Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Eyeing returns, private equity funds float own ventures

  IDFC Private Equity is looking for partners for Green Infra, a threeyear-young Delhi-based renewable energy company. Nothing unusual about it - after all, private equity investors do resort to mergers to create value - except that the promoter of Green Infra is none other than IDFC Private Equity itself. 

The Mumbai-based firm is not the only private equity (PE) fund that has floated a start-up on its own. Others such as India Value Fund and Baring Private Equity Partners (India) have also turned entrepreneurs even as they go about their primary task of funding businesses for... Read more..

Half of greenhouse gases 'emitted by five nations'

 More than half of all carbon pollution released into the atmosphere comes from five countries, according to a national ranking of greenhouse gas emissions released Thursday.

The first 10 countries on the list, made available during UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, account for two-thirds of global emissions, said the report, compiled by British-based firm Maplecroft, specialists in risk analysis.

China, the United States, India, Russia and Japan top the ranking, with Brazil, Germany, Canada, Mexico and Iran just behind.

Three of the top six nations are energy-... Read more..

Developing nations prevent UN stamp on carbon tax

 A bid to impose carbon tax on aviation and maritime transport has got thumbs down from developing nations with Cuba terming it a violation of the basic principle of the United Nations climate convention of common but differentiated responsibility.

The International Civil 

Aviation Organisation and International Maritime Organisation have proposed carbon tax on the lines of what Europe would be implementing for flights landing there from January 2012.

Speaking at the ongoing Durban Climate Change Conference on behalf of India, China, Argentina, Brazil, Saudi Arabia,... Read more..

Prez appoints panel on increasing agriculture productivity

President Pratibha Patil today announced a high-level Committee of Governors of 14 states to study and recommend steps for increasing agriculture productivity in the country.

The Committee, under the chairmanship of Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab and Rajasthan, will also suggest measures for enhancing profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture sector in India with special reference to rain-fed area farming.

Besides, it will deliberate on the need for formulating requisite policy initiatives and legislative measures, institutional reforms... Read more..

Rural Electrification: India's MNRE provides assistance for off-grid renewables, renewable energy sales and service outlets

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that it is providing financial assistance to develop off-grid renewable energy facilities for lighting and basic electricity generation at more than 10,000 remote villages and hamlets through its Remote Village Electrification (RVE) program.

The objective of RVE is to electrify all the remote census villages and remote hamlets of electrified census villages through non-conventional energy sources such as solar energy (photovoltaics), small hydro power, biomass, wind energy, hybrid systems, etc.

The MNRE also... Read more..

"Carbon Plan" maps out 2050 climate goal cost savings

The government could halve energy use per person and squeeze out additional energy cost savings if it achieves an optimal approach to slashing emissions by 2050, according to a "Carbon Plan" the government announced on Thursday.

That would require a mix of electricity generation from nuclear and renewable sources such as wind, biomass and so-called carbon capture and storage plants.

The government said the most cost-effective path to introducing an 80 percent cut in emissions by 2050 would include a mix with 33 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear, 45 GW of renewables and 28 GW of... Read more..

Warning of threat to UN carbon market

China and Brazil have warned that one of the world’s biggest carbon markets will be under threat if wealthy countries reject their demands for a new phase of the Kyoto protocol.

It is “inconceivable” that the $20bn UN-backed carbon offset market can continue unless countries agree to a second round of pledges under the Kyoto climate treaty after the first round expires in 12 months, China’s chief negotiator told the FT.
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“The issue now is to avoid countries getting away with murder,” said Andre Correa do Lago, Brazil’s chief envoy, in a separate interview. “... Read more..

Punjab fails to treat 60% of sewage

 Punjab has been disposing of 60% of its 1,250 million litre daily (MLD) effluents without treating for lack of sewerage treatment plants, which is agitating environmentally conscious rural and urban voters ahead of assembly elections due in February. 

The fact has been revealed in an academic study that also claimed untreated municipal sewerage is disposed of in rivers by many towns. 

The poor condition of environment has come to light at a time when India is under pressure from advanced countries at the ongoing Durban submit to take more responsibility for saving... Read more..

Suzlon revs up wind power

 Indian wind power giant Suzlon Energy says it aims to sign $1 billion worth of new orders every quarter.

"We are working on value engineering by introducing new products like the S9X series of turbines that will not only enable us (to) reduce cost but also give us a competitive advantage in the market," Suzlon Chairman and Managing Director Tulsi R. Tanti told Press Trust of India.

"With the new technology, we aim to bag orders worth $1 billion every quarter, every year."

The S9X series of low-wind speed, 2 megawatt-class turbines are available in 270- or 327-foot hub... Read more..

Rule changes to ease Australia's carbon task

Australia will reap millions in carbon permit sales and easily meet half its 5 per cent greenhouse reduction target if allowed to claim cuts to land clearing and native forest logging under new global carbon accounting rules, a new report says.

Australian National University climate law expert Andrew Macintosh said the new rules, being discussed at this week's global climate summit in South Africa, would generate ''a significant windfall'' for the Gillard Government.

Under new rules almost certain to be adopted, Australia can claim credits for cutting its deforestation... Read more..

Solar power bidding for 350 MW projects closes today

The bidding for projects under the ‘Batch-II' of the first phase of the National Solar Mission will close tomorrow (Friday). In this round, various solar power developers will bid for projects of 350 MW of total capacity.

The cost of putting up one MW of solar PV capacity today is about Rs 11 crore. Therefore, the bidding process will create a Rs 4,000-crore business in India.

It is not clear if the names of the successful bidders would be announced on Friday. During the Batch-I, it was announced the same day, which helped the Government steer clear of any allegations of ‘... Read more..

‘LED Expo 2011’ International Trade Show Starts December 1 in New Delhi

Press Release
‘LED Expo 2011’ International Trade Show Starts December 1 in New Delhi.
‘LED Expo 2011’, India’s No.1 and largest International Exhibition on LED Lighting Products and Technology will be held from 1st-3rd December 2011 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The 5th edition of this trade show will be inaugurated by Shri. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Hon’ble Minister of Power, Govt. of India. Concurrent to the Expo,  ‘LED SUMMIT’ a 2 day International Conference on the LED Lighting Products & Technology will be conducted.

New Delhi, November 24, 2011 –  Today, artificial... Read more..