BHEL to start production of renewable energy

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) would soon commence production of renewable energy generating equipments.

"We will enter into manufacturing of renewable energy generating equipments in a big way and will go in for a JV with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Bangalore, to install a manufacturing facility in the capacity of 250 MW for the production of solar photo voltaic cells," BHEL Director R&D (Engineering) OP Bhutani told reporters on Friday.

A memorandum of understanding has already been inked with BEL and it has developed a prototype model at a capacity of 8 MW.
The joint venture agreement would be signed soon and it will be at an investment of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore on a 50-50 ratio.

Though the location of the factory is yet to be finalised, it is expected that it would be commissioned within two years, Bhutani said.

BHEL is also contemplating installing a manufacturing facility at its unit here to produce solar thermal power generation systems.

"For this purpose, a collaborative pact has been signed with Abengoa, a Spanish company specialising in this product. This will require only an incremental investment at Truchrappalli complex since the Trichy unit of BHEL is already manufacturing thermal gensets and heat exchangers", he said.

BHEL has already come out with a commercial model, an upgraded version of the integrated gasification combined cycle plant at the capacity of 180 MW.

"This process involves conversion of coal into gas and thereafter generating steam by virtue of burning the gas and thereby the quantum of emission is reduced to an optimum level", he said.

Bhutani claimed that BHEL sets aside 2.5% of its profits on R&D, making it the largest spender on R&D among the PSU's in the country.

The company has been following a two-pronged approach with respect to R&D, namely improving efficiency, and bringing out tech to handle high temperature materials and on reduction of emissions, he said.

The PSU has also initiated negotiations with reputed tech institutions and academic groups located in developed countries such as Germany, USA, and UK for collaborative pacts.