Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Pune railway division turns focus on going green

After working on an action plan for cleanliness at railway stations as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the administration of the Central Railway, Pune division will focus on environmental issues at stations and production units.

Authorities plan to have efficiency in energy consumption, conservation of water resources, and proper use of land by undertaking afforestation.

Chief of the ministry's recently formed directorate called environment management in the Railway Board K Swaminathan recently sent suggestions and directives to general managers, zonal... Read more..

Date : Feb 3

Source: Times of India

India will have to invest US$ 83.35 bn in renewable energy till 2022

To achieve the renewable energy target of 72,000 MW by 2022, India will have to invest around US$ 46.22 billion, says a new report from Research and Markets.

In addition to this, India will have to make investments in upgrading the transmission and distribution infrastructure and old renewable plants that will reach their end of life. With all these together, India will have to invest US$ 83.35 billion in the renewable energy market till 2022.

India has set the target of achieving overall renewable energy installed capacity of 41,400 MW by 2017 and 72,400 MW by... Read more..

Date : Feb 3

Source: Green Tech Lead

India hopes to surpass investment target RE-INVEST

India has already received investments worth 1.30 lakh MW generation capacity from both domestic and international players, even before the beginning of Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST). Power Minister Piyush Goyal announced this development during an event held in Mumbai, as reported by The Economic Times.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be organizing the Expo from February 15 to 17 in New Delhi with an aim to attract an investment of USD 100 billion in clean energy for the next four years in India.

The government... Read more..

Date : Feb 3

Source: Green Tech Lead

Government may propose 10-year tax holiday on clean fuel, engines

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed ministers to draft a policy proposal that would promote clean fuel and auto engines, including a possible 10-year tax holiday for stakeholders. “In one of the cabinet meetings, the prime minister told me and the finance minister to prepare a policy for clean fuel and clean engines. This may include exemption from all taxes for 10 years.

I am trying for that,” roads minister Nitin Gadkari told a conference on sustainable fuels and internal combustion engines on Monday. “A cabinet note on the issue is likely within a month.” Modi’s... Read more..

Date : Feb 3

Source: Live Mint

Round-the-clock power supply scheme likely for villages off the national grid

As part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s focus on clean energy, the Union Budget may announce an energy access scheme powered by renewable sources for providing round-the-clock power to villages that can’t be reached by the national electricity grid.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 300 million Indians, roughly a quarter of the country’s population, do not have access to electricity. “The budget may announce an energy access scheme for those villages where the national grid can’t reach,” said a senior government official,... Read more..

Date : Feb 3

Source: Live Mint

‘Green’ fuel to 'achche din' dream

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has taken a giant step towards realizing 'Achche Din' dreams with the announcement of the new biofuel policy. To begin with, the ministry has empowered biofuel producers to sell directly to consumers — in bulk and in retail.

The benefits of the new policy are far-reaching than they apparently look, claimed ministry sources. First, it will bring down India's oil import bill considerably. Consumers will also have to pay less for fuel. Increased use of biofuel will reduce pollution as well. But more importantly, it will make life easier... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Times of India

Government gives green nod to Rs 6.31 lakh crore projects in June-December

To fast-track industrial activities, the government has granted environmental clearance to 190 projects worth an estimated Rs 6.31 lakh crore across sectors like mining and steel during the June-December 2014.

The focus on faster clearances follows concerns raised by the industry that such approvals were hard to come by during the previous UPA regime at the Centre, thus creating bottlenecks for large industrial projects.

A highly placed source said the projects that have been granted approvals belong to both public and private sector companies and the grants are... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Economic Times

Ganga pollution: Closure process starts for 98 tanneries

Cracking down on polluting tanneries ,Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board today initiated the process of closing 98 such factories in Kanpur, which were allegedly releasing toxic effluents in River Ganga, by cutting electricity supply to them. The Board also stopped water supply to the tanneries which had government water connection, officials said.

All the tanneries which faced action are in Jajmau, a suburb.

Additional District Magistrate, Kanpur, (city) Avinash Singh said that National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently sent a team comprising central and state... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Zee News

Urban areas experiencing intense heat waves globally

For the past four decades, global warming has increased dramatically in cities, shows a new study led by an assistant professor of civil engineering Vimal Mishra at IIT-Gandhinagar.

The trend appears to be growing faster in urban areas than in less-populated areas.

Only two percent of those urban areas experienced a significant decline in heat waves.

"Urban areas make up a relatively small part of the global land area, but over half the world's populations now live in them, so the trend is troublesome," said Mishra.

"The combination... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Zee News

'Investor commitments received for 1.3 L MW renewable energy'

Even before the first-ever meet for attracting investment in renewable energy sector starts, the country has received commitments to create 1.30 lakh MW generation capacity, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

"We have received commitment for investments for nearly 1.3 lakh MW of renewable energy from both the domestic and international players," Goyal today said, speaking here on sidelines of an event organised by VASVIK.

The government, which is targeting an investment of USD 100 billion in clean energy over four years, will be holding 'Renewable Energy... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Business Standard

Not much changed on ground for industry in six months: Survey

NEW DELHI: Showing signs of restlessness, a majority of business leaders have said "not much" has changed on the ground in the last six months, while many of them do not foresee any change in investment plans even during the current quarter, as per an industry body Assocham survey.

The Business Confidence Survey results follow the months-long euphoria among industry leaders about prospects of improvement in business environment after a new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed to power with a strong majority in May 2014.

"Not much has changed... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Economic Times

S. Rly commissions green power station at Athur

The Salem Division of Southern Railways has commissioned its first green power station at Athur. The effort is aimed at harnessing green/ renewable energy. The solar power plant connected to a hybrid invertor with battery back-up (installed at Athur station) would provide 24x7 power supply to the ticket reservation centres (both – advance and current booking) and the Station Master’s office, a railway release said.

The investment on this 1.2 Kw capacity plant is Rs. 2.7 lakh. The solar power is expected to replace the existing diesel generating power back-up system, thus... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Business Line- The Hindu

India-US solar issue: WTO's dispute panel to meet next week

The WTO's dispute settlement panel, which is examining a complaint by the US against India's domestic content requirements under its solar power programme, would meet next week in Geneva.

"The first substantive meeting of India and the US officials with the panel would held in the first week of next month," an official said.

India and the US have already completed their bilateral consultations on the matter.

The consultations were followed after the US filed a complaint in the WTO in February last year alleging discrimination by India's national... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Economic Times

Mini Pick Up Trucks in India – The Slow but Steady Electric Vehicle Revolution

A few weeks back, Mahindra inducted a few Maxximo Electric passenger vans to ferry tourists at one of the world’s seven wonders, the Taj Mahal in Agra. The Maxximo Electric was developed in association with Reva Electric, the Indian EV making company now owned by Mahindra. This induction is a pilot project, which if successful will lead to Mahindra introducing the Maxximo Electric in markets all over India. Among other things, the van seats 8 and is powered by lithium ion batteries that give it a range of 100 kilometers per full charge. Top speed is limited to 65 Kmph in the interest of... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Indian Cars Bikes

Going Smart, the Infosys way

The ambitious plan of the government to dot the country with 100 smart cities could draw a leaf or two from the book of Infosys, India’s second largest IT services exporter, which plans to transform its 350 acres Mysore centre into a smart campus by April 2015.

The Infosys Mysore campus is a mini-city in itself with 12 million sq. ft. built-up area and the capacity to host more than 15,000 trainees (residing on campus), 8,000 plus employees and several thousand contract workers. Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka, who recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering the company’s... Read more..

Date : Feb 2

Source: Financial Express

Two-day conclave to finalise Smart City launch

To take states and other stakeholders on board for the ambitious initiative to build smart cities, Urban Development Ministry is holding a two-day conclave that will delve into issues like innovative policy and financing tools needed for the programme.

The two-day 'Consultation Workshop with state governments and stakeholders on smart Cities' will begin here tomorrow and take up 10 critical issues with the states for a clear understanding on them, challenges and the road ahead, a senior Urban Development Ministry official said.

The issues include competition... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Economic Times

Framework for 100 smart cities to be ready by Feb 28, says Urban Development Secy

The framework for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious project of developing 100 smart cities will be finalised by next month-end, Union Urban Development Secretary Shankar Aggarwal said on Thursday.

"In another two days we will complete the process of identification of the 100 cities which we want to make smart. We are working on the guidelines and we expect the framework will be ready by February 28", Aggarwal told reporters on the sidelines of an event in the national capital.

"The government's vision is to develop cities with technology-based governance... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Business Today

L&T, Tata Power, M&M set to reignite nuclear energy, defence plans

Companies are going back to drawing boards to review existing plans, scout for partnerships, and are readying specialist teams to pitch for increased business opportunities, following the slew of initiatives and breakthroughs in talks between the two countries during US President Barack Obama’s three-day visit.

While there were little concrete announcements, specifics including civil nuclear liability and insurance pool in the defence and nuclear industries, and extension of defence manufacturing collaborations are likely to boost plans for companies such as Larsen &... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Hindustan Times

Work to begin on 20-30 smart cities this year: These features may help your city become 'smart'

The government plans to take up 20-30 cities during the next financial year under its flagship scheme to develop smart cities. Sources said there would be some minimum pre-qualification for the cities to make it to the elite club.

To start with, the government is looking at creating a colony or commercial area as small as 50 acres within a city limit with smart features in five years that can be replicated in other parts in successive years. "Once people see a success story in their vicinity and there is a model, more such areas can be developed with people's participation,"... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Times of India

No takers for US funds among Indian renewable energy firms

There are no takers for funds promised by the US to finance renewable energy projects due to the uncompetitive pricing of American equipment manufacturers compared with those from China and south-east Asia, Indian renewable energy firms say. “Most of the sourcing for solar equipment, including photovoltaic cells and modules, is done from China and Malaysia due to the competitive pricing.

Similarly, in the case of wind power, the domestic market is mature in terms of technology and manufacturing,” said Sumant Sinha, chairman and chief executive officer, ReNew Power, a... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Live Mint

Punjab to harness biogas CNG from cattle dung

Punjab is all set to lead the nation to become first state in the country to harness Biogas CNG and has firmed up a plan to set up one pilot plant in each district this year.

Giving details of the project, brain behind this green energy push Punjab New and Renewable Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said he had conceived this project to harness Biogas CNG potential of the state by offering to set up such projects in the state on Built, Operate and Own (BOO) basis.

The installation of such projects would convert cattle dung/agricultural residue to energy for... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Jago Punjab Jago India

NTPC bars foreign bids for three solar projects

State-run utility NTPC has restricted the building of three new solar power projects to domestic manufacturers, even as India pushes for overseas companies to lead fresh investments into a renewable energy drive.

Only Indian companies will be allowed to bid for the projects, which will have a combined 750 megawatts (MW) capacity, a spokeswoman for NTPC said on Thursday.

The spokeswoman declined to say why foreign companies were not able to bid, and stressed that Indian subsidiaries of foreign manufacturers would be free to participate in its future solar... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Reuters

Punjab govt plans to set up Asia's first bio-ethanol refinery

Punjab is set to ink a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up of bio-ethanol refinery with a consortium of Beta Renewables, Novozymes and CVC India Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, for an estimated project worth Rs 950 crore. This will go a long way in tackling the major problem of paddy straw burning, resulting in irreparable loss to land's fertility and environment.

Bikram Singh Majithia, new and renewable energy minister, Punjab, on Thursday, was presented a conceptual plan to set up Asia's first ever Rs 950-crore second generation bio-ethanol, producing refinery leading... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Business Standard

Make Forests Pay

IN the last 40 years, more than one billion acres of tropical forests have vanished, equivalent in size to over half of the continental United States. The rate of cutting, burning and clearing shows no signs of abating.

Tropical forests store huge amounts of carbon. When their trees are cut or burned, the carbon is eventually released into the atmosphere, mixing with oxygen to form the long-lasting greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The pace of deforestation is so great today that it accounts for an estimated 12 to 15 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions annually.
... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: NY Times

Make in US, sell in India deal for renewable energy

As the euphoria around US President Barack Obama's visit ebbs, the fine print of the investment announcements reveal a financial boost for American solar energy companies to increase their exports to India.

Of the investments announced by the US federal agencies in the clean energy space, most are institutional loan for US solar companies, aimed at increasing their export to the growing renewable energy (RE) market India, especially solar power. The $1-billion loan agreement that the US Exim bank signed with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (Ireda), would be... Read more..

Date : Jan 30

Source: Business Standard