Sustainability Outlook Headlines

'Indigenous biofuel can help meet energy demand'

A two-day training programme on 'Integrated Development of Tree Borne Oilseed in Wasteland/degraded land' started at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology on Saturday. Several eminent agri-scientists and faculty members of the university took part in the programme.

Speaking during the inaugural session, Prof Pradeep Kumar Sharma, vice-chancellor, CSA University of Agriculture & Technology said, "India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The development objectives focus on economic growth, equity and human well being. Energy is a... Read more..

Govt plans solar power with pisciculture

The state government has decided to develop up to 150MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) based projects which are to be set up on the 'chaur'/pond where pisciculture is being undertaken. Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited (BSPHCL), the company engaged in planning, promoting and developing the power sector in Bihar, has been designated by the state energy department for undertaking the bid process for selection of private developers.

The selected developers will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with both North and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited.... Read more..

SMC to install LED in all seven zones of Surat

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to replace Street lights at different places with LED in coming days as apart of energy conservation. The initial experiment will begin at pre decided places in all seven zones of the city by March. Standing committee of SMC gave a go ahead to begin the campaign that sees replacing nearly 86,000 street lights of the city. At present SMC pays more than Rs 100 crore as its electricity bills in a year.

On one side it has given stress to generate its own electricity through unconventional sources like Solar, Wind and solid waste,... Read more..

AP receives over 180 bids for solar PV projects

The Andhra Pradesh Government has received more than 180 bids for setting up solar photovoltaic power plants in the State.

On the extended date for solar bids, which ended at 3 p.m. on Saturday, it is learnt that the response was good.

However, details of the participants and the prices they have quoted, will be known later when the bid documents submitted by the participants are scrutinised.

The price quotes will be known on March 1 when the bids are processed. There was indication that the bids could be for projects with total capacity of about 900 MW.

... Read more..

‘State committed to promote renewable energy’

The State government is committed to promoting renewable energy, especially solar energy, in a big way in the State, said R.Viswanathan, Minister for Electricity, here on Saturday.

Given the rapid depletion of fossil fuels for generating thermal power and the limitations of hydro power, it is imperative that the State and the country tapped the vast potential for renewable energy sources.

The Tamil Nadu government has already taken a series of measures to raise awareness and promote renewable energy and wanted to make it a mass movement, Mr.Viswanathan said speaking at... Read more..

India to offer vision statement for Green Climate Fund

The Ministry of Finance on Thursday said it would offer the 'vision statement' for planned $100 billion a year Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The GCF was launched in 2010 by UNFCCC. The proposed fund targets to spend for climate change projects across the globe.

The GCF board has 24 members with equal representation from developed and developing countries.

"The vision statement would set out the objectives of the fund and rules to spend them. All issues would be discussed in Berlin in March," Dipak Dasgupta, Principal Economic Adviser and Head of Climate Change... Read more..

Azure commissions 35 MW solar power plant in Rajasthan

Azure Power, an independent solar power producer, commissioned a 35 MW solar plant in Rajasthan on 12 February, some weeks ahead of the deadline, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

“The plant is an expansion of Azure Power’s existing 5 MW Nagaur PV (photovoltaic) plant to 40 MW, making it the largest solar power plant to be commissioned at a single location under the National Solar Mission,” the company said.

The project supplies power to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. India’s solar mission aims to generate 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022.... Read more..

Land demand to short-circuit solar hopes

The state's plans to address power shortage by depending heavily on solar energy are unlikely to yield the desired results, with companies that volunteered to set up solar energy projects above 50 MW claiming that they need at least five acres for producing one MW electricity.

If the land-power ratio is to be followed, companies venturing into 50-MW solar power projects would need a minimum 250 acres with glaring sunlight, which itself limits the scope for large-scale solar projects in the state.

"But, that's not the board's headache. We have clearly stated that the... Read more..

Finolex Cables to set up solar power plant

A captive 5 MW solar power plant will soon be set up by Finolex Cables Ltd at its manufacturing facility at Urse near Pune with an estimated investment of Rs 40 crore.

The proposed plant, expected to be commissioned within six months, will provide electricity for the internal consumption of the Urse facility, which would be pooled with additional State Electricity Board (MSEDCL) supply for night time operations. "With this in-house experience (setting up of captive solar power plant) we can go ahead and set up larger projects in future," company's Managing Director Deepak... Read more..

Suzlon Posts Its Biggest Ever Quarterly Loss

Suzlon Energy Ltd. Thursday posted its biggest ever quarterly loss on lower domestic sales as the beleaguered wind-turbine manufacturer battles to stay afloat amid high debt and working capital constraints.

Net loss for the October-December period widened four times to 11.55 billion rupees ($214 million) from 2.86 billion rupees a year earlier, the company said in a statement. It was Suzlon's fifth straight quarterly loss.

Revenue for the period fell 19.5% to 40.14 billion rupees.

The average forecast in a poll of three analysts was for a net loss of 5.31... Read more..

Budget 2013: Provide financial incentives for hydro power projects, says FICCI

Emphasising the need to develop clean energy and ensure energy security, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in its pre-budget 2013 memorandum has said that financial incentives should be provided for hydro power projects.

Stating that the challenges faced by fossil fuel based plants should be mitigated, FICCI said that project cost reduction should be encouraged by extending benefits to the construction equipment and material.

"State governments should provide exemptions from local duties," the chamber opines. FICCI has also suggested that... Read more..

Wind bodies petition tribunal over non-enforcement of purchase obligations

Two associations of the wind industry — Indian Wind Energy Association and the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association — have jointly petitioned the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity against several State electricity regulatory commissions and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

They have complained that the commissions have not been enforcing the ‘renewable purchase obligations.’

This comes in the wake of the very tepid demand for ‘renewable energy certificates,’ which the ‘obligated entities’ (electricity distribution companies and large consumers)... Read more..