Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Waste management project moves ahead, corpn begins shortlisting of firms

The Corporation of Chennai has begun the process of shortlisting firms who will build integrated solid waste management plants. Eighteen firms made their presentations on Friday and Saturday.

All the companies dealt with 'waste to energy' models, said a corporation official. "While some dealt with 100% incineration or burning of waste, others dealt with incinerating only non-recyclable and non degradable waste," said a source. Those dealing with partial incineration, proposed setting up gasifiers, and plants that will compost bio-degradable waste and selling off recyclable waste.... Read more..

Global economic growth in 2012, 2013 to be less than expected: IEA

Global economic growth this year and next will be less than expected, the IEA said on Thursday, because of a weaker outlook for China and the US and with the eurozone crisis sapping demand.

An "exceptionally challenging macroeconomic backdrop" over the past two months had forced the IEA to cut its estimates, it said, to 3.3 percent this year from the previous 3.5 percent.

In terms of oil demand, the IEA left its 2012 growth forecast at around 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) to around 89.9 million bpd, with 2013 gaining a "relatively muted" 1.0 mbd to 90.9 mbpd, led by Asia.... Read more..

Govt plans water audit for industry

The government plans to set up an agency on the lines of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to encourage conservation of the increasingly scarce resource, official sources said.

The water resources ministry has also roped in industrial bodies such as Ficci, Assocham and CII to conduct an audit of water consumption by industries.

The government plans to do similar audit for consumption in the domestic and irrigation fronts as well. The ministry, however, ruled out any possibility of rationing the use of water.

"For now we will only issue guidelines. We want to set some... Read more..

Solar sector attracts $4.3 billion funding in April-June

The solar sector attracted total funding of over Rs 24,000 crore through 66 deals, including two Indian transactions -- Reliance Power and Azure Power --, in April-June this year, says a report.

According to the Mercom Capital Group's second quarter funding and M&A activity report for solar sector, global venture capital funding saw a slight uptick with 32 deals amounting to USD 376 million, even in tough solar market.

The report analysed funding on the basis of four categories: project funding, VC funding, debt funding and others.

Two Indian deals -- Reliance... Read more..

Global venture capital funding in tough solar market sees growth with $376 million

Global venture capital (VC) funding in the solar sector came in at $376 million in 32 deals in Q2 2012 compared to $329 million in 34 deals in Q1 2012. Downstream companies have received the most with $133 million in nine deals, followed by thin film companies with $121 million in four deals this quarter.

Two notable Indian transactions were - Reliance Power securing a $103 million loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its 100 MW CSP project and Azure Power securing $70.4 million in long-term financing from the Export Import Bank of the United States to expand its 5 MW solar PV... Read more..

SCS Expands GHG Offset Verifications to Include Landfills, Livestock and Ozone Depleting Substances

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a leading verifier of forest carbon offsets, has expanded the scope of its carbon offset verification services in response to escalating demand created by the launch of California's Cap and Trade program. The company is now accredited to verify landfill gas offsets under the Climate Action Reserve protocol and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and is pursuing accreditation related to the verification of projects that destroy ozone depleting substances (ODS) and livestock methane.

"We are committed to serving the burgeoning compliance offset... Read more..

Suzlon in pact with ReNew Power for supply of 300 MW equipment

Wind turbine major Suzlon today said it has signed a pact with ReNew Power Ventures for supplying equipment for its 300 MW projects in India.

"Suzlon Group has signed an equipment sale deal with ReNew Power Ventures Private Ltd for wind energy projects of 300 MW to be developed across India," the company said in a statement.

It, however, did not reveal financial details of the pact. Suzlon will supply, supervise, operate and maintain the projects, while ReNew Power will act as a developer, the statement said.

The company will, under the firm contract, supply 48 units... Read more..

MNRE to establish firm for generating biomass-based power

In an effort to promote renewable energy sources of power generation in the subcontinent, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is planning to establish a firm based on biomass to generate power and promote on the lines of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The proposed firm would concentrate on promoting and generating biomass-based power as well as executing projects in the nation. This was confirmed by MNRE joint secretary Tarun Kapoor on the sidelines of the 11th Green Power conference in Ahmedabad in Indian state of Gujarat.

As per MNRE data, current... Read more..

Freescale Semiconductor and Melange Systems demonstrates Automated Energy Meter Reading (AMR) technology

Freescale Semiconductor along with Melange Systems showcased a demo on Automated Energy Meter Reading Technology at Freescale office in Bengaluru. The demo addresses the challenges of efficient energy distribution and management by offering technologies that utilize wireless sensor networks, software, and computing to monitor and read energy usage levels and pattern or even spot if there are problems or blackouts in the network. Based on Zigbee technology for which Freescale is a founder member, today meters can be remotely controlled and has interoperability capabilities. The products... Read more..

Panel for making 2% spending on CSR mandatory

A Parliamentary panel has suggested that 2% spending by corporates on CSR activities in the new Companies Bill should be made mandatory to prevent them from escaping the liability by citing one reason or the other.

"The clause seems to provide a security valve for companies by stating... That if a company fails to meet the desired standard, it may get away by providing the reason. Such a statement may, in practice, defeat the very purpose of clause 135," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance said in its report on Companies Bill 2011.

Clause 135 of the Bill... Read more..

Rush for solar projects in Tamil Nadu spurs mega land deals

Investors are recreating the oil rush of a century ago, only this time they are descending with fistfulls of cash on dustbowls and barren tracts in Tamil Nadu's districts like Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, hoping to make big bucks from the harsh sun that shrivels crops and makes these areas almost completely inhospitable.

With the government set to roll out an exclusive solar power policy in a month, there is a mad scramble for land. Buyers are ready to purchase more than 1,000 acres in a single deal to set up solar farms in Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and other barren areas, say... Read more..

Make environment clearance must for miners to move ore dump: Mines ministry

The Union mines ministry has asked the Goa government to make it mandatory for mine owners to procure environment clearance (EC) certificates for moving ore dumps (rejects) that are scattered across the state.

In a letter written to Goa mines secretary R K Verma, the Union ministry has rejected the submission made by Advocate General of Goa last year, in which, he had claimed that 'dump removal does not require environmental clearance'.

"The ministry is of the opinion that since the dumps are a result of mining operations and that their handling involves impact on environment... Read more..