Sustainability Outlook Headlines

HCC to invest Rs 1,200 cr on renewable energy project in Gujarat

Infrastructure major Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 1,200 crore to set up a renewable energy project in Gujarat in the next two to five years.

" HCC has signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to set up a renewable energy project in the state worth Rs 1,200 crore in the next 2-5 years time," company Chairman and Managing Director Ajit Gulabchand said on the sidelines of the 5th Global Summit of Vibrant Gujarat here.

He said the company is currently executing work on the Water Front City at Dholera, for which it had announced an... Read more..

Renewable energy campaign from today

Vijnana Bharati, a science movement, in collaboration with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), is rolling out a Rashtriya Urja Jana Jagriti Abhiyan (RUJJA), a national awareness campaign on energy, from Wednesday.

The aim of the campaign is to create public awareness on various aspects of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Dr Anil Kakodkar, former secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, and Dr Tapan Chakrabarty, former director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), will drive the campaign at the national level.

The event is... Read more..

Reliance Power signs agreement with NTPC for 100MW solar project

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power is believed to have signed the power purchase agreement with the state-owned NTPC for its upcoming 100 MW solar power project at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

Reliance Power signed the Power Purchase Agreement with NTPC Vidyut Vypar Nigam Ltd (NVVNL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC for its 100 MW Solar Thermal Power Project, sources in the know of development said.

Reliance Power won this project in tariff-based competitive bidding under the government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.

The project which is being set up in Jaisalmer... Read more..

Centre to build 100 MW geo-thermal projects in J&K: Farooq

Assuring Jammu and Kashmir of complete assistance for harnessing resources in the renewable energy sector, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today said the Centre is working on to launch 100 MW geo-thermal projects in Reasi and other feasible areas of the state.
"We are working to launch 100 MW geo-thermal energy projects in Reasi and other feasible areas in J&K and bidder project would be a pilot project in this regard," Abdullah, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, said at a meeting here.
He asked the state government to provide schemes for introducing solar lighting... Read more..

Tea off: India's farmers say climate changing brew

In this humid, lush region where an important part of the world's breakfast is born, the evidence of climate change is - literally - a weak tea.

Growers in tropical Assam state, India's main tea growing region, say rising temperatures have led not only to a drop in production but to subtle, unwelcome changes in the flavor of their brews.

The area in northeastern India is the source of some of the finest black and British-style teas. Assam teas are notable for their heartiness, strength and body, and are often sold as "breakfast" teas.

"Earlier, we used to get a bright... Read more..

9 solar power projects approved for Haryana

The Government of India has approved nine solar power projects of 8.8 Mw capacity to be set up in Haryana by independent power producers. These projects will get commissioned by September 2011.

Haryana Power Minister Mahender Partap Singh said the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (Hareda) had invited proposals from independent power producers for the installation of solar power generation plants of 100 Kw to 2 Mw capacities in the state under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. After the approval of the state government, Hareda issued pre-registration... Read more..

Raise price for bio-diesel from jatropha : India ministry

In an attempt to revive India’s Bio-diesel industry, country’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian industry (CII) have recommended price increase for bio-diesel from Jatropha.

According to a study done by the ministry along with CII, price of Bio-diesel from Jatropha needs to be raised to Rs 36 /litre from the present 26.50/litre to make it sustainable and for suitable growth of the Indian Bio-diesel industry.

The study estimates that if the blending initiative of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel are achieved in year 2011-12, India will save... Read more..

CNG not that green, says pollution board

CNG is not without environmental drawbacks says a new Central Pollution Control Board study. The study says burning CNG has the highest rates of potentially hazardous carbonyl emissions. These conclusions have attracted criticism from many, including environmentalists. The study also made a case for regulating CNG and other fuels for methane emissions. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is a key contributor to climate change. Among the study's finds were that retrofitted CNG car engines emit 30% more methane than original CNG engines. Almost all CNG car engines in India are retrofitted.... Read more..

Power ministry considers reprieve for hydel plants

The power ministry is examining a five-year exemption from tariff-based bidding regime for hydel projects, while all coal- and gas-fired projects move to the new regime from this year. The Central Electricity Authority has backed the proposal . But some officials are opposing any reprieve on the ground that promoters were making 'substantial upfront premiums' to state governments for getting such projects. 

The difference came to light at a recent meeting called by the ministry to hear out private promoters of hydel projects. The CEA said the Central and state regulatory... Read more..

Trina Solar announces completion of solar plant with Lanco

Trina Solar Limited, an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, has announced through its subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd., the completion of a 5MW solar power plant developed by Lanco Infratech Limited.

The project is one of the single-location solar power plants in the country and the first such for the State. Trina Solar was the exclusive supplier of the high performance photovoltaic modules to power the solar plant located in the Indian state of Gujarat.

The western Indian state of Gujarat is emerging as a hub of solar power... Read more..

US Funds Pilot Study to Explore Smart-Grid Technologies in Bangalore

A power company in Bangalore, India, will be exploring smart-grid technologies with the help of a $453,350 pilot study funded by the United States. The project could be a win-win for the two nations as they seek to build expertise and market share in the emerging clean energy sector.

The 12-month smart-grid study is also an opportunity for the countries to build on the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy that President Obama and India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed in 2009.

The grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will pay a U.S. contractor to... Read more..

CII proposes bio-diesel price hike

The government should raise the price of bio-diesel obtained from the jatropha plant to support the bio-diesel industry's sustainability efforts, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) says. 

In a proposal submitted to the ministry of new and renewable energy, the industry lobby suggested the price could be increased from Rs.26.50 per litre to Rs.36. 

"A study recommends that the present procurement price of 

Rs.26.50 as per the bio-diesel policy should be reviewed and corrected to sustain the investment and required growth of the sector," CII said in a statement... Read more..