Sustainability Outlook Headlines

EU carbon row may hit India carriers

Indian airliners who refuse to provide carbon norms to the European Union (EU) under the latter’s new emissions trading scheme could lose flying rights to the continent, said Joao Cravinho, head of the EU mission in India. He also said India had taken the lead in opposing this tax given

that its “relatively young fleet” of planes was well below “the world average” when it came to emissions — implying they would probably not have to pay anything.

The EU’s extension of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to airplanes flying into the continent would require polluting... Read more..

Date : Jan 24

Source: Hindustan Times

MMC says yes to capping of Sonsoddo dump

The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) at its special meeting held on Monday has given its nod for the capping of the Sonsoddo garbage dump in a scientific manner as recommended by solid waste management consultant P U Asnani.

Speaking to TOI after the meeting, chief officer of the MMC J B Bhingui said that the MMC will now invite expressions of interest (EoI) from interested agencies fordesigning the closure of the dump and preparing a detailed project report (DPR) based on which tenders will be invited for executing the work.

The plan will now be placed before the high... Read more..

Date : Jan 24

Source: Times of India

AMC adopts green methods to bring down energy consumption

In an attempt to cut down on "soaring" electricity bills, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to use green and energy-efficient techniques to reduce power consumption by almost 35 per cent.

The AMC has decided to construct all its new projects as green buildings, convert its main energy consuming establishment to solar powered one and change all the city street lights from high pressure sodium vapour lamps to energy efficient LED lights.

"During this financial year, the AMC has paid a total of Rs 149.11 crore towards the electricity bill, the expenditure... Read more..

Date : Jan 23

Source: Economic Times

Maharashtra plans to revive Sakri solar project in Dhule

The Maharashtra Government is trying to revive the Rs 2,000-crore Sakri solar power project in Dhule, northern Maharashtra.

The 150-MW project hit a major hurdle in 2011 when the State Forest Department objected to the site of the plant, as it was a declared forest under Government records.

Efforts are on to get the forest clearance by March, so that the project can be back on track.

The mega solar project was declared in May 2011, a debt of about Rs 1,600 crore was also tied up with KFW Bank of Germany.

The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco... Read more..

Date : Jan 23

Source: Hindu Business Line

Indian factories fail to move up on competition ladder

Smaller economies such as Thailand, Mexico and the Philippines once again outperformed India in a global industrial competitiveness index.

The country ranked 42nd on UNIDO Competitiveness Industrial Performance Index 2009, unchanged from 2005. Thailand, Mexico and the Philippines stood 25th, 30th and 33rd, respectively, according to the latest UNIDO report on industrial development 2011.

Simultaneously, India's share of manufacturing value added in the world increased to 1.69% in 2009 from 1.38% in 2005, making it one of the top 10 contributors to global manufacturing.

Date : Jan 23

Source: Economic Times

Burning waste: IMA warns of serious consequences

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has warned the authorities against the decentralized waste management system for the city advocated by the state government.

Experts at a district seminar organized by the IMA warned the authorities of serious health consequences if they go ahead with the plan. "The idea proposed by the civic authorities to dig pits and bury the waste in it or to burn the waste in public places will have serious consequences. Burying of waste could contaminate the ground water, especially in a city like Thiruvananthapuram. The burning of waste too is not... Read more..

Date : Jan 23

Source: Times of India

Nations opposed to EU emission tax to meet next week

Nations opposed to the European Union's new ruling on carbon emissions are meeting early next month to discuss retaliatory action, a top Indian government official has said. The meeting may take place either in Delhi or in the Russian capital, Moscow, and will discuss a joint plan against the EU measures which have angered most countries of the world.

Last year, the European Union imposed a carbon emissions tax on all airlines flying into the continent in an effort to control carbon dioxide emissions, which are blamed for an increase in global temperatures. The proposal... Read more..

Date : Jan 23

Source: Economic Times

Burning waste: IMA warns of serious consequences

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has warned the authorities against the decentralized waste management system for the city advocated by the state government.

Date : Jan 23

Source: Times of India

10 educational institutions bag Wipro Earthian Award

Even as water sources dry up, and our increased consumption of energy takes its toll on an already battered eco-system, it becomes essential that development is environmentally sustainable.

And it is to emphasis this to students that the Wipro Earthian Award was instituted by Wipro Ltd. Out of the 800 essays and papers from schools and colleges on themes related to sustainable development, 10 schools and colleges were presented awards at a ceremony here on Saturday.

Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro Ltd, who distributed the prizes, said that the current education system... Read more..

Date : Jan 22

Source: The Hindu

Energetic lighting eyes Rs 500 crore revenue in two years

California-based Energetic Lighting is targeting Rs 500 crore revenue from its Indian venture in next two fiscals.

Energetic Lighting India is a Joint Venture between the parent American firm and China's Yankon Group.

"We closed last fiscal year at Rs 140 crore and in the next financial year we are targeting to reach close to Rs 500 crore. We are expanding our distribution network so we expect more turnover from this channel. We have a tie-up with C-Quest Capital for distribution of CFLs under the government's Bachat Lamp Yojna (BLY)," Energetic Lighting India... Read more..

Date : Jan 22

Source: Economic Times

City gets its first solar panel-powered pumps

The first Renewal Energy Assisted Pump (REAP) system was installed at All India Panchayat Parishad in Mayur Vihar phase I. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the system at a function organised on Friday.

According to officials, REAP is an easy-to-install

submersible pump connected to a water tank with an especially designed motor powered by a solar panel. The system is capable of meeting the water storage and pumping needs of users in both rural and urban areas.

"This technology has been developed by BSES Yamuna Power Ltd in collaboration with... Read more..

Date : Jan 22

Source: Hindustan Times

New tech to boost solar cell efficiency

Researchers have devised a new technology, which can dramatically increase the amount of sunlight that solar cells convert into electricity up to 45 percent.

With military colleagues, the University at Buffalo engineers have shown that embedding charged quantum dots into photovoltaic cells can improve electrical output by enabling the cells to harvest infrared light, and by increasing the lifetime of photoelectrons.

Researchers Vladimir Mitin, Andrei Sergeev and Nizami Vagidov have founded a company, OPtoElectronic Nanodevices LLC. (OPEN LLC.), to bring the innovation... Read more..

Date : Jan 22

Source: Times of India

India Misses Solar Target With 20-Fold Jump in Capacity in Year

Indian solar power capacity expanded 20-fold in the past year to at least 356 megawatts, a third of the targeted level, after infrastructure, financing and weather- related delays, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The country planned to install 1,233 megawatts of central government, regional and pilot projects, the researcher said.

“Many projects in Gujarat state were delayed because of transmission infrastructure problems, rains, and delays in financial closure,” said Bharat Bhushan, Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s New Delhi-based solar analyst. Some are just being... Read more..

Date : Jan 20

Source: Bloomberg

BARC biogas plant for Kovalam

A solution to the vexed issue of garbage disposal at Kovalam, near here, is in sight with the government giving the green signal for setting up a five-tonne innovative biogas plant developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

The Rs.1.18-crore Nisargruna biogas plant, developed by the Technology Transfer and Collaboration Division of BARC, Trombay, for effective management of solid waste, will be set up on 50 cents owned by Kerala Tourism at Mayakunnu behind the popular Light House beach.

Official sources told The Hindu that the government had issued orders... Read more..

Date : Jan 20

Source: The Hindu

Can’t burn Carbide toxic waste here: State

The Maharashtra government has denied permission to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to burn toxic waste left behind after the Bhopal gas tragedy at the hazardous waste incinerator in Navi Mumbai. The CPCB had sought permission for a trial run to burn 10 metric tonnes (10,000

kg) of toxic waste lying at the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. The factory was shut after poisonous methyl cyanide gas leak killed more than 20,000 people in December 1984. The total toxic waste at the factory is 364 metric tonnes.

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)... Read more..

Date : Jan 20

Source: Hindustan Times

Power only to buildings saving energy

Power distributors will henceforth not give electricity connection to buildings not conforming to energy conservation code, official sources said on Thursday.

Engineer in chief (electricity) Surya Narayan Mishra, who is the state designated agency (SDA), for implementing Energy Conservation Act-2001, said a workshop of all stakeholders, including power department officials and builders, will be held to enforce the Orissa Energy Conservation Building Code (OECBC) 2011.

Under the OECBC, notified in 'The Orissa gazette' in July 2011, all buildings except manufacturing... Read more..

Date : Jan 20

Source: Times of India

Government to modernise power usage calculations: Sam Pitroda

The Indian government is planning to set up a "Smart Meter Task Force" that will look into modernising the "primitive ways" of calculating power usage, tech czar Sam Pitroda said Monday.

"It is amazing to see how India - which is a super power in Information Technology - lags terribly in the power sector. It is really annoying to see our primitive ways of providing power - be it evacuation, grids, meters or even the way we manually calculate power consumption till date," said Pitroda, advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on public information infrastructure and innovations.... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Economic Times

Railways to go on green drive

The Railways is adopting an environment-friendly attitude and is now mulling over combating energy crisis.

It is planning to set up a solar energy producing plants and self-sustaining hydro-electric plants at vacant railway lands in the country.

The plans were announced by Union Railway Minister H Muniyappa at the Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight organised at the Bangalore Palace Grounds. Muniyappa said: “Conservation is only one part of the energy crisis. To combat the crisis, we have to develop alternative energy sources that can be used instead of fossil fuel,” he said... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Daily News Analysis

India’s Rich Halt Power Plans in Setback to Prosperity: Energy

Soaring coal prices across Asia have led India’s richest families to shelve plans for a record $36 billion investment in new power stations needed to fuel growth in the world’s second-fastest-growing major economy.

Billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Power Ltd., Gautam Adani’s Adani Power Ltd. (ADANI) and Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Energy Ltd. (JSW) are among companies that mothballed plans to build 42 gigawatts of capacity, Association of Power Producers’ data show, equal to 68 percent of the government’s target for the five-year period that ends in March. While the government sets retail... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Bloomberg

Basic countries to work together for Durban platform

To have a united footing before next round of climate talks in Qatar, the Basic group – India, China, South Africa and Brazil --- has decided to discuss their strategy before individual countries make their submissions for the Durban platform before end of this February.

The climate talks

of 195 nations in Durban, South Africa, had decided to initiate Durban Platform to agree on a new climate treaty by 2015 to be ratified by individual nations by 2020. Each country is required to make submissions of what it wants in Durban Platform by February 28.

As the new climate... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Hindustan Times

Government: Okay with Chinese solar cells if they meet quality standards

The government says it has no objections to imports of low-priced Chinese solar cells as long as they meet prescribed quality standards.

This comes as a setback to domestic manufacturers battling cheaper Chinese imports. Last week, the government rejected a plea of domestic players seeking imposition of import duty on finished solar equipment.

"The market will always bend towards the products which are low-priced. But, yes the quality matters," said Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary, ministry of new and renewable energy.

The Indian government's stand is in... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Economic Times

'BHEL, solar panel units coming up in Bhandara'

Manganese Ore India Limited (Moil) is going to start a CBSE school at an investment of 60 crore in the district while Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited ( BHEL) is establishing a manufacturing unit at Sakoli taluka, said union minister Praful Patel on Tuesday. He also said that a solar panel manufacturing unit will also come up in the district soon.

Patel was felicitated by Congress MLA Anil Bawankar at Sihora (taluka Tumsar) on Tuesday for having facilitated the completion of Sondya Tola lift irrigation scheme. Ex-MP Keshaorao Paradhi was also present.

Highest... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: Times of India

Energy Geopolitics To Shift Farther East By 2030

Changing patterns in global fuel demand will shift issues around energy security farther eastward, as Chinese and Indian demand for hydrocarbons outpaces anticipated supply and their dependence on oil and gas imports increases to previously unseen levels, Christof Ruehl, BP PLC's (BP, BP.LN) chief economist, said Wednesday.

"By 2030, China's import dependency will be higher than the U.S.'s has ever been...this will be another faultline for energy security," said Ruehl, who was presenting BP's Energy Outlook 2030 report.

The forecast is a further sign that geopolitical... Read more..

Date : Jan 19

Source: NASDAQ

India to End Wind Farm Tax Break Next Fiscal, Official Says

India will discontinue a tax break for wind farms starting in April, the beginning of the financial year, potentially stalling growth in a $3 billion market dominated by turbine-supplier Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL)

“Accelerated depreciation will go away in April,” Dilip Nigam, director of wind policy at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said in an interview in Mumbai today.

General Electric Co., Siemens AG, and Spain’s Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica SA (GAM) are expanding wind-turbine manufacturing capacity in India in a bid to take market share from Suzlon,... Read more..

Date : Jan 18

Source: Bloomberg

China set to launch first caps on CO2 emissions

Seven provinces and cities in China are to set caps on their greenhouse gas emissions, following a directive from central government. It's the first time the Chinese government has called for any absolute caps on emissions, having so far preferred softer "carbon intensity" targets.

The move is a first step towards establishing carbon trading markets in China and further evidence of the country's commitment to tackling climate change, says Felix Preston of Chatham House, a foreign-policy think tank based in London.

On 13 January China's National Development and Reform... Read more..

Date : Jan 18

Source: - http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21361-china-set-to-launch-first-caps-on-co2-emissions.html