In this issue

India government through the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has set a target of capacity addition of 29,800 MW from renewable energy sources during the 12th Plan period, of which 15,000 MW would come from wind, 10,000 MW from solar, 2,100 MW from small hydro and 2,700 MW from bio-power. India therefore has a massive solar programme. And as indicated by solar radiation data available from various parts of the country, several states, especially the western states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh have very good potential of setting up grid connected solar power projects in the country.
India has also been encouraging transfer of foreign technologies, including those in renewable energy sector. FDI up to 100 per cent under the automatic route is permitted in renewable energy subject to provisions of Electricity Act, 2003. And as a result of all these, a capacity addition of over 3,684 MW has already been achieved during the first two years of the 12th Plan period.
Precisely the same time, the US government has initiated moves to take India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the second time on the ground of not allowing the US manufacturers a level playing field in India’s fast growing solar market. This has understandably sparked off a fresh row. Questions are also being raised if India’s fast emerging solar sector would suffer a major jolt as a result of this row. India’s solar players however say that India’s domestic solar component and panel manufacturing capacity can at the most suffice 30 per cent of India’s solar capacity projections. Therefore for the remaining 70 per cent India will continue to be dependent on foreign manufacturers.
It would also be a wrong notion to think that the recent US government move would mark an end in Indo-US collaborations in the energy sector, particularly in the solar sector.
For records, two years ago, soon after experiencing one of the world’s worst and longest blackouts, affecting more than 680 million people across many parts of the country, India and the US kicked off an initiative to develop solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) projects and concentrated solar power (CSP), also known as solar thermal. Christened as ‘SERIIUS’ (Solar Energy Research Initiative of India and the United States), the $50 million project is being successfully executed by the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Science and the Washington-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory.Unlike traditional solar panels, CSP projects concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area of contained liquid. The liquid heats up, emits steam, and a generator converts the steam into electricity.

Through an environment of cooperation and innovation \"without borders,\" SERIIUS will develop and ready emerging and revolutionary solar electricity technologies—towards the long-term success of India\'s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Energy Mission and the US Department of Energy\'s SunShot Initiative. SERIIUS promises to accelerate the development of solar electric technologies by lowering the cost per watt of photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP).

Energy Ensemble Magazine Description:

“Energy Ensemble” from Dateline Media Private Ltd, and an associate publication of Steel and Metallurgy, a complete steel magazine, which has turned 15 this year, promises to be a truly international and comprehensive B2B magazine focused on the global energy sector. The journal aims at providing its readers with a unique industry insight through a perfect blend of news, reviews, comments, analysis, regional reports, case studies, technical articles and more. A dedicated and always on-the-job team of scribes working with “Energy Ensemble” would cover all forms of energy (non-renewable and renewable), forms of supply (centralised or decentralised), ownership patterns (public or private, cooperative, joint, or any other), market structures (formal, informal, integrated, disintegrated, national, international, local, etc.) and degrees of commoditisation (e.g. internationally traded, regionally traded, non-traded etc.)

The key focus of these research and research-based write-ups would be on :

1. Economic analysis of sector management issues (pricing, competition, access, reform, restructuring, regulation).
2. Analysis of sector strategies (strategies by governments, industries, consumers, civil society, international bodies).
3. Analysis of financial issues (investments, revenue management, viability).
4. Project management (appraisal, risk management).
5. Organisational and behavioural analysis of sector participants (firms, consumers, others).
6. Knowledge management and innovation in the sector.
7. Issues relating to environment, development and sustainability of the sector. The other USP of the magazine would be that we would have large number industry leaders from energy sector writing for us.

Target Readership: Managers, academics, policy makers, planners, consultants, and others who have interest in the efficient management of the energy sector. We are confident that the magazine would be read by the people who need to know what they are thinking.

Distribution: The magazine will be distributed by mail to its large subscriber base and available at major books and periodicals’ stands. One would be able to book one’s copy online on our site. We would also mail directly to members of major global energy conferences, many trade associations and selected individuals within the global energy investment community. Other recipients would include members of the largest utility associations, professional associations and local, state and national government.