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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
KSERC sets useful life and registration process for renewable energy projects
T'puram: The draft regulations on renewable energy published by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission set the useful life of standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 12 years. BESS is considered a major option for storing renewable energy, especially solar energy, which is otherwise unavailable during night hours when electricity consumption is at its peak. KSEB plans to set up BESS with assistance from Centre. The regulations set the useful life of biogas-based power projects and biomass gasifier-based power projects at 25 years. The life of solar PV power projects, including floating solar projects and solar thermal power projects, is also 25 years. The useful life of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) based power projects is 20 years. For hydroelectric plants, the useful lifetime is 40 years. For wind, biomass and non-fossil fuel-based cogeneration projects, the useful life is set at 25 years. As per the draft regulations, eligible consumers shall, within 45 days of receipt of technical feasibility or deemed feasibility, apply online to the distribution licensee concerned for registration of their scheme for installing the renewable energy generating system. The licensee is expected to verify the documents within three working days. If any changes are recommended, the applicant is supposed to carry them out within seven working days.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Relentless showers lead to copious inflow to reservoirs
The torrential rain that has lashed the region over the past several days has also led to a significant rise in water levels at dams in Pathanamthitta. A red alert has already been issued for the Moozhiyar Dam, part of the Kakkad Hydroelectric Project under the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), with live storage crossing 92.6%. One of the shutters has been opened by 10 cm to ease the pressure. If the heavy downpour continues, authorities may be forced to open more shutters, increasing the discharge into the Kakkad river. In addition to Moozhiyar, the shutters of the Maniyar barrage have also been opened to manage the rising inflow. 175 mm of rainfall Meanwhile, the water level in the Kakki-Anathodu reservoir rose by 2 m within just 24 hours, reaching 960 m against the Full Reservoir Limit of 981.46 m. The Kakki region recorded 175 mm of rainfall during this period, which ended on Friday morning. The Pamba reservoir also continued to witness a steady rise, reaching 975.60 m. The Pamba region received approximately 129 mm of rainfall over the same 24-hour period. With the forests around Sabarimala still experiencing relentless rain, inflows into these reservoirs remain unabated, keeping the situation under close watch.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Heavy rains batter Kerala overnight, cause widespread havoc and power outages
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds battered Kerala overnight and into early Friday (May 30, 2025), inundating residential areas, damaging homes and forcing at least 1,200 citizens to seek refuge in government-run relief camps. The heavy weather uprooted trees and downed power lines. The Fire and Rescue Services department and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) scrambled to clear fallen trees and restore power to an estimated 60 lakh households across the State. Nevertheless, large swathes of the State, including much of Thiruvananthapuram district, remained without power. Power Minister K. Krishnankutty told reporters that public resistance to pre-monsoon pruning off overhanging branches and precariously leaning trees jeopardised the safety of overhead powerlines and transformers. He said the Chief Secretary had instructed the District Collectors to invoke the Disaster Management Act 2005 provisions to overcome such resistance. He said the heavy rains and falling tree branches damaged 2,500 high-tension and 10,000 low-tension power lines across the State and that scores of transformers malfunctioned. The KSEB has sustained a loss of ₹121 crore by a conservative preliminary estimate. He said KSEB has deployed more engineers and line workers to restore power distribution. He said using underground cables to transmit electricity was the long-term solution to ensure uninterrupted power during inclement weather. However, he said the KSEB's goal remained elusive, given the high costs involved and the public utility's inability to raise power charges. Mr Krishnankutty noted the water level in 16 major and 15 small hydroelectric power dams remained within the safety threshold. Red alert Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the severe weather was set to continue with the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensifying incrementally. It has issued a red alert for Idukki, Kannur and Kasargod districts. The government has declared a holiday for educational institutions, including private tuition centres. in Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur and Kasargod. High waves The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has forecast high waves reaching up to 3.7 m in height along Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. It has issued a red alert in the coastal localities and cautioned fishers from putting their boats out to sea. The INCOIS has issued an orange alert, warning of tidal surges and high waves along the coasts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasargod, and Kannur. The respective district administrations have suspended beach activities. Swollen rivers The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has flagged a rise in water levels in Manimala, Achankovil and Meenachil rivers in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, respectively. It has warned people living on the banks of Korapuzha (Kozhikode) and Kabani (Wayanad) to exercise extreme caution. Delayed trains The heavy rains have delayed several trains, including the Jan Shatabdi Express. Several more were running late, chiefly due to waterlogging of tracks and trees falling on the railway lines. The government has banned nighttime travel in the Idukki district. In several residential localities across Kerala, stormwater pooled under parked cars and motorcycles, damaging the vehicles. So far, the government has evacuated 1,200 people to relief camps. At least 159 houses were partially damaged, according to KSDMA estimates. Reports of rain-related deaths were also trickling in from different parts of the State. A 65-year-old man, K J James, drowned in a waterlogged locality at Punnapra in the Alappuzha district.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Heavy rain: KSEB urges caution
T'puram: KSEB called for heightened vigilance against electrical accidents due to the heavy rain and gusty winds across the state. Amidst widespread complaints of frequent power supply failures, KSEB sought public cooperation to overcome the severe crisis affecting the power distribution network. The board appealed to public to be extra cautious while venturing out, especially during night and early hours, as incidents of line snapping were on the rise. If the public sees a snapped and unattended power line, they should inform the nearby KSEB office or call 9496010101, a statement from KSEB said. KSEB has so far suffered a loss of Rs 120.81 crore due to rain-related havoc in the last few days. At least 2,190 high-tension posts and 16,366 low-tension posts were damaged. As many as 2,345 high-tension line snapping and 45,459 low-tension line snapping cases were reported. Power supply to around 57,000 consumers was damaged. Most of these connections were rectified, the statement said. To ensure public safety, KSEB is forced to switch off many high-tension lines and transformers in flooded areas. TNN
India Today
5 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Kerala electricity board reports Rs 8 crore loss in single district due to monsoon
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has reported losses exceeding Rs 8 crore in Kannur district alone, following several days of intense monsoon rain and strong winds. The weather has severely impacted the power infrastructure across the to the KSEB, the Kannur Electrical Circle has suffered damages amounting to Rs 4.92 crore. A total of 616 electricity poles were destroyed, and wires were snapped at 1,953 locations. In addition, a distribution transformer was the Sreekandapuram Electrical Circle, the estimated loss stands at Rs 4.04 crore. The damage includes 95 high-tension (HT) and 677 low-tension (LT) electricity poles. HT cables were snapped at 42 points, while LT lines were damaged in 1,531 locations. Two distribution transformers were also affected. The KSEB has announced that it will prioritise restoration work based on the severity and scale of damage. Immediate attention will be given to faults in the 11 kilovolt (kV) line, which is critical to supplying power to the entire area. Restoration of low-tension lines will follow, with individual consumer complaints to be addressed in the subsequent KSEB has urged residents to report any electrical accidents or suspected hazards immediately to their local Section office or by calling the emergency number 9496010101. Power outage complaints can be lodged through the toll-free customer care number 1912, on 9496001912, or via IN THIS STORY#Kerala
