Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 46

AsiaElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AsiaElec
15 nuclear power plants, including those currently under construction, according to the survey conducted from September to November this year.
Atomic power station safety regulations were strengthened in July 2013 after the outbreak of the Fukushima nuclear crisis and subsequent shutdown of all Japan’s nuclear plants in 2011, and required upgrades at existing facilities before they could restart.
A 2013 survey conducted before the new regulations were implemented found that 10 power companies had allocated a combined 998.7bn yen ($9.1bn) to safety measures. The outcome of the latest survey indicates the scale of the financial commitment power companies must make to meet the stricter safety regulations.
Tadahiro Katsuta, a nuclear power policy expert at Meiji University, commented, “Countermeasures against accidents being taken now should’ve been considered before the (2011 Fukushima Daiichi) nuclear accident. The sharp increase in costs is the result of the firms’ failure to do what was necessary.”
TEPCO is estimated to have spent nearly 1.17 trillion yen ($10.7bn) on safety measures, the largest amount of all the 11 utilities.
TEPCO explained that large outlays were required to reinforce piping at buildings housing the No. 1 to 7 reactors at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant
in Niigata Prefecture following the 2007 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake as well as for countermeasures against liquefaction beneath the complex’s No. 6 and 7 reactors. The figure is around 17 times the company’s 2013 cost estimate of 70bn yen ($643mn).
ENERGY SERVICES
Schneider Electric commits to build up Singapore units
Schneider Electric’s S$16mn ($11.7mn) commitment over four years aims to build up to four Singapore-based companies with global potential.
Schneider Electric’s investment targets companies tackling the global climate change challenge by harnessing technologies such as IoT, 5G, AI and robotics to build innovative solutions in areas such as energy-as-a-service, energy storage and smart buildings. Schneider Electric will offer its industry expertise, global market access and supply chain know-how to help selected companies go global.
Schneider Electric announced a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to create a new Venture Building Programme focused on creating new business ventures, and ultimately innovation and businesses in Singapore.
Schneider Electric will commit at least S$16mn (11.7mn) over the next four years
to incubate and develop Singapore-based companies which have strong global potential and ability to scale. It will also bring its expertise in energy management, industrial automation and digital transformation to help these companies go global.
In addition, Schneider Electric will provide market access and its deep understanding
of the global supply chain to take these companies to the next level.
“We are excited about this partnership to build new companies in Singapore,” said Emmanuel Lagarrigue, Schneider Electric’s
Chief Innovation Officer. “Singapore is a
hub for innovation and we look forward to working with talented entrepreneurs to build new technology and business models.”
The Venture Building Programme will target new ventures for solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems; including how to fight climate change and transition the globe to renewable energy. New technology such as IoT, 5G, AI and robotics mean new opportunities to address growing markets such as distributed energy resources (DER), energy-as-a-service, electromobility, energy storage, and efficient heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC).
This investment in Singapore is part
of Schneider Electric’s global innovation programme which includes incubations, investments and partnerships, and aligns
with the company’s goal to combine external innovation with internal resources and people to rapidly transform how the world uses and generates energy.
RENEWABLES
Indian wind developers stay away from Senvion
Wind developers in India are said to have started scaling down or terminating contracts with Hamburg-based turbine manufacturer Senvion after it filed for insolvency in a German court in April.
Senvion had, though in August said it was spinning off its Indian operations into a separate, standalone business unit.
Riyadh-based Alfanar Energy, which had signed a contract with Senvion for a 300 MW project in India, terminated the order and awarded it to SiemensNSE 1.57 % Gamesa Renewable Energy.
“Since Senvion is facing restructuring issues, which would have compromised our commitment to the timely delivery of the project, we have terminated the contract with them,” said Mohammed Irfan, director, Alfanar Energy Pvt Ltd, India.
Senvion, in a press release last year, maintained it would supply turbines for a 101 MW project being set up by ReNew Power.
Iberdrola to build 320 MW of solar-wind hybrid in Australia
Week 46 20•November•2019
w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m
P13