Sustainability Outlook Headlines

‘Solar City’ projects in Mysore progressing at snail’s pace

 The ambitious ‘Solar City’ project of the MNRE, which envisioned reducing the use of conventional energy sources is progressing at a snail’s pace.

Mysore was among the two cities in the State, apart from Hubli-Dharwad, selected in 2011 under the scheme, which aimed at reducing energy consumption from conventional sources by ten per cent within five years of its implementation.

Three years later, only one project related to the scheme has been implemented.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Subramanya K L, section officer of Mysore Solar City Cell said that five pilot projects... Read more..

With the era of 'easy oil' coming to an end, is solar energy the only option left for the ME?

 Driven by an energy-hungry population and unstable oil prices, countries in the Gulf and the wider MENA region are investing in various green energy options, with a focus on in solar energy.

The Middle East could see more than $50 billion investment in its solar power sector by 2020, according to report by Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA).

The report found that new renewable projects, providing around 37,000 megawatts (MW) of energy, are to be commissioned by the end of this decade. Solar energy projects are forecast to provide around 12,000MW to 15,000MW of... Read more..

Resubmit river pollution report, HC tells NEERI

 KOLHAPUR: A Bombay High Court bench of justices Abhay Oak and Amjad Sayyed on Friday directed Nagpur-based National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to resubmit its study report prepared on the causes and mitigation measures for the Panchganga river pollution. 

The directive came after petitioners said the recommendations made by NEERI in the report were based on wrong facts. 

The HC appointed NEERI to study the river pollution and suggest measures to be taken at various levels in December 2013. The appointment was made by an HC bench comprising Justice S J... Read more..

17 Emerging Energy Technologies That Will Change The World

 Below are technologies related to energy under three key areas of accelerating change: Storage, Smart grid and Electricity generation. Energy storage involves new, cost-effective ways of storing energy, either in improved batteries, as new fuels or other ways. A smart grid is a set of technologies that pairs information with moving electricity around, enabling more efficient generation and use of energy. Electricity generation is characterized by technologies that generate power from unused sources and that more efficiently produce electric power or fuels from sources in use today.

Suez Environnement Points to Improved Waste as Profit Drops

 Suez Environnement highlighted improved waste-treatment operations as a sign manufacturing in Europe is recovering even as the region’s second-biggest water company by market value posted a surprise drop in profit.

First-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization fell to 552 million euros ($763 million) from 564 million euros a year before mostly on currency effects, the utility said today in a statement. That missed the 568 million euro average of six analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

“The slight improvement in the waste business seen at the... Read more..

The beef with beef: how 12 strategies could drastically cut agricultural emissions

 Eating less beef, cutting food waste, and utilizing farm landscapes to sequester carbon are three ways a new report suggests the world could rapidly tackle agricultural emissions. Currently, global agriculture accounts for nearly a fifth of the world's greenhouse gas emissions when agriculturally-linked deforestation is included. But the new report, from Climate Focus and California Environmental Associates, finds that implementing 12 strategies—largely focused on the U.S., China, Brazil, India, and the EU—could cut agricultural emissions by 50-90 percent in just 16 years while still... Read more..

Green Bonds Could Cut Indian Clean-Energy Costs 25%, Report Says

 Funding renewable projects with Indian government-backed green bonds could lower the cost of clean power by as much as 25 percent, according to a study.

The government could sell bonds and lend the proceeds to wind and solar farm developers. India could offer funds a third cheaper than commercial bank loans and for double the tenor as the government has the highest domestic credit rating, according to a report by the Indian School of Business and Climate Policy Initiative, a San Francisco-based research firm.

India, ranked Asia’s third-most attractive country for renewable... Read more..

GE Invests USD 24 Million in Welspun Renewables Energy’s Solar Project

 NEEMUCH, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE unit (NYSE:GE) GE Energy Financial Services and Welspun Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd. (WREPL) announced today a partnership to expand solar energy generation in India. GE Energy Financial Services is making its first investment in a solar power project in India, funding US $24 million for a 151 (DC)-megawatt solar photovoltaic power project that WREPL, one of India’s leading clean energy generating companies, put into operation in August 2013, almost eight months ahead of schedule. The Neemuch project – one of the world’s largest solar plants – powers 624... Read more..

Mercedes-Benz showcases electric vehicle with BYD

Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. officially unveiled its DENZA all-electric vehicle at Auto China 2014, in Beijing. The world premiere of the serial production model is the culmination of cooperative efforts at the 50:50 R&D technology joint venture established by Daimler and BYD back in 2010 – the first Sino-German joint venture dedicated to an all-electric vehicle in China. Combining Daimler’s renowned tradition and engineering expertise as a worldwide leader in safety technology and quality excellence with BYD’s leading battery technology, DENZA is styled as an honest... Read more..

Bloomberg: global renewable investments down, but power share up

 While global investments in renewable energy technologies dropped in 2013, continuing a two-year trend, there are several silver linings to that observation, according to a new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

One is that while investments fell for the second consecutive year—down 14 percent to reach $214 billion globally—it may be partially due to sharply reduced costs and increased efficiency of certain technologies, such as solar photovoltaic systems and onshore wind projects.

Additionally, while global investments are down, renewables continued to expand its share... Read more..

Hybrid cars significantly more fuel-efficient in India& China than US

 Hybrid vehicles are significantly more fuel-efficient in India and China than they are in the US, according to new research from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

This disparity in efficiency between the different markets is down to exactly the same qualities that make driving in places like India so frustrating — heavy traffic, aggressive drivers, few freeways, etc. As a result, hybrids (or for that matter EVs) could be of even greater use to those living in crowded urban regions, such as India and China, than to those in more traditional markets... Read more..

EM is lodestar for cleantech investment

 Energy and clean technology investing has proven to be disastrous for venture capitalists. Capital allocated to clean tech fell to less than half in 2013 from the $3.7 billion invested in 2012, and new clean tech-focused funds were able to raise less than $1 billion last year, compared to $4.5 billion raised in 2012.

High-profile flameouts like Solyndra, A123 Systems, Konarka, Miasole, Better Place and Fisker Automotive have, appropriately enough, made investors very wary. Billions of dollars of equity has evaporated. Successes, such as Tesla Motors and Nest Labs, have been... Read more..