Sustainability Outlook Headlines

GEF, IFC to invest $11.5m in Kalki Communication

International Finance Corporation (IFC) and a fund managed by Global Environment Fund (GEF) are looking to invest $4.5 million in energy efficiency firm Kalki Communication Technologies Pvt Ltd. The deal would also include another $7 million investment for the second and third round of funding for the Bangalore-headquartered company.

GEF is making the investment through its South Asia Clean Energy Fund, L.P. IFC is investing $1.35 million in the first round through quasi-equity or convertible instrument.

Kalki Communication is a technology company providing products... Read more..

Date : Mar 28

Source: VC Circle

PROINSO strengthens global presence with new branches in Australia and India

PROINSO is growing globally and it has announced the opening of two new branches in Australia (Brisbane) and India (Mumbai). So currently, with these two new branches, PROINSO has a total 12 around the world, which confirms its interest in emerging solar PV markets.

At present, PROINSO has 32 Indian and 12 Australian Qualified Installers in its International Network. They are local companies with at least three years’ experience in the solar industry and have teams of engineers and installers capable of designing and carrying out solar projects.

The new... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: PROINCO News

India's high tariffs, local sourcing norms could harm investment, says US

India on Monday raised with the US the issue of a ‘sharp jump' in rejection rate of temporary work visas to Indian professionals. On the other hand, the US sought opening up of India's multi-brand retail trade to foreign direct investment.

The bilateral talks between the US Secretary of Commerce, Mr John Bryson, and the Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, here also saw India taking up the issue of an early conclusion of bilateral Totalisation Agreement (social security pact).

Besides, India invited US' participation in the proposed National... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Japanese aid to be sought for bolstering power transmission network

A proposal aimed at strengthening the power transmission network at a cost of about Rs.3,573 crore has been sent by the State government to the Union Ministry of Economic Affairs for seeking financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

K. Shanmugam, Principal Secretary (Finance), told reporters that the proposal had been prepared by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO).

Earlier, in the Assembly, Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam said that during the current financial year, an all-time high assistance of Rs.7,913.35 crore... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: The Hindu

ITI may enter renewable energy business

The State-run ITI Ltd is planning to enter diversified businesses such as renewable energy.

R Chandrasekhar, secretary, DoT and chairman, Telecom Commission and KL Dhingra, CMD, ITI signed a MoU for the year 2012-13.

The thrust areas of MoU include pursuing growth opportunities in telecom sector and exploiting diversified businesses such as renewable energy. The MoU envisages that ITI concentrate on revival plans with due approval of the Government agencies.

The company has committed to follow DPE guidelines for the corporate governance, corporate social... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: Telecom Lead

Neeri meet to assess enviroment impact

With increasing awareness about environment, society in general and environmental activists in particular have become conscious about the impact of industrial and other development projects.

With a view to equip its own scientists with latest tools and techniques of Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment (EIRA) and scientists from different parts of the country, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) is organizing a three-day international conference from Wednesday.

The conference 'Recent Developments in Environmental Impact Assessment and Integrated... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: Times of India

Margao Municipal Council invites expressions of interest for solid waste management projects

The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from professionals from across the country for empanelment of consultants for solid waste management (SWM) projects of the civic body at Margao.

Besides providing expert guidance to the MMC in the task of capping the existing garbage dump at Sonsoddo on scientific lines, the selected... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: Times of India

India's new energy companies being 'crushed' by Chinese: Farooq

Country's new energy companies were being "crushed" due to the dramatic slashing of prices of solar equipment by Chinese industry and the government will have to adopt regulatory measures to safeguard Indian interests, Union minister Farooq Abdullah said in New Delhi on Monday.

Addressing a meeting on new energy, the Union minister for new and renewable energy said, "The price of these panels has come down basically from China. Our own industry is suffering because these Chinese are bringing the prices of their panels down so dramatically to crush our industry."

The minister... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: Hindustan Times

US to help India develop clean energy projects

The United States Trade Development Agency Monday signed two deals with Indian firms to help develop clean energy projects. The deals will generate Indian demand for US equipment worth over USD 250 million.

Under the first deal, the agency will support a feasibility study for development of a rural micro-grid solar power project that will bring electricity to remote villages in India.

The second deal is related to the implementation of smart grid technology in Kolkata.

"India has ambitious energy infrastructure development goals. We are pleased to join this trade... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: New Kerala

Rinac India launches energy efficient refrigeration system Cool Barn

Integrated engineering company Rinac India today launched " Cool Barn", an energy efficient refrigeration system for cold storage facilities, and aims to garner 20 per cent market share in this segment.

The system is suitable for hospitality, food processing and horticulture industries, Rinac India Ltd CEO R Krishnan said in a statement.

"With this launch the company is looking at capturing a market share of 20 per cent over the next couple of years. Currently, the size of the refrigeration systems market is about Rs 200 crore", the company said.

RINAC expects at least... Read more..

Date : Mar 27

Source: Economic Times

Azure power to asses potential of solar powered micro-grids for rural India

Independent power producer Azure Power awarded a grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to assess the development and accelerate adoption of solar power in rural India.

The $ 476,670 grant will fund a feasibility study on two 500 kW micro-grid solar photovoltaic power generation pilot projects in the states of Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

Having spearheaded the national initiative of grid-connected solar power projects that are over 1 MW in capacity, Azure Power will, with this study, open up the potential of electrifying rural India through solar... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Economic Times

Experts inform villagers about sustainable farming

A farmers' training workshop on bio-fertilizers was organised at Iswar Saran Degree College on Sunday. Farmers were informed about sustainable agriculture, microbial diversity and recent advances made in the farming sector. Principal of the college, Anand Shankar Singh said, "Bio-fertilizers are more beneficial in our agriculture production system. Vast natural reservoir of nitrogen in the atmosphere and unavailable phosphorus sources can be trapped as additional sources to meet our requirement along with production of growth promoting substances and soil conditioners."

Richa Tandon... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Times of India

Orissa targets 50 MW solar power generation in 2012-13

As part of its efforts to tap potential of solar power in a big way, the Orissa government has set a target of 50 MW from this renewable energy source in 2012-13.

“Presently, 10 MW solar power is being produced in the state. This apart, the process of developer selection is completed for generation of additional 25 MW. For 2012-13, we have set solar power generation target of 50 MW”, Ramesh Majhi, minister for science and technology said in the state assembly.

Similarly, 20 MW is being generated from bio-mass. In addition, Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Gridco) has signed... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Business Standard

Waaree Successfully Completes 3MW Solar PV Project in Gujarat for Abellon Clean Energy Ltd

Waaree Energies Pvt Ltd - a company operating in the field of engineering, construction and supervision of solar energy power plants in India, and manufacturer of solar PV modules - has successfully completed engineering procurement and construction of a 3MW Solar PV Power Plant for Abellon Clean Energy Ltd at Sabarkantha District, Gujarat.

Quoting Mr. Pankaj Patel, President - Abellon Clean Energy Ltd, "We are very happy to complete our maiden 3MW Solar PV project. It is good to see that people are now moving towards solar power generation and this industry is picking up in India... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: PR Newswire

Technology for a greener future

After eight months of pottering about in the lab, 22-year-old Nandan Kulkarni tasted sweet success when he managed to develop a technology that uses sugar bagasse – a waste product from sugar mills - to generate electricity. “The technology does not require any costly resources,” said Kulkarni, a fourth year undergraduate student of the Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT-B). “On an average day, sugar mills generate around 200 tonnes of bagasse and this can easily be used to generate part of the electricity that the mills require.”

Kulkarni’s project was one of the entries... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Hindustan Times

Allahabad University to start integrated MTech in earth system sciences from this session

The Allahabad University would start an MTech programme in earth system sciences from the coming academic session.

Informing about the programme which will be the first-of-its-kind in the country, head of the department Avinash Chandra Pandey said that atmospheric and ocean science is an emerging interdisciplinary branch of science which has a direct societal impact. Keeping this in mind and due to a great demand for improved knowledge of atmospheric and ocean sciences, climate change, Indian monsoon and weather prediction in research and development, the AU has decided to start... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Times of India

Green Vizag not far away, says Chief Minister

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has envisioned a bright future for Visakhapatnam in view of the international air connectivity provided by the Visakhapatnam–Dubai Air India flight.

He planted saplings on the airport premises on his arrival from Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon.

The initiative to plant 40 lakh saplings in the next five years was taken by Rajya Sabha Member T. Subbarami Reddy, who had roped in various Public Sector Units to contribute to the project as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

Addressing a meeting organised on the occasion, the... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: The Hindu

IITM widens scope to study climate change

The environmental information system (ENVIS) centre at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune is all set to expand its subject area from acid rain and atmospheric pollution to include climate change.

The centre will have wider scope for dissemination of information through a web portal, query answer service, workshops and public lectures.

The Union budget for 2012-13 has recognised the ENVIS programme of the ministry of environment and forest as 'centres of excellence'. A hike in the budgetary allocation from Rs 6 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 7.6 crore in 2012-... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Times of India

PM invites Korean investments in solar, nuclear sectors

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked South Korean businessmen to help India expand its burgeoning solar and nuclear power sectors by investing in these environment-friendly technologies.

"We are committed to increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewables, including solar and nuclear power, in our energy mix," Singh told a group of top Korean CEOs here.

Among the CEOs present was Kim Joong-Kyum of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) which has interests in nuclear power that meets 45 per cent of Korea's electricity requirements.

"There will be... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Deccan Herald

In 3 months, Ravipuram to get solar crematorium

Kochi Corporation is teaming up with the Rotary Club to build a crematorium that will work on biogas and solar energy in Ravipuram.

The existing firewood-based crematorium would be dismantled once the new one becomes operational.

Town Planning Committee chairman K J Sohan said it would take three months to finish the work. He added that the premises would be spruced up with landscaped surroundings.

On Monday an MoU between the local body and Rotary Club would be signed in the presence of K Babu, minister for fisheries, excise and ports, during a function to be held at... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Times of India

US company says solar mission sourcing 'self-destructive'

A US-based photovoltaic cellmaker has termed the sourcing policy under India's national solar mission as "self-destructive" and said it discourages competition.

Maja Wessels, First Solar's executive VP, global public affairs, said prices of solar photovoltaic cells are not coming down due to lack of competition. "It makes more sense for India to open up for foreign manufacturers instead of protecting its own. The government needs to facilitate price reduction and competition."

India plans to add 1,000 MW of solar power projects by 2013 and achieve 20,000 MW by 2022. Under the... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Economic Times

GreenField bags software solution order from IDFC

GreenField Software has bagged a contract from IDFC for providing energy efficiency and sustainability management software solutions to the company.

"We are extremely confident that IDFC will see ample value of this implementation by improving their operational and energy efficiency, reducing energy costs and managing and reporting their sustainability performance with respect to power consumption,e-waste and emission in their Data Center," said Shekhar Dasgupta, Founder and CEO, GreenField Software.

GreenField Software said it is betting big on banking, telecom,... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Economic Times

Civic body aims at waste-free district

The district panchayat will ask the Pollution Control Board to issue closure notices to slaughter houses in panchayats that function without waste-processing plants. District panchayat president Ramani P Nair said this at a post-budget press meet.

"We are bent on making every panchayat self-sufficient in waste management. That is why a huge sum is being allocated to each panchayat for installing bio-gas plants. Slaughter houses without such plants will be dealt with seriously. The Pollution Control Board will be asked to issue notices to them,'' said Ramani.

The panchayat is... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Times of India

Cost escalation hits Jawaharnagar solid waste management project

Even as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is struggling to mobilise funds for the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Project for scientific disposal of garbage, the project developer M/s Hyderabad Integrated MSW Ltd (earlier Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd) has raised the project cost by Rs 74 crore.

The project developer announced the commencement of its commercial operations at Jawaharnagar dumpyard last month but it is likely to take off after a public hearing that is due to be held on March 29. While the approved project cost of ISWM is Rs 434 crore, the... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Times of India

Solar lanterns bring light for Manipur villages

Hundreds of people thronged a daylong camp set up by the Assam Rifles at their headquarters in Manipur's Chandel District, where the paramilitary force distributed 200 solar lanterns to 27 villages which face an erratic supply of electricity.

"We already decided to distribute solar lanterns in the villages of hill areas in the beginning of this financial year. We procured it through the organization headed by Dr Pachouri and today we are distributing it to different village chiefs so that it will help the villagers in their daily lives," said U K Gurung, Inspector General, Assam... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Newstrack India