Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Electric energy storage is key to smart grid

Electric energy storage systems are crucial for the further development and transformation of a range of sectors including renewable energy, automotive, grid stabilization, smart grid, back-up power and portable devices. Big scale, reliable and durable electric energy storage technologies will enhance the usage and commercial attractiveness of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.

Market Penetration and Road mapping research by Frost and Sullivan finds that electric energy storage systems are inscribed in the development strategies of intermittent... Read more..

Green buildings are gaining ground in the real estate market

Green buildings are gaining ground in the real estate market . Soon, there is every possibility that such buildings would become a norm one day.

The concept of green buildings is not just a simple trend that's gaining momentum in real estate construction but it is also an approach and its importance would only continue to rise. Vishal Jumani , Managing Director, Supreme Universal says, "The benefits of green buildings are immense for the end users in the long-run with the net energy savings being 20-30 %, water savings being 30-50 % in both landscape and bathrooms, better air... Read more..

Solar Power bids below Rs 9 per unit risky: CRISIL

Solar power is emerging as an important source of power in India with the Government of India pushing through policies to meet its larger agenda of encouraging green power and diversifying its energy mix. The Gujarat state solar policy and the centre’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) are at the forefront of solar power development in India, with the Gujarat solar policy contributing to almost 70 per cent of the capacity additions in 2011-12.

In addition to government support in the form of solar power purchase obligations for state distribution utilities, a rapid... Read more..

Global Environment raises Rs.700 cr fund

Sustainable forestry-focused private equity (PE) firm, Global Environment Fund (GEF), has raised a Rs.700 crore, small and medium enterprises (SME)-focused South Asia fund dedicated to India—the first niche fund of its kind in the country.

In its maiden investment from this fund, GEF South Asia Fund and the International Finance Corp. (IFC) have committed $11.5 million to Bangalore-based energy efficiency firm Kalki Communication Technologies Ltd, according to Raj Pai, managing director, Global Environment Fund Advisors India Pvt. Ltd.

“India is a maturing market; it needs... Read more..

Airlines ask for financial help to develop biofuels

Airlines need government support to make biofuels more affordable in order to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, the head of the global aviation industry group has said.

Around 1,500 commercial flights have been made using fuel made from plants and waste products, but supplies are limited and costly, said Tony Tyler, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association.

“We need governments to adopt policies to help support commercialisation of biofuels to bring up the volume and bring down the price,” Mr Tyler said.

The industry is under increasing... Read more..

Nationwide survey on e-waste soon

A nationwide survey to quantify the electronic waste (e-waste) generated in the country will be carried out by central and state agencies. The proposed exercise is expected to help government and private companies meet the challenge of managing the waste.

"The survey will also determine the type of the waste, its source, destination and other aspects related to treatment of the waste. The earlier surveys were confined to top 10 cities, but now we aim to reach smaller cities as well," a senior official of Central Pollution Control Board told ET. A 2005 survey predicted e-waste... Read more..

India, China to account for 50% emissions

Noting that little progress has been made in stemming climate change, a UN report has pointed out that India and China will account for more than half of transportrelated emissions in the world which are set to increase 57 per cent by 2030.

The fifth edition of UN Environment Programme’s Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-5) also considers Asia-Pacific as the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions globally due to rapid economic growth in the past 20 years and pointed out that the region will constitute around 45 per cent of the global energy-related carbon dioxide... Read more..

Arpan to generate power from solid waste

Agartala-based Association for Research on People and Nature (Arpan) has planned to set up a plasma gasification plant in the city to manage the growing solid waste here. The organization has also trained as many as 30 female entrepreneurs on manufacturing carry bags with waste paper and cloth.

Arpan vice president D Daschoudhury on Wednesday said the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) had been facing problems in dumping solid wastes and recycling non-degradable desecrates generated by city dwellers. "AMC does not have trained manpower and proper infrastructure for solid waste... Read more..

GreenBrilliance Commissions 800kWp Solar PV plant in Narnaul, Haryana

India is projected to be a solar power house in the next decade with the implementation of its progressive renewable energy schemes. GreenBrilliance a global solar energy provider has tapped the potential proudly announces one its prestigious projects completed in partnership with Chandraleela Power Energy Pvt. Ltd.

"We are very thankful to Chandraleela for choosing GreenBrilliance as the turnkey solar energy provider for their very prestigious and immense solar power plant project. The Solar plant in Narnaul is a testimony to fine workmanship and the capabilities of GreenBrilliance... Read more..

Clean energy target for FY13 raised sharply to 4,125 mw

With a pick up in momentum of new capacity addition, particularly in the solar sector, the union government has fixed new capacity addition target of 4,125 mw, reported to be the highest annual target, for the ongoing financial year.

Though April has seen only a modest capacity addition, solar sector, for the first time has added little more capacity than wind in a month. During April this year, 104 mw of gird-interactive renewable energy capacity was added and solar and wind segments accounted for 38 mw and 37 mw respectively, while the rest was added from biomass and small hydro... Read more..

Less than 5 per cent of total e-waste in India recycled: Assocham

Less than five per cent of India's total electronic waste (e-waste) gets recycled due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework, industry body Assocham said today.

In its analysis on the World Environment Day, it said that India, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of about 20 per cent, annually generates over 4.4 lakh tonnes of e-waste.

Almost half of all unused and end-of-life electronic products lie idle in landfills, junkyards and warehouses, it said.

Computer equipment accounts for almost 68 per cent of e-waste material followed by... Read more..

Maruti Suzuki invests in new age technologies, adopts tougher environment targets for 2012-13

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited released its extensiveenvironment strategy to bring down emissions of its operations and reduce greenhouse emission of its vehicles on the eve of World Environment Day here today.

On the occasion, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO said, ¿We have a well thought-out plan to minimise resource use, to become a greener Company and safeguard the environment. As we expand our business and put in newer facilities, our focus will be to adopt and invest in new environment friendly technologies and practices to minimize the impact of... Read more..