IDFC signs deal to build thermal, solar plants in Gujarat

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Engineering and Construction major Larsen & Toubro Tuesday said it can build nuclear power plants with generating capacity of 3,000-4,000 MW a year. L&T chairman and manging director A.M.

September 9th, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat government has decided to establish a department of climate change to attract more renewable energy generation projects to the state. A senior official in the chief minister's office here said Wednesday the Gujarat government has already implemented its solar and wind energy policy and will prepare a biomass energy policy now.

August 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Gujarat government has approved 34 solar power projects at an investment of Rs.12,000 crore (Rs.120 billion/$2.4 billion) over the next few years, to rank it the top Indian state for this clean energy, a senior official has said. "The projects will add 716 MW to our state electricity grid.

August 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Clinton Foundation has agreed to build the world's largest solar power station close to the India- Pakistan border. The Telegraph quoted Gujarat's Energy Minister Saurabh Patel, as saying that Clinton Foundation officials have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a solar park with the capacity to generate over 5,000 Megawatts of electricity.

July 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government has accorded approval for setting up nuclear power plants in Gujarat and Rajasthan with a combined generating capacity of 2,800 MW, parliament was informed Thursday. The plants will be located at Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan and will each have two units of 700 MW each, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

July 29th, 2009 KOLKATA - The US-based Astonfield Renewable Resources Limited has set its eyes on non-conventional energy generation in India by exploiting offshore wind, tidal and concentrated solar energy resources, a top company official said here Wednesday. "We're very interested to explore offshore wind, tidal energy and solar thermal to generate renewable power in India," Astonfield Management Inc co-chairman and director Sourabh Sen said.

July 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD - Hoping to attract around 5,000 tourists to watch the solar eclipse on July 22 in Surat district, one of the places in India where the total eclipse will be visible, the Gujarat government Saturday announced it would offer free boarding to the first 200 people registering with them. The tourists will be accommodated in the homes of local people in Surat free of charge under a scheme called 'Atithi devo bhava' (the guest is almost akin to god).

July 13th, 2009 Companies promote African solar energy projectMUNICH — A consortium of 12 European businesses outlined an ambitious plan Monday to build a massive solar power facility in North Africa that they said could satisfy 15 percent of Europe's energy needs by 2050. The so-called Desertec project involves, among others, German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG, power companies RWE AG and E.ON AG, reinsurer Munich Re AG, Deutsche Bank AG, and Swiss-based electrical engineering firm ABB.

June 12th, 2009 Nation's largest solar plant to be built in NMALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Utility officials announced plans Thursday to build a giant solar energy plant in the New Mexico desert in what is believed to be the largest such project in the nation.

June 10th, 2009 NOIDA - A foundation backed by former US president Bill Clinton is in talks with the Gujarat and Rajasthan governments to build two 3,000 MW solar power plants, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said here Wednesday. "We are looking at several initiatives to increase generation from renewable sources.

May 14th, 2009 PG&E signs solar deal to light 530,000 homesSAN FRANCISCO — California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has signed new solar contracts that are expected to produce enough electricity to power about 530,000 homes during peak hours.

January 13th, 2009 MUMBAI - State-owned engineering and manufacturing major Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has signed a deal with Karnataka to set up three thermal plants with a total capacity of 2,260 MW in the state. BHEL will set up a joint venture with Karnataka Power Corp for constructing a 660 MW thermal power plant at Edlapur in Raichur district of Karnataka, the company said in a regulatory statement.

January 12th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Astonfield Renewable Resources Ltd (ARRL) will execute a mega 200 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project across Gujarat. The venture is touted as the largest renewable energy project in India.

January 12th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Underlining the importance of the Buddha's teachings in the contemporary world, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he wished to build a Buddhist temple in the state. 'Gujarat has ancient structures of Buddhist temples.

December 29th, 2008 NAVASARI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday asked people of the state to resolve to build a 'Golden Gujarat'. 'The entire country is looking at us and at our development.