Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Chennai: Garbage to make way for green spaces

Corporation of Chennai will invite bids next week from 11 solid waste management companies it has shortlisted for the scientific closure of the Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dump yards.

Now that the civic body has identified four sites outside the city to dump garbage, corporation officials propose to replace the scandalously polluting dump yards within the city with large gardens.

Environmentalists remain unconvinced that the project will be eco-friendly, but the project could lead to a radical improvement in the quality of life of people who live near the dumpsites. The... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Times of India

Mysore, Sweden tie up for biogas plant

If MCC's plan unfolds as expected, Mysore will have a biogas plant in about two years. MCC has signed an agreement with Eskiltuna Energy and Environment (EEE) of Sweden to do a feasibility study in building up a sustainable system for handling organic waste for biogas production. It will serve as a background for preparing a detailed project report and a new sustainable biogas production unit.

"For EEE, this will be the first sustainable system project in India and third outside Sweden. We're working on treating waste water in Indonesia and waste management in China," EEE project... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Times of India

Welspun Energy to set up solar power proj in Chhattisgarh

Welspun Energy today said it will invest Rs 1,000 crore in setting up a 100 MW solar power project in Chhattisgarh.

Welspun Renewables Energy Ltd (WREL), a subsidiary of Welspun Energy, has inked an MoU with Chattisgarh government for installing 100 MW Solar Power project, the company said in a press statement here. The MoU was signed in Raipur.

"The project is to be commenced in 2015, entailing an estimated investment of Rs 1,000 crore," the company said.

With this project, WEL will achieve an annual CO2 emission reduction of 158,118 tonne. The project will de-... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Business Standard

Central Pollution Control Board unveils plans to reduce pollution levels

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has given Noida Authority the responsibility to implement a proper municipal solid waste management system in a time-bound manner as a priority measure to reduce pollution levels in the city.

Through an action plan devised by it, the CPCB has also expressed the need for Noida-based industries to switch over to cleaner fuels like CNG to reduce environmental pollution in the city.

The action plan, devised after consultations with various stakeholders including the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the UP State... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Times of India

Hazardous e-waste lies unattended

Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not been able to bring into force the e-Waste Management and Handling Rules 2011, even six months after they were implemented by the centre.

This has resulted in the non-disposal of a huge chunk of waste that has got collected over the time. Interestingly, the e-waste management guidelines specify that the e-waste cannot be stored for more than 90 days, due to the radiation emitted from it.

"Around 4 metric tonne of e-waste has been collected here," said BMC officials. An estimated amount of 437 metric tons of e-waste is collected on a... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Times of India

Solar power, Amul style

Could the Amul milk cooperative success serve as a model for solar-based electricity in rural India? I believe the “white” revolution can extend to the “light” revolution for 400 million Indians without electricity, who burn kerosene for cooking and illumination. Just as they daily contribute milk to the cooperative, farmers could lease their rooftops or land for solar panels.

Some electricity generated will be for personal use, and the excess may be sold, or stored in community micro-grids for use at night or when clouds block sunlight. Just as a cow is a local,... Read more..

Date : Nov 5

Source: Hindu Business Line

Govt. of India host meeting of Ministers of Renewable Energy of ASEAN countries in New Delhi

The Government of India is hosting a meeting of the Ministers of Renewable Energy of ASEAN countries and India in New Delhi on 7th November 2012. In the meeting, the Ministers in-charge of Renewable Energy of ASEAN member countries and India would deliberate upon and discuss policy and regulatory framework for promotion of renewable energy in ASEAN member countries and INDIA. Financing of renewable energy, cooperation in research and development, technology transfer and... Read more..

Date : Nov 3

Source: India Infoline

Southern Solar to create 100MW solar project in India

Reports state that Southern Solar will build a 100MW solar farm, in phases, in Tamil Nadu, India.

According to RTT News, Gestamp and Zynergy’s joint venture (JV), Southern Solar, will complete the first 25MW of the project by March. It has been noted that Rohit Rahindernath, CEO and MD of Zynergy stated that the Southern Solar will buy 202 hectares in the Madurai and Ramnad districts, with the JV planning to sell the power generated by the plants directly to industrial consumers.

Supposedly, the JV has already signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with possible buyers... Read more..

Date : Nov 3

Source: PV Tech

India, Canada to spur n-deal during Harper's visit

India and Canada, an energy giant, are poised to take forward their civil nuclear deal and expand their trade and agricultural ties during the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper here.

Accompanied by a large business delegation, Harper will Sunday begin his six-day visit here that will also take him to Bangalore, Agra and Chandigarh.

He will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh focusing on fast-tracking the 2010 India-Canada nuclear deal and ramping up cooperation in diverse areas, ranging from counter-terrorism to trade, agriculture, energy and natural... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Yahoo

Interface unveils Fotosfera

The product supports Interface's strategy to reduce its reliance on virgin petro-chemical raw materials and delivers strong environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Global carpet tile manufacturer Interface is striding ahead in its Mission Zero quest - to eliminate its impact on the environment by 2020 - with the unveiling of its first ever truly commercial carpet tile made from plant (or bio) based nylon. Fotosfera consists of yarn exclusive to Interface that is made from castor plant oil produced in rural communities. The product supports Interface's strategy to reduce its... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: India Infoline

Pidilite's Dr. Fixit launches unique energy consumption systems for buildings

With Global temperatures risen significantly over the years, weather elements like sun and rain play havoc with life and durability of concrete construction.

Dr. Fixit, one of the leading waterproofing brands in the country from the house of Pidilite, unveiled its Low Energy Consumption (LEC) systems. Dr Fixit LEC is a green and sustainable waterproofing and insulation system for roofs and walls, based on a layered built up system that permanently water proofs roofs and walls from rain lash, hot and cold temperatures which in turn lead to... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: India Infoline

Trojan Battery Named Finalist for Intersolar India's "Solar Projects in India" Award for Spice Village Eco-Resort Project

Trojan Battery, the world's leading manufacturer or deep-cycle batteries, has been named as a finalist for the Intersolar "Solar Projects in India" award. The company and its partner, Team Sustain, were recognized for their Spice Village eco-resort project. Finalists were selected based on exceptional, pioneering projects in the fields of Solar Building, Industrial and Commercial Use projects based in India.

WHEN: The Intersolar “Solar Projects in India” award winner will be announced at Intersolar India, held in Mumbai, on Nov. 6, 2012 at 4 p.m.

... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Renewable Energy World

Feature: India catching up in solar energy development

The rising cost of conventional power, largely driven by increasing raw material exports and the growing cost of putting up green-field facilities coupled with the steady decline in solar power costs could result in solar projects reaching grid parity by 2014, a new study by KPMG India has suggested.

Grid parity is the point at which the cost of solar power equals the cost of utility power from conventional sources.

"The positive feature of the last two years has been the development of capacity in the ecosystem, triggered by the ( Jawaharlal Nehru) National Solar Mission,"... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Youngsters bringing in innovations in renewable energy; new techs are reducing dependence on fossil fuels

At an age when most people are still wondering what to do with their lives, 25-year-old Abhishek Humbad is showing through his startup NextGen that being eco-friendly can also mean good business.

NextGen, which turns organic waste into energy and fertiliser, has teamed up with Mahindra & Mahindra-the largest genset provider to telecom towers in India with a 50% market share-and its unique bio-compressed natural gas will power more than 500 telecom towers.

The Bangalore-based startup's bio-CNG will replace diesel in gensets for telecom towers and is 30% cheaper.

"... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: The Economic Times

Renewables and gas firms unite to build low carbon future

A group of energy giants will today launch a new alliance aiming to change the public perception that gas and renewable energy developers are inherently operating in opposition as Europe seeks to advance its low carbon economy.

The so-called Energy Partnership will be launched today in Brussels by its founding partners Alpine Energie, Dong Energy, First Solar, GE, and Shell.

The companies said they are aiming to promote the use of gas alongside the growth of renewables by creating policies that effectively integrate the two technologies.

They maintain that both gas and... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Business Green

India HFC-23 emissions may rise if CDM boon ends - former official

Moves to curb offsets issued to emission reduction projects that destroy HFC-23 could result in a steep rise in emissions of the highly potent greenhouse gas as governments are unlikely to force or pay companies to destroy it instead, former Indian climate negotiator Prodipto Ghosh said Tuesday.

Currently 19 plants that produce the refrigerant gas HCFC-22 earn carbon credits under the U.N.'s Clean Development Mechanism by destroying the waste gas HFC-23, a tonne of which has the same heat-trapping impact as 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Many countries want the U.N.... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Reuters India

3M India launches ‘3M Tubular Daylighting Device’

3M India’s Architectural Markets Division, today will showcase their new sustainable lighting system, ‘3M Tubular Daylighting Device’. The 3M Tubular Daylighting Device (TDD) combines nature with state-of-the-art technology to provide energy that is 100% green and comes with all the physiological and economical benefits of natural sun light.

3M’s Tubular Daylighting Devices effectively transport sunlight from the roof into interior... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: India Infoline

Segregation at source is critical

The past eight weeks have been an eye-opener to anyone who lives in the Garden City or has passed through our, now, Garbage City which has over 20,000 tonnes of mixed waste strewn all over.

What can we do to partner towards a clean city? Segregating waste at source is critical. Once you segregate 750 gms to 900 gms of green kitchen waste per day per person, you can easily compost that either in a khamba, or earthen pot, or aggregate that waste from apartments and do it collectively.

Realty apex body Credai took up this issue with members and many apartment complexes are... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Times of India

New panel to inspect work at dumping grounds

Admitting that serious problems are plaguing the city’s solid waste management system, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now decided to form a technical advisory committee (TAC), consisting of independent experts, to chart out a roadmap for the three dumping grounds in the city — at Deonar, Mulund and Kanjurmarg.

Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner, said: “We will form the TAC in the next three days. It will study the progress at the dumping grounds and submit its recommendations to us on the next step.”

Sources said that the committee would... Read more..

Date : Nov 2

Source: Hindustan Times

Solar City project back on track

A Union government project to make Thiruvananthapuram a ‘Solar City’ is showing signs of revival. The project lay dormant for two years, until the last Corporation Council meeting.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had decided to make Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi ‘Solar Cities’ under the 11th Five Year Plan.

The council meeting adopted a resolution to formulate a Solar City Cell and a Stakeholder Committee, essential prerequisites for the project as underlined in the Ministry guidelines.

The Solar or Green City... Read more..

Date : Nov 1

Source: The Hindu

Power supply in southern states hits all-time low

Four southern states plunged into deep crisis with power shortage in the region touching all time low of 5,558 MW on Tuesday. Tamil Nadu with a shortfall of 3,000 MW is most affected as Karnataka invoked section 11 of the Electricity Act to prevent private power generators in the state from selling power outside the state. This was the first time such a drastic step was taken recourse to

in the country, analysts said. Tamil Nadu and AP are also mulling such drastic steps to tide over the crisis.

Relief from the power cuts are short lived as shortage of power in the state... Read more..

Date : Nov 1

Source: Times of India

India Glut of Renewable Energy Credits Surges to Record

A glut of renewable-energy credits in India surged to a record in October as state electricity utilities failed to comply with clean-energy targets.

The number of credits available for sale topped 1 million, exceeding the number of buy bids by more than four times, according to data from REConnect Energy Solutions Pvt., a trader based in the central Indian city of Indore. The oversupply drove the price of a credit down to 1,500 rupees ($28), the minimum set by the country’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The government requires power distributors, steelmakers,... Read more..

Date : Nov 1

Source: Bloomberg

Nissan, Daimler plan solar power projects

Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd have said they planned to use solar energy to power some of their requirements in future.

Date : Nov 1

Source: Business Standard

CII, Green Business Centre to encourage hybrid off-grid energy solutions

The CII and Green Business Centre are working on hybrid off-grid energy solutions to empower the rural parts of the country while making telecom towers part of the solution.

"We have partnered with Rockefeller Foundation based in the US and completed several pilot projects in Bihar. The off-grid power solution seeks to use rice husk for power generation and this is then supplied to local people by charging them for supply," Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman of CII Godrej GBC and Chairman of Godrej & Boyce Co. said.

He told Business Line, "We have... Read more..

Date : Nov 1

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Beyond Recycling: On the Road to Zero Waste

Zero waste is both a goal and a plan of action. The goal is to protect and recover scarce natural resources by ending waste disposal in incinerators, dumps, and landfills. The plan encompasses waste reduction, composting, recycling and reuse, changes in consumption habits, and industrial redesign. The premise is that if a product cannot be reused, composted, or recycled, it just should not be produced in the first place.

Just as importantly, zero waste is a revolution in the relationship between waste and people. It is a new way of thinking about safeguarding the health and... Read more..

Date : Nov 1

Source: Huffington Post