Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Govt readies Rs 14K cr subsidy for hybrid, electric cars

 Buying a hybrid or an electric car may soon fetch you a subsidy from the government, which is readying a Rs 14,000-crore scheme to push green vehicles.

The subsidy will be a proportion of the difference between the price of a car running on fossil fuel and that of a green vehicle, said sources involved with the discussions.

The heavy industry ministry, which has moved a proposal for clearance by the finance ministry, has suggested that the maximum subsidy of 35% should be given to pure electric vehicles, while a 25% benefit should be provided for plug-in vehicles that can... Read more..

Alstom T&D India to Help Harness Hydropower Potential of Himachal Pradesh

The project aims to transmit power from new generation sources into the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, paving the way towards harnessing 23,000 MW of hydro power potential in the state.

The project scope includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of the 66 kV GIS, substation automation and control system. All equipment will be produced by Alstom’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across India.

Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous state with five major... Read more..

ADB approves $300m loan to continue power upgrades in India's Assam State

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million loan to help India’s northeastern Assam state continue its drive to eliminate power sector inefficiencies that are hurting its consumers, its world-famous tea industry, and its environment.

"More than a third of households in the state face daily electricity cuts of 5 to 6 hours, many important businesses, such as the tea gardens, still aren't connected to the grid, and in peak periods Assam has to buy up to 15% of its power from independent producers at very high cost,"... Read more..

Solar water heater makers demand Rs 350 cr subsidy arrears

 A grouping of solar water heater manufacturers today demanded that the government immediately pay them Rs 350 crore in arrears related to unpaid subsidies. 

The pending subsidy includes Rs 50 crore for 2012-13 and around Rs 300 crore for the last fiscal, according to Solar Thermal Federation of India (STFI). 

"The industry is on death bed. It is Rs 800-crore industry," STFI Secretary General Jaideep Malaviya said. 

As of now, arrears have gone up to Rs 375 crore, he added. 

To promote solar energy, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had launched a... Read more..

Nissan seeks to drive electric car Leaf into India, eyes local tie-up

 Japanese car major Nissan Motor Corp has said it wants to bring in its best-selling electric car Leaf to India and is open to collaboration with local manufacturers to provide charging infrastructure for electric cars — a key roadblock in the development of this segment.

“We are actively looking at the Leaf for India....I think there is a lot of potential for that car here,” said Andy Palmer, chief planning officer, Nissan Motor Corp. “There is no doubt electric cars are the future. The product is there what we need is infrastructure. Charging is a big challenge. We are open to... Read more..

Green tax on vehicles now mandatory in UP: Experts

The UP cabinet has given a go ahead to the amendment in the UP Motor Vehicles Act and it has been decided that all vehicles that have completed 15 years from the manufacturing date will be registered again and 'green tax' would be levied on them at that time. Non-transport or private vehicles will have to pay 10% of the due tax at the time of renewal of registration as green tax. The modalities of the 'green tax' would be announced soon.

The number of vehicles registered in Noida annually has seen a three-fold jump between 2004 and 2012. The introduction of 'green tax' on vehicles... Read more..

Govt plans Rs 2 lakh-cr solar and wind power projects in deserts

 With depleting fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns surrounding conventional power generation, the government has started work on a long-term plan to tap into India's solar and wind potential lying unexplored in its deserts. The plan could entail an investment of over Rs 2 lakh crore by 2022.

The idea is to set up renewable energy generation capacity, including both solar and wind, along with the associated evacuation infrastructure, at a mega scale in the four Indian deserts - Thar in Rajasthan, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, Lahul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh... Read more..

'Off' online devices consumed $80 billion worth electricity: International Energy Agency

 The new 'off' is actually 'on' and online electronic devices are guzzling $80 billion worth of electricity every year even when not in use. There are 14 billion such network enabled devices like modems, set-top boxes, printers, games consoles, charging phones or PCs and laptops in the world. Most are usually left on 'sleep' mode by people when not in use. But according to a new report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) these devices continue to use enormous amounts of energy even in the 'off' or 'sleep' mode. 

In 2013, the world's networked devices consumed around... Read more..

U.S. Ex-Im Bank weighs loan to major India coal project

The U.S. Export-Import Bank is considering financing a massive coal-fired power plant in India despite the fact the Obama administration has called on domestic and global public lenders to stop funding coal-plants in his climate change strategy.

The board of the Ex-Im Bank, the United States' export credit agency, voted last December to stop funding coal plants overseas - except in certain circumstances - in response to President Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan, which called on U.S. and international lenders to do so.

"We are currently reviewing the... Read more..

Delhi Metro to install three more solar power plants

 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is going to install three more roof-top solar power plants in its premises, as a continuation of its policy to encourage eco-friendly work practices and technologies. 

These three plants, with a joint power generation capacity of 250 KWP (kilowatts peak), will come up at the Anand Vihar ISBT and Pragati Maidan Metro stations along with DMRC's residential complex at Pushp Vihar. 

The individual production capacity of these plants will be 115 kwp at Anand Vihar ISBT, Pragati Maidan 85 KWP and Metro Enclave, Saket with 50 KWP. 

The... Read more..

Mphasis the first Indian IT company to be awarded ‘Green Co’ certification by CII

 Mphasis, a leading IT services provider, has been awarded the ‘Green Co' Bronze certification by CII in accordance with the Green Co Rating System. This award recognizes the significant contribution of Mphasis in the area of environmental performance. Mphasis is the first IT/ITES Company in India to be certified under Green Co CII - Godrej GBC.The Green Co- Drivers for Excellence are - Energy Efficiency, Water Positive Status, GHG Mitigation, Waste Management, Material conservation, Recycling & Recyclability, Green Supply Chain, Renewable Energy, and Toxicity Reduction &... Read more..

Rainwater harvesting implementation drive: Corporation issues notices to 59 buildings

 At least 59 buildings have been issued notices from the city municipal corporation as part of its drive to ensure whether rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures are installed to conserve water in the coming monsoon spells. The city municipal corporation had earlier announced that all residential and commercials structures should set up RWH facilities before June 25. The corporation, as per the orders of the state government, has started a massive campaign to promote rain water harvesting in city limits. 

According to corporation officials, the survey to identify RWH structures is... Read more..