Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Makers to be forced to recall energy inefficient products

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is planning to force manufacturers of energy star rated consumer durables to recall their products till they achieve the promised performance norms, said a senior official here Wednesday.

"We have recommended that manufacturers should recall immediately from the market their products once we prove that they do not meet the energy efficiency norms. Today companies have two months' time to set right the deficiencies in their product, though nothing prevents them from selling the faulty products," S.P. Garnaik, energy economist at BEE, part of... Read more..

India proposes 10GW of solar energy between 2012 and 2017

The government of India has issued a proposal to add approximately 10GW of solar energy to the grid between the years 2012 and 2017. The proposal has been submitted to the Indian planning commission and the full proposal further includes targets for other energies, such as wind power, bio-power and hydropower. The Indian Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission has a target of adding 20GW of solar energy to the national grid by 2022.

Goldman sets $40 bln clean energy investment plan

Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to channel investments totaling $40 billion over the next decade into renewable energy projects, an area the investment bank called one of the biggest profit opportunities since its economists got excited about emerging markets in 2001.

Goldman executives said this week that demand for alternative energy sources will grow with global energy demand, and as big manufacturing countries, including China and Brazil, set more aggressive targets for reducing emissions. The bank plans to finance deals with clients' money and, to a lesser extent, its own funds... Read more..

Policy uncertainty threatens capacity addition in wind sector

The wind power industry fears that capacity addition will suffer due to policy uncertainty. Specifically, the generation-based incentive scheme that offered 50 paise a unit of electricity has not been extended. The industry is hoping that the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy will get this scheme extended for the 12{+t}{+h} Plan period too.

Besides, the facility of accelerated depreciation – which allowed a higher depreciation for calculating taxable profits in the first year of buying the wind turbine – has been discontinued from April 1. Those putting up wind turbines for... Read more..

Low-cost solar thermal solutions launched for Indian industries

Maharishi Solar Technology has announced the launch of its parabolic trough, which it describes as “a low cost solar solution for Indian industries”. The technology is a result of the strategic tie-up with Abengoa Solar, a world leader in delivering solar technology solutions.
Low-cost solar thermal solutions launched for Indian industries

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Pradeep Khanna, CEO, Maharishi Solar Technology (P) Limited said, “We are pleased to launch Parabolic Trough in India, a technology that can save million tons of fossil fuel that is being used annually. It is an... Read more..

Which countries produce the most wind energy?

The world was producing nearly 238 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy as of the end of 2011, with the fastest development of new capacity taking place in China and India.

That total comes to about 3 percent of the world’s current electricity consumption, according to the World Wind Energy Association.

Together, China and India accounted for more than half of newly installed wind power last year, notes the Global Wind Energy Council. It was the second year in a row in which wind energy capacity growth was dominated by countries outside the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-... Read more..

Vapi returns to top, is again most polluted in India

The polluted underbelly of state’s industrial development has come back as a grim reminder of what’s hidden under the facade.

In Central Pollution Control Board’s interim report 2011 of Environmental Pollution Index, Gujarat has the dubious distinction of playing host to the most polluted industrial cluster of the country in Vapi. Gujarat along with Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of industrial sites/clusters figuring in the list.

This was revealed in the 2011 interim assessment report of Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) done for CPCB. Additionally,... Read more..

No Permission Required for Solar Energy Projects

There is no requirement of getting “go ahead” from the Government of India for setting up solar projects. There are some schemes under which some support is provided as per guidelines contained therein. The Government is encouraging setting up solar energy projects.

The Government has brought out schemes for setting up grid connected solar power projects and to promote various off grid applications. In addition, the Government notified reduced customs duty and exemption from excise duty on all items of machinery required for the initial setting up of a solar power generation project... Read more..

EU confronts post-2030 renewables policy vacuum

The EU is facing an energy policy vacuum after a firm set of policy goals for renewable energy, carbon cutting and energy saving expires in 2020.

To open a policy debate on what happens next, the Commission is preparing a communication on renewable energy, for an expected publication next month.

A draft version, which may change, predicts that unless new policy goals are agreed until 2030, a business-as-usual scenario would limit the growth of renewable energy to a 25% share of Europe’s energy mix by 2030, and a 29% stake by 2050.

The sector's growth would decline from... Read more..

100 pc fund for solar projects in NE likely

The Centre is likely to clear the proposal for hundred per cent funding of solar power projects in the North East, with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy endorsing the demand of the Power Ministers of the region.

Replying to a supplementary question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah announcing that he wanted to share ‘one good news’. “I met the Power Ministers of the North East, and the North East gets 90 per cent assistance from the Government of India.”

But all the Power Ministers of the North East... Read more..

Lessons from Paris to make Indian cities healthier

Paris is a city changed, for the better. When I last visited it 16 years ago, as a young, poorly travelled person at their first job, I liked it as tourists do.  Last week, I saw it with older, green eyes. I was struck by the success of its cycling programme. If you are fairly fit in Paris today, and the weather tolerable, you don't need a car. Metro apart, there are hundreds of cycles to rent. In this city of 11 million, well-dressed men and women frequently whizz by. This in the midst of a very motorised city with full car parks.

Indian cities should learn. Our air pollution... Read more..

To Help Ensure Operational Readiness, Navy Recruits Players for Online Wargame to Tackle Energy Challenges

The Navy's Energy and Environmental Readiness Division (OPNAV N45), together with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) invites civic and military collaboration in energyMMOWGLI (Massive Multiplayer Online Wargame Leveraging the Internet).  The game will build on efforts to improve the U.S. Navy's combat capability and energy security, particularly by promoting energy efficiency and diversifying its energy supply (use of alternative energy), which will ultimately reduce reliance on fossil fuels from overseas.

Scheduled to run for 3 days starting this Tuesday, May 22, energyMMOWGLI will... Read more..