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Hybrid seeds maker Monsanto bets big, this time on agriculture extension

After Bt cotton and single-cross corn hybrids, Monsanto’s next big focus in India is agricultural extension: advising farmers on agronomic practices to get the best out of their land.
 
The $15 billion agriculture technology MNC already has over 13.5 lakh farmers registered under its Monsanto Farm AgVisory Service (MFAS) platform across 17 states. “We have data on each of them — name, mobile number, the village and tehsil to which they belong, age, educational qualification, annual income and ownership of farm equipment (tractors, harrows, cultivators, seed drills, harvesters,... Read more..

Date : Dec 1
Source: Indian Express

We're Kidding Ourselves on 2-Degree Global Warming Limit: Experts

A temperature rise that could cause irreversible and potentially catastrophic damage to human civilization is practically inevitable, according to rising chatter among experts in the lead up to a year of key negotiations on a new climate change global accord.
 
World leaders have voluntarily committed to limit warming by the end of the century to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial level, a threshold beyond which, scientists argue, severe drought, rising seas and supercharged storms as well as food and water security become routine challenges.... Read more..

Date : Dec 1
Source: NBC News

India to showcase solar energy project at Lima Climate Talks

India is looking to make a splash at the United Nations-backed climate negotiations in Lima that begin on Monday with its plans to ramp up solar power capacity five-fold to 100 GW by 2030. While this is a clear indication by the Narendra Modi-led government that India is serious about tackling climate change and reducing its relatively small carbon footprint, the country will not make any announcements about its plans to limit emissions.
 
A boost for solar energy is among the measures that the government is planning to address the climate change issue at home.
 
It... Read more..

Date : Dec 1
Source: Economic Times

Baramati solar power plant starts producing in record time

On November 26, when the state was mourning the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, a 50 Megawatt solar power plant was added to the Maharashtra's grid by Mahagenco, the state-run power generation company which had commissioned the plant only on July 13, 2014.
 
"The plant which is based in Shirsuphal, Baramati (Pune) is the first solar plant India has established under public-private-partnership. Moreover, it was set up in record 4.5 months," said a top official of the Mahagenco. In the phase 1 of the two-phase project the plant will generate 83 million units... Read more..

Date : Dec 1
Source: DNA India

New battery could be game-changer for electric cars

A new lithium battery that could triple the driving range of an electric vehicle and significantly lower its maintenance costs is all set for mass production within a year.
 
Developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the battery operates safely at a wide range of temperatures.
 
"It can also double the running life of a smartphone or a laptop," Qichao Hu from MIT was quoted as saying in an Irish Times report.
 
Qichao developed the battery with former professor and battery expert Donald Sadoway.
 
Current... Read more..

Date : Dec 1
Source: Zee News

NGT imposes ban on cutting of trees without permission

Noting that indiscriminate and illegal felling of trees would lead to environmental disaster, the National Green Tribunal has imposed ban on cutting of trees without clearance from the Centre and authorities. A bench headed by Justice P Jyothmani passed the interim injunction while hearing a plea by Indian Institute of Sustainable Development.
 
The matter is fixed for further consideration on December 24. "Taking note of the fact that indiscriminate and illegal cutting of trees will result in environmental disaster, we are of the view that the balance of convenience in... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Zee News

CSE lauds measures to check pollution in Delhi

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has applauded the measures ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to check the rising level of air pollution in Delhi. The advocacy organisation also appealed for more stringent measures to bring down the severe peak pollution levels in the city.
 
"While this is a step forward in the right direction, a periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the action plan is needed to ensure peak pollution levels during winter are brought down and the clean air target is met," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Zee News

Accenture sees renewables as the new sunrise business

Global consultancy and technology services provider Accenture is eyeing opportunities for consultancy services in the country’s growing renewable energy sector, with a special thrust on the solar photovoltaic (PV) segment. The solar PV segment is poised to get a big growth push, with the Government planning to revise the country’s solar power capacity target of 20 Gigawatts (20,000 MW) by 2022 to 100 GW, said Manu Rishi Puri, Principle, Resources Group, Accenture Services in India.
 
India’s current solar capacity stands at above 3,000 MW, according to independent estimates.... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Business Line- The Hindu

Greenko Bonds Plunge as India Bans Overseas Funding Method

Bonds of Greenko Group Plc fell to a record after India’s central bank banned the method used by the hydro and wind power company to raise funds from overseas.
 
The company used an offshore entity to sell U.S. dollar notes at a spread higher than the limit set by the Reserve Bank of India’s external commercial borrowing rules. It then sold the same amount of rupee-denominated bonds onshore, and had the offshore unit buy the debt. The central bank said Nov. 25 such funds “cannot be used in India” and companies that do not comply “shall render themselves liable for penal action... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Bloomberg

IEX sees sluggish demand for renewable energy certificates

Reflecting sluggish demand, Indian Energy Exchange this month saw sale of just over 93,000 renewable energy certificates out of nearly 52 lakh that were available.  The total number of sale bids, together in solar and non-solar segments, stood at around 51.88 lakh during the REC trading session held on Wednesday. 
 
However, REC trading activities this month were better than in October when only about 36,000 such certificates were sold. The session yesterday saw trading of 93,100 non- solar and 245 solar RECs, the exchange said in a statement today. 
 
Renewable... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Business Standard

Investment in Renewable Energy Sector

The Government is contemplating to seek international cooperation for importing technology to boost global investment in renewable energy sector of the country. To showcase Indias renewable energy potential globally, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is organizing the Global Renewable Energy Investment Promotion Meet (RE-INVEST) from 15-17 February, 2015 in New Delhi as a follow up to the Make in India initiatives launched by the Prime Minister of India. This meet will give an opportunity to all states to showcase their policies to facilitate investment, progressive,... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Business Standard

Enel Green Power to Construct Geo/Biomass Plant

Enel Green Power has begun construction on its “Cornia 2″ geothermal power plant in Tuscany. When complete, this will be what the company believes is the first plant in the world that will use biomass to heat the geothermal steam as a means to increase energy efficiency as well as electricity output of the geothermal cycle.
 
The biomass will be sourced locally within a 70 km radius from the plant and produce 5 MW of power. Utilizing the biomass, the steam entering the plant will be heated to raise the initial temperature to between 370°-380° from 150°-160°. This will increase... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Domestic Fuel

Rag-pickers to be trained in managing waste

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation along with its South Delhi counterpart is going to start a zero waste management scheme on a pilot basis in East Vinod Nagar and Dwarka areas. The aim of the project is to segregate garbage at source for further utilization and minimise the amount of garbage which is dumped at sanitary landfill sites.
 
The East Delhi civic body announced the project on Friday, during the presentation of its budget for 2015-16. The corporation claims this will strengthen Swachh Bharat Mission and will also ease pressure on sanitary landfill sites, which have... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Hindustan Times

USIBC keen on developing a Smart Vizag

Vizag will be taking the first step towards becoming a smart city soon. Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), additional commissioner, M. Janaki, said that a team of American and Indian businessmen of US-India Business Council (USIBC) will be visiting Vizag in the coming  month.
 
Janaki was the representative from Vizag in the recently concluded US-India Smart Cities conclave in New Delhi.  Urban development minister, Venkaiah Naidu said that the guidelines as to what constitutes a “smart city” will be formulated before the start of 2016.
 
While... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Deccan Chronicle

Education pivotal in implementation of climate change adaptation measures

A new study has revealed that investing in empowerment through universal education should be an essential element in climate change adaptation efforts. According to a new study from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), in many cases-particularly where the exact consequences of climate change are still unclear-educational expansion could be a better investment in protecting people from the impacts than conventional investments such as building sea walls, dams, irrigation systems, and other infrastructure.
 
The researchers said that education is in... Read more..

Date : Nov 28
Source: Zee News

Indian solar water heater manufactures facing heat from Chinese imports

Indian solar water heater manufacturers say they are unable to compete with cheaper Chinese imports, which have swamped the market ever since the government suspended a subsidy scheme, forcing them to turn into traders even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorts global companies to 'Make in India'. 
 
Chinese solar water heaters have been available at a heavy discount since the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) suspended a subsidy scheme in October, according to traders. "Our very survival is threatened and manufacturers are turning into traders who import and sell.... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Economic Times

Rickshaw research reveals extreme Delhi pollution

The three-wheeled rickshaw lurched through New Delhi’s commuter-clogged streets with an American scientist and several air pollution monitors in the back seat. Car horns blared. A scrappy scooter buzzed by belching black smoke from its tailpipe. One of the monitors spiked. Joshua Apte has alarming findings for anyone who spends time on or near the roads in this city of 25 million. The numbers are far worse than the ones that have already led the World Health Organization to rank New Delhi as the world’s most polluted city.
 
Average pollution levels, depending on the pollutant... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Financial Express

'Revise bioenergy power tariffs to equal diesel, coal'

To boost the scope of renewable energy, India should revise tariffs generated from biomass energy (a renewable source) such that their pricing is equivalent to those of coal and diesel, an expert said here Wednesday. "We are pushing for a policy on biomass power generation such that they (Indian government) should make it coal equivalent price or diesel equivalent price.
 
"We are also asking government to revise it every year," D. Radhakrishna, chairman of Urja Gyan Foundation and founder of Indian Biomass Association told reporters here. He was attending the Round Table on... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Zee News

Andhra seeks Fuji Electric's help to build smart grid

Japan's Fuji Electric will send a team of its representatives to Andhra Pradesh by December-January to do a feasibility study for a smart grid project in the state. The company agreed to this when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently visiting Japan, made a request Wednesday.
 
The company has already sanctioned permission to do a feasibility study for a smart grid project in Panipat of Haryana, according to a statement from the chief minister's office. Naidu explained his plans to develop three mega cities and 14 smart cities in Andhra Pradesh and sought Fuji... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Daiji World

New partnership to deliver innovative wastewater treatment technologies to India, Switzerland

Royal HaskoningDHV, an independent, international engineering and project management consultancy, and VA Tech Wabag, a global water technology company, have signed a 10-year Cooperation Agreement to deliver an innovative wastewater treatment technology that uses aerobic granular biomass to the countries of India and Switzerland.
 
Called Nereda®, the new plant is more cost-effective than traditional water treatment methods and is up to four times smaller than traditional installations, consuming only half the energy and requiring no chemicals for the treatment process.
 ... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Water World

Lack of policy hits rooftop solar power sets

To ease growing stress on fossil fuels, non-conventional energy sources are the order of the day. Solar power is a viable alternative. While the Union government has taken giant steps to promote and popularize solar power, a progressive state like Maharashtra is creating hurdles in it. In fact, clean energy activists say using electricity generated from rooftop generators at homes and offices could attract penal action in the state. For, lack of policy clarity on grid connectivity makes use of roof top sets illegal.
 
The government of India is striving since five years to give... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Times of India

Water Sustainability: Is Your Business Ahead of the Curve?

Roughly 80% of all water withdrawn globally is used to produce goods or services for exchange (commercial purposes1). When it comes to tackling global water challenges, the private sector holds the keys to change the game.
 
The Stockholm Industry Water Award is presented each year at the World Water Week in Stockholm. It recognizes achievements of businesses leading the way towards sustainable water management, by developing and implementing transformative, innovative and sustainable ways to meeting one of the world’s greatest challenges.
 
Many may not realize (it... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Eco-Preneurist

Chandigarh set to benefit from energy efficient technology from Danfoss

With post-harvest losses of food grains mounting to 20 million tonne, food loss of this scale would be sufficient to feed the hunger of one-third of the country’s poor.
 
Chandigarh is known for its robust cold chain sector with more than 559 cold storages with a capacity of around 1,939,979 MT, but what has gone amiss is the use of outdated technology, which ultimately impacts end users due to high production, processing and storage costs. Energy efficient technologies can help reduce costs throughout the entire food supply chain and increase energy savings.
 
... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Danfoss India

Indian Factories Will Count and Sell Their Energy Savings

India, the world’s third-largest producer of greenhouse gas, after China and the United States, has resisted international pressure to commit to capping planet-warming emissions. But when it comes to saving energy, India is moving ahead briskly.
 
Its innovative and closely watched program called Perform, Achieve and Trade, is designed to encourage hundreds of the nation’s largest industrial plants to keep their energy use in check.
 
The program sets a goal of cutting energy use an average of about 4 percent per unit of output at the factories. Those that save... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: The New York Times

Smog-Heavy China Tops Clean-Tech Investment Rankings

The best developing country in which to invest in clean-tech? It’s China, according to a new analysis (pdf) by Climatescope, a collaborative research project whose partners include Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the U.K. Department for International Development.
 
China is, paradoxically, both the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases and the largest investor in green energy. This can be true because China’s demand for energy is increasing quickly enough to stoke demand for both traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy. As the report notes, China’s annual energy... Read more..

Date : Nov 27
Source: Bloomberg
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