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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

US-Iran thaw fuels hope in energy-hungry India

 The United States and Iran are renewing direct diplomatic contact after nearly 35 years. Responding to Iranian overtures, President Barack Obama on Tuesday asked his Secretary of State John Kerry to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. There are expectations that Obama himself may exchange at least handshakes with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani later in the day in what may be seen as one of the watershed moments in 21st century geopolitics.

Cautious optimism marked the American response to Iranian initiatives at the United Nations.... Read more..

Source: Times of India

CAG plans performance audit of renewable energy sector

 Public auditor CAG said that it will undertake performance audit of the new and renewable energy sector at all India level with a view to promoting alternative sources of energy. 

"Keeping in view the tremendous growth potential of renewable energy and its growing importance for our economy... my office plans to undertake an all India performance audit of the new and renewable energy sector in the near future", Comptroller and Auditor General Shashi Kant Sharma said. 

He was speaking at the... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

India and Venezuela to intensify energy cooperation

India to import more crude oil from Venezuela and also exploring possibilities for paying it in rupees, which will save valuable foreign exchange and contain current account deficit (CAD), government officials said. 

"India wants more crude oil from Venezuela. We don't have any problem in that. India is our friend," Venezuelan Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez said after a meeting with Oil Minister Veerappa Moily on Tuesday in New Delhi. 

Moily said the meeting was "very significant for India's... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

India, Canada discuss nuclear energy cooperation

In the first official visit by an Indian foreign minister to Canada in 15 years, Salman Khurshid held the inaugural strategic dialogue between the two countries with his counterpart John Baird. The two sides discussed all issues of mutual interest including cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. 

"In a challenging neighbourhood with an abundance of opportunity, the importance of the Canada-India relationship is underscored in this first official visit of my counterpart in 15 years," Baird said. "The frequent and diverse range... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Over 30000 houses to generate solar power in state

In the second phase of development of solar power projects in Gujarat, the state government plans to generate 60 MW power from rooftops by bringing in 30,000 houses under the project within the next three years.

Apart from houses, solar panels of about 20 MW capacity will be laid on the Narmada irrigation canal and solar-power high-speed pumps will be provided to farmers for irrigation in Gujarat.

"We will be covering 10,000 houses under the solar rooftop project every year for the next three... Read more..

Source: Indian Express

Delhi, UP police should prevent dumping of waste into Yamuna river: National Green Tribunal

 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday asked Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police to deploy adequate staff to prevent dumping of waste and debris into Yamuna river.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed departments concerned in two states to ensure that rubble lying at two points in the river bed be removed by October 28, the next date of hearing on the issue. 

NGT issued the directions after local commissioners appointed by it to inspect the river said in their report that at two places-Geeta Colony and near Yamuna Bank Metro Station-... Read more..

Source: Times of India

India's oil import struggles are affecting tanker trade as well

The latest troubles that India is facing regarding it's oil import bill, on the back of a significantly weakened rupee, is having an impact on tanker trade as well. In its latest report, London-based shipbroker Gibson, cited an FT article, regarding India's growing dependence on energy imports. At the moment, the Asian behemoth is the fourth largest energy consumer, while also buying 82% of its crude oil needs from abroad. In all likelihood this trend is bound to continue, will oil imports expected to grow even further. 

The problem... Read more..

Source: Carbon Positive

EIB supports renewable energy and efficiency projects in India with USD 54

The European Investment Bank (EIB, Luxembourg) has signed a USD 54 million (EUR 40 million) long-term loan to SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited (SREI, Kolkata, India) to fund projects in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors in India.

The projects financed will target especially electricity and heat generation schemes like solar photovoltaics (PV), wind power, hydro power and high-efficiency cogeneration.

This is the first portion of a USD 108 million (EUR 80 million) loan which... Read more..

Source: solarserver.com

Cabinet to decide on crucial policies on coal, shale gas today

 The union cabinet is expected to consider two crucial policies to boost growth in the shale oil, gas and coal sector in a meeting scheduled to be held later today.

According to senior officials in the know, the cabinet committee on economic affairs is expected to consider a policy for exploration of shale oil and gas, which will initially allow state-owned ONGC and Oil India to tap the unconventional resource in areas they hold.

Officials in the know said that the policy will be rolled out in phases.

In the first phase only Oil and Natural Gas Corp and Oil India Ltd... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

Before PM's U.S. trip, India rushes to ready nuclear deal

  India is making a last-minute push to close a nuclear deal in time for a meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has made atomic energy cooperation with Washington a hallmark of his tenure.

Under the proposed deal, India would contract Toshiba's (6502.T) U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse for preliminary works, including information sharing, a senior Indian official said. The aim is to build nuclear plants in the state of Gujarat.

"I think we're close," National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon said on Friday. "I think they're hoping... Read more..

Source: Reuters

Tata Power signs pact with EESL for energy efficiency

 Tata Power, country's largest private power generator, today said it has signed an agreement with EESL for energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Ltd) is a joint venture of public sector units of the Ministry of Power.

Tata Power and EESL have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to carry out collaborative activities and partnerships in the field of Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (DSM), Tata Power said in a statement.

The MOU provides a framework and strategy for collaborative activities and partnership for... Read more..

Source: NDTV Profit

Railways to start power trading in the open market within next two months

 The resource-starved Indian Railways plans to start trading in power in the open market within the next two months. The Railways will sell its surplus power during the day when its demand is low while tariffs are high and buy it back at night when the demand peaks and tariffs are low. This move is expected to save the Railways about Rs 900-1,000 crore or 10% of its annual Rs 9,000-crore electricity bill. 

The Railways spends about Rs 25,000 crore on fuels, including Rs 16,000 crore on diesel consumption. The project will be implemented under the Northern Railways through the newly... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

‘Sudden policy changes jolting solar power plant investors’ confidence’

 New allocations of solar power capacity to companies that put up the solar plants could touch 2,390 MW in the second half of the current financial year, says Ernst & Young. If these projects take off, they could involve an investment of Rs 19,080 crore, the consulting firm says in a recent report on India’s Renewable Energy sector.

E&Y comes up with these figures on the basis of the various solar programme in various states, but it also cautions that “regulatory uncertainties” are hurting investor confidence.

Considering that the total grid-connected solar power... Read more..

Source: Hindu Business Line

India, Canada discuss nuclear energy cooperation

In the first official visit by an Indian foreign minister to Canada in 15 years, Salman Khurshid held the inaugural strategic dialogue between the two countries with his counterpart John Baird. The two sides discussed all issues of mutual interest including cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. 

"In a challenging neighbourhood with an abundance of opportunity, the importance of the Canada-India relationship is underscored in this first official visit of my counterpart in 15 years," Baird said. "The frequent and diverse range... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Solar, wind power illuminates Vellore Fort

The historic Vellore Fort will glow with light emitting diodes (LEDs), powered by renewable energy, every night thanks to the corporate social responsibility project jointly launched by the Power Grid Corporation of India and Borg Energy Private Limited. 

Health and family welfare minister K C Veeramani inaugurated the facility in the presence of collector (Vellore) P Sankar, mayor (Vellore) P Karthiyayini, Ranipet MLA Mohammad John and DRDA project officer N Srinivasan on Sunday. 

The green... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Clean water: The right of every individual - Moneycontrol.com

According to estimates, by 2050, India’s population is expected to cross the 1.5 billion mark. Meeting the growing water demands of the second most populous nation in the world is a monumental challenge.

Keeping this in mind, the government’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-17) rightly observes there is a pressing need for a National Framework Water Law (which is otherwise a State subject) in India.

Many countries have laws or codes related to water, namely -- South African National Water Act of 1998... Read more..

Source: - http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEt-AJo9Znnreyl7d8NQ53a8QTYHQ&url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/gestepahead/article.php?id%3D954008

'Solar energy sector needs reforms'

The solar energy sector in India has reached a deadlock and needs policy reforms, claimed experts at a conference on 'The future of solar energy in India' held at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) on Monday. Jointly organized by Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi-based research and advocacy body, and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute, the objective was to take stock of the existing status of solar energy in India and develop a policy roadmap for its sustainable growth, deputy director general of CSE Chandra Bhushan said. Out of... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Hindustan Petroleum gets nod for Barmer refinery complex in India

Hindustan Petroleum has secured approval from the Union Cabinet of India to establish a greenfield refinery cum petrochemical complex in the north-western state of Rajasthan.

To be built in Pachpadra, Barmer, the Rs372bn ($5.98bn) refinery and petrochemicals complex will have a manufacturing capacity of nine million tonnes per annum.

The complex, which is due to become operational in four years, is anticipated to receive most of its crude supplies from Cairn India's oil fields in the state.... Read more..

Source: Energy Business Review

Solar thermal in India: New standards for vacuum tube collectors, storage tanks

 The increasing share of Vacuum Tube Collector (VTC) systems imported to India took the Indian government to specify the standard requirements for evacuated solar collector tubes for non-concentrating solar thermal collectors and related storage tanks.

The industry and the manufacturers welcomed the publication of the new standards, released for public debate in early March 2013, as the aim of the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is to keep low-quality systems out of the sector.

“Because vacuum tubes still continue to be imported, there was a need to keep an... Read more..

Source: SolarServer

India to build world's largest solar power plant in Rajasthan

 India will build the world's largest solar plant to generate 4,000 mw from sunlight near the Sambhar lake in Rajasthan that will sell electricity at an estimated rate of Rs 5.50 per unit.

The proposed solar project's capacity is about three times India's total solar power capacity and comparable with coal-fired ultra mega power projects of Tata Power and Reliance Power. "Being the first project of this scale anywhere in the world this project is expected to set a trend for large scale solar power development in the world," a government statement said.

It would be set up and... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

Solar mission needs to rethink the road map, says researcher

 Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has failed to appreciate the country’s solar potential as envisaged in national policy on climate change, according to K. Sivadasan, researcher and renewable energy expert.

The policy states that India needs to attain a solar installed capacity of 200 GW by 2050. But need for setting up required infrastructure is not adequately spelt out in the Mission.

GLOBAL VISION

The mission document does not also give any option for entrepreneurs to think creatively, Sivadasan, a retired top official of Kerala State Electricity Board, said... Read more..

Source: Hindu Business Line

Coal India awaiting green clearances for 241 projects

 State-owned Coal India (CIL) is awaiting environment and forestry clearances pertaining to its 241 projects, amid the flak the company is facing for not achieving its production target. 

"At present, 48 environmental clearance proposals, having a capacity of about 109 Mty (Million tonnes Per Year), are awaiting clearances at different levels," a Coal India document said. 

"At present, 193 forestry proposals are awaiting clearances either at MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) or at the state levels," the document added. 

During the 11th Five Year Plan, it said... Read more..

Source: The Economic Times

`Global market for waste water treatment looks brighter'

 In a statement issued Friday, the consultancy firm said: "The waste water aeration systems market is in various stages of development across the world. Considered highly reliable technology, the aeration systems will see increased global uptake, due to the demand for wider connectivity to secondary wastewater treatment services in developing regions.

"The need to revamp the extensive installed base in developed countries increases additional demand."

According to Frost & Sullivan, the global waste water aeration systems market earned revenues of $4.88 billion in 2011 and... Read more..

Source: News Track India

Kochi Corporation puts old wine in new bottles for JNNURM funds

 Once again with no realistic ideas in mind to pursue for funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme, the Kochi Corporation has tried to pack its old and unrealistic projects in a new avatar during the transition phase.
 
From setting up septage treatment plants to railway overbridge (ROB) at Vathuruthy, water transport, development of the Thevara-Perandoor and Rameshwaram-Kalvathy canals, revitalization and modernization of markets, and footpath development -- the city corporation is trying to revive its old projects again... Read more..
Source: Times of India

Solar power: Govt to target arid regions to produce electricity

The recent announcement to set up the world's largest solar park near Sambhar lake in Rajasthan is just a part of much bigger plan, cleared by the Prime Minister's Office, to target the arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat to produce 300,000 MW electricity — about the amount India consumed in 2012 —over the next decade.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has after a detailed assessment of India's solar power capacity told the PMO that what India consumed in 2012 can be produced across the "wasteland" of India's hot and cold... Read more..

Source: Indian Express
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