Asian Power Update: Japan beefs up transmission; China's geothermal power boost; Vietnam's US$811m power projects 2/12

Japan to beef up transmission system Asian solar capacity growth pushes global total to 101GW Solar power capacity growth in China and Japan largely helped push global capacity to 101 gigawatts in 2012. Japan to assist Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power program Deal will be Japan’s first overseas project since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. India to commission two more solar energy projects Projects will add 35MW to Rajasthan’s grid. China to boost geothermal power generation China will utilize more geothermal energy to relieve energy pressure and boost ecological progresses. Vietnam to spend US$811 million to improve power transmission Funds will go to over 100 projects to begin this year. S.Korea to build gas-fired plants in lieu of nuke South Korea will build six more gas-fired power plants amid nuclear safety concerns. Japan wants to triple wind power capacity The target is 7.5 million kilowatts by 2023. China eyes nationwide deployment of smart grid technology Around 86,000 premises in China have so far been connected using smart grid. Tohoku Electric to hike power rates by 11% It’s their first tariff increase in 33 years. Mitsubishi to supply turbines for Hyundai power project Power plant will be Saudi Arabia’s first with supercritical pressure steam turbines. New Zealand's first tidal power station gets approved New Zealand's first tide-driven power station to be set up at Kaipara Harbour has been approved. Vietnam achieves 96% electrification with renewables Vietnam's move to turn away from coal towards renewable energy resulted in 96 percent electricification. Bangladesh to fund 5 power projects with hard $1.5-B loan The Bangladesh government will utilize US$1.5 billion export credit agency loans to fund five power projects. China comes to rescue of the UK’s nuclear program State-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group could build four nuclear plants. Philippine JV to add 100MW of clean energy to grid Deal will build the Philippines’ largest biomass power plant. Mytrah eyes to become India's largest wind power producer Mytrah Energy will install a additional wind capacity of 310 MW as it gears to be the largest wind based IPP. Alstom to build 850MW gas-fired power plant in Thailand Alstom will build and supply equipment to a 850MW gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Thailand. Thailand's Bang Bo gas-fired power plant to get upgrade Bang Bo power plant's GT26 gas turbine will be upgraded to MXL2 turbine blade and components. Taiwan girds for higher electricity prices Rate increases to be scheduled every year instead of every three months. Thailand books a new 31.5MW solar project Three Thai solar projects to add 52.5MW to grid. India challenges discrimination against US solar cell imports Will respond this week to charges of “forced localization”. West Bengal gives empahsis on hydropower development West Bengal will turn hydropower to improve power supply. India to install 10,000 roof-top solar panels across Kerala Power crisis in Kerala will be eased with the installation of 10,000 solar roof-top panels in houses. Bangladesh to purchase of 61,650 electric poles Bangladesh will purchase of 61,650 electric poles to achieve 1.8 million new power connections in rural areas. Filinvest to put up 405MW coal-fired plant in Mindanao Filinvest is gearing up for the pre-construction phases of a 405-MW coal-fired plant in Misamis Oriental. Hydro Tasmania eyes renewable projects in Australian mainland Hydro Tasmania hopes to develop renewable energy projects outside Tasmania. /td> China's Shenhua Clean Energy helps build Australia's Musselroe Wind Farm Hydro Tasmania and Shenhua Clean Energy have included the Musselroe Wind Farm among their joint projects. Singapore starts up 2 converted gas-fired power plants Senoko Energy started up two natural gas-fired power plants with 862 megawatt capacity in Singapore.

COMMENTARY ›› POWER UTILITY Consumer vs utility: Who is better off to store energy? BY RASIKA GOKHALE ATHAWALE 651 views POWER UTILITY What you must know about electricity liberalization in Japan BY PHILLIP VAUGHAN 632 views POWER UTILITY Indonesia to finally see more successful geothermal projects BY EDWARD MCCARTIN 466 views PROJECT The dangers of mishandled flow-accelerated corrosion BY BRAD BUECKER 373 views POWER UTILITY India’s offshore powerhouse revealed BY FOERD AMES 330 views PROJECT Chinese encapsulant suppliers put incumbents under pressure BY EDWARD CAHILL 220 views ENVIRONMENT Check out how our global energy system has evolved (Part 2) BY ADRIAAN KAMP 159 views

EVENTS CALENDAR Power Industry South Korea 2013 Date: 25 Jun 2013 Venue: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Seoul, South Korea World Geopower Markets: Indonesia & Philippines Date: 18 Jun 2013 Venue: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia Power Industry Indonesia 2013 Date: 21 May 2013 Venue: Intercontinental Jakarta Midplaza Hotel The 3rd World Smart Grid Conference China Date: 09 May 2013 Venue: Beijing, China The 12th China (Shanghai) International Power Generating Sets Exhibition Date: 08 Apr 2013 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center 3rd China International Smart Grid Technology and Equipment Exhibition Date: 08 Apr 2013 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center 7th China (Shanghai) International Wind Energy Exhibition & Conference Date: 08 Apr 2013 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center 13th China International Electric Power & Electric Engineering Technology Exhibition Date: 08 Apr 2013 Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Center ASEAN Elenex 2013 Date: 20 Mar 2013 Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Argus Australia Power Generation Fuels 2013 Date: 27 Feb 2013 Venue: Establishment Hotel, Australia Philippines Power & Electricity Conference Date: 26 Feb 2013 Venue: InterContinental Manila