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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Solar power installation drops sharply to 73 MW in last three months

India recorded a total of 622 MW of solar power installations in the first seven months of 2013, with only 73 MW installed in the last three months.

Mercom Capital Group, llc, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm, said on Thursday the decisions made by India to pursue anti-dumping investigations and domestic content requirements have all but paralysed the sector. The Indian economy continues to face challenges with slow growth, high interest rates and a weak rupee, making life... Read more..

Source: Hindu Business Line

Population boom behind water crisis

 Rapid urbanization and a spurt in population are among the major reasons behind the acute water shortage in Jamshedpur, where the gap between demand and supply is 70% as stated in the urban development ministry report that was tabled in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament.

The crisis - common in many big cities in the country - has not just afflicted the peripheral areas of this industrial town but has severely hit the command area, putting local environmentalists and town planners on alert.

According to the report, per capita water consumption in Jamshedpur... Read more..

Source: The Times of India

India Power Ministry Proposes Plan to Subsidize Imported Gas

 India's power ministry has made a proposal to mix imported and locally produced natural gas and supply it to electricity producers at a subsidized price, a plan that could help boost power production but hurt the government's already-weak finances.

The ministry will soon send the proposal to a cabinet committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday. It has already been sent to ministries such as oil and finance, he said.

According to the proposal, state-run gas-pipeline operator GAIL India Ltd. would... Read more..

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Two discoms issue bonds of over Rs 16,000 cr under Centre's restructuring plan

Power distribution companies of two states have issued bonds of over Rs 16,000 crore under the centre's ambitious Financial Restructuring Package (FRP) for bleeding state utilities, within a year of its launch. Also, two more states, which are technically ineligible, are pleading for even their inclusion in the scheme.

The Rs 1.9 lakh crore debt recast package, launched on 24 September 2012, will bailout financially-ill discoms and usher in long-pending reforms in the power sector. Under the scheme, discoms are to issue bonds, backed by state government guarantee, for half of the... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

India's First Green Building Features SunPower High Efficiency Solar Solution

A global solar technology and energy solutions company, today announced that Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure has completed the installation of a 930-kilowatt (kW) SunPower solar system on the rooftop of the Indira Paryavaran Bhavan building in New Delhi. SunPower's high efficiency, most reliable solar solution was chosen for the project given its energy generation requirements and the limited rooftop area.

The state-of-the art landmark will be India's first net zero energy building. Its design emphasizes conservation featuring trees... Read more..

Source: Sacramento Bee

Automakers bet on alternative-fuel cars for future

Judging by the slew of electric and hybrid vehicles being rolled out at the Frankfurt Auto Show, it might seem carmakers are tapping a large and eager market.

But in fact almost no one buys such cars yet. 

More and more automakers are coming out with electric versions of existing vehicles _ such as Volkswagen's all-electric versions of its Up! city car and Golf compact or ones they have designed as electrics from the ground up, like small BMW's electric city car i3. 

Analyst Christoph Stuermer at IHS automotive called Frankfurt "the first full-throttle electric... Read more..

Source: The Times of India

​Anna University study forecasts rise of 3.5 degree Celsius in Tamil Nadu temp

A new climate change study released by Anna University predicts a 3.5 degree Celsius temperature rise in Tamil Nadu by the end of this century. Minimum increase in temperature will be about 3.1 degrees Celsius. It also says temperature will rise by one degree within 30 years and that sea levels will rise by 53cm by end of this century along the TN coast.

Interestingly, Anna University's findings are at odds with a study done by IIT-Madras scientists two years ago. While the university predicts that sea levels will rise by 53cm by the end of this century, the IIT- M study conducted... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Behind US heat on fridge gas pact, thirst for markets

The U.S. is pushing India hard to sign on to a pact that would eventually lead to New Delhi replacing climate-damaging refrigerant gases with alternative, but expensive, technologies proprietary to a few U.S.-based companies.

Signing the pact — the multilateral Montreal Protocol — would open a huge market for these U.S. firms that hold patent rights on the replacement gases and their attendant technologies.

In a meeting with Indian officials, minutes of which were accessed by The Hindu, the U.S.... Read more..

Source: The Hindu

India wastes more farm food than China: UN

When it comes to wasting food items, India is ahead of China, says a UN report on food waste and its impact on natural resources.

The grim news comes at a time when prices of most vegetables and fruits are high. The waste also takes a high toll on the country’s natural resources because many of these items, rice for example, consume large quantities of water.

It is estimated more than 230 cubic kilometers of fresh water, enough to provide drinking water to 10 crore people a year, goes into producing food items that are ultimately wasted. China is second with 140 cubic km and... Read more..

Source: Hindustan Times

India's law to feed poor threatens to gobble up climate funding

India’s National Action Plan for Climate Change, a hugely ambitious programme requiring billions of dollars, is being starved of funds, officials say, as a new law aimed at giving food to the needy threatens to eat up a large chunk of government spending.

In 2009, the government set up eight national missions to tackle climate change: the Solar Mission, Energy Mission, Sustainable Habitat Mission, Water Mission, Himalayan Mission, Sustainable Agriculture Mission, Green India Mission and Strategic Knowledge Mission.

The funding allocated for these missions during the 12th Five... Read more..

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

Oil India targets clean energy sources

Oil India Ltd plans to invest Rs.600 crore to set up renewable energy capacity in the wind and solar space as it seeks to diversify into clean energy sources.

The state-owned company is also planning to buy as well as set up liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in the country. “We are preparing our LNG strategy. We are discussing it,” said T.K. Ananth Kumar, director, finance.

India’s demand for LNG is growing. The country imported 13.43 million tonnes (mt) of LNG in 2012-13 compared with 13.39... Read more..

Source: Livemint

Centre to fast-track 40,000 MW of hydro projects

Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge) Jyotirditya Scindia on Tuesday said the government was making efforts to fast-track nearly 95 hydro power projects with a capacity of 40,000 MW to give a big push to the power sector.

The projects are awaiting clearances from different authorities, including Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). “We are fast-tracking each and every one of those projects. I am planning to approach the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to look at infrastructure issues, on a... Read more..

Source: The Hindu

Now, boats come under JNNURM

Giving a boost to the city's water transport, the Union ministry of urban development has issued an order to include water transport under the centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( JNNURM) scheme.

"Earlier, water transport was not included under the scheme. The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) had taken up the proposal with the ministry to include water transport under the scheme," said state water transport department (SWTD) director Shaji V Nair.

He added that the ministry has asked the agency to give a detailed report of the city's water... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Japanese electric company NEC to expand research work in India

Japanese electrical giant NEC is looking to expand its research on Indian energy market through collaboration with two Indian institutes.

NEC is seeking tie-ups with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and the Energy Resources Institute, said Ratnesh K Sharma, Department Head for Energy Management at NEC Laboratories America. 

"We are trying to collaborate with them in understanding the Indian scenarios better and get them involved in our research," Sharma told PTI yesterday. ... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

CDM should cut, not offset emissions to attract buyers: report

The U.N.’s ailing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) could attract more buyers if its projects went beyond merely offsetting greenhouse gases to generate absolute emission cuts, researchers said in a report Monday.

The U.N. programme has raised more than $200 billion for schemes in the developing world since 2005 but is fighting for its existence as richer governments set weak emission targets that have little need for more carbon credits or favour more costly domestic investments.

Researchers at... Read more..

Source: Reuters AlertNet

Aurangabad likely to earn 'Model Solar City' status

A delegation of union ministry of new and renewable energy is likely to visit the city very soon to explore possibilities of declaring Aurangabad as a 'Model Solar City'. Quoting senior officials in the ministry, Mayor Kala Oza on Tuesday said the ministry had expressed willingness to award project worth Rs 2.5 crore to promote use of renewable energy sources and adoption of energy efficiency measures.

A team of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation ( AMC) including Oza, deputy mayor Sanjay Joshi and others were recently in New Delhi to meet senior officials in union ministry of new and... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Sachin Pilot urges companies to see CSR as investment, not a burden

 Expecting an annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending of Rs 15,000-20,000 crore by India Inc, Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot has asked companies to see the new law as an investment opportunity to create a better work environment, rather than a forced expenditure.

Under the new Companies Act, 2013, which has replaced nearly six-decade old legislation governing the way corporates function and are regulated in India, all profitable companies with a sizeable business would have to spend every year at least 2 per cent of three-year average profit on CSR works.... Read more..

Source: Business Today

MPs seek exclusive panel on wind energy

 A group of MPs working on climate issues have asked the ministries of New and Renewable Energy and Finance to constitute an exclusive committee to fast track their recommendations on wind energy. 

Parliamentarians belonging to the Climate Parliament India Group made this demand while submitting the 'MPs Key Recommendations on Wind Energy' to New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. 

"The key recommendations of the Parliamentarians from wind rich states need to be taken up as immediate measures by the government, for mitigating the... Read more..

Source: ZeeNews

Borouge: Better plastics can improve drip irrigation

 Better quality plastic materials can improve productivity in India's drip irrigation industry, helping to overcome challenges that have kept the water-saving agricultural systems from being more widely used.

At least that's according to resin supplier Borouge, which told a plastic conference recently that better materials can lower energy costs for drip tubing makers and reduce some of the manufacturing and quality problems that happen now from mixing different grades of PE and masterbatch material, a common practice in the drip irrigation industry.

The company has developed... Read more..

Source: European Plastics News

"Water ATMs" to provide clean water for India's villagers

A lack of clean drinking water is one of the biggest problems facing urban India. However, help is on the way in the form of "water ATMs".

The "water ATMs" are slot machines that dispense 10 litres of clean drinking water for the equivalent of one India rupee.

The machines are a godsend for residents of a rural suburb of Bangalore.

Sowmya Kumari, one of the residents, said: "Our children and family are benefiting. Earlier, we used to often fall sick, and the doctor's facilities wasn't good. Now all of us drink this pure water only, and our health is better. We urge... Read more..

Source: Channel NewsAsia

MoEF wants water cess on shale gas explorers

 The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has asked petroleum ministry to include water cess for explorers to be a part of its upcoming shale gas policy, considering the higher amount of water usage for shale exploration.

“As per the draft, there was no cess on shale exploration. However, we have asked the petroleum ministry to include water cess as shale exploration would pollute ground water. Moreover, rather than the Centre regulations, we also want the state pollution boards to monitor the water usage on shale gas blocks,” said a senior official in the environment ministry... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

Wood Group wins multiple contracts in India valued at more than $10 million

 Wood Group has won multiple new contracts in India during the last 12 months, worth a combined total of more than $10 million. Wood Group GTS has secured two contracts to supply its patented EcoValueTM gas turbine compressor water wash systems. The first order is for the supply of the EcoValue technology which will be commissioned on offshore platforms in the Mumbai region of India. This contract includes nine water wash systems to support 22 gas turbines as well as a five-year maintenance agreement for 10 operational offshore platforms.

A second contract has been awarded by a... Read more..

Source: Oil & Gas

Japan and India to push for better LNG pricing

Japan and India said they were planning a liquefied natural gas importers' group as a way to reduce the Asian price and diversify their import sources.

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.

In their joint statement Monday ahead of the second LNG Producer-Consumer Conference in Tokyo the next day, Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and M. Veerappa Moily, India's minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said oil-linked prices for LNG... Read more..

Source: UPI

MPs want to fast track suggestions on wind energy

Expressing serious concern over the sluggish growth rate in the wind power sector, a group of MPs on Monday urged the Centre to constitute a joint committee of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Union Minister of Finance (MoF)to fast track the Parliamentarians’ recommendations on wind energy.

Climate Parliament India Group had submitted key recommendations on Wind Energy to both Environment Minister Farooq Abdullah and Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

According to Sanjay Jaiswal, MP and convener of Climate Parliament India Group, the key... Read more..

Source: The New Indian Express

Schneider Electric solar inverters used in Indian PV plants

Schneider Electric SA (Reuil-Malmaison, France) announced that its Conext Core XC solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters are used in seven out of 15 PV plants reaching the highest Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) in India.

CUF is the solar power output per time and installed capacity of a PV plant. Data for the CUF are part of the performance data released by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for solar photovoltaic plants in the nation for May and June 2013.

 

Inverters made in India

Since the Conext Core XC was launched in 2012, Schneider Electric... Read more..

Source: Solar Server
CSV