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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
Swiss, Indian governments collaborating on energy efficient buildingThe Indian and Swiss governments have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainable architecture in the Delhi and Chennai regions of India. Speaking in New Delhi at a seminar on sustainable architecture organised by the Swiss embassy and the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Swiss Ambassador Linus Von Castelmur said the plan is to " facilitate the adoption of Swiss expertise to the Indian context." As outlined by the MoU, the Indo-Swiss project on Building Energy... Read more.. |
AP Govt to showcase rooftop solar policyYou need to invest just Rs 50,000 to set up a solar rooftop system with a capacity to generate power of one KW in Andhra Pradesh. The State Government has come out with an incentive scheme to encourage flat owners to install solar rooftop system to meet part of their household power requirement. The scheme involves a 30 per cent subsidy from the Government of India and 20 per cent from the State Government. In order to showcase the economic benefits of installing such a system atop flats, the State Government is organising a two-day exhibition for the public in Hyderabad fro... Read more.. Date : Aug 22 Source: Hindu Business Line
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New technology and better strategy could cut data centre emissions by 88%With a population of 3,048, Yerington, Nevada, may not strike most people as very important: the town's foremost claim to fame is that several Japanese fire balloons landed there during the second world war. But that's about to change: Yerington is home to a vast new solar farm owned by Apple. "The project will not only supply renewable energy for our data centre [in nearby Reno] but also provide clean energy to the local power grid, through a first-of-its-kind partnership with NV Energy. When completed, the 137 acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5m kilowatt hours of... Read more.. Date : Aug 22 Source: The Guardian
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India creates online renewables databaseThe Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have developed an online Indian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Database (IREEED) that aims at disseminating information on the renewable energy and energy efficiency policy and regulatory framework in India. IREEED provides succinct summaries in a clear and simple format of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, regulations and incentive programmes at the union government and state government level for... Read more.. |
GHMC push for green GaneshaThe Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will provide open spaces for the preparation, sale and distribution of clay (green) Ganesh idols for two to three months every year, GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu said. The commissioner held a meeting with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have been promoting clay Ganeshas on Thursday. The GHMC chief said the designated open places should be litigation-freeduly involving corporators and residential welfare associations. The open spaces... Read more.. |
Dalai Lama commends Ladakh for using & promoting renewable energyA 10 Kwp SPV Power Plant installed and commissioned by the Ladakh Renewable Energy Dev. Agency (LREDA) at the Jevetsal Photang, Choglamsar, the Summer Palace of, the Buddhist Spiritual Leader Dalai Lama in Leh was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in the presence of the Minister of Urban Dev. And Urban Local Bodies (Govt. of J&K), Nawang Rigzin Jora and the Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Rigzin Spalbar. Being a spokesperson for issues on climate change, the Dalai Lama commend the efforts of Ladakh and LREDA in promoting the use of clean... Read more.. |
Maharashtra cracks the whip on renewable power obligationsIn a breakthrough decision for wind and solar power industry, the power regulator in Maharashtra has directed all distribution firms to meet their obligation for buying renewable energy in the past four years, and said they will have to pay a stiff penalty if the backlog of their "renewable purchase obligation (RPO)" is not cleared by March 2014. "All obligated entities are directed to fulfil their RPO targets for both solar and non-solar for all four years, i.e., financial year 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, cumulatively, before March 31, 2014. The Commission shall enforce... Read more.. Date : Aug 22 Source: Economic Times
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No to GM cropsWith the National Food Security Bill generating much debate and even sections within the government questioning the viability of the scheme it envisages, a line of thought has emerged in favour of introducing genetically modified (GM) foods and crops in order to meet the requirements of the scheme on a long-term basis. While the Bill itself is inadequate in its coverage and is exclusionary at various levels, it has given rise to the spectre of GM foods once again.
The final report of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) set up by the Supreme Court following a... Read more.. Date : Aug 22 Source: Frontline
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Gurgaon's long-term prospects grim: Harvard Business ReviewThe sheen is off our Millennium City, if an article in the reputable 'Harvard Business Review' is anything to go by. A piece in the magazine's July-August 2013 issue compares Gurgaon with a Vietnamese (satellite) city with a similar background and finds the former lacking in many respects. In his paper on "Building Sustainable Cities", John D Macomber, a faculty member of Harvard Business School, highlights how development of Gurgaon has largely been promoted by speculative real estate developers... Read more.. |
Ambitious solar power plant commissioned in JodhpurAsia's largest single location solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant with a generation capacity of 55 MW was commissioned on Wednesday. The project was part of the first phase of the National Solar Mission. Union renewable energy minister Farooq Abdullah and chief minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the solar energy plant, which is commissioned by Welspun Energy Limited, at Ravra village in Phalodi. The two leaders also laid the foundation of another upcoming solar energy park in the area; calling the... Read more.. |
Neither small, nor greenWhy would more than four gram panchayats, environmental activists from three States, the presiding swami of the Subramanya Temple, botanists, fisheries scientists, and institutions like the Indian Institute of Science oppose a small hydel project in a remote corner of the Western Ghats in Karnataka? Aren’t small hydel projects environmentally safe and beneficial? Greenko’s 24-MW Kukke I Hydel Project, proposed in the dense forests of Dakshin Kannada, highlights how misleading labels like ‘green’ and ‘small’ can be in reality. ... Read more..Date : Aug 22 Source: The Hindu
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India, Iraq to ink pact for energy cooperationIndia plans to strengthen its ties in the energy sector with Iraq, the second largest crude oil supplier to the country. The Cabinet on Thursday is expected to consider a proposal from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry seeking approval for enhancing cooperation with Iraq in the sector. Besides, a formal memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the sector would be signed during the four-day visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to India starting on Thursday.... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Infosys bags platinum LEED Ratings for 'green' buildingsInfosys has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) India 'Platinum' rating by the Indian Green Building Council for its Software Development Block (SDB) 3 in Mangalore and SDB 6 in Mysore. With this, Infosys now has a total of seven buildings that have got the prestigious Platinum rating, the highest ranking given by LEED for sustainable building design. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a globally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.... Read more.. |
74 companies in AP bring about huge energy savingsSeventy-four short-listed companies have achieved energy savings of about Rs 1,000 crore a year, according to findings of the Confederation of Indian Industry. Naushad Forbes, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Summit 2013, hosted here by the CII said the short-listed companies had achieved this recurring saving by implementing over 2,700 projects. Promoting energy efficiency measures is the surest way to improve competitiveness and become world-class, he said. Ajay... Read more.. |
Bureau of Energy Efficiency favours more funding for new ideasThe Bureau of Energy Efficiency is in parleys with the Union Finance Ministry to work out a model of finance for innovative ideas in the energy saving space. The Bureau is working on framing policies and procedures to facilitate industry achieve higher levels of energy efficiency. Ajay Mathur, Director-General of BEE, Ministry of power, said providing funding for ideas and making them successful products was an important aspect of the overall initiative to energy conservation. Most ideas or even products do not make it big due to... Read more.. |
States aggressively focus on solar energy productionIndia’s solar sector is witnessing a fierce battle among states to set records in solar energy production. Rajasthan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the world’s biggest solar farm with generation capacity of 3,000 MW, tipping its neighbour Gujarat which had in 2012 announced largest solar farm with a capacity of around 2,000 MW. The Rajasthan Solar Farm will have a dedicated zone for solar research and development and solar installations for pumping of water from the Indira Gandhi Canal along with providing power to the grid, in an area of 10,000 MW. The Gujarat... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Hindustan Times
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Tamil Nadu shows signs of losing its footing in wind energyTamil Nadu may find its pole position in captive wind energy under threat as companies are reluctant to add to capacity nor is the sector attractive enough for third-party wind power developers. That could see the state falter in its bid to add 6,000 megawatts (MW) of wind energy capacity by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2016-17) to take it to 13,000MW from 7,162.3MW now. Gujarat and Maharastra, which are a distant second and third in the rankings, could take advantage of this to gain on Tamil Nadu, experts said. Madras Cements Ltd, the second largest cement... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Livemint
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Private equity flows into water sector, may top Rs 7500 cr in 2 yearsPrivate equity funds are eyeing investments in the country’s water sector. Singapore-based CLSA Capital Partners invested $9.2 million (Rs 55 crore) in Gurgaon-based Luminous Water Technologies in end-July, through its two funds.
Last year, the alternative asset management firm had invested $15 million in Delhi-based Earth Water Group, which is into water and wastewater treatment projects.
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Record PV Demand From China and Japan Marks Turning Point for SolarSolar photovoltaic (PV) demand from China and Japan during 2H’13 is forecast to reach 9 GW, representing an increase of 100% compared to 1H’13 and 70% compared to 2H’12. Overall, PV demand from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region will exceed 16 GW during 2013, up 90% Y/Y, and will account for over 40% of global PV demand this year, according to findings in the new NPD Solarbuzz Asia Pacific Major PV Markets Quarterly. “The record level of PV shipments to China and Japan coincides with corporate margins returning to positive territory and... Read more.. |
New Himachal power policy to tap solar energyHimachal Pradesh government has decided to come out with new power policy to harness solar energy. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday said that state government was endeavouring to preserve the depleting conventional resources to meet the increasing demand of power. He said state government soon would come out with a new Power Policy with a view to harness the solar energy. Besides, possibilities of more hydro power and other non-conventional power resources were also being explored in the state, he added. He said that HIMURJA with the support of ministry of new and... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Times of India
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Parliamentarians seek adequate measures to achieve climate change targetsParliamentarians involved with clean energy are concerned that there is no firm Government commitment yet for achieving the target of 15 per cent renewable energy in the total electricity mix of the country by 2020. The target was spelled out in the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC). The Climate Parliament Group, a multi-party forum of Parliamentarians, will soon meet the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to suggest adequate financial, fiscal and policy measures for achieving the NAPCC recommendation and the 12th Plan targets for renewable energy. The budget... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Hindu Business Line
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CEPT to prepare BRTS design for cityThe state housing and urban development (H&UD) department has roped in Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the engineering design of a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the city. "CEPT University is likely to submit the DPR in eight months," SK Ratho, special secretary, H&UD, told media persons on the sidelines of a workshop on 'Air Quality and Transportation Challenge: An Agenda for Action in... Read more.. |
HyperSolar Reachs 1.0 Volt Milestone In Solar Hydrogen TechnologyHyperSolar, which develops of a new technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, has announced that its artificial photosynthesis technology is now capable of producing 1.0 volt open circuit voltage for use in direct solar hydrogen production. This achievement represents a voltage increase over the previous 0.2 volt just 8 months ago, and 0.75 volt just 3 months ago. The theoretical voltage for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is 1.23 volts, and approximately 1.5 volts in real-world systems. But so far achieving 1.5 volts using... Read more.. Date : Aug 21 Source: Energy Refuge
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Stop work on Uttarakhand hydel projectsThe August 13, 2013, order of the Supreme Court on Uttarakhand hydropower projects is possibly yet another wake-up call for the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Uttarakhand government — the first, of course, being the disastrous floods of June 2013. While disposing of a bunch of petitions regarding the controversial 330 MW Srinagar hydropower project on the Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court bench of Justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra have given some welcome directions. The most pertinent and interesting part of the order is under “Court’s... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Has tech fatigue hit rice research?The experience of the last two decades shows that we have failed in delivering the blockbuster rice varieties, said a senior agricultural scientist . While the country produced some 1,000 varieties in the last few decades, only handful of varieties that were developed before 1995 dominate the scene, Dr Aldas Janaiah, Head (Agri Business Management) of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, said. “About 30 varieties cover two-thirds of paddy area in the country. Five varieties developed by ANGRAU cover 15-20 per cent of the area. The impact of varieties developed after 1995 is... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Hindu Business Line
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