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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
Developing world overtakes the U.S. in e-wasteNow that the holidays are over and so many gadgets have been replaced with the newest versions of TVs, cell phones and tablets, a story on e-waste in the U.S. was inevitable. This year is different, however, because for the first time, emerging countries are throwing out even more electronics than we are in the U.S. Actually, the trend started in 2012. When it comes to e-waste, countries such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa are making up for lost time. E-waste is expected to surge 33 percent... Read more.. |
T&D industry should tap global opportunities to increase exports: West BengalDomestic transmission and distribution companies need to tap global opportunities to increase exports from the current $ 5 billion to $ 25 billion in the next five years, a World Bank official said.
"Indian transmission and distribution industry should look for opportunities globally to enhance exports from $ 5 billion to $ 25 billion in the next five years in power generation, transmission and distribution," World Bank Director (Department of Sustainable Energy) Subramaniam V Iyer said
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This Is the World's Fastest Thin-Film Organic TransistorIt might look like there's not much to it, but you're looking the world's fastest thin-film organic transistor-and it could revolutionize the displays we spend our days looking at. Its the result of an ongoing quest to use cheap, carbon-rich molecules and plastics to create organic semiconductors that can compete with their silicon-based counterparts. Now, researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Stanford University have created organic transistors that are over five times faster than those produced in the past... Read more.. |
Government to push discoms to purchase hydropowerThe government, which plans to make it mandatory for electricity distribution companies to buy hydropower, is also considering launching tradable certificates for the states that do not have potential to meet the proposed obligation. It will shortly kick off the consultation process to amend Electricity Act to promote investments and hydropower. Hydro energy certificates will enable northern and northeastern states to attract more investments besides ensuring viability for the projects. "India can tap higher hydropower potential by making it mandatory for distribution companies to... Read more.. Date : Jan 9 Source: Economic Times
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Global VC investments in solar dropped 40% to $600 millionGlobal venture capital (VC) investments in solar dropped 40% to $600 million in 97 deals in 2013 compared to $992 million in 106 deals in 2012, according to Mercom Capital Group, llc, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm. Total corporate funding into the solar sector, encompassing VC, debt and public market financings was up 25% in 2013 to almost $10 billion, compared to about $8 billion in 2012. VC funding in the fourth quarter of 2013 totalled $87 million in 24 deals compared to $197 million in 28 deals in the preceding third quarter 2013. Since mid-... Read more.. Date : Jan 9 Source: Times of India
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Reliance Power, Lanco seek higher solar tariffsSolar power plants of Reliance Power, Lanco and others, are seeking higher tariffs saying that the data on solar radiation provided by the government was faulty which has led to lower generation. Several companies have filed petitions before the central regulator, seeking higher tariffs jut as a panel chaired by Deepak Parekh recommended compensation for Tata and Adani's higher costs of generation. At least three solar thermal power project developers with mandate to commission total 250 mw of... Read more.. |
Risk Averse Offered Revenue Security in India Solar BidsIndia’s first national auction of solar permits since 2011 offers improved revenue security to investors seeking a foothold in a market where the cost of sun power may equal that of other sources within three years. The state-run Solar Energy Corp. of India is inviting bids by Jan. 20 from companies to build 750 megawatts of capacity. For the first time, the government will provide as much as 18.75 billion rupees ($302 million) in grants to reduce plant-building costs to entice participation. That... Read more.. |
India successfully reduced the costs of solar energyIn the short span of three years, India has made impressive strides in developing its abundant solar power potential. It has added capacity at a commendable pace, and successfully reduced the costs of solar energy to around $0.12 per kWh for solar photo voltaic (PV) and $0.21 per kWh for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), making India amongst the lowest cost destinations for grid-connected solar power in the world. Growth in the energy sector is key for India as more than 300 million of the country’s people still lack access to... Read more.. |
Refinery awarded for saving energyIndian Oil's Bongaigaon refinery has received the prestigious National Energy Conservation Award, 2013. It is India's first refinery to win such an award. A spokesperson of the refinery said the award was presented to the R K Ghosh, director (refineries), by President Pranab Mukherjee, in the presence of Union minister of state for the ministry of power, Jyotiraditya Scindia, at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan on December 16 last year. The awards recognize commitment towards energy conservation. The spokesperson said representatives of 31 industries covering sectors like aluminum, oil... Read more.. Date : Jan 9 Source: Times of India
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Advanced Wastewater Treatment Solution Supplied to Indian FirmDesalitech (USA), a provider of high-efficiency water production and treatment solutions, announced today that it will supply an advanced wastewater treatment system to UPL Environmental Engineers, Ltd. (UPLEEL), one of India’s leading environmental engineering construction and project management companies. The Desalitech system will process 200 cubic meters per day (m3/d, 53,000 gallon per day) of industrial wastewater as part of a zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) treatment process designed to minimise disposal costs and environmental... Read more.. |
Scientists find way to reduce biofuel production costsResearchers at North Carolina State University have developed a simple and effective technique for removing lignin - nature's way of protecting plant cell walls - from the plant material used to make biofuels. This discovery may bring down the cost of biofuel production in a big way. Lignin is difficult to break down or remove from plant materials called 'biomass' - such as the non-edible parts of the corn plant. "However, lignin needs to be extracted in order... Read more.. |
Aurangabad's solar city project takes a back seatThe Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)'s ambitious 'Solar City' project has taken a back seat, after the union ministry of new and renewable energy did not accept the civic body's proposal seeking 50% grant for the project. The ministry has given in-principle approval for 30% subsidy. AMC's executive engineer Sikander Ali on Tuesday said that the civic body had urged the ministry to give 50% subsidy. "In the last meeting, we urged joint secretary and director in the ministry A K Tripathi to allot special funds considering its financial condition. During the meeting, the ministry... Read more.. Date : Jan 8 Source: Times of India
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L&T upbeat on smart metersL&T Electrical & Automation is aiming at substantial revenues from sale of smart meters and remote meter reading for residential and commercial meters through low power radio. Speaking at ‘ELECRAMA’ - the transmission and distribution expo at Bangalore, S. C. Bhargava Head of L&T Electrical & Automation, said: “In this system, data can be collected from meters in individual homes or commercial establishments directly to a data centre, without any manual intervention.” The communication module is two-way, capable of receiving commands and messages from the data centre and... Read more.. Date : Jan 8 Source: Business Line
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First National Wind Energy Mission to begin by mid-2014The government will launch its first wind energy mission this year to give a boost to the renewable source and putting it in the same league as the high-profile solar mission. The 'National Wind Energy Mission (NWEM), which would be launched around the middle of the year, would give incentives to invest, east land clearances and regulate tariffs. But unlike the flagship 'National Solar Mission' it would not involve projects for bidding. It would act as a "facilitator", officials said. We wish to coordinate separate lines of action... Read more.. |
Farmers should get access to larger markets to get benefits of APMC reformLast week's missive from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, to states ruled by his party, allowing farmers to sell their produce of fruits and vegetables to anyone they want —and not necessarily route it through mandis— will not be transformative for Indian farmers on its own. For that to happen, the governments need to back this reform in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act by supporting the rise of alternative models through which farmers can access larger markets, and by setting up regulatory mechanisms that supervise the functioning of these models... Read more.. |
Toshiba Corp : Toshiba To Acquire Stake In UEM IndiaFollowing the trend of continued Japanese interest in India, another Japanese firm Toshiba is picking up a 26% stake in water and waste management company UEM India for an undisclosed amount, says ET. Toshiba's equity infusion would aid UEM in expanding its business to provide water and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal facilities by accessing better technologies and tapping newer geographies.Toshiba would be acquiring the stake from existing shareholders including PE firm, India Value Fund. India Value had become a majority shareholder in UEM when it acquired 70... Read more.. Date : Jan 8 Source: 4 Traders
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SEEP initiative: World Bank to help slash your electricity billsA World Bank-aided initiative of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency will soon be considered for approval by the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs, which will is expected to cause production and sales of super efficient electrical appliances in India. CCEA will consider the proposal to let government of India provide Rs 100 crore, to supplement the Rs 250 crore from World Bank. These funds will be used to incentivise manufacturers of electrical appliances, such as ceiling fans, refrigerators and air-conditioners, to make products... Read more.. |
To meet CSR targets, go greenThe government’s Green India Mission programme is a sound business proposition. Environmental sustainability is the need of the hour. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased to unprecedented levels. From 1750 to 2011, deforestation and other land use changes are estimated to have released 660.06 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtCO2), the second largest contributor to the 40 per cent increase in carbon dioxide concentrations since pre-industrial times. Increasing emissions and the compounding severity of... Read more.. |
Welspun Signs 150-Megawatt Solar Agreement in IndiaWelspun Energy Ltd., India’s largest photovoltaic developer, agreed to build 150 megawatts of solar plants in Punjab state to almost double clean-energy capacity. The company plans to invest 13.5 billion rupees ($217 million) to complete the projects by 2017, Welspun Energy Managing Director Vineet Mittal said today by phone. That’s in addition to a 35-megawatt plant under construction and scheduled to be finished in September, he said. The agreement will help Punjab’s power distribution utility... Read more.. |
India urges Asian unity for fair LNG pricingIndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged Asian buyers of imported liquefied natural gas to unite to demand fair pricing. LNG prices in Asia are higher than those in Europe and North America because the cost in Asia is linked to crude oil prices under long-term contracts. Speaking at the dedication of Petronet's Kochi LNG terminal in Kerala Saturday, Singh said Asia "has been the driver of the global LNG demand in recent times. It is therefore important that major buyers of LNG in Asia come... Read more.. |
Kirloskar Builds Water Pump to Cool Tata Coal Plant in IndiaKirloskar (KKB) Brothers Ltd., an Indian machine-tool maker, built a water-pumping system that uses 10.5 million liters (2.8 million gallons) of seawater every minute to cool Tata Power Co. (TPWR)’s coal-fired plant in Mundra. The pumping system takes water from the Arabian Sea to help cool the 4,000-megawatt plant in western India, Kirloskar said today in an e-mailed statement. The Pune-based maker of pumps, turbines and valves didn’t say how much the system cost. The Mundra power station is expected to use almost 14.3 million cubic meters of water daily. Indian companies... Read more.. Date : Jan 7 Source: Business Week
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BMW hints i series coming to India soonAccording to the official Facebook page of BMW, the company is planning to bring its legendary i series to the Indian auto market. Industry experts are of a view that BMW i series is a remarkable initiative that aims towards environmental sustainability. The concept highlights vehicles running on electricity and being totally emission-free. Models of i series boast of a passenger cell, made up of carbon fibre, which is lighter yet around 30 per cent stronger than aluminium. Notably, the company has invested a significant amount in the research and development process of carbon... Read more.. Date : Jan 7 Source: Car Trade
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Simple, Cheap Way to Increase Solar Cell EfficiencyResearchers from North Carolina State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found an easy way to modify the molecular structure of a polymer commonly used in solar cells. Their modification can increase solar cell efficiency by more than 30 percent. Polymer-based solar cells have two domains, consisting of an electron acceptor and an electron donor material. Excitons are the energy particles created by solar cells when light is absorbed. In order to be harnessed effectively as an energy source, excitons must be able to travel quickly to the interface of the donor and... Read more.. Date : Jan 7 Source: Science Daily
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Singapore, India see highest jump in corporate responsibility reportingSingapore and India are leading the Asia Pacific region in corporate responsibility reporting, with the countries recording two of the highest jumps in reporting rates by its companies since 2011 compared to the rest of the world, said the latest KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2013. The eight edition of the report, released last month, was based on a survey of 4,100 firms or the 100 largest companies in 41 countries by revenue, and also looked at the quality of their corporate responsibility (CR) reports. In Asia Pacific, 71 per cent of the region’s leading... Read more.. Date : Jan 7 Source: Eco Business
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NHPC to set up 82 MW wind farm in KeralaMonday inked a deal with the Kerala government to set up an 82 MW wind farm in the state's Palakkad district. "We have identified 500 acres of land in Palakkad district for which the survey also has been completed. They (NHPC) have said that in two years time, the project will become operational," state Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed told reporters after receiving the documents of the deal signed between the NHPC and the Kerala State Electricity Board here. Currently, the cost for generating one MW of wind energy is estimated to cost around Rs.6 crore and the total project... Read more.. Date : Jan 7 Source: News Track India
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