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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

KKNPP to generate power in next 20 days

 Unit I of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) would start generating 500 MW of power in the next 20 days, said R S Sundar, site director KKNPP.

 

Talking to media persons at Madurai on Sunday, Sundar said that one month after the generation of 500 MW electricity, the production would be enhanced to 750 MW and subsequently the full potential of 1,000 MW would be realised by December end, he said.

 

In a bid to allay fears of safety of the plant said that any individual come visit that plant and see for themselves the safety mechanisms put in place. "... Read more..

Source: Times of India

ADB funds to flow into Agartala water pipelines

 A project with funds provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would overhaul the entire 53-year-old water supply system in Tripura capital Agartala, officials said here Saturday.

"The ADB has recently sanctioned the Rs.130 crore project to replace the 408-km water supply pipelines, commissioned in 1960," Tripura's Urban Development Secretary Ashutosh Jindal told reporters.

He said the ADB assisted project would replace the water supply lines in the eastern, southern and middle zones of Agartala, while the works in the northern zone would be done under the Jawaharlal... Read more..

Source: Yahoo News (Indo Asian News Service)

As government readies shale policy, companies like RIL, Cairn, Essar bet on shale gas exploration

 Indian energy firms Reliance IndustriesBSE, Cairn India and Essar Oil have put shale oil and gas exploration and marketing on their priority list, encouraged with forecasts that the shale boom in North America will dislodge OPEC's hegemony over global energy trade.

Companies are preparing plans as the government is giving final touches to the shale policy to kick-start the hunt for other sources of natural gas in the energy-hungry country. India is already producing gas from coal seams and importing LNG for its growing energy needs.

While RIL may ship a portion of the shale... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

'Some power cos reluctant to sign fuel pacts with CIL'

Some power producers are still reluctant to enter into fuel supply pacts with Coal India (CIL) as they don't have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with them which is mandatory for signing of fuel pacts.

"It is reported that they (power producers) are reluctant to migrate to revised model of FSAs apparently because of the fact that they are not having long-term PPAs," according to a Coal Ministry document.

CIL, the document further said, has signed a few Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with power producers prior to the first Presidential Directive in April 4 last year... Read more..

Source: ZeeNews

Mumbai has largest number of upcoming green buildings

Mumbai has the country's maximum number of environment-friendly buildings under construction, a survey has shown. The city has 60% more green building projects compared to Delhi and Bangalore, which are second and third on a list released by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The list has six cities, including Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. 

Mumbai has 319 registered projects that fall in the green building category and are spread over 229 million square feet, according to the IGBC. Delhi is second on the list with 199 projects, followed by Bangalore with 198 and Pune with 197... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Industries slam power tariff hike

 Local industry bodies such as the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers' Association (NIMA) have opposed the hike in power tariff for the industries from August by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL).

The members of NIMA said that the meeting of office bearers of all industrial associations and forum of industrial associations across the state will meet to decide their stand.

Speaking to TOI, an office bearer for NIMA said, "The MSEDCL has suddenly made 12% to 18% hike in electricity bills to the industries this month without taking the industrial... Read more..

Source: Times of India

India-Chile to enhance co-operation in renewable energy

 India and Chile have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. This was decided at a meeting held between the Chilean Energy Minister, Jorge Bunster and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy at Santiago.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah is visiting Chile along with a high level delegation to explore greater opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between Indian and Chile.

Dr. Abdullah briefed his counterpart on the energy situation in India. Dr. Abdullah stated that India plans to add over 30 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix... Read more..

Source: CIOL

Ingersoll Rand Named to 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices

 Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, was selected for the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices in recognition of the company’s economic, environmental and social performance. This is the third consecutive year that Ingersoll Rand has been listed on both indices.

 

“Our placement on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices is a testament to our efforts to embed sustainability into the fabric of our company, reduce our operational footprint, and deliver on... Read more..

Source: Ingersoll Rand

Nepal, India discuss water resources, electricity, flood control

Nepal and India have reviewed progress made by bilateral water resources projects and discussed issues relating to water resources, electricity, flood forecasting and flood control.

The matters were discussed during the two-day Nepal India Joint Technical Standing Committee meeting, held after a gap of two years, that concluded here yesterday, according to a press release issued by Department of Energy, Nepal.

The two sides reviewed progress made by bilateral water resources projects and discussed issues relating to flood forecasting and flood control, water resources and... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

India: turning waste into sustainable employment opportunities

 With global waste measured in millions of tonnes, it is easy to question whether recycling your water bottle or daily paper can really have an impact. In India, a recent survey by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) showed that almost half of people in the 35–44 age bracket were unwilling to segregate their waste at all. Too much effort, a lack of space for multiple bins and a lack of trust in local authorities to handle recyclables were quoted as reasons for resistance.

The sheer amount of plastic and other waste along Indian road sides would be enough to put most people off... Read more..

Source: The Guardian

`India's liability law poses tough challenge to US n-deal'

 Nisha Desai Biswal, President Barack Obama's Indian-American nominee to be US pointperson for South Asia, believes India's nuclear liability law poses a tough challenge to the implementation of India-US nuclear deal.

There is a very strong desire to move forward on this in India, she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday at her confirmation hearing for the post of assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs.

Daughter of first generation Indian-Americans, Biswal has been the assistant administrator for Asia at the US Agency for... Read more..

Source: Yahoo News (Indo Asian News Service)

Himachal small hydro projects to get speedy clearances

 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Saturday said a high powered committee would soon be set up for ensuring speedy statutory clearances by various departments to the executors of the small hydropower projects in the state.

The committee, headed by the chairman of the state electricity regulatory commission, would look into the problems of developers and suggest recommendations to simplify the procedures of granting clearances, he said.

Speaking at a meeting organized by the Bonafide Hydro Power Developers Association in collaboration with HIMURJA and the new and... Read more..

Source: News Track India

Safe Water Network: Activating Consumer Demand to Secure Safe Water

 Despite much progress, nearly 800 million people still lack access to safe water. It isn’t for lack of trying, and a diversity of those efforts was recently discussed at World Water Week in Stockholm. One argument is that there is a fundamental disconnect between the well-intentioned benefactor and the communities they hope to impact.

Bridging this gap involves more than just charity. It requires building trust, community engagement and individual ownership. Instead of a top-down approach of pushing aid at those in need, why not harness market-based principals to activate consumer... Read more..

Source: triplepundit

Phase-II of Solar Mission awaiting Cabinet nod

 The launch of the much-awaited Phase-II of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission depends upon how soon the Union Cabinet approves the note submitted to it by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Speaking at the 7th Renewable Energy India Expo 2013 in New Delhi, Tarun Kapur, Joint Secretary, MNRE, said that the note had been submitted just a few days back.

Kapur later told Business Line that if the Cabinet could not approve the note before the pre-election ‘model code of conduct’ kicks-in — expected on September 20 — then the government would have to seek... Read more..

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Ramky Enviro to set up 2nd waste management unit in TN

 Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd is to set up a Rs 270-crore industrial waste management project to cater to the industries in south Tamil Nadu.

According to the company, the project to be set up by a subsidiary, Tamil Nadu Waste Management Ltd, will initially invest Rs 80 crore in the project and is expected to start in the next one year and scale up investments over the next 3-4 years. This is the second project by the Hyderabad-based Ramky Group company with the first unit set up north of Chennai at Gummidipoondi, an industrial hub.

Awaiting clearance

The facility, which... Read more..

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Smart grid vision and roadmap for India

A Smart Grid Vision and Roadmap for India has been launched calling for a nationwide rollout of smart grids by 2027.

This would follow a set of integrated technology pilots by 2015, followed by full rollout of smart grids in the pilot project areas by 2017 and in major urban areas by 2022. It would also be accompanied by a phased national AMI rollout for all consumers, starting with consumers with load >20 kW by 2017 and 3-phase consumers by 2022.

The Roadmap was drafted for the Ministry of Power by the India Smart Grid Task Force (ISGTF) and India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF... Read more..

Source: METERING.COM

50 of world's top 500 firms worst polluters: Study

 Fifty of the 500 biggest listed companies in the world account for emission of 73% of 3.6 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG), says a report that was released on Thursday. And, these emitters primarily operate in energy, materials and utilities sectors across the globe. 

Alarmingly, the companies' emission had risen by 1.65% to 2.54 billion metric tonnes over the past four years, contrary to popular perception that the intervening global recession had reduced carbon footprints of large corporations. 

The finding is the part of CDP — formerly known as Carbon... Read more..

Source: The Times of India

CII and NEDO join hands in promoting Sustainable Energy Technologies

 Today, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)  and The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan’s largest public R&D management organisation joined hands to add further impetus to the Energy Conservation (EnCon)  movement in the country.

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII and Mr Kenji Matsuoka, Director General, International Affairs Department, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization inked the MoU in New Delhi.

This MoU aims to equip Indian industry with the latest sustainable energy technologies from... Read more..

Source: India Education Diary

CMIA to focus on renewable energy sources

 The Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) will organise 'Energy Conclave - 2013' in the city on September 14 to guide minor, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in their bid to explore renewable energy sources, to help tackle the impending power crisis. 

CMIA secretary Ajeet Muley said that eminent speakers would interact with participants and share their knowledge and views on renewable energy. A panel discussion would be also be organised as a part of the conclave, he said. 

The conclave would mainly focus on future trends of energy costs, share... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Solar power to trim govt's electricity bills

 All government buildings in the twin cities will be fitted with solar panels on the their rooftops by June next year to generate renewable energy.

The state government has already floated a company called Odisha Green Energy Development Corporation, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited, for this purpose.

Managing director of the hydro power corporation Sahdev Khatua said: “We inked an MoU with the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank subsidiary, earlier... Read more..

Source: Calcutta Telegraph

Centre, wind firms team up against states

The central government has teamed up with wind energy producers in their regulatory battle against states that are not meeting their obligation to fulfil a part of their energy needs from renewable sources. 

The ministry for new and renewable energy has asked the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity to allow it to be a party, or 'implead' in the case filed by wind energy producers against all 26 state regulators, the Forum of Regulators and the central electricity regulatory commission (CERC). 

"We... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

ALSTOM : inaugurates India's first digital substation automation competence centre

Alstom, the world leader in power generation, transmission and transport, today announced the inauguration of India's first Digital Substation Automation Competence Centre in Pallavaram, Chennai. The facility was inaugurated by Mr. Rathin Basu, Managing Director Alstom T&D India, Mr. Patrick Plas, Senior Vice-President, Grid Power Electronics & Automation, and Mr. Hervé Amossé, Vice-President Substation Automation Solutions, both Alstom Grid in the presence of key customers and other dignitaries. 

Alstom is a leader in... Read more..

Source: 4-traders

Treated wastewater goes down the drain

There are 626 sewage treatment plants in Bangalore, the highest in any city in the country. 
 
Together, these STPs can treat 834 million litres per day (MLD) of wastewater. But truth is, much of the treated water goes down the drain, according to a report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). 
 
The report by KSPCB's monitoring committee on the performance of wastewater treatment plants says though the units work at 81% of their capacity, there are no facilities to make use of treated water. Usually, reclaimed water is used... Read more..
Source: Times of India

CM for harnessing renewable energy

With controversy dogging large dams in the northeast, the buzz for renewable energy and small hydro-power projects is getting louder in the region. 

Opposition from various civil society groups citing environmental impact of large hydro-power projects, delay in clearance and their completion, have prompted the governments of NE states and investors to explore the untapped potential in the renewable energy and small hydro-power sectors. 

At the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India... Read more..

Source: Times of India

A plan to save the hills

The disaster in Uttarakhand this June has left a trail of destruction unlike any other rain-related tragedy in the state in a very long time. Notwithstanding the fanfare surrounding the reopening of the Kedarnath temple, there is a growing realisation that this was a wake-up call and it is time the development model followed in Himalayan states is reviewed if such catastrophes are to be mitigated in the future. 
 
Any such exercise must begin with identifying what is wrong with the current path of development. In my view, the economic model being pursued in the... Read more..
Source: Times of India
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