Energetica India Magazine: september 2020

NEWS 11 energetica INDIA- September_2020 NATIONAL L&T Commissions 99MW Singoli-Bhatwari Hydroelectric Power Plant in Uttarakhand Larsen & Toubro, country’s leading EPC projects, manufacturing, defense and services conglomerate, has announced 100 per cent completion and readiness for commissioning of the 99 MW Singo - li–Bhatwari Hydroelectric Power Plant. Further, the commissioning of this run- of-the-river plant along the iconic Char Dham route will be a major boost to the state of Uttarakhand, with the plant’s capability of providing over 400 million units of renewable energy per annum. Uttarakhand is one of the fastest grow- ing states in electric energy require- ment in the last 5 years and is expected to continue to maintain its lead in ener- gy requirement in future. Currently, the state sources substantial power from outside the state. The company said in a statement that, the plant, which is situated about 25 kms from Rudraprayag, features a bar- rage, with a medium-sized intake pond near Ukhimath, a 12 km long headrace tunnel and a surge shaft over 180 m in- depth and is devoid of any rehabilita- tion and resettlement issues. Moreover, the plant houses 3 units of Voith Turbine generators of 33 MW each, equipped with a state-of-the-art switchyard and controlled via the latest Supervisory Control and Data Acquisi- tion (SCADA) technology. Also, the SCADA systems are designed to automatically monitor and control plant and its equipment such as tele- communications, water and waste control to take timely decisions and actions. This provides uninterrupted power supply at minimum generation cost. Besides, the plant will cater to peak demand loads of 2½ hours each in both halves of the day, bringing relief even during non–monsoon months and meeting peak electricity demand. Speaking on the commissioning, S N Subrahmanyan, CEO & MD, Larsen & Toubro, said “we have once again demonstrated our capability to sur- mount odds of difficult terrain, vaga - ries of weather, natural calamities and have successfully commissioned this modern hydroelectric power plant in Garhwal Himalayas. Given the de- velopment imperatives of the state of Uttarakhand, this plant will be a key infrastructure ingredient for the Aat- manirbhar or self-reliant region, that the state and central governments have envisioned. L&T has not only built and commissioned this project but will also operate it with its signature efficiency.” The wet commissioning process starts with machine spinning of the turbines initially without generation of electricity and upon due testing, eventual syn- chronization with the grid for supply of electricity. However, grid synchronization and charging of the transmission lines is ex- pected in approx a month, and is timed during the inauguration of the plant. Average Cost of Li-ion Battery Cell to fall below $100/kWh in 2023: Report The average cost of a lithium-ion (Li- ion) battery cell which is used to power electric vehicles (EVs) and to provide flexibility in the power grid as more re - newables, such as solar and wind, are added—will fall below USD 100 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in next 3 years, as per the new analysis by IHS Markit. According to the British information provider firm, the average cost of a Li- ion cell is expected to decline further through the end of the decade, to as low as USD 73/kWh in 2030. Also, the average cost of a Li-ion bat- tery has already fallen 82 per cent from 2012-2020. Further reductions are a key factor to increasing the competi- tiveness and wider adoption of the bat- teries for electric transportation and in grid storage, the report said. By 2023, the cost of battery will have declined 86 per cent (by USD 580/ kWh) in a decade, added the report. IHS Markit expects that the biggest contributor to falling battery cell costs throughout the coming decade will be reductions in manufacturing costs through larger factory sizes and improv- ing economies of scale. Reductions in material costs by improving efficiencies and adopting lower cost cathode com- positions, and improvements in battery energy density are also expected to play a role. Among the 3 major Li-ion battery cells— Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), Nick- el Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) and Iron Phosphate (LFP)—LFP has already fall- en below the USD 100/kWh threshold in 2020. All three types are expected to be below the USD 100 mark by 2024. LFP will remain the lowest cost option throughout the next 10 years.