Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Friday, 2 April 2021

The Surge of Solar

 


 

Context :

Adani, JSW, ReNew Power line up fresh investments for renewables in Rajasthan   /   BL / 02 April


HIGHLIGHTS


Solar Projects applied for :


Ø  Adani Group………………… 11,700  MW………………..Rs  46,000  crore

Ø  JSW Group…………………… 10,000  MW………………. Rs  48,500  crore

Ø  ReNew Power………………. 10,000  MW……………….Rs  30,000  crore

Ø  Greenko…………………………. 4,500  MW……………….Rs  30,000  crore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total……………………………..36,200  MW……………….. Rs 154,500  crore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“If every potential project comes on ground, Rajasthan will see total 70,729 MW of renewable projects attracting investments worth over ₹2.75-lakh crore. “


Giving an outline about new solar parks coming up in Rajasthan, Agarwal informed that three such solar parks are being set up with capacity of 3,175 MW spread across 7,232 hectares. The parks are being developed in PPP mode jointly with Government of Rajasthan and private players including Essel Infra and Adani Group.


Rajasthan bets big on its natural advantage with highest solar radiation at 5.72 kWh/sq meter per day and 325 sunny days providing solar power potential of 142 Gw, which is about 19 per cent of 748 GW for India. The state is also looking to capitalise the open inter-state transmission scheme till 2023, which will encourage developers to set up plants in Rajasthan to supply power in other States.


In near term, Rajasthan eyes 30,000 MW of renewable energy generation by 2024-25, which Agarwal is confident to achieve before time. 

===================================================

MY TAKE


[ A ]   Technology

Ø  Biggest problem with Solar Power is that of being able to “ Store “ that energy when Sun is not shining. Energy produced during the sunlight hours of daytime must be stored in very large GRID SIZE storage batteries, which can be withdrawn / consumed during the “ late evening – early morning – night time “

Ø  We have to find a Battery Technology which can store / charge / discharge , GWh of energy , day after day / year after year, without much degradation

Ø  Currently available Lithium-ion Batteries are unsuitable for such heavy duty , without heating up and catching fire

Ø  Fortunately,  such a technology is already available commercially

Ø  This technology developed by Prof Sadoway   ( dsadoway@mit.edu )   is being offered by a US based company AMBRI 

Ø  This liquid metal batteries are claimed to be 30 – 50 % cheaper than Li-ion batteries on  $/Kwh “basis


[ B ]   Cost of imported  Solar Panels

Ø  Recently, there was an announcement by the Central Government to raise the IMPORT DUTY for solar panels to 40 % ( from current Safeguard duty  of 15 % ) from April 2022.


      Idea is to protect the domestic Solar Panel manufacturers and make their

      supplies price-competitive with  imported panels, mostly from China

      

This is very short-sighted decision


If anything, with immediate effect, we should reduce the import duty to ZERO till 2030


We must not let our goal of reaching 475 GW of Solar by 2030, suffer in order to encourage / protect, a local industry ( Due to huge demand, there is no danger of any employees losing jobs )


By reducing import duty to ZERO till 2030, we should target to reach 600 GW – thereby offering power at Re ONE / Kwh , which will generate MILLIONS of NEW JOBS

 

Dear Shri R K Singhji,


Over the past few days, there have been unconfirmed reports that the Central Government will offer $ 1 Billion ( approx. Rs 7300 crore ) to any CHIP maker who puts up a semi-conductor manufacturing plant in India


This is along the lines of PLI ( Production Linked Incentive ) scheme introduced for several industries


No doubt, this will help the manufacturers – provided there is a MARKET DEMAND for their INCREASED PRODUCTION ( over some base-line )


However, one of the factors that foreign industries consider for setting up manufacturing facilities in India, is the cost of ELECTRICITY – especially in industries which are HIGHLY AUTOMATED ( like CHIP manufacture ) and, use THOUSANDS of POWER GUZZLING robots but very few humans .


They have a very low MANPOWER COST but a very high ELECTRIC POWER COST


Following data tell us about the COST of ELECTRIC POWER ( Cents / Kwh ) for Industrial Consumers in some countries where there are major manufacturers of Semi-Conductor CHIPS :


Ø  Japan…………………………….. 15.00

Ø  Taiwan………………………….. 13.40

Ø   S Korea…………………………..10.50

Ø  China……………………………… 10.20

Ø  USA………………………………….  6.83


Compared to these, Industrial Consumers in Mumbai pay  12.00 cents ( Rs 9.0 ) per Kwh


Imagine the impact on our entire ECONOMY ( - and consequent JOB GENERATION ), if we can generate and sell electric power for :

0.14 Cents / Kwh ( Re  ONE per Kwh )  !


I urge you to consider my suggestion


With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  03 April 2021  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com

===================================================

RELATED  READINGS :


 http://www.donaldsadoway.com/technologies---companies.html

MIT Professor Donald Sadoway talking about revolutionary liquid metal batteries   

 

 

 

Congratulations , Shri R K Singhji ……………………….........[ 19 Nov 2020 ]

 

Solar Power at Rs 1 per Kwh ? ……………………………......[ 29 Jan 2017 ]

 

For  Want  of  Power  ? ………………………………………............[ 05 Oct 2017 ]

 

UnlimitedPower : and Around the Clock  ……………..........[ 29  July  2016 ]

From Ladakh with Love ( and Sun Shine ) …………….[ 09 Aug 2018 ]

Liu Zhenya : The Visionary …………………………………….........[ 04 June 2018 ]

 

NationalEnergy Storage Mission  ………………………….........[  19  Feb  2018  ]

#SolarPower #ThermalPower #StorageBattery……. [ 26 Nov 2017 ]

 

Extract from this E Mail :


Ø  These deserts have , between them , the potential to generate 315.7 GW of Solar plus Wind power, compared with our present installed capacity of 331 GW

 

 

·                But, how to “ Store “ all that huge amount of Solar generated

                 electricity and use it round the clock when Sun is not shining ?

 

                      

              This ( storage of solar generated power ) was not possible till yesterday

 

              But it just became possible !

 

               Only yesterday , Elon Musk ( TESLA ) completed installation of a 100

               MW / 129 MWh , Lithium-ion Battery Storage facility in Australia, for a

               cost of $ 50 million

               All within 100 days, ensuring no more  black outs  in South Australia  !

 

              To store that 316 GW ( 316,000 MW ) of solar power generated in our

              deserts , we will need 3160 Storage Batteries of the size ( 100 MW )

              installed in Australia

              

 

             That would cost , $ 158 Billion ( Rs 11.15 lakh*crore )

 

              In all , we need to raise :

 

 

                  Ø  For 316 GW solar power projects in our deserts…………$  316  Billion

 

                  Ø  For 3160 Mega Storage Batteries………………………………..$  158  Billion

 

              Total of …………………………………………………………………………… $  474  Billion

 

===================================================

This blog e-mailed to :


secretarygeneral@indianwindpower.com  /  ad.delhi@indianwindpower.com  {  IWTMA  }


iwpahq@windpro.org / secretary.general@windpro.org / iwpa.rsc@gmail.com / iwpacno@windpro.co.in { IWPA }


manish@inwea.org  { Indian Wind Energy Association – IWEA }


ps@appindia.org.in / akhurana369@appindia.org.in / girish.deveshwar@appindia.org.in  { APP }


rajnath-pc@nic.in  { Rajnath Ram , Adviser Energy – NITI }


Vipul.tuli@sembcorp.com  { Vipul Tuli , MD, Sembcorp India }


Alok.nanda@ge.com / Ananda@shiftcomm.com  {  Alok Nanda, CEO , GE Technology Centre }


Ashish.khanna@tatapower.com  { Ashish Khanna, President -Renewable , TATA Power }


Vinay.rustagi@bridgetoindia.com  { Vinay Rustagi , MD , Bridge to India }


chair@nic.in / ps.mhaske@nic.in  {  Chairman, CEA  }


secy-power@nic.in  {  Secretary, Ministry of Power  }


secy@cercind.gov.in  { Secretary , CERC  }

 

Thursday, 1 April 2021

Google points the Way

 


 

Context :

Explained: How Google Maps plans to nudge you towards the greenest route to your destination  / 01 April 2021

 

Extract :

Ø  Google Maps plans to start highlighting journeys and directing drivers to routes that it calibrates to be the mosteco-friendly” based on a range of factors. The calculation of the default route that potentially generates the lowest carbon footprint would be done by assessing factors such as traffic data, congestion history, and even road inclines.

Ø  The Alphabet-owned search engine said in a blogpost that the feature would be launched first in the United States sometime later this year, “ with a global expansion on the way ”.

Ø  Once launched, the default route that would show up on the Google Maps app will be the “eco-friendly” one. Users will have to opt out of this if they wish to take an alternative route.

Ø  Google said that when alternative routes “are significantly faster”, the mapping app will offer options, and let users compare estimated emissions on the default and alternative routes. The new feature, Google said, is part of its commitment to fight climate change.

Ø  While the tech major did mention plans for a “global expansion”, it did not offer specifics with respect to the launch timelines in specific geographies such as India.

Ø  Google is also reported to be making “new map layers for weather and air quality” that are set to roll out in the coming months on both Android and iOS. Google plans to launch the weather layer globally and release the air quality layer first in Australia, India, and the US, according to a report in The Verge.

===================================================

MY TAKE :

Ø  Obviously, Google gets its “ traffic density data “ based on a GPS system , which tracks the number of vehicles on each Km ( or is that, each Meter ? ) length of every road


Ø  Google also seems to have found a way to estimate emission data of each vehicle on each road , presumably from some vehicle-mounted sensor


Ø  Before long, most vehicles ( at least 4-wheelers ) will get pre-installed at the factory with internet-connected sensors, as described in :

            Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ) ? …………………………..[ 04 Mar 2017 ]

 

   Extract from above blog :

    I expect that , over the next 5 years , all of these will converge into an Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ), when :

 

  #    Most vehicles will  be electric ( essentially , “ computers on wheels “ ),

        automatically determining the  best / shortest routes / stops and optimizing

        vehicle performance . Mobile Apps will be a governing  device

                      

                                 

 

  #    Vehicles will be internet connected with one another, exchanging data

 

 

      #   Vehicles will be internet connected with servers of Transport Authorities /

           Traffic Police / Pollution Control Boards and a host of other governmental /

           institutional organizations, and be relaying all sorts of data  24*7 .  Vehicles

           will report accidents ( being hit ) and thefts ( being stolen ) , on their own !

                     

                     

 

      #   All vehicles will carry a whole lot of “ Sensors “ , which will continuously “

           monitor “ the conditions of the vehicles and relay the same to all the

           authorities

 

                    

 

     #    All vehicles will be equipped with RADAR – LIDAR –CAMERAS – GPS locators

           – / Augmented Reality  etc ,to avoid collisions / accidents

                    

 

 

     #    Prepaid RFID chips ( linked to Aadhar / Bank Accounts  ? ) for Road Taxes /

           Insurance Premiums / Toll charges / Fines / Carbon Credits ( through DBT )

                    

In this blog, I had not shown any specific method for continuous / automatic collection of ROAD TAX ( - and that too, without human intervention ) , based on the vehicle’s potential for harming the environment


In following subsequent blog, I outlined a SCIENTIFIC FORMULA for automatically computing the HARM-QUOTIENT of each and every vehicle ( whether moving or parked ) and translating it into its TRANS-TAX :


Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan ? ……………….[ 20 Nov 2018 ]

 

This suggestion seems to have been accepted by the Central Transport Ministry, and is about to get implemented ( although only partially ), as described in :


Gadkariji : Green Tax is Good ……………………………….. [  26 Jan 2021 ]

 

Dear Shri Gadkariji,

Ø  WAYMO Motors ( a Google subsidiary ) is already experimenting with FSD ( Full Self Driving – Level 5  ) technology, which does not need a driver ( or for that matter, a driver seat – rear view mirror – accelerator – brake pedal – steering wheel – front/rear concept etc )


Ø  I have no doubt that someday soon, WAYMO car’s dashboard will display :


#   Google Map, as described above, showing  short route / eco-friendly

     route and Fare payable in case of  taxis / rickshaws– if State RTOs

     cooperate by granting access to Google to their FARE STRUCTURE )

      

#   HARM QUOTIENT of each vehicle and its desirable TRANS-TAX (

     although, Google would have no authority to deduct any such tax from

     vehicle-installed pre-paid RFID sensor ). 

     This will be displayed  in any chosen manner ( hourly-daily-monthly-

     comparatively etc )

      

#   Google would neither have the authority to set-off / adjust such a

     TRANS-TAX against all other taxes currently being levied on vehicles (

     Registration Fees / Renewal Fees / Road Tax / Toll tax etc )

          

      But,


     Google might compute each vehicle’s CARBON FOOTPRINT / CARBON

     CREDIT-DEBIT and if so desired by your Ministry, for each vehicle, relay

     this data to the server of your Ministry, to automatically  deduct TRANS-

     TAX , from each vehicle on a daily basis

     

Dear Shri Gadkariji,


#   There is no technological hitch in making DASHBOARD of every INDIA-MADE

      car to have a WAYMO–like dashboard


#    It would require you to mandate all Indian Car Manufacturers to factory-install

      sensors described earlier


#    With FasTag-based collection of Toll-Tax, you are already on your way to

       eliminate toll plazas


#    You made it mandatory for all vehicle manufacturers to pre-install FasTag. You

      can do the same with respect to all other sensors


#   I urge you to invite Shri Sundar Pichai ( CEO-Google ) to collaborate with your

     Ministry to implement :

Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan ? ……………….[ 20 Nov 2018 ]

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / 02 April 2021 / hcp@RecruitGuru.com

 

 

 

 

Congratulations , Neha Satak

 


 

( Neha Satak , Co-founder and CEO, Astrome / bd@astrome.co   )

 ( Prasad, CMD, Astrome / prasad@astrome.co )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Context :

Start-up develops low-cost Internet tech   /   Business Line  /  31 March 2021

Extract :

Ø  The wireless Giga Mesh could enable telecom operators to deploy quality, high-speed rural telecom infrastructure at five times lower cost.

Ø  Astrome, a women-led startup, has developed an innovative wireless product that gives fibre-like bandwidth at a fraction of fibre cost to help telecom operators deliver reliable, low-cost Internet services to suburban and rural areas.

Ø  The wireless product called Giga Mesh could enable telecom operators to deploy quality, high-speed rural telecom infrastructure at five times lower cost, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement.

             (  Ref :  https://tdf.drdo.gov.in/public_profiles/industry/1092 )

==============================================

MY  TAKE

Ø  Many companies such as

     #  Google ( Loon )   

     #  Amazon ( Kuiper )  

    #  Tesla ( Starlink ) –  Elon Musk’s satellite Net Plan in India hits a Bump    

    #  Hughes ( Jupiter )

   #  Airtel  (OneWeb )

   #  Microsoft  ( Veriown )

   #  Facebook  ( Connectivity )

- are working on technologies, to take internet connectivity to remotest corners of the earth

Ø  To overcome the problem of laying down thousands of Km of optic fibre, Alphabet ( Google’s parent company ) is experimenting with wireless internet communication through its Project Taara , which I have mentioned in my following blog :

              Light at the end of the Tower ? ………………………….[ 16 Dec 2020 ]

 

              Extract :

            How can “ Macro Li Fi “ ( Project Taara ) be made to reach every home ?


              #   A Light Beam receiver would need to be installed on every roof /

                   terrace ( much like today’s dish antenna )

                  

              #   We will need some ( intermediate ) device to connect this “ Receiver

                   “ with the LED light bulb in the ceiling

                    

               #   On the laptop, we will need another ( memory-stick like ) device to

                    receive data streaming down From LED bulb

                    

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Can GIGA-MESH collaborate with Li-Fi technology currently under implementation in 6000 villages of Gujarat, as described in my following blog :


Ø  Congratulations , Hardik Soni  ……………….[ 28 Feb 2921 ]

 

Extract :

#  Who is Hardik Soni ?

    He is CTO & Co-founder at Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd  



   Here is what his website reads :


“ Imagine Every Light Could Connect You To The Internet. We Are Not Only Powering

  The Innovation And Adoption Of LiFi Technology We Are Enabling Ubiquitous,          High-Speed, Secure Data Networks Wherever There Is Illumination.”

  

       With this facility from the Startup Nav Wireless Technology, schools, hospitals,

       post offices and government offices   in these two villages will get faster and

       safer internet connection through existing electricity lines


      Ø  LiFi technology involves transmitting data with a light beam spectrum through

          open space in indoor and outdoor environments

         

 Ø  LiFi systems provide ultra-fast data connections and are especially useful in

     urban areas where radio spectra are congested, and are also handy in rural

     areas where fibre optic cables or networks are not reachable

     

          ==================================================

It is obvious that all of the Companies mentioned above, are “ for profit “ companies


Even as they try to roll out their respective projects to reach  664,369 villages  of India, they will never lose sight of :

Ø  Return on Investment ( ROI )

Ø  Payback Period

Ø  Cash-flow


Each is working on respective technologies to compete on,

Ø  Speed with which their project can be rolled out

Ø  Internet Speed ( MBPS / GBPS )

Ø  Ultimate monthly charges to the users


Independent of these private sector / commercial initiatives, for past few years, Central Government itself is laying down thousands of Km of Fibre Optic Cables to provide broadband connection to 250,000 Gram Panchayats, under its BharatNet project ( I am assuming this will be a FREE connection to those Panchayats )


Out of these, BharatNet has connected 103,416  village Gram Panchayats with Optic Fibre Broadband Internet


At this rate, on its own, BharatNet may take another 20 years to take Broadband to our 600,000 villages !


 

Dear Shri Sharvesh Singhji,

( Chairman and MD , BharatNet / cmd.bbnl@nic.in ),

 

You deserve congratulations for collaborating with Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd , to take internet broadband to 6000 villages in Gujarat . I suppose this will be a PILOT PROJECT to enable Nav Wireless to demonstrate their Li-Fi technology on the ground


Nav Wireless plan to complete this project in 2 years ( approx. 10 villages / working day )


In that same spirit of COLLABORATION for achieving the objective of DIGITIZED INDIA,  I urge you to invite Astrome and ask them to take their GIGAMESH tech to 10,000 villages in ONE YEAR


It will give Astrome an opportunity to prove their claims. Your invite will also send a clear signal to other Start-ups in this field that they will be given opportunity to test their technologies


With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  01 April 2021