Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Intuit Releases First-Ever Sustainability Report

Software company Intuit released its first-ever sustainability report documenting the company’s progress since launching a corporate-wide sustainability program in 2007.

At that time, the company set four goals for its internal operations and client relations:

1. Consider sustainability in all decisions

2. Engage employees in sustainability goals and culture

3. Increase transparency of sustainability initiatives

4. Solve important customer problems to enable a sustainable community

Early efforts focused on employee engagement and the creation of so... Read more..

Asia solar stocks surge on strong demand hopes

Solar stocks rallied around the world on Thursday , with some surging as much as 20 percent on signs that prices for solar energy components are stabilising.

In Hong Kong, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd was up 13.2 percent, Trony Solar Holdings Co Ltd rose 8.3 percent, Apollo Solar Energy Technology Holdings Ltd firmed 3.5 percent and Solargiga Energy Holdings Ltd climbed 13.2 percent.

South Korea's OCI Co Ltd jumped 14.9 percent.

In Germany, SolarWorld, Centrotherm, Q-Cells and SMA Solar advanced by between 5.2 and 12.4 percent, taking the four top spots in the country'... Read more..

Maharashtra govt to increase power generation via small projects

The state government aims to increase the power generation through private small hydro power (SHP) projects from the present 9 megawatts (mw) per year to 30 megawatts, water resources department (WRD) secretary, CS Modak said.

“Nearly 53 megawatts of power has been generated by the SHP projects in the last six years. We want to achieve an annual target of generating 30 megawatts, in the next five years’ span,” Modak said.

The bureaucrat was speaking at the seminar on “Implementation of Hydro Projects through private participation” held at the Institution of Engineers Hall in... Read more..

Rickshaws in New Delhi go green

If hydrogen is produced from renewable resources in India, it could be a greener alternative for urban commuters in cities such as New Delhi, a minister said.

It took three years and $1 million to complete, but authorities with the U.N. Industrial Development Organization helped India launch the world's first fleet of 15 hydrogen-fueled rickshaws from a station in New Delhi.

Farooq Abdullah, the Indian minister of renewable energy, said hydrogen-powered vehicles would go a long way toward developing a cleaner urban environment.

"If hydrogen is produced from renewable... Read more..

Gamesa sets up Rs 175-crore blade unit in Gujarat

Wind turbine maker Gamesa today said it has set up a new factory in Gujarat to manufacture blades for its turbine systems G5X-850 KW and G9X-2 MW. Gamesa has invested Rs 175 crore to set up the facility which is estimated to produce 390 blades by 2013, the company said in a statement here. The factory will primarily cater to the Northern states which offer promising wind energy potential, the release said. "This marks another step towards cementing our manufacturing base in the country, where we are also implementing our best technology and practices in wind turbine production," Gamesa... Read more..

Solar firm shares rally as panel prices stabilize

Solar stocks rallied sharply on Wednesday, regaining some of the ground lost during last year's steep sell-off, on signs that prices for solar energy components were stabilizing.

Chinese solar companies Hanwha SolarOne Co Ltd (HSOL.O), JinkoSolar Holding Co (JKS.N), JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd (JASO.O), Trina Solar Ltd (TSL.N), Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (YGE.N) led the jump, with gains of 23 to 41 percent.

Most solar stocks had plummeted more than 60 percent last year as prices for the panels that turn sunlight into electricity... Read more..

Praj Industries acquires water treatment company Neela Systems for Rs. 64 crore

Praj Industries has acquired a 50.20% stake in the Mumbai-based Neela Systems for Rs. 64 crore. Praj is a Pune based nearly Rs.553 crore biofuels technology developer and manufacturer of equipment for breweries and distilleries.

According to a statement released here, Praj has the option to hike its stake in Neela from the 50.20% it has acquired now. Following this acquisition, Neela will become a subsidiary of Praj but will continue to operate as an independent entity, Praj has stated.

The acquisition will provide Praj a foothold in the emerging area of water treatment since... Read more..

Auto Expo 2012: M&M plans solar charging stations

 Home-grown automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is looking at solar-powered charging stations to fuel electric cars.

The company, that offers electric cars under the Mahindra-Reva brand, says the group will create the necessary infrastructure to run electric cars.

The aim is to establish self-sufficient charging points even as it rolls out electric cars. "We are working on our electric car Reva, a green car that would run on clean energy. For this, we are looking at charging stations to run on solar power. We are the first company to commission solar power... Read more..

Okhla waste plant to come under green scan

For the next three months, the Delhi environment department and Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) will intensively monitor operation of the Okhla waste-to-energy plant.

Reacting to a TOI report about possible emissions from the plant since it became functional on January 3, the environment secretary visited the area on Sunday and said that while everything seemed to be in order at present, the government would keep a close watch on the plant as work is gradually scaled up in the next few months.

Jindal Ecopolis, the project manager, received a 'consent to... Read more..

KPMG to expand its climate change team globally

 Accountancy group KPMG will expand its climate change and sustainability team globally throughout this year, and is currently looking to fill positions in the US, Australia and India.

In those practices, there is a strong demand for sustainability experts, said Saman Jayalath, global head of climate change, sustainability and infrastructure recruitment at KPMG. He added that biggest need is in the Asia Pacific region.

“Our Australian practice is responding to the recent introduction of new climate change regulations,” he said.

In Australia,... Read more..

Auto Expo 2012: Hydrogen-powered 3-wheeler at expo

The world's first hydrogen-powered three-wheeler, 'HyAlfa', was showcased at the Auto Expo on Monday. Part of a development project dubbed 'DelHy 3w', a fleet of 15 HyAlfa three-wheelers will run on an experimental basis at Pragati Maidan, where a hydrogen refuelling station has also been set up.

India Trade Organisation Promotion ( ITPO) will use the vehicles on an experimental basis. The HyAlfa has been developed under a joint project by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ( UNIDO) International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies ( ICHET), Mahindra &... Read more..

Adani Group commissions country largest solar project

Diversified Adani Group announced the commissioning of country's largest 40 mw solar power plant in Kutch district Gujarat. For India's largest private thermal power producer, the Solar Power Plant marks Adani's first big foray in the renewable energy sector. Going forward, Adani Group is planning to expand the capacity of this plant to 100 mw. The group is claiming to have commissioned country's largest solar power plant in record time of 150 days starting from foundation stone laying to electricity generation.

Mr Gautam Adani chairman of Adani said that "We are pleased to dedicate... Read more..