Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Matrix Partners tipped to invest $15m in Indian renewable energy

Early-stage investor Matrix Partners plans to invest R700m ($15.72m) in India-based renewable energy company Soham Renewable Energy.

Reports suggest that the investment firm is eyeing the acquisition of a 20 per cent stake in the company and that its investment values it at R3.5bn ($78.5m).

This could be the fourth private equity funding round for Soham Renewable Energy in three years.

Matrix Partners is said to be joining DE Shaw, FE Clean Energy and Praxair India in its latest fundraising, according to the Indian press.

Soham Renewable Energy is expected to... Read more..

TATA Power lights up lives of Naraj Marthapur Residents

TATA Power India’s largest integrated private power company is lighting up lives of the people at Naraj Marthapur through renewable energy sources. The Company has installed 45 solar powered streetlights in and around the villages in Naraj Marthapur thereby ensuring that the village common areas which were insufficiently lit before are now replaced with bright lights.

TATA Power has always endeavored to make a difference in the lives of the locals around its area of operations. The installation of solar streetlights is an effort towards providing a robust infrastructure and through... Read more..

India eyes solar-powered UAVs capable of flying for a fortnight

After launching development of stealth UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), India is now also looking at designing solar-powered spy drones which can cruise in the sky for several days at a time.

The high-altitude, long endurance (HALE) solar-powered UAV will not just reduce Indian military's carbon footprint but more importantly provide a cost-effective and flexible 24x7 ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) platform akin to "a pseudo-satellite" orbiting closer to the ground.

The drone will harvest solar energy during the day, storing... Read more..

Himalayan farmers give early pointers on climate change

Himalayan villagers have won the backing of climate science for their suspicions that snow cover, water resources and the ecosystem are changing in their region, a study published Wednesday said.

The authors of the research carried out by Britain's Royal Society say this is the first time that subjective perceptions about climate change have been put to a wide scientific test.

And, they argue, it shows that local knowledge, far from being snubbed or sidelined, can be a useful tool for combatting the climate threat.

Researchers interviewed 250 people living in 10... Read more..

$11 mn IFC loan for Gamesa Wind Turbines

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, would provide $11 million (around Rs 70.4 crore) loan to Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Spain-based wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica SA.

The investment would help the company's investment plan of around $ 100 million (around Rs 630 crore) in India.

IFC said its loan would support Gamesa’s plans to scale up its assembly capacity in India over the next two years.

“Our project with Gamesa represents IFC’s first investment in a wind-turbine manufacturer in... Read more..

Community Demands Closure of Coca Cola Plant as Summer Begins in India

In yet another shocking incidence of groundwater depletion as a result of Coca-Cola's bottling operations in India, government data has confirmed a sharp drop in groundwater levels in Mehdiganj near the city of Varanasi since Coca-Cola began operations in the area in 1999.

The latest groundwater data, obtained from the Central Groundwater Board, validate community concerns that Coca-Cola's operations have resulted in the community being deprived of water, and strengthen their resolve that the Coca-Cola bottling plant must be shut down.

Groundwater levels in Mehdiganj have... Read more..

Green buildings lure premium buyers

Green seems to be the latest buzzword in the construction industry. “There are 1,046 green projects currently underway across India,” said Shabbir Kanchwala, vice-president, project coordination, K Raheja Corp, which is developing six commercial green projects in Mumbai. “Spaces in these buildings co st marginally more than regular projects.”

“Today a green property is priced 2-25% higher, depending on the rating,” said Gulam Zia, national director, research, Knight Frank. “The ratings are based on guidelines set out by Leed-India, run by the Indian Green Building Council and based... Read more..

Harnessing India's Renewable Energy Potential

India's answer to its energy deficit issue has been to implement attractive incentives for clean energy generation. Euromoney Energy Events' 4th Renewable Energy Finance Forum - India (http://www.reff-india.com) looks to match energy utilities, developers, and manufacturers with the financial community in order to forge a new renewable energy identity. On the 24th & 25th of May 2011 at Le Meridien in New Delhi, renewable energy experts will explore the means in meeting this development goal, including how to fill the funding gap.

... Read more..

Eco plan lights up Indian village

AN ENVIRONMENTAL scientist in west Cork has “lit up the lives” of people in a remote village in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Bandon-based Declan Waugh of Partnership for Change, a not-for-profit climate change organisation, worked with Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to establish a solar-powered co-operative in the village.

The project was funded by Partnership for Change, which was supported by the “Lighting a Billion Lives” campaign.

The partnership’s funding helped to install the solar power... Read more..

Govt to draft auto fuel efficiency norms by month-end

After a consultation process spanning over two years ended in a deadlock with car manufacturers, the government has finally decided to frame auto fuel efficiency norms within this month and put them out for public objections and comments in May.

Over the last one year, the government and the car manufacturers have been trying to reach an agreement over a number of aspects like proposed carbon dioxide emission targets, the year of introduction for efficiency norms and five-star rating system.

A technical committee, comprising industry experts and officials of Ministry of Road... Read more..

4 STPs to make Noida 'zero discharge' city by 2021

To achieve the status of being a 'zero discharge' city, the Noida Jal Nigam has proposed to install four new sewage treatment plants (STP) with upgraded technology, at a cost of Rs 155 crores. As per the Master Plan 2021, the installation of these state-of-the-art STPs would not only guarantee a clean environment and ensure better quality of treated water, but also stop the use of ground water for irrigation.

Currently, Noida has two plants, one of 34 MLD at sector 50 and the other of 27 MLD at sector 54. There are also two oxidation ponds of 9 MLD and 5 MLD located at sectors 54... Read more..

5000 J&K schools participating in World’s largest environment project

 “It was a rare moment for the students of High School Dani Sayedan, a remote village in Kashmir Valley when Centre for Environment Education (CEE Himalaya), a national organization, offered them to become “Paryavaran Mitra” while celebrating World Earth Day in their institution.

The world’s largest environment project “Parayavaran Mitra” is a climate change education pro¬gramme aimed at creating young friends of environment who are committed to undertake green actions themselves and motivate the community for conservation of environmentally degrading areas. It will involve students... Read more..