Centre plans to build a 50 Mw solar power plant in XI Five-Year Plan
Thursday, 3 January, 2008
New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has launched a new scheme for installation of Megawatt Capacity Grid Interactive Solar Power Plants that will include setting up of a solar power plant of 50 Mega Watt in the 11th Five-Year Plan period, This was stated by Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar here today. The ministry has also declared generation-based incentive for the first time under which the government would provide financial assistance amounting to Rs.12 per KW hour in case of solar photovoltaic and Rs.10 per KW hour in case of solar thermal power fed to the electricity grid. Muttemwar also said that the private sectors would invest 10 billion Rupees as developers. He said that this incentive would be provided to the project developers at a fix rate for a period of ten years and clarified that this incentive will be worked out after taking into account the tariff provided by the utility to the solar power producer. Muttemwar said this programme would be limited to an aggregate installed capacity of 50MWp of Solar Power during the 11th Plan period. He also said that each State would be allowed to set up upto 10MWp aggregate capacity under this programme. The scheme is expected to increase the direct and indirect employment opportunities. On an average of each MW of solar manufacturing capacity generated it is likely to produce 25 to 40 direct jobs, and solar power plants are expected to create another 400 indirect jobs, a release from the Ministry stated. (ANI) Labels: Technology
TERI develops Solverter to address needs of reliable power supply in rural India
Thursday, 8 November, 2007
New Delhi, Nov 8 (ANI): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), with an objective to provide clean and reliable power solutions to a variety of rural applications, has developed a Hybrid Universal Solar Power Pack (HUSPP) that uses grid electricity as well as solar energy to charge batteries and provide reliable power for rural applications, specifically for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) kiosks. Expressing his view on the latest development, Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI said, "HUSPP has been piloted at a few locations across the length and breadth of India and has been found to successfully provide an average backup of 4-6 hrs in the absence of electricity. It is useful for rural ICT initiatives as well as for other applications which depend critically on reliable power supply such as rural banking, health clinics and water purification." Power supply in rural areas is erratic and very often, not of the correct voltage. This leads to problems in running ICT kiosks. UPS/Inverters are commonly used to overcome this problem. But, erratic power supply also means that UPS/ Inverter batteries cannot get charged reliably. After a lot of research, development exercise and feedback from the field TERI has come out with HUSPP, which can curb the power problem plaguing the running of rural ICT centers. TERI's proprietary solution, named "TERI SolverterT (patent applied) does intelligent dual charging from solar energy as well as a/c mains and comes in a rugged box. HUSPP provides the functions of a UPS, it regulates and controls the solar energy inflow and outflow from the battery and takes care of low voltage problems while charging the battery from a/c mains. It completely replaces the use of conventional UPS in a computer system. The manufacturing partner for this product is epower solution India Pvt Ltd. In the first phase, TERI has installed Solverters in Gualpahari, Haryana; Baramati, Maharstra; Ramnagar, Banlgalore; Neelmangala, Bangalore; IL, Kota; Supi, Mukteshwar (Uttrakhand) and is further planning to set-up more ICT centers in different geographies to serve the population around the catchment area of the geography with its expertise knowledge and services. Through this endeavor TERI aims to create a platform in rural India which can be used as 'single window' for communication, education, sharing local knowledge, improving economies, and incorporating best practices for development. Some of the other key features of HUSPP are solar priority charging and dual output options that is AC and DC supply voltages. The AC voltage outlet would be used for connecting computer system and the DC outlet would be used for devices such as solar lanterns, DC fan, radio, water purifier and even a small B/W TV. This option of using multiple AC and DC devices would enable the kiosk operator to offer more services to the community and enhance his/her business viability. The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in disseminating, managing and advancing knowledge for overall development of rural communities is indisputable. With HUSPP technology, TERI hopes that there would be no hindrance in spreading the ICT initiatives in remote rural areas. (ANI) - AY Labels: Technology
China's Quanta begins production of 100 dollar laptop
New Delhi, Nov.8 (ANI): Chinese computer manufacturer Quanta has started production of 100-dollar laptops at a factory in Changshu. According to a China Daily report, the first machines have started rolling off the production line, five years after the concept was first proposed. The machine has no moving parts and can be easily maintained. It has a sunlight-readable display that allows children to use it outside and, importantly for areas with little access to electricity, it is ultra low power and can be charged by a variety of devices including solar panels. One Laptop per Child (OLPC), the group behind the project, said that children in developing countries would begin receiving machines this month Last month, OLPC received its first official order for 100,000 machines from the Government of Uruguay. "Today represents an important milestone in the evolution of the One Laptop per Child project," said Nicholas Negroponte, founder of OLPC. The organisation had reached the critical stage despite "all the naysayers," he said. Since Professor Negroponte first put forward the idea of distributing low-cost laptop to children in developing countries in 2002, the plan has been both praised and mocked. Although OLPC eventually plan to sell the machines for 100 dollars or less, the current price is 188 dollars. Initially, the OLPC said that it required three million orders of the XO to make production viable. Uruguay is the first country to order the machines Governments were originally offered the machines in lots of 250,000. So far, however, the organisation's only confirmed order is from Uruguay. The South American country has ordered 100,000 of the machines with an option to purchase a further 300,000. Other governments have expressed interest in the machines. (ANI) - AY Labels: Technology
India Has Much to Offer the World of Technology -The Economist
Wednesday, 7 November, 2007
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Wednesday, November 07, 2007 -- (Business Wire India) -- India and China have made clever use of foreign technology - assembling it, copying it, servicing it and customising it - but, as Simon Cox explains in a special report in this week's Economist, their firms have yet to create too much to rival it. However, he adds that while "techno-nationalists" may worry about this, economists would find much to applaud.
The special report says that India does not need to focus on invention per se in order to flourish. Instead, if it gainfully absorbs, assimilates and uses the technology available in the country, India's economy could transform itself as China's has done.
"Indian and Chinese firms have a comparative advantage in finding new uses for existing technologies and combining them in novel ways," he says. "This kind of 'architectural innovation' may be scientifically modest but it can nonetheless be commercially significant. This was, after all how Japan's electronics firms came to dominate their market."
Innovate or imitate?
The Economist special report asserts that while India and China cherish the idea of pushing back the limits of technology, invention is risky, costly and frustrating work. Imitation still has much to recommend it.
The report argues that India and China have more to gain from the adoption and assimilation of technology than from invention. The most urgent task for the two countries is to make wider use of knowhow that already exists, the report says, citing India's generic drug makers as an example.
The Economist special report maintains that India could resolve not to invent another thing and still prosper mightily. It does not even have to catch up with the world as it has so much to gain merely by catching up with itself by narrowing the gap between its best firms and the rest. For China's part, its technological ambitions are perhaps too great. Its "techno-nationalists" want home-grown technologies that have the right pedigree, whether or not they are right for their consumers. They want to build national champions akin to Toyota or Samsung. But the report says that China's best firms take a different attitude: they care about winning customers more than winning scientific prizes. The report cites Huawei, China's leading maker of telecoms equipment, as a prime example.
India, for its part, surveys the future with uncharacteristic optimism. Its technological confidence has grown immeasurably thanks to the success of its software and IT firms. The heirs to Aryabhata and Brahmagupta, India's digital ambassadors have won acclaim for their mastery of ones as well as zeroes. But even as India's technological powers make a splash in the world, they stir only the surface of its own vast society. India produces more engineering graduates than America. But it has only 24 personal computers for every 1,000 people, and fewer than three broadband connections. India's billion-strong population cuts both ways. Whenever an Indian demographic appears as a numerator, the resulting number looks big. But whenever its population is in the denominator, the number looks small. As of now, India matters more to technology than technology does to India.
The Economist special report concludes that ultimately it will be the countries that are willing to mix and match imported knowledge with ideas of their own that will thrive. Labels: Technology
Microsoft, Reliance for IPTV launch in India
Tuesday, 6 November, 2007
MP: Anil Ambani's Reliance Infocomm under Reliance Communications and IT major Microsoft have tied up for the launch of internet protocol TV (IPTV) services in India. The deal signed between the two firms is worth about $500 million. The announcement on this regard was made jointly by Reliance chairman Anil Ambani and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at Mumbai on Monday. The IPTV launch would mean that digital television service is delivered by using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure. This means that instead of delivery via traditional broadcast or cables, the viewer could recieve the TV contents over the public Internet. Services including video recording system, video on demand and interactive TV are likely to begin in Mumbai and Delhi. "It's an uncharted territory and we will have millions of subscribers and not thousands," said Ambani. Looking to broden its customer base, the Ambani group also plan to launch Direct to Home (DTH) services soon. Labels: Technology
Air Chief calls for technology roadmap for aerospace industry
Thursday, 25 October, 2007
MP: New Delhi, Oct.25 (ANI): The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal F H Major today called for a technology roadmap by the government for the aerospace industry and a greater role by the private sector in defence design and development to help the Indian aerospace industry become a major player in the global market. He was speaking at the two-day 2nd International Conference on
"Energising Indian Aerospace Industry: New Partnership, New
Opportunities," organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) in partnership with Society for Aerospace Studies, Centre for
Airpower Studies and Indian Air Force here. In his inaugural address, the Air Chief Marshal said, as new
technologies are altering warfare tactics, it was important for the
Indian aerospace industry to have a strong R&D infrastructure backed
by quality players with dedication, motivation, spirit of teamwork and
world class education. Talking about skilled workforce, he also
stressed on the importance of attracting and retaining the talent pool
with adequate incentives. He said as design, development and manufacturing will remain
important, the private sector will always find a meaning full role to
play in the industry. In this context, he said greater indigenization
and identifying co-technology, especially in metallurgy and avionics,
is important. There is greater need for production support and at the
same time maintaining economies of scale, the Air Chief Marshal said. In his keynote address, Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director,
Bharat Forge Ltd, urged the government to come out with a national
aeronautics policy to propel the country's aerospace industry. He also
called for setting up of an autonomous body of all the stakeholders
with a mission-like approach to build partnerships, an innovation fund
to encourage participation by the small and medium industries and an
MCRA acquisition programme to take the Indian aerospace industry to
greater levels. Emphasising the need for greater private-public sector partnership,
Kalyani expected to see about eight to 10 Indian companies become
global leaders in this sector in about 15 years from now. Frugal
engineering and the Indian industry's ability to use high technology
at low cost and integrate software-oriented technology will make this
possible, he said. Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, in his presidential
remarks, said India lagged behind in designing aircraft and urged both
the private and public sector to use all production resources to
overcome this challenge. He said India has a lot of catching up to do
with the advanced countries in terms of technology in the aerospace
industry. In his welcome address, Atul Kirloskar, Chairman, CII National
National Committee on Defence and CMD, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd,
called for an early announcement of Raksha Udyog Ratans (RURs) by the
government. He said the RURs would help create an environment for
private-pubilc sector initiatives to set up global enterprises. He
said in the coming years, the aerospace industry, both commercial and
defence, would require an investment of $30 billion for upgrading
infrastructure and buying aircraft. The focus of the 21st Century will
be on aerospace as it is a major forex earner, Mr Kirloskar said, and
added that it was imperative for greater private-public sector
cooperation. Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director, Centre for Air Power Studies,
called for creating new partnerships and strengthening old ties in the
manufacturing sector to help India leverage on the opportunites that
the global market was throwing up. He said in the new global balance
of interest, India was uniquely placed, and had a pivotal role to
play. Air Commodore Singh suggested organizing specialized workshops
to address the problems faced by the Indian aerospace industry. Lt Gen S S Mehta, Director General, CII, called for inclusive and
sustainable growth, a right mindset of mutual trust and the ability to
walk the talk to take the Indian aerospace industry forward. He
assured the industry of active support by the CII in pushing for a
national aeronautic policy. There is a need for greater synergy
between the ministry of defence, the private and the public sector, Mr
Mehta said, and added that aerospace is the mother of all Industry and
India must find a greater foothold in the global stage. Later, the CII signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
French Aerospace Industries Association, GIFAS. The MoU was signed by
Lt Gen S S Mehta on behalf of CII and Mr Guy Rupied, Managing Director
of GIFAS. Mr Rupied said though the partnership between India and
France in defence was very old, this MoU will add value to the ties
and "have the potential to do a lot together to the benefit of both
the countries." An exhibition on the aerospace industry was inaugurated by Air Chief
Marshal F H Major. (ANI) Labels: Technology
Indian website set to become world’s widest neutral insurance shopping portal
Wednesday, 24 October, 2007
MP Mumbai, Oct 23 (ANI-Business Wire India): India's first neutral insurance shopping website - www.InsuranceMall.in today announced the launch of its Motor and Life Insurance "quote-engines" making it one of the most comprehensive neutral websites in the world. The website will offer the customer a choice to compare and buy from the widest range of insurance products underwritten by leading Insurance Companies. The success of www.InsuranceMall.in reinforces the vision of industry watchers who predict the future of distribution in cost-effective modern channels like Bancassurance, Corporate Retail/Worksites, Internet, Mobile and allied technology. "India is poised to set new global benchmarks in innovative customer service in Insurance. The features offered on Insurancemall.in would be unheard of anywhere across the globe." said CEO and MD, Bonsai Insurance Broking, Manish Jaiswal The website currently offers Compare and Buy Option in Health, Personal Accident, Critical Illness, Home, Travel, Student, Motor and Life Insurance which comprises close to 99 per cent of the complete Personal Lines range making it one of the most comprehensive website across the world. According to internal sources, the Motor Insurance Quote Engine in particular is a path-breaking development ready for real time product improvements in the future. "We are proud to declare that our in-house quote-engine for Motor Insurance is completely flexible and ready for any new product or feature introduced in the market", said Mahavir Chopra, Director - eBusiness. On the landmark achievement and as a part of giving back to the society, www.InsuranceMall.in announced a program: "Buy one, Gift one" - insuring one needy individual against Personal Accident per purchase of Rs. 500 on its website. "We also plan to provide our expertise and free advice to NGOs and other similar institutions for Insurance related matters", said Niraj Jain, Principal Officer - Insurance. (ANI) Labels: Technology
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