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5 lakh solar pumps to be installed in a year's time: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, stated in Nagpur that five lakh solar pumps would be installed in the state in the next one year for agricultural purposes. Fadnavis who stated that mere relief measures weren't a lasting solution to the drought situation in the state, said he was looking at lasting solutions instead of knee jerk reactions when faced with problems. As per sources in MSEDCL, Maharashtra at present has 36 lakh agricultural pumps in use.
In an informal interaction with the media, the chief minister said he had inherited a baggage of problems from the... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: DNA India

India’s thermal power push will also spread death

 India's massive power generation push is also set to push pollution related deaths in the country. The increase in installed capacity of coal-based thermal power plants (TPPs) three times from 159 gigawatts (GW) now to 450GW in 2030 will also cause premature mortality caused due to emissions to reach 1,86,500 to 2,29,500 annually in 2030. Asthma cases will also grow to 42.7 million in the same the period.
The findings are from a report released on Monday by environment protection NGO Conservation Action Trust (India), Mumbai, and Urban Emissions (India), Delhi, an independent... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: Times of India

UP sets up panel to speed up Modi's 'Urja Ganga' project

 UP government has agreed to set up a high-power committee for single-window clearance to PM NarendraModi'sRs 10,000 crore 'UrjaGanga', a gas pipeline that will help his constituency Varanasi and 16 other eastern cities to breathe cleaner air and revive fertilizer plants in the region. 
The project, being implemented by state-run gas utility Gail, envisages laying a 2,050-km pipeline connecting Jagdishpur in UP to Haldia in West Bengal within two years. 
Besides Varanasi, the new pipeline will also bring cleaner and cheaper fuel to Allahabad in UP; Patna, Gaya, Chapra, Siwan,... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: Times of India

India Counts Climate Costs Above $100 Billion at UN Talks

India is planning to spend $100 billion or more on climate-related projects, an effort aimed at building confidence that the nation will join an international pact on global warming.
“India is committed and ready to play its part in the international fight against climate change,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at United Nations climate talks in Lima, Peru, yesterday.
India has “$3 billion in the kitty” for works that will reduce fossil-fuel emissions and there’s political backing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spend more, Javadekar said.
The remarks,... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: Bloomberg

No plan to ban diesel cars in Delhi: Government

 The government has said that at present it does not have any plans to ban all diesel cars in Delhi and convert them into CNG-driven vehicles.
In a written reply, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar yesterday informed Lok Sabha that the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (ECPA) for the National Capital Region in its report in the year 2007 in the matter of a writ petition to the Supreme Court had recommended that use of diesel in personal transport vehicles in the city of Delhi, need to be stopped.
"Later,A report dated February 14, 2014 of EPCA is... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: India TV

Lima climate talks: India says it does not support ex-ante review of INDCs

Indian union minister for environment and forests, Prakash Javadekar made an angular warning at the Lima climate change, saying that India was committed to stand up for the interests of the poor at the cost of standing alone at multilateral forums. 
Speaking at the high-level segment of the two-week long climate change negotiations, Javadekar said, "We in India are committed to protecting the interests of the poor. We did it in WTO for ensuring food security for our people."
The loaded statement from the environment minister came on a day when developed countries led by the US... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: Business Standard

India, Russia to set out energy vision, Siberian deals eyed

India and Russia will strike an energy partnership when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to prepare the way for two Siberian oil deals and chart a route for a first pipeline between the two countries. But a joint 'vision' document is likely to lack hard details, with terms still being thrashed out for ONGC Videsh to acquire an interest in Rosneft's Vankor and Yurubcheno-Tokhomskoye oilfields, officials and industry sources on both sides say.There are doubts over the viability of proposed oil and gas pipeline routes that would either cross conflict-... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: Reuters

Global energy demand to rise 35 per cent by 2040, stabler emissions: Exxon

 Global energy demand should rise some 35 per cent through 2040 as the middle class expands in developing countries and supplies shift to lower-carbon fuels that may allow for lower emissions, Exxon Mobil Corp said on Tuesday in its annual outlook. 
Exxon, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, said that without efficiency and technology gains overall energy demand would grow by 140 per cent. 
Though the global population is expected to rise to about 9 billion in 2040 from around 7 billion currently, energy demand and emissions are already starting to fall in... Read more..

Date : Dec 10
Source: The Economic Times

New Delhi talks tough with US, says it will bring green bills in budget session

With countries fine-tuning their positions for the high-level segment of the climate conference, Indian environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday had a bilateral meeting with the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern where both countries exchanged views on issues concerning adaptation, climate finance and intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). Javadekar also indicated that the Modi government plans to invest up to $100 billion by 2022 to boost solar power generation. 
 
In his effort to bring clarity on India's action on climate change, the... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Times of India

India built 5 million energy-efficient fans using international funding

India has built five million super energy efficient fans to reduce its energy consumption using the international funds given to developing world since 2003 to adapt to climate change, according to a new report by a UK-based think-tank. At the same time, a major chunk of the $7.6 billion funds to adapt to climate change went to just ten countries while several poorer nations received very little. 
 
"Among other results...funds have helped in financing 5 million super energy efficient fans in India," Overseas Development Institute (ODI), said in a statement on the sidelines of... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Economic Times

Climate change to hit Karnataka harder than other states: Experts

Climate experts have warned that Karnataka is likely to be more vulnerable to climate change in India than other states. A report, ‘Transitioning towards climate-resilient development in Karnataka,’ has been prepared by 26 experts from institutions based in Karnataka (including Bengaluru), London and New Delhi under the leadership of Prof N H Ravindranath and Prof G Bala of IISc, to alert the State government to act fast to reduce consequences of climate change.
 
Apart from experts from IISc, experts from the UAS, Bengaluru, the Institute for Social and Economic Change,... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Deccan Herald

Javadekar begins his bilateral round at Lima climate conference

With countries fine-tuning their positions for the high-level segment of the climate conference, environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday had a bilateral meeting with the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern where both the countries exchanged their views on issues concerning adaption, climate finance and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). 
 
During an hour-long discussion, Javadekar is learnt to have told Stern that India would not announce its peaking year on the line of China as it was not ready to do so at this stage of its economic... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Times of India

'Solar energy can bring India's economic growth'

In a bid to integrate conventional power with solar power and achieve the overarching goal within reasonable timeframes and to help Prime Minister's objective to provide 24x7 power to the rural population of India, the Solar Energy Society of India ( SESI) have organised a two day (Dec. 8th-9th) congress 'ICORE-2014' here in New Delhi.
 
ICORE 2014 will cover all aspects of new and renewable energy and will focus on Solar Energy in particular thus providing an excellent platform for renewable energy researchers, academics, policy makers and industrialists in India as well as... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: My Iris

Tata Power installs rain water harvesting plant at Salsette division

Tata Power, India's largest integrated power utility, has always endeavored to preserve natural resources and spread the message of resource conservation. In line with this philosophy, the company installed a rain water harvesting plant (RWH) at Salsette division. The plant was inaugurated by Ashok D. Patil, local Member of Legislative Assembly in the presence of V K Chourey, head-transmission, Mumbai Operation, Tata Power and other senior officials and contractors of Salsette Division.
 
By installing the RWH, Tata Power (Q,N,C,F)* aims to increase in the ground water level... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: My Iris

India to bring comprehensive climate legislation: Javadekar

"I am happy to announce that in the next budget session, we are going to have a comprehensive climate legislation which will ensure a better environment," Javadekar said at the Globe COP20 Legislators' Summit in Lima. Raising the issue of climate finance, the minister said the Green Climate Fund must become a reality.
 
"From 2012, we were expecting to start with USD 10 billion every year to reach USD 100 billion by 2020 and then continue with USD 100 billion per year. But today, the fund was a meager USD 9.7 billion. So, that will be a main point of deliberation in Lima," he  ... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Jagran

ADB launches low-carbon tech platform for Asia

The ADB has launched the world’s first platform to facilitate knowledge sharing on low-carbon clean technology and renewable energy among Asian countries including India.
 
The Cleantech Intellectual Property Assisted Brokerage Platform (IPEx) will be operated by Singapore-based clean energy consulting firm ReEx Capital Asia.
 
In India, the IPEx will team up with Infuse Ventures, IIM-Ahmedabad’s clean tech-focussed fund, to introduce low-carbon technologies in the country.
 
Infuse Ventures, housed at IIM Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation Incubation and... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Niti Central

Russia may set up 20-24 nuclear energy units in India: Envoy

 Less than two months before Barack Obama's presence in Delhi as the Republic Day Chief Guest, Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin would unveil on Dec 11 a grand vision document to meet India's energy needs and boost trade and investment ties across wide-ranging sectors including a deal on sovereign fund notwithstanding a recent veiled threat from US official of the risks of doing business with Moscow. 
 
The fast changing geo-political scenario has seen Delhi getting closer to US while Moscow has reached out to Islamabad, raising speculations of a Russia-China-... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Economic Times

MNRE plans raising RPO requirements to 10.5%

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is planning to raise the mandatory RPO requirement for the power distribution companies to 10.5 per cent under the proposed policy, an official said today. The current renewable purchase obligation (RPO) requirement for the discoms stands at a meagre 3 per cent.
 
"It (RPO) is being revised from 3 per cent to 10.5 per cent for the solar sector," Secretary MNRE Upendra Tripathy told reporters here. 
 
The RPO means the requirement specified by the electricity regulatory commission for the obligated entity to purchase power... Read more..

Date : Dec 9
Source: Business Standard

Time for Solar Resource-Rich India to Capitalize on Financing Solutions

 These are exciting times for India’s solar market. The solar resource-rich country just crossed the 3 gigawatt mark for total installed solar capacity. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the United States Export-Import Bank (US EX-IM) just signed an MOU for cooperation on clean energy investments, solidifying the US EX-IM’s $1 Billion line of credit to IREDA. In parallel with these announced developments, India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) together with the US Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: The Energy Collective

India and Israel move to expand cooperation on energy security

India and Israel are working towards their first agreement to cooperate in the renewable energy sector, expanding their strategic relationship to energy security. 
A meeting to this effect was held in New Delhi on 1 December between India’s minister for power, coal, new and renewable energy, Piyush Goyal, and Israel’s ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon. India is keen on leveraging Israel’s leadership in clean energy technologies to help it meet its ambitious renewable power generation targets. “We are talking about an energy agreement with India in the field of renewable energy.... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: Livemint

Harness low-grade waste heat using reversible ammonia cells

 Engineers at Pennsylvania State University have claimed to have discovered what they say is an efficient method to harvest low-grade waste heat as electricity by using reversible ammonia batteries. Using low-grade waste heat from an outside source, the researchers were able to distill ammonia from the effluent left in the battery anolyte and then recharge it into the original cathode chamber of the battery.
 
"The use of waste heat for power production would allow additional electricity generation without any added consumption of fossil fuels," said Bruce E. Logan, Evan Pugh... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: EE Times Europe

Climate adaptation costs soaring, funding to fall short: UN

 The cost of adapting to climate change in developing nations is likely to be two to three times higher than previous estimates, even if planet-warming emissions are cut enough to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, a UN report said on Friday. 
 
The study said there was a chance that adaptation costs could climb as high as $150 billion a year by 2025 to 2030, and $250-500 billion per year by 2050, compared with earlier estimates of $70-100 billion yearly by 2050. 
 
"As world leaders meet in Lima to take the critical next step in realising a global... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: The Times of India

Merrill Lynch Invests $70 Million Into Indian Wind Energy Company

 Yet another emerging wind energy developer in India has secured investment from international investors as the country looks set for a wind energy revolution.
 
Mytrah Energy recently announced that it had secured funding worth $70 million (₹430 crore) from Merrill Lynch and Apollo Global Management. The company has issued bonds to raise these funds a part of which will be used to set up 1 GW of wind energy capacity in India.
 
The company plans to use the funding to refinance $15 million funding from an Indian bank while the rest will be used to make equity... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: Clean Technica

Bombardier organises drive to support Clean India movement

 Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation on Saturday arranged a clean-up drive at Navlakhi Grounds in the city supporting the Clean India Movement. 
 
Over 250 Bombardier employees volunteered for this initiative and urged the local people of Vadodara to help keep the grounds and city clean. 
 
Clean India Movement also known as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a national campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraging 4,041 statutory towns to help clean up local streets, roads and infrastructure. 
 
 
"Clean India Movement has... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: The Times of India

Behavioural shift for Clean India

 The PM began with self-commitment, a broom in his hand, urged others to take charge of their courtyards, communities. The campaign became a true private-public partnership with the onus not only on the government but also on the corporate.
It was a warm and golden Delhi winter day as I reached the high-profile zone where the PMs and CMs and MPs reside. My heart was filled with pride. The year 2014 would be remembered for a long time in our memories as the year of change; Whether it is related to Mangalyaan or with Modi’s Madison Square speech.
It was in this beatific state... Read more..

Date : Dec 8
Source: The Asian Age
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