Sustainability Outlook Headlines

MNRE Releases Guidelines For 1500 MW JNNSM Phase-II Batch-II

The 1000 MW bundling scheme that was introduced under JNNSM Phase-I have been successful in incentivizing setting up of a large number of solar power projects and minimizing the impact of tariff on the distribution companies. The same approach is now proposed for 1500 MW Solar PV projects to be selected under Batch-II of Phase-II of National Solar Mission scheme.
 
Key Points

• It is to be carried out by NVVN through a transparent, tariff based reverse bidding process.
• NVVN will enter into suitable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solar Power Developers... Read more..
  Date : Dec 24
  Source: Energy Sector

Oil price plunge and clean energy - The real impact

The collapse in world oil prices in the second half of 2014 will have only a moderate impact on the fast-developing low-carbon transition in the world electricity system, according to research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
 
The past five years have seen an average of $266bn per annum invested in clean energy worldwide. The majority of this has gone into renewable electricity generating capacity, which does not compete directly with oil. Wind and solar have been exhibiting very rapid growth, even as subsidies and support have in general become less generous, and that has... Read more..

Expert suggests creation of map of solid waste recyclers

There is a need to create a map of solid waste recycling units in the country, according Almitra H Patel, Member of the Supreme Court Committee for Solid Waste Management in Class 1 Cities in India.
 
Delivering a talk on ‘Recycling for sustainable waste management’ at ‘CanPlast 2014’, organised by Canara Plastic Manufacturers’ and Traders’ Association in Mangaluru on Monday, she said that when a recycling unit was closed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the collection of hair oil bottles in Puri in Odisha was stopped as Delhi was too far to ship the waste material.
 
She... Read more..

India to Fund $158 Million for 1 Gigawatt of Solar Projects

India said it will give as much as 10 billion rupees ($158 million) to state-run companies for building 1 gigawatt of grid-connected, solar-photovoltaic power projects in the next three years.
 
The companies will have to use photovoltaic cells and modules made in India to avail the funding, according to a government statement. The government will do away with statutory clearances for projects located in “remote areas” where land is “inexpensive.”
 
India, which has installed 3 gigawatts of solar power, aims to reach 22 gigawatts by 2022 under the so-called... Read more..

An economic case for curbs on carbon growth

For India to reduce its carbon emissions, an increase in ‘survival’ emissions for the basic needs of the poor will have to be matched by a reduction in ‘luxury’ emissions from the wealthy
 
Recently in Beijing, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a surprising announcement about the U.S.-China agreement on climate change. As per the agreement, the U.S. would reduce its CO emissions by 26-28 per cent from the 2005 levels by 2025. China agreed to peak its emissions by 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil sources in primary energy to about 20 per... Read more..

DDA Approves Proposal for Incentivising Green Buildings

The Delhi Development Authority on Saturday approved a proposal for incentivizing green buildings and formulating regulatory mechanism to monitor construction, operation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting structures of buildings and campuses.
 
For this purpose, necessary modifications in the Master Plan 2021 (MPD 2021) were also approved in a meeting of the DDA held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at the Raj Niwas on Saturday, the authority said in a statement.
 
In order to encourage such buildings to come up, incentive by way of... Read more..

India to be pro-active in enhancing energy efficiency: Govt

India will be pro-active in enhancing energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy in the fight against climate change, government told Parliament today while giving details of its role in a recent UN-led global meet on the issue.
 
Making a suo-moto statement in Lok Sabha on UN Climate Conference held in Peruvian capital Lima this month, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said there were efforts by some developed countries to undermine the basic tenents of the UN Convention.
 
"The recognition that all elements need to be addressed in a balanced manner is a... Read more..

First green building lab in country opens at Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association

The first-ever innovative and green building laboratory in India, IGB Lab, was inaugurated at Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) campus. The laboratory will be used for testing as well as display of Textile Reinforcement Concrete (TRC). 
 
Textile-reinforced concrete is a type of reinforced concrete in which the usual steel reinforcing bars are replaced by textile materials. Instead of using a metal cage inside the concrete, this technique uses a fabric cage inside the same. 
 
According to experts, TRC is 80% lighter than fiber-reinforced... Read more..

Govt for Rs 1-cr penalty on entities violating Electricity Act

Seeking to make penal provisions more stringent in the power sector, the government has proposed imposing up to Rs 1 crore fine on entities violating norms under the Electricity Act.The proposed penalty limit would be a steep jump as it is just Rs 1 lakh under the existing provision. As per the government, huge penalty that could run up to Rs 1 crore would be slapped on entities found to be non-complying with any orders or directions given under the Electricity Act.
 
The provision is part of various amendments proposed by the government to the Electricity Act, 2003. In this... Read more..

Excise duty slash proposed for clean fuel vehicles

Giving a push to promote use of alternative and 100% clean fuel in transport, the road transport ministry is proposing for major reduction in excise tax for vehicles using such fuel in the next budget. It wants no excise tax on electric vehicles and those run on other clean fuels, and only 2% for hybrid vehicles.
 
At present, the excise tax for such vehicles ranges between 6% and 8%. Government sources said the ministry is batting for major cut to promote use of clean fuel in mass transport and other mode as well. They added such incentive would encourage manufacturing of such... Read more..

Surat ties up with Microsoft to achieve Smart City dream

In what will become a feather in the cap for the diamond city - Surat, the local civic body has tied up with technology giant, Microsoft for bringing innovative and online solutions in civic services and make them more responsive, efficient and people-centric.Microsoft's CityNext service will empower citizens in Surat with open data and digital way of accessing civic services, thereby making Surat a Smart City.
 
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Microsoft India will jointly transform Surat into a smart city by adopting process automation and technology-driven citizen... Read more..

Germany to provide additional funding for India's green energy corridors

Germany said Saturday it has committed an additional 500 million euros (Rs.3,900 crore) to support India in developing its green energy corridors.According to German embassy here, the funding will be released under the Indo-German bilateral development cooperation.
 
The additional funding was approved after German Ambassador Michael Steiner and Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi sealed the new outlay agreement on Wednesday. The additional funding will help finance measures to facilitate the transmission of renewable energy into the national grid.
 
"This is one of... Read more..