Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 33

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there for a particular period. We have also
suggested them the trajectory. Hopefully, it
should come,” the Power Minister said.
The Department of Revenue in its
notification on July 29 announced a duty of
14.90% from July 30, 2020, to January 29,
2021, and 14.50% from January 30, 2021, to
July 29, 2021, for all solar cells and modules
imported from China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
While India has added renewable energy
capacity, bulk of which is solar, at fastest pace
in the world, it continues to import over 80%
of the solar equipment, especially from China.
It now wants to slash this import by building
domestic capability. It has put in place tariff
and non-tariff barriers to contain imports.
Following border tensions with China,
the government has laid more emphasis on
cutting solar equipment import from the
neighbouring country. Indian solar power
firms imported equipment worth $1,179mn
from China during April-December of FY20.

WIND
Construction of Vietnam’s BIOMASS Moreover, use of fast-growing trees in place

V1-2 wind power plant Japan eyes energy forests of Japanese cedar, which is generally used as a
building material, could yield up to 2.5 times
begins the harvest, they said.
In July, the Agency for Natural Resources
Construction of the V1-2 wind power plant for woody biomass power and Energy and the Forestry Agency
– a joint venture between the Truong Thanh generation jointly set up an expert group to explore
Vietnam Group and the Thai-based Sermsang the feasibility of the woody biomass power
Power Corporation Public Company Limited As part of efforts to shift from fossil fuels to generation project. It will study the issue in
– kicked off in the Mekong Delta province of renewable energy, the Japanese government is light of the need for forest conservation, the
Tra Vinh on August 14. considering securing “energy forests” for the officials said.
Covering about 1,220 ha in Duyen Hai specific purpose of growing sources for woody Ensuring sustainable forest management
town’s Truong Long Hoa commune, the 48 biomass power generation, officials said on through reforestation remains a challenge.
MWp facility consists of 12 wind turbines. August 19. The two government agencies say the project
Costing in excess of 2.23 trillion VND Greater dependence on woody biomass could be a new source of income for forest
($96mn), it is expected to generate 162.97mn is believed to help mitigate climate change businesses and enable forestry and power
kWh of electricity each year. as the growing of forests absorbs carbon industries “to co-exist in a sustainable
It will also create dozens of new jobs once dioxide through photosynthesis and the manner.”
operational and contribute between 45 and use of renewable wood raw materials, as a Japan currently depends on renewable
50bn VND to the local budget annually. replacement for fossil fuel products, reduces energy sources such as solar and wind
Under wind power planning for Tra the volume of new CO2 that would otherwise power to generate 17% of its electricity. The
Vinh to 2020 and vision to 2030, which was be released into the atmosphere. government has set a target of lifting the ratio
approved by the Ministry of Industry and At present, Japan uses biomass fuel of renewable energy to around 22 to 24% of its
Trade (MoIT) in 2015, the province’s total derived from the thinning of forests and from electricity by March 2031.
capacity can reach about 1,608 MW. Local branches removed in preparing lumber for A signatory to the 2015 Paris climate
authorities have accepted five projects to date, building materials. Exclusively using a forest accord, Japan is targeting a 26% reduction in
which together are capable of generating 270 to grow woody biomass fuel is expected to greenhouse gas emissions by fiscal 2030 from
MW. cut labour and forestry costs by one-third fiscal 2013 levels, but is facing calls to set a
The provincial People’ Committee has as the work of thinning forests will become more ambitious goal.
made a proposal to include 17 more wind unnecessary, the officials said.
power projects, with total capacity of 2,400 Forest biomass power generation would
MW, in the revised national electric power also boost resource-poor Japan’s energy self-
planning VII. sufficiency and help ensure a stable electricity
supply in times of natural disasters and other
emergencies, they said.

Week 33 19•August•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P13