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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
Mohan Breweries will raise Rs 1,500 cr overseas to enter power sectorMohan Breweries and Distillers Ltd will raise Rs 1,500 crore through debt and equity instruments for its entry into power sector through a 100 per cent subsidiary, Mohan Power Ltd. Listed Mohan Breweries has opted for hybrid securities through placements overseas by a major US fund house. The fund raising activity will begin in the later part of September by venture capital fund Exhilway Global Opportunities Fund L.P. The exercise is being advised by US firm’s Indian arm Exhilway Capital Advisory. The debt instruments will be at 250 basis points over LIBOR.... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Anna University sets up solar power plant to meet energy needsAnna University in Chennai has set up a 3kw solar power plant on the campus to reduce dependence on non-renewable forms of energy. University vice-chancellor M Rajaram inaugurated the solar plant installed at the Centre for Nanoscience and Technology on the A C Tech campus of the university. The solar power plant, donated by an alumnus, is fabricated with polycrystalline silicon modules and can produce electricity at an average of 12,000 watts a day. University officials said part of the power requirements of the Centre for Nanoscience and Technology would be met using... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Times of India
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Fuel conservation will help achieve energy sufficiency: KalamA. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President and eminent scientist, on Tuesday attached priority on fuel conservation as a sustainable means to achieve energy sufficiency. Addressing a conference on ‘Environment and Its Impact on Society’ organised by the JD Birla Institute, Kolkata, Kalam said different reports have suggested that “building energy efficiency is perhaps the most economically feasible and convenient way to generate energy.” Describing “energy conservation” as a “source of fuel” he said: “More than any form of technology, what it needs is the social awareness and... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Activists seek right to waterWater activists have written to chief minister Sheila Dikshit, asking the government to implement right to water along with right to food in the city. To ensure water security, they have asked the government to ensure a minimum free supply of 10kiloleter of potable water per family each month. The National Platform Against Water Privatization has said the National Food Security ordinance cannot be implemented fully without making provisions for safe drinking water for all. "We demand the 'right to water' along with the 'right to food' programme, which is to be launched on August 20... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Times of India
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TERI, Concor tie up for apple orchard managementThe Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Container Corporation of India (Concor) have joined hands to undertake village development programmes in Himachal Pradesh with a focus on apple orchard management. The three-year programme will be undertaken in three phases. At an event to announce the tie-up here on Monday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said: “I am confident that this project will further complement the efforts of the Government in capacity building of growers and improving the orchard management technology through better irrigation and mechanisation,... Read more.. Date : Aug 20 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Wind-solar energy projects best for MelghatEven if hilly Melghat has good potential for solar energy, heavy rain during monsoon makes solar energy projects ineffective. To tide over the crisis wind-solar energy projects can be the best solution for tribal-dominated region in Amravati district, said Maharashtra chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia. He, along with principal secretary (forest) Praveen Pardeshi and a battery of principal secretaries of various departments, was on a two-day tour of Melghat on Friday and Saturday. During his visit to Nature Conservation Society,... Read more.. |
Mumbai, Kolkata to suffer huge damage from sea flooding by 2050: StudyMumbai and Kolkata are at risk of suffering several billions of dollars of damages by 2050 due to flooding even if they upgrade their protection, a study has warned. Mumbai would lose $6.4 billion and Kolkata $3.4 billion annually, the study published in Nature Climate Change estimated. In the worst case scenario, the world's 136 largest coastal cities could risk combined annual losses of $1 trillion (750 billion euros) from floods by 2050 unless they drastically raise their defenses, the study said. Flood exposure is increasing in coastal cities owing to growing populations... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Times of India
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Mescom plumps for solar-powered pumpsets in Padubidri GPMangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) is mulling a project wherein pumpsets used by farmers can be operated using solar energy. As an initial step, a water supply pumpset will be introduced in Kanchinadka area and if this effort yields good result, there is plan to up scale the project in a manner that it will supply potable water to people in Padubidri gram panchayat in Udupi taluk using solar-powered pumpsets. An initiative of the central government, the solar mission project is being implemented in many other states. However, the response to this is poor in Karnataka.... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Times of India
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India Rejects Petition for Retroactive Solar Tariff CutIndian regulators rejected a cut in solar tariffs paid to generators, in a landmark decision for the country, after developers said it would stall investment. The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission dismissed a petition by the state government to lower rates agreed under 25-year contracts signed in 2010, it said in an order. The request for a reduction in current solar tariffs was the nation’s first. “The parties to the contract are not at liberty to amend or alter the terms of contract... Read more.. |
India's first floating solar power station to come up inside VictoriaA prototype of India’s first floating solar power station could soon be coming up in the pond of Victoria Memorial. If the plan proves to be a success, such floating solar power stations could also be set up in the water reservoirs and dams of hydroelectric power stations thereby increasing their output. “Developing a floating solar power station would prove to be a revolutionary step as it could solve the perennial problem of land. Such pilot projects are also going on in a few countries such as... Read more.. |
Agrarian crisis, not 'theft' lowering cattle count in Mangalore districtIn what is an oft-quoted figure, many rightwing organisations cite the decline in cattle population – as much as 1.5 lakh cattle in five years – as a result of the “menace of cow slaughter and thefts” here. However, officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry, attribute it to a larger agrarian crisis.
The quinquennial (every five years) All India Livestock census reveals that in 2007 there were 3.96 lakh cows and 15,000 buffaloes in the district. In the 19 round of survey conducted in 2012, the provisional figures drop to 2.5 lakh cattle and 3,570 buffaloes –... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: The Hindu
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Aerosols contributing to climate change in India & ChinaResearchers from Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois; NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York; have been working on the contribution of aerosols to climate change in India and China. It is worth pointing out here that there has been very little study of the contribution of aerosol emissions from India and China to radiative forcing. Radiative forcing is the process through which about 30 per cent of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface is reflected back into space as invisible infrared light. Aerosols generated by... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Nature India
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JNNURM revived, boost for city schemesThe Union Government has extended the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for two more years to complete ongoing projects and reforms in various states. This has turned out to be a boon for Kochi because several JNNURM projects had failed due to the Corporation’s inability to conceive them properly. The Corporation will have start afresh and convince the central urban development ministry to give funds. The government order extending JNNURM to 2015 has given time till March 31... Read more.. |
Delhi govt plans incentive for green powerIf you generate power from a rooftop solar project, the Delhi government will soon incentivize your efforts. A new solar policy upholds "production-based subsidy" which means that the government will pay you for the units of energy you save by using solar power. As of now, there is a "capital subsidy" scheme which involves a rebate of a fixed sum on installation of solar water heaters in Delhi. While this policy can inspire consumers to invest in solar energy, the Delhi environment department officials say that it can be implemented only after Delhi Electricity Regulatory... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Times of India
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Taste for organic foodsMany consumers have started buying organic foods that have not been farmed using synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Nearly 62% of high income households prefer organic products due to rising awareness, higher disposable incomes and easier availability in the market, according to an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) survey. "Organic farming was one of the fastest growing industries last year,” said DS Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM. A growing list of farm-fresh and organic foods is hitting retail shelves briskly. The demand for them has grown... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Hindustan Times
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Precision farming: As they sow, so do these farmers reapBetween 2004 and 2007, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University undertook a pilot project in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts with about 400 farmers. Both districts suffered from water scarcity and farmers in the region followed traditional agricultural practices. The university helped the farmers adopt “precision farming”. Within a short period, the farmers were enjoying yields that were three to 12 times higher than normal. They were also conserving water and spending less money on labour.
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH Precision farming typically relies... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Hindu Business Line
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Investors welcome new environmental standards for solarBanks and utilities seeking to invest in low carbon energy assets have been offered a new tool to help assess the sustainability of solar power projects.
The non-profit Climate Bond Initiative certifies projects for investors and governments that it deems to be helping to boost the low carbon economy. Last week it proposed new criteria to help investors understand the environmental impact of solar assets.
Sean Kidney, chief executive of the Climate Bonds Initiative, said it is important for investors to realise that renewable energy... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Business Green
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Leaked IPCC drafts lift confidence in humans' carbon culpabilityClimate scientists are surer than ever that human activity is causing global warming, according to leaked drafts of a major UN report, but they are finding it harder than expected to predict the impact in specific regions in coming decades. The uncertainty is frustrating for government planners: the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the main guide for states weighing multi-billion-dollar shifts to renewable energy from fossil fuels, for coastal regions considering extra sea defences or crop breeders developing heat-resistant strains. Drafts... Read more.. Date : Aug 19 Source: Sydney Morning Herald
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Mine Urban Waste, Not Oceans, Say CampaignersControversial plans to mine the floor of the Pacific Ocean should not go ahead before Earth's 'urban mines' have been exploited, say campaigners. They made the call following a conference in London this month (31 July-1 August) on deep-sea mining attended by industry leaders and global investors. Each year silver and gold worth US$21 billion is used in personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and similar devices, creating precious metal '... Read more.. |
Water in half of Indian rivers not drinkable: CPCBWater — lifeline of a living being — is getting polluted at an alarming rate with contamination increasing in more than half of the Indian rivers between 1995 and 2011. Around half of the Indian rivers do not have water fit for direct human consumption, says a study by Central Pollution Control Board —India’s pollution watchdog. The study was based on analysis of water samples from 445 rivers across India. Water in one-fourth of the 1,275 river monitoring stations was not even found fit for bathing, an indication that it cannot support aquatic life. The quality of river water has... Read more.. Date : Aug 18 Source: Hindustan Times
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Solar thin-films may fall under local sourcing ambit, but with caveatIndia may extend compulsory local sourcing conditions on solar thin films, mostly imported from the US, in the next round of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. This will be in addition to similar conditions for solar cells and modules. The mandatory norms, however, will be imposed only on that part of the 750-MW solar power production (earmarked for the second phase) targeted for supply to Government agencies. The remaining projects will not attract any sourcing restrictions , an official from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy told Business Line. The MNRE... Read more.. Date : Aug 18 Source: Business Line
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Green Infra acquires TVS Energy; in talks to raise around $100 mnRenewable power producer Green Infra Ltd has acquired a majority stake in TVS Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of TVS Motor Co., for an undisclosed amount. TVS Motor is selling 73.5 million shares constituting 90.46% of its stake in TVS Energy. Consequently, TVS Energy and its two units, TVS Wind Power Ltd and TVS Wind Energy Ltd, will cease to be subsidiaries of the company from Friday. This is the second acquisition by IDFC Private Equity-promoted Green Infra. In 2009, it acquired BP Energy India Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of BP, with a 100 MW portfolio of wind energy assets, for an... Read more.. Date : Aug 18 Source: Livemint
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Nodal agency for offshore wind energy to be set up soon: MNREA National Offshore Wind Energy Authority (NOWA) under the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) will be constituted that will be the nodal agency for offshore wind projects in the country. NOWA will carry out resource assessment and surveys in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the country and simultaneously enter into contract with project developers for development of offshore wind energy project in the territorial water, a statement from the press information bureau (PIB) said. NOWA will be the single window agency and will coordinate with concerned ministries/... Read more.. Date : Aug 18 Source: Times of India
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LanzaTech Partnership to Produce Low-Carbon Fuels from Waste CO2LanzaTech, a producer of low-carbon fuels and chemicals from waste gases, has partnered with India’s Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy to create a process for the direct production of low-carbon fuels from industrial carbon dioxide emissions. The company says this application of its gas fermentation technology will enable a new supply of biofuels, creating economic growth and reducing CO2 emissions across India. The Centre for... Read more.. |
India to start US$7.9 billion investment for solar-ready gridIndia is about to kick-start a planned US$7.9 billion investment in its electricity grid as it prepares to introduce more solar and wind. The first €250 million (US$332 million) of investment - out of a committed total of €1 billion (US$1.33 billion) for Indian grid improvements - is expected “soon” from the German development bank KfW, Ratan P. Watal, secretary of the ministry of new and renewable energy told Businessweek. ... Read more.. |
