Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Narmada plant model to light up UT solar park

The UT solar park would be built on the pattern of Narmada solar power plant in Gujarat on a stretch of land along seasonal PatialakiRao, where water flows only during two to three months.

At the same time, the Municipal Corporation will initiate installation of solar-based LED traffic lights, solar street lights, building integrated solar photo voltaic (PV) and other relevant solar products on a priority basis.

The ministry of new and renewable energy had identified Chandigarh as one of the 60 cities to be developed as a solar city as part of the national mission of solar... Read more..

Date : Jul 30

Source: Times of India

For better energy management

A group of foundries here, mainly in the micro, small and medium-scale segment, will take measures to improve energy efficiency.

The initiative is a cluster programme by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in association with other industrial associations and government agencies.

Ayumi Fujino, UNIDO representative for India, told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the organisation has identified 12 clusters in the country in five sectors — foundries, dairy, brass, hand tools and ceramic.

In foundries, the clusters in Belgaum, Indore, and... Read more..

Date : Jul 29

Source: The Hindu

State pitches for first geothermal energy plant in country

Even as the Centre plans to table a geothermal energy policy in the winter session of Parliament to streamline and expedite projects in the country, Gujarat made a pitch to set up the first geothermal energy plant at an international conference held at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) here on Friday.

Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are the few states which plan to set up projects with capacities of 3-5 MW. All these projects involve companies like ONGC, Mitsubishi and NTPC.

"We are proactive on the... Read more..

Date : Jul 29

Source: Indian Express

GM workers fudged Tavera test engines to meet emission norms

General Motors India, the Indian arm of the Detroit-headquartered automaker, has admitted to the government that an internal probe had revealed the company violated testing norms and its employees re-fitted already approved engines in new Tavera models sent for inspection in order to meet specified emission norms.

The company has also acknowledged that the weight of several of its models was manipulated to comply with less stringent emission norms. In a letter to the government on July 18, GM India said it had suspended production and sales of two Tavera variants after it '... Read more..

Date : Jul 29

Source: Economic Times

Goldman’s ReNew says India wind-forecast rule will erase profits

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s ReNew Wind Power Pvt. said an Indian rule requiring wind farms to predict output will lead to penalties that will wipe out profits in the industry.

ReNew joins Tata Power Co., both among India’s largest renewable-energy utilities, in voicing concern as wind-farm developers seek a court injunction against the directive ordering day-ahead forecasts for generation. India’s electricity regulator will fine developers if predictions aren’t correct.

“The level of accuracy they’re asking for isn’t possible,” said Sumant Sinha, chief executive officer of... Read more..

Date : Jul 29

Source: Livemint

Over 1759 MW of projects commissioned under National Solar Mission

Over 1759.43 megawatts (MW) of grid connected solar power projects have been commissioned in the country as on 31 May 2013, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).

The JNNSM programme is the ministry of new and renewable energy's three-phase approach to encourage the adoption of solar power in India, and is being done in different batches under the three broad phases.

Eleven projects of 50.50 MW capacity under migration scheme, 26 projects of 130 MW capacity under Batch-I of the solar mission and 69 projects totalling 88.80 MW of small capacity power... Read more..

Date : Jul 28

Source: Times of India

India’s SBI Warns Solar Tariff Cut Will Curtail Funding

State Bank of India, the nation’s biggest lender, is drafting a letter to a state regulator warning that a move to backtrack on contracts by reducing the price of solar power will curb investment.

The state buyer of solar power in Gujarat state is seeking approval to cut the rate paid to plants by 28 percent. The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission is evaluating whether to accept the case. A decision is due next month.

The petition alone will have “an adverse impact on investors’ outlook,” Rajat Misra, senior vice president of the infrastructure group at SBI Capital... Read more..

Date : Jul 28

Source: Bloomberg

Union Ministry denies forest clearance to mega power project at Dibang and Tipaimukh

After the Uttrakhand disaster which killed thousands of people, the Union of ministry of environment and forests is cautiously approaching in according forest clearance to mega hydro power projects in Northeast India.

The ministry has denied forest clearance to the 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydel project in Manipur and the 3,000MW Dibang multipurpose project in Arunachal Pradesh.

NHPC Limited is the implementing agency for 3000 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project. For Tipaimukh hydel project the joint venture implementing agency include NHPC and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) and... Read more..

Date : Jul 28

Source: Economic Times

GPCB gets tough on units violating pollution norms

In a move to effectively implement comprehensive environment pollution index (CEPI) action plan of 2010, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has asked 80 industries of Ankleshwar to dispose their refractory effluent waste in a proper manner.

These units have been asked to dispose off their waste into multiple effective evaporator system (MEES). Forty of these units have been issued closure notices by the board asking them to comply with the norms failing which their units would be closed down.

J D Kalyani, regional officer of GPCB at Ankleshwar said, "An effluent known as... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Times of India

Three months imprisonment for non-segregation of waste at household in Karnataka

Any person convicted for five times for failing to segregate dry and wet waste at households would be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or fine of Rs 1,000 or both.

The state government on Thursday tabled the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2013, to impose penalty for littering, spitting, urinating, open defecating, or committing other acts of nuisance on road, bus station, railway station, street, playground, park and other premises of public utility.

Individuals failing to segregate waste will be punished with a... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Times of India

Gujarat government announces new Wind Energy Policy

Gujarat government on Thursday approved Wind Energy Policy to expedite and encourage development of wind power generation activities in the state, said a top minister. The 25-year policy will exempt the power producers from electricity duty and allow captive use, seeks to utilize 1,600 km of state coastline and waste patches of barren land for the generation of wind power. The state plans to have its 10% of its total installed capacity from renewable sources.

"The new policy is expected be an added fillip to the activities concerning wind energy installations in the state," said... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Economic Times

Promote solar energy in Delhi: Farooq Abdullah to Sheila Dikshit

Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah today called on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and asked her to promote solar energy in the national capital.

Abdullah particularly requested Dikshit to consider setting up of a solar energy park near the Delhi Secretariat to generate at least five mega watt of power daily.

The Delhi Secretariat, which houses offices of the chief minister and all other Delhi ministers, currently has a daily energy demand of 2.5 mega watt.

Dikshit while responding to the proposal, stated that her government is keen to harness... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Economic Times

Neepco plan to tap solar, wind power

The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (Neepco) is embarking on a plan to generate at least 1500MW power from non-conventional sources of energy, especially by tapping solar power and wind, in the next five years.

Talking to TOI, Neepco CMD P C Pankaj on Wednesday said the upcoming 101MW gas-based combine cycle Monarchak power project will add 5 MW power to the grid from next January.

"As part of clean development mechanism at Monarchak, we have installed the first such initiative in the region to tap solar power. Similar... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Times of India

Copious inflows into reservoirs boost hydel power generation prospects in AP

Copious inflow into various reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh from neighbouring States of Karnataka and Maharashtra has begun to boost storage levels and the prospect of power generation from hydel stations.

HUGE INFLOWS

Rain over the past two weeks both in the upper reaches and also in the catchment areas of the reservoirs have brought huge inflows into Godavari river in particular and now into reservoirs in Krishna river course.

The Almatti, Narayanpur and Thungabhadra dams are close to their top levels forcing authorities there to let out water lifting the crest gates.... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Hindu Business Line

KSEB plans solar unit with state funding

Solar power projects, it seems, are not having a smooth run even under the aegis of the state electricity board.

After its efforts to source financial assistance for a 1 MW grid-connected solar power generation unit at Kanjikode in Palakkad turned futile, the board has decided to explore the possibilities of completing the project with assistance from the state government.

It was following directives from the state government that KSEB approached National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for financial assistance for... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Times of India

Fukushima cleanup to cost $5.8 billion

The clean-up after the Fukushima nuclear disaster could cost up to 5.81 trillion yen ($58 billion), five times more than earlier estimated, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology said in a report released on Tuesday. The costs include removal, transport and safe storage of radiation-contaminated soil over a large area. The government has allocated about 1 trillion yen so far.

"We hope the study will be helpful in drafting plans for decontamination of forests and farmland, as well as plans for residents to return to their homes," the institute said... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Times of India

Ford joins greenhouse gas reporting programme

Detroit biggie Ford on Tuesday became the first automaker to join a voluntary greenhouse gas reporting programme recently established in India. Participation in the India program builds on Ford's leadership in greenhouse gas reporting. The company already participates in similar programs in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Voluntary reporting provides overall transparency regarding the company's CO2 emissions and underscores the importance of the issue to Ford, which has a goal of reducing CO2 emissions at its global facilities, including two in... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Times of India

Greenko to Invest 350 Million Euros in Indian Hydro and Wind

VANDANGreenko Group Plc (GKO), an Indian clean-energy developer, plans to invest 350 million euros ($463 million) this fiscal year in onshore wind and hydropower plants in India as it targets 1,000 megawatts of capacity by 2015.

The company, which has 806 megawatts of projects operating or under construction, wants to bring online 250 megawatts of new wind power capacity this year, Mark Thompson, director of corporate finance for Hyderabad-based Greenko, said by phone. It expects to invest about 350 million euros this year and “roughly” the same next year.

“We are at this... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Bloomberg

India’s Solar Developers Object to Retroactive Tariff Cut

SunBorne Energy Holdings LLC, backed by billionaire Vinod Khosla, Moser Baer India Ltd. (MBI), and three other companies asked a regulator to dismiss an attempt by the government of the Indian state of Gujarat to cut the tariff paid for solar power.

The five solar project developers argued for the dismissal at a hearing held by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission yesterday saying such a move would violate laws, according to Hemant Sahai, a lawyer representing the group.

The developers are objecting to measures proposed by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., the state-run... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Bloomberg

Climate Smart Village model to be implemented in Bihar

The Climate Smart Village model is a unique initiative by Climate Change Agriculture, Food and Secuirty (CCAFS) in India, undertaken currently in Haryana and Bihar, to promote agriculture practices that will mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture and help communities adapt to climate change to ultimately become resilient to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and delayed monsoons.

Climate Smart Agriculture involves a portfolio of interventions that are chosen to suit the local environment and the community's needs. These are adopted at... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Times of India

India seeks to revive interest in wind sector

The government plans to revive interest in the wind energy sector by reintroducing tax and fiscal incentives that were removed last year, a move that a lobby group alleges caused a fall of 1,500 megawatts (MW) in wind power generation in 2012-13.

Specifically, the government is considering the reinstatement of accelerated depreciation benefits, which reduce tax and strengthen cash flows, and generation-based incentives (GBIs).

The Indian Wind Power Association grouping has been lobbying for such a change and the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has now drafted a... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Livemint

BHEL bags contracts worth Rs 132 cr

State-run BHEL today said that it has bagged two contracts worth Rs 132 crore from NTPC for executing two solar power projects at Unchahar in Uttar Pradesh and Talcher in Odisha.

“BHEL has won turnkey contracts for setting up two eco-friendly grid-connected solar power plants of 10-MW capacity each at Unchahar in Uttar Pradesh and Talcher in Odisha,” the company said in a statement.

Valued at Rs 132 crore, the orders have been placed by NTPC for setting up the solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plants, each having 10-MW capacity.

BHEL’s scope of work envisages design,... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: Hindu Business Line

26 solar power developers to invest Rs 2500-3000 cr in Punjab

If everything goes well according to the plan conceptualised by the Punjab government, top solar power developers namely Lanco Solar Energy, Punj Lloyd Infrastructure, Moser Baer Clean Energy, Essel Infra Projects, Asopus Infrastructure (India Bulls), Welspun Solar Punjab , Azure Urja etc would commence operations in the state by next year.

Taking a step in this direction, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal handed over letter of awards to 26 developers for 250 MW solar power projects having joint investment of Rs 2500-3000 crore and more than 2000 job opportunities in... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: Business Standard

India adds 566 mw of green power in Q1

India added modest capacities of renewable power during the first quarter of the present financial year even though it was higher than the capacity added during the first quarter of the previous financial year. The first quarter of the present financial year saw just 13 per cent of the capacity addition target for the present financial year.

Wind continued to account for a major share as the total installed capacity of wind power in the country is expected to breach 20,000 mw in the coming quarter.

The grid-interactive... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: mydigitalfc.com

Tata Power's solar plant produces 43 m units in FY13

Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power utility, announced on Tuesday that it had generated 43.386 million units of solar power from its 25 MW facility at Mithapur in Gujarat in 2012-13.

Spread over 100 acres, the solar plant uses crystalline silicon photo-voltaic technology.

Tata Power, through its 100 per cent subsidiary Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the project with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd, Anil Sardana, Managing Director, said here.

Since its commissioning and declaration of commercial operations in... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: Hindu Business Line