Conergy installs hybrid power systems in ONGC platforms

Bangalore: Conergy, the German global renewable energy major, has installed hybrid power systems in 83 oil platforms of the ONGC Ltd.

The installation on ONGC’s oil platforms was done through Conergy’s subsidiary, Sun Technics. The installations included a combination of both photovoltaics and small wind turbines for meeting power requirements on board the rigs that have no access to grid power.

Speaking to Business Line, Conergy’s member of the board, Mr Christian Langen said, “We see India as a large market for renewable energy.” The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy sources have estimated the potenti al at about 81,000 MW, though the actual installation is only about 4,000 MW.

Given this potential Conergy, Mr Langen said, intended setting up a plant for producing renewable power equipment in the country, and has frozen Karnataka as one of the possible locations. Mr Langen, however, declined to reveal any numbers, relating to plant capacity or investments being planned in the sector.

However, he said, that at least 20 per cent of the country’s power requirements could be met through non-renewable sources that included small wind turbines of 10 kilowatt capacity, photovoltaics and distributive generation (DisGen). This, he said, could free the load from the grid. DisGen stations, he said, would help meeting the electricity requirements of small household clusters.

Conergy also planned to focus on telecom towers and microwave stations, reducing their dependence on grid power. Some of these microwave and telecom stations power requirements are currently met through on-site diesel generation sets. In addition, he said, the company would also target industrial units for meeting energy requirements especially for process heat. One of the main constraints inhibiting installation of renewable energy sources was the high cost of equipment. But Mr Langen said that prices of photovoltaics cells that comprise one major source of renewable energy, have dropped by 50 per cent globally. He added, “This may fall further by another 40 per cent in the coming years as capacity building takes place.”

In the interim period however, installation would have to be subsidised, that guaranteed fixed cost recovery to project investors, in view of the enormous economic benefits and ensuring projects are bankable. Such subsidies already exist in India and Europe, in various forms that encouraged investments in renewable energy.