BHEL to produce renewable energy generating equipments

Tiruchrapalli, Feb 26 (PTI) Public sector Bharat HeavyElectricals Ltd (BHEL) would soon commence production ofrenewable energy generating equipments, a top official said.

Talking to reporters here yesterday, O P Bhutani,Director, R&D (Engineering), BHEL, said "We will enter intomanufacturing of renewable energy generating equipments in abig way and will go in for a JV with Bharat Electronics Ltd(BEL), Bangalore, to install a manufacturing facility in thecapacity of 250mw for production of solar photo voltaiccells".

Already an MOU had been inked with BEL and they haddeveloped a prototype model at a capacity of 8mw, he said.

Soon, the JV agreement would be signed and it will be at aninvestment of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore on a 50-50 ratio, he added.

Though the location of the factory was yet to befinalised, it was expected that it would be commissionedwithin two years, Bhutani said.

BHEL was also contemplating installing a manufacturingfacility at its unit here to produce solar thermal powergeneration systems, he said.

"For this purpose, a collaborative pact has been signedwith Abengoa, a Spanish company specialising in this product.

This will require only an incremental investment atTiruchrappalli complex since already the Trichy unit of BHELis manufacturing thermal gensets and heat exchangers", Bhutanisaid.

BHEL had already come out with a commercial model, anupgraded version of integrated gasification combined cycleplant at the capacity of 180mw, he said.

"This process is the conversion of coal into gas andthereafter generating steam by virtue of burning the gas andthereby the quantum of emission is reduced to an optimumlevel", he said.

He claimed that BHEL was the largest spender on R&D amongPSUs in the country by setting aside 2.5 per cent of itsprofits for the purpose.

The company was following a two-pronged approach withrespect to R&D, namely improving efficiency and bringing outtech to handle high temperature materials and secondly onreduction of emissions, he said.

Bhutani said the PSU had initiated negotiations withreputed tech institutions and academic groups located indeveloped countries such as Germany, USA and UK for venturinginto collaborative pacts.