Sustainability Outlook Headlines

SunEdison to invest $100 million in India in 2011

SunEdison, a subsidiary of US-based MEMC Electronic Materials, plans to invest around $100 million in India this year, to install 30 Megawatt (MW) solar power capacity in 2011.

MEMC manufactures wafers for semiconductor chips and solar panels as well as in financing, development and running of large scale solar power plants. SunEdison manages over 350 commercial and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems around the world.

In India, SunEdison is present at Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, with 100 employees. "We plan to double up our operations this year... Read more..

German Min Agrees With Solar Industry On Solar Subsidy Cuts

German environment minister Norbert Roettgen said Wednesday talks with the country's solar energy industry have resulted in an agreement that subsidies for electricity produced from photovoltaic solar facilities need to be cut to contain rapidly rising costs.

"The industry and I have agreed...that there need to be a reduction in [solar electricity] subsidies," Roettgen told delegates at the annual Handelsblatt energy conference in Berlin.

He didn't provide details on the agreed reduction in subsidies.

The environment ministry earlier Wednesday said it would host a... Read more..

Carbon Friendly Becomes Majority Shareholder of Microcoal - Yahoo Finance

Carbon Friendly Solutions Inc. (CNSX: CFQ) ("CFS" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the amendment of the share purchase agreement in connection with the acquisition of MicroCoal Inc. ("MCI" or "MicroCoal"), as announced January 11, 2011, has been approved by the MicroCoal shareholders.

By signing the amendment, the MCI shareholders agreed to consummate the share exchange and receive 10,957,778 common shares of Carbon Friendly stock at a price of CAD$ 0.27, which equals a total of US$ 3 million (based on 1 USD = 0.9862 CAD; Bank of Canada January 17, 2010). CFS has... Read more..

ExxonMobil dismisses that climate change can be prevented

The world's largest oil company, ExxonMobil has predicted that carbon emissions will rise to nearly 25% in the next 20 years, dismissing hopes that climate change can be arrested and massive loss of life prevented. This is the conclusion of the company’s annual Outlook for Energy report, due to be published in the next few weeks. 

The demand for energy will increase by nearly 40% in the next 20 years, lifting carbon emissions by around 0.9% a year at least until 2030. Beyond... Read more..

BP: Renewable energy will outpace oil growth in 2030

Renewable power sources will outpace oil as global energy demand surges nearly 40% in the next 20 years, according to an industry forecast released Wednesday by energy giant BP.

Most of the expected increased in energy demand will come from emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil, according to "BP Energy Outlook 2030." Such non-OECD countries (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development), which will account for 93% of the demand growth, will boost their share of demand from just over half currently to two-thirds.

At the same time, energy... Read more..

Centre approves 9 solar power projects for Haryana

The Centre has approved the establishment of nine solar power projects with a cumulative generation capacity of 8.8 megawatts in Haryana by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). 

These projects will get commissioned by September this year, an official release said here today. 

Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) had earlier invited proposals from IPPs for installation of solar power generation plants of 100-kilowatt to 2-MW capacity in the state under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. 

The state government subsequently gave approval to the... Read more..

First electronic solar rickshaws for postmen in India

The district will be the first in the country where the postmen will distribute the postal stuffs through green vehicles which will run by solar energy. The first of its kind centre of electronic solar rickshaw for distributing postal work is started in Ajmer on Monday by the Union Telecom and IT minister of states Sachin Pilot, promising to increase IT services in the remote villages of the country. 

Five eco friendly solar auto rickshaws were distributed to the postmen to distribute posts in the different parts of the district. The department will look to the result of... Read more..

Gujarat gets solar energy association

In order to bring together the stake holders in the solar energy sector in Gujarat, a group of industrialists have launched a Solar Energy Association that will address some of the key issues relating to the land acquisition, share holding pattern and changes in the terms of PPAs signed with the government.

Dr J.J. Irani, director, Tata Sons, recently launched the association in Ahmedabad. Commenting about the need to streamline the renewable sector in the country, Irani informed that though the new technology (solar energy) is likely to be costly, it will turnout to be... Read more..

Asia’s First Tidal Power Plant to come up in India

The Indian state of Gujarat has cleared plans for the installation of India’s first commercial tidal power plant. The proposal to build a tidal power plant with an initial capacity of 50 MW was made by London-based marine energy developer Atlantis Resources Corporation.

The company has signed a MoU with the government of Gujarat to set up the power plant by 2013. The plant is likely to be scaled up to a capacity of 250 MW at a cost of about $165 million. The project will be developed in partnership with the Gujarat Power Corporation Limited.

Describing the current... Read more..

Solid waste management cess doubled

The Mysore City Corporation on Thursday decided to double the cess collected for the solid waste management. The cess has been doubled equally for domestic, commercial and industrial establishments except for the property measuring less than 1,000 sq ft where the hike will be 75%.

Though there were opposition to double the taxes, the council gave its assent after a downward revision of rates for the property measuring less than 1,000 sq ft. The House got the proposal forwarded by the health, education and social justice standing committee after it okayed the move.

The basis... Read more..

Hindustan Zinc Reports 150 MW Expansion in Wind Power Generation Capacity

Taking its green energy initiative a step further, Hindustan Zinc Limited announced an addition of 150 MW capacity to its existing Wind Power generation capacity of around 125 MW.

The project spans the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In line with existing wind power sales, the additional power generated will also be sold to the respective State grids, the Company said. The Company perceives wind power generation as a financially and environmentally viable solution for meeting India's growing energy requirements.

According to a release, the Project... Read more..

Konark Group plans 100 MW renewable projects in Gujarat, Rajasthan

Mumbai-based Konark Group, which is into textiles, plans to set up 100 MW of solar and wind power projects at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.

The power unit will be a subsidiary of the group's listed entity, Konark Synthetics, which is into yarn and garments.

Konark has received an allocation of 5 MW in Gujarat. Land has been identified in Kutch and the company has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Government, which has assured Rs 15 a unit for the first 12 years and Rs 5 a unit for the next 13 years, said Mr Shonit Dalmia, Director, Konark Group.

Mr... Read more..