Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Airtel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 11% per terabyte

Bharti Airtel has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 11 per cent per terabyte in network infrastructure in 2011—12.
“The company has been constantly working along with its partners to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in its operations. The report discloses an 11 per cent reduction in GHG emissions per terabyte in network infrastructure in 2011—12,” Airtel’s sustainability report 2011—2012 said.

The report also introduces the company’s blueprint on ’Social Inclusion’ through which it aims to leverage its network and distribution to digitally enable financial, education,... Read more..

Solar power policy in 2 months

The state government on Thursday said it would put in place a comprehensive solar policy within two months to promote effective use of the renewable source of energy.

Secretary, science and technology, D N Gupta said the policy is expected to be ready within two months. "We are also going to come up with a 'Vision-2020' document for the renewable energy sector. In the next one year, solar power production in the state is targeted to reach 50 MW while we hope to scale it up to 80 MW in the next three years," said Gupta, following a meeting with chief secretary B K Patnaik.

... Read more..

Green Infra Seeking $150 Million for Wind Farms, Considers IPO

Green Infra Ltd., an Indian wind-farm developer backed by IDFC Private Equity, is in talks with at least two investors to raise $150 million.

The funds raised will be used to increase generation capacity to 1 gigawatt from 295 megawatts in two years, Chief Executive Officer Shivanand Nimbargi said in a phone interview from New Delhi. The company may consider an initial public offering in 2015, he said.

India, the third-biggest wind market, is attracting investments as the cost of wind power declines and fossil-fuel imports increases, making renewable energy more competitive... Read more..

Solid Solar plans to electrify rural areas in J&K

In its bid to provide green energy to villages of Jammu & Kashmir, Solid Solar has drawn up an ambitious plan to electrify rural villages through the use of solar energy.

A statement issued here said that the company has provided solar based home lighting systems, solar street lights and solar lanterns to remote and inaccessible villages of the hill state.

“For the last 5 years, use of solar lanterns and solar home lighting system backed by easy financing by J&K bank has emerged as one of the most reliable ,affordable and healthy alternative to conventional... Read more..

PM unveils plan to promote electric, hybrid vehicles

Prime minister Manmohan Singh unveiled the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 on Wednesday. He said it will promote a cleaner transportation system for the future.

The plan had been announced in the 2011 Budget. It aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. India will spend at least Rs.22,500 crore in the next eight years to promote electric and hybrid vehicles, of which the government will provide Rs.13,000-14,000 crore, and the remaining amount will be invested by the auto industry in research and development.

“Electric and hybrid vehicles have... Read more..

Gujarat to promote solar power under REC mechanism

Apex state power utility Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) is going to ink power purchase agreements with solar project developers under renewable energy certificate mechanism soon. The process for the same will start from next month. The state nodal agency for REC Gujarat Energy Development Agency will sign memorandum of understanding with several project developers during two day Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit this weekend.

The agency will scrutinise proposals based on developers' financial and technical capabilities. Welspun Energy, Virat, Phoenix, Unicorn,... Read more..

Mahindra EPC, PR Fonroche to set up two solar plants in Raj

Mahindra Group firm Mahindra EPC and PR Fonroche have joined hands for setting up two solar power plants of total capacity 20 MW at Bikaner in Rajasthan.

"PR Fonroche, a joint-venture between PR Clean Energy (India) and Fonroche Energie (France), has collaborated with Mahindra EPC, a part of Mahindra Group, to commission two solar photo voltaic based power plants in Bikaner, Rajasthan," the two companies said in a joint statement.

One of the two projects was inaugurated on Wednesday in Bikaner on Wednesday.

These projects were awarded under the Jawaharlal Nehru... Read more..

Swelect Energy to invest Rs 22 cr in HHV Solar Technologies

Swelect Energy Systems Ltd plans to invest Rs 22 crore in HHV Solar Technologies Ltd, a Bangalore based company.

This would be done through subscription of equity shares in the company and by purchase of stake held by SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd, Swelect Energy said in a statement to the stock exchanges today.

The board of directors of Swelect had on January 7 approved subscription to 10,15,079 shares in HHV Solar Technologies Private Ltd and purchase of 8,17,391 equity shares from SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd that it held in HHV Solar.

The aggregate investment for the... Read more..

Parker Hannifin India sets up Rs 100-cr factory near Chennai

Parker Hannifin India, a part of the Rs 71,500-crore Parker Hannifin Corporation of the US, has set up a Rs 100-crore factory near Chennai to manufacture components for a wide range of industries.

Thomas Williams, Executive Vice-President and Operating Officer, Parker Hannifin Corporation, said the company has invested over $34 million in Chennai in the last couple of years. India is an important component of the company’s targeted growth in the Asia-Pacific which contributes about 14 per cent of its sales. Parker Hannifin hopes to grow this to about 20 per cent – double sales in... Read more..

Turning reckless dumping into an useful system

The 'fling bag' culture of disposing household garbage on roadsides exposes the inadequacy of waste management infrastructure, but if the system was tweaked to receive the same waste, it would ensure a cleaner road network and environment.

Garbage managers looking from the other end of the spectrum admit that the obnoxious practice of roadside dumping is tarnishing Goa's image as a tourism destination. But instead of blaming "irresponsible citizens", the unsafe disposal can be turned into a useful system to cater to litterers.

The dump site or a place near it can be... Read more..

Environmental concerns fuel demand for water treatment equipment

The Indian water and waste water treatment market is in a growth phase and is expected to reflect high growth rate for the next five years, a recent research by Frost & Sullivan has said.

The research has indicated that the market earned revenue of over Rs 6300 crore in 2011 and is estimated to reach Rs 10230 crore in 2016. Industrial sector is growing at a higher rate than that of the municipal sector, the research said, adding that the power, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, refineries and textiles are generating immense opportunities in the water and wastewater... Read more..

World water experts to lead search for solutions at the International Water Summit 2013

Press release

World water experts to lead search for solutions at the International Water Summit 2013

Influential organizations and water innovators confirm their attendance at the International Water Summit from 15 – 17 January to discuss the water-energy nexus

IWS to offer global investment opportunities and sustainability solutions for the business sector in the Middle East region

Abu Dhabi, 20 November 2012: With 40 per cent of the world predicted to live in water-scarce regions by 2025, the search for solutions will be a key priority for the inaugural... Read more..