, BHEL for the first time even failed to meet the reduced turnover target of R43,000 crore, ending the year with a figure of R40,366 crore. The Q1 order booking is a fall of 23.6% over the same period last year, when the company bagged orders worth R1,466 crore. As per the heavy industries ministry data, of the R1,120 crore order receipt in Q1, BHEL got more than half of the orders only in June when it bagged contracts worth R631 crore. But the June bookings reflects just 31.9% of the monthly target of R1,979 crore. Bhel is targeting to bag order worth R45,233 crore (including non-power business) in FY15. The April-June period target was R5,286 crore. But going by the initial numbers (of R1,120 crore), achieving the annual target seems remote which may hit company's topline. The main problem comes from the power business, considering that it represents three-fourths of its revenue generation from that segment. The company is set to declare its first quarter results this week. more at: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bhel-bags-just-21-of-target-orders-in-q1/1269623

Need to chalk out new IT plan: BHEL director

A two-day, IT Heads Meet-2014 that was held at BHEL, Bhopal concluded on Wednesday. R Krishnan, Director (HR), BHEL was present as the chief guest. Rajiv Garg, general manager (in charge), Corporate IT; Sanjeev Gupta, general manager (P&D, IT) and IT heads of various BHEL units along with other officials were present during the programme. Krishnan speaking on this occasion said the role of IT in integrating business processes is of paramount importance facilitating efficient and right decisions to be made for the benefit of the organization. Giving stress on the need to chalk out a new action-plan on IT roadmap Krishnan said that the progress should be monitored periodically. Heads from different units made presentations on major IT projects planned by the respective unit were present at this event. Brainstorming sessions were held on select items arising out of units presentations and action plans to achieve the IT Roadmap on major strategic plan projects were finalized. ref: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Need-to-chalk-out-new-IT-plan-BHEL-director/articleshow/38116423.cms

Delegation from Ghana visits BHEL plant

Volta River Authority (VRA), a Government of Ghana company deputed a six-member delegation to India to explore BHEL's engineering and manufacturing capabilities in hydro sector. The delegation visited Indira Sagar Hydro Electric Plant and BHEL Bhopal plant recently. Dinesh Kumar, GM/Hydro and S Balakrishnan, GM/EM welcomed the team by presenting bouquets. Brief presentations were held on design aspects & manufacturing capabilities of Hydro Turbine, Hydro Generator, Governing System and System Engineering. The representatives of VRA discussed about the prospects of Hydro business in Ghana, Africa. ref: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Delegation-from-Ghana-visits-BHEL-plant/articleshow/37999511.cms

BHEL commissions Rajasthan discom's Rs 990 crore thermal unit

BHEL has successfully commissioned another 250 MW thermal unit, valued at Rs 990 crore, at Chhabra plant in Rajasthan. "The unit was commissioned at Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited's 2x250 MW Chhabra Thermal Power Project in Baran District of Rajasthan," BHEL said in a statement. "With the commissioning of this fourth 250 MW unit at Chhabra plant, the capacity of the coal-based project has gone up to 1,000 MW," the statement adding BHEL has commissioned three units of similar rating of the power project. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited had placed an order valued at nearly Rs 990 crore for setting up two units of 250 MW each as part of the expansion of Chhabra thermal plant. BHEL's scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of Steam Generators and Steam Turbine Generators and Associated Auxiliaries with and Instrumentation system. The equipment for the project was supplied by BHEL’s Haridwar, Trichy, Ranipet and Bangalore plants, while BHEL’s Power Sector — Northern Region undertook erection and commissioning of the equipment, the statement added. At present, BHEL is executing on Engineering, Procurement and Construction basis a 2x660 MW coal-fired project based on eco-friendly super-critical technology at Suratgarh in Rajasthan. In addition, BHEL is executing the 2x700 MW Rajasthan Atomic Power Project of Nuclear Power Corporation in the desert state. ref: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140701/business-companies/article/bhel-commissions-rajasthan-discoms-rs-990-crore-thermal-unit