Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Bosch to make solar water heaters for multiple users

German industrial major Bosch India will manufacture solar water heaters and steam generators using thermo-technology for multiple users, spanning residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.

"As a major supplier of water heating and comfort heating systems in the thermo-technology space, we will offer commercial, industrial, power boilers and solar water heaters to multiple segments," the Indian subsidiary said in a statement here.

The thermo-technology division will be part of Bosch Ltd and will market the products initially in Maharashtra, Karnataka and... Read more..

PM' council on climate change constituted

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today constituted a high-level panel consisting of cabinet secretary and secretaries from various ministries and departments to assist the Prime Minister's council on climate change.

Chaired by the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, the Executive Committee on climate change will assist the PM's council on climate change in evolving a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the national level.

The panel will regularly monitor the implementation of eight national missions and other initiatives on climate change and... Read more..

Solar PV Demand May Rise 18 Percent This Year, Maxim Group Says

Solar photovoltaic demand may rise 18 percent to 38.2 gigawatts in 2013, led by a doubling of sales in China, Maxim Group LLC analysts Aaron Chew and Francesco Citro said today in a note to investors.

The uptick in demand, from an estimated 32.3 gigawatts in 2012, is driven by “the severe collapse in module prices since 2011,” a trend that may not reverse, the analysts wrote.

“We foresee little upside to profitability for the solar manufacturers albeit a boon to downstream pure-plays” like Solarcity Corp. (SCTY), they wrote. “Even if demand upside leads to tight supply, we... Read more..

BHEL commissions 100 MW hydro project in Vietnam

BHEL  today said it has commissioned a 100 MW hydro power generating set in Vietnam, a development that is likely to open up more opportunities for the state-run major in the fast-growing market.

The leading power equipment maker has commissioned the first unit of the 2x100 MW Nam Chien hydro project in Vietnam. "This success opens a huge market potential for BHEL not only in the hydro segment but also in the thermal and gas based power plant segments in Vietnam which will witness huge capacity additions in the future," BHEL said in a statement.

One of the fastest... Read more..

Tamil Nadu solar tender gets lowest financial bid at Rs 5.97/kwh

The lowest financial bid for Tamil Nadu's plan to set up 1000 mega watt of solar power, India's single-biggest solar tender, has come in at Rs 5.97 per kilowatt hour, experts said. However, state utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd will take a final decision on what will be a workable rate as the bid rate could be too low, they added.

The southern Indian state received bids for only a little less than 500 megawatts. The state has adopted the 'L1' method of bidding process, wherein bidders are asked to match the lowest bid.

... Read more..

AEEE and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation organise Capacity building workshop on Evaluation Measurement & Verification (EM&V) aspects of Demand Site Management (DSM) Programmes for Electricity Regulators and Power Distribution Companies

Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation jointly brought national and international experts to an exclusive workshop on utility Demand Side Management (DSM) for Regulatory bodies on January 21-22nd, 2013, at New Delhi. The workshop, convened by the Forum of Regulators, highlighted potential approaches for developing and undertaking Evaluation, Measurement and Verification (EM&V) of DSM programmes in India. USAID (PACE-DProgramme) also supported the workshop. The workshop is  attended by Chairmen and... Read more..

IFC To Infuse Debt In Bhilwara Energy

IFC is planning to provide an ‘A’ Loan of up to R41 Cr ($7.5 Mn) to Bhilwara Energy Limited to finance a part of the project being developed under SPV - LNJ Power Ventures Limited.

LNJ Power Venture is developing a 20MW wind power project in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, under the Group Captive Scheme in India.

BEL owns 74% stake in the SPV and remaining is held by RSWM Limited (26%).

RSWM is the flagship company for yarn and textiles manufacturing business of the LNJ Bhilwara Group. It operates several manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan. RSWM generates the majority... Read more..

Pennar Ind bags Rs 40-crore orders

Pennar Industries Limited, a Hyderabad-based company engaged in the production and marketing of specialised and engineered steel solutions, has bagged orders aggregating Rs 40 crore.

The orders were awarded by Larsen and Toubro Limited for steel mounting structures for its solar projects, ABB Limited and Lanco Infratech Limited for their solar power systems, and by Ramky Infrastructure Limited for installing and road safety system for a 40-kilometre highway stretch that Ramky is developing.

“These orders indicate our technological capabilities and strong customer... Read more..

Concept of green buildings and township gaining ground in Surat

The concept of eco-friendly and green constructions and townships is gaining ground in the city of Surat that has seen phenomenal growth in the last one-and-a-half decade.

With its population jumping to nearly 46 lakh, compared to 26.45 lakh in 2001, the diamond city and its outer periphery has turned into a high density corridor of growth in terms of human habitation.

"At this rate, in another 20 years, the city would be environmentally ill and unsustainable to live in. We need to put the resource efficiency of energy, water and waste in place along with providing a... Read more..

CPCB to evaluate highly-polluting industrial regions in West Bengal

Amid West Bengal government's repeated appeal to lift moratorium on environment clearance in highly-polluting industrial regions of Haldia and Asansol, a top Environment ministry official on Tuesday said the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB) would take a decision on the same after evaluating the ongoing study in the region.

“The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has hired an independent agency to conduct a fresh study on all regions like Haldia and Durgapur where moratorium was imposed. The report is expected to come on March 15. A decision to withdraw the ban can... Read more..

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation hikes waste management budget

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed to increase budgetary allocation for solid waste management in the city for 2013-14, the corporation's draft budget said.

The draft budget, involving nearly Rs 473 crore receipt and Rs 425.89 crore expenditure, was placed in the corporation meeting on Monday. BMC's budget for the 2012-13 fiscal stood at nearly Rs 452 crore.

While the civic body had made budgetary provision of nearly Rs 26 crore for solid waste management and treatment in 2012-13, it now plans to increase it to nearly Rs 45 crore for the ensuing... Read more..

Sugar factories fail to check air, water pollution

Despite repeated circulars and review meetings by sugar commissioner, air and water pollution by the sugar factories continue to remain unchecked in Pune division. In fact, as compared to 2011, the number of factories penalised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) doubled in 2012.

As per MPCB data, bank guarantee worth Rs 38,50,000 of eight sugar factories in the Pune division had been seized for failing to adhere to the standards laid by the board in terms of discharge of effluents between January and December 2012. The board had seized bank guarantees of Rs 15... Read more..