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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
Can India’s Agriculture Sector be Saved?Onions are front-page news these days across newspapers in Delhi. Onion prices, along with those of several other vegetables, have been steadily rising. There is almost a sense of déjà vu, as each year one or two vegetables become a cause célèbre for the middle class. What it also does is indicate the vast inefficiencies across the agricultural supply chain in India. That India’s farm economy must be made more efficient and productive – urgently – hardly bears repeating. Despite a glut of seemingly pro-agriculture subsidies, policies and sops given to the agricultural community by... Read more.. Date : Aug 15 Source: The Diplomat
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Driving into the future with an electric carA few years ago, electric cars were the dogs of the automotive business, money-losing propositions that were either toys for the rich or economic sinkholes disguised as eco-warriors of the future. In three months, all that has changed. The first bit of news that has electrified the car world is that Tesla-the poster car of the industry and long derided for losing money-- turned profitable, not just in its May quarter ($11.2 million) but for the one that ended in June as well ($26 million).... Read more.. |
Could climate bonds pave the way to a low-carbon economy?We may have ideas for what we must do to move the world economy from its current high-carbon path to a low-carbon future. The problem now is how to pay for them. Inevitably, much of the heavy lifting will have to be done by the bond markets, which are more suited than equity markets to the long-term investments that need to be made in power infrastructure, transport networks, agriculture, water, waste buildings and industry. Investors, particularly those that have signed up to the UN's Principles... Read more.. |
Global Cleantech Industry Growing Despite Challenging ConditionsGlobal advisory services leader EY have released a new report which indicates that despite challenging market conditions, cleantech companies are finding their feet again, with the number of cleantech companies globally growing, despite bankruptcies and consolidation. “We’ve seen a notable upturn in the performance of the 424 public pure-play cleantech companies globally,” said Gil Forer, EY’s Global Cleantech Leader. ”Despite a challenging period of consolidation in certain cleantech segments,... Read more.. |
Could smart meters stem $14 billion in annual water losses?Debates about most smart meter installations have centered on projects at electric utilities. But intelligent networks and sensor technology could have an even more profound positive impact on aging water infrastructure around the world, according to several experts participating in a Navigant Research seminar this week. Those benefits include operational cost reductions ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent, more accurate billing processes, enhanced leak detection, better customer service and even... Read more.. |
Govt plans to roll out Rs 43,000-crore ‘green energy corridor’ projectTo facilitate flow of renewable energy into the national grid, the Government plans to roll out a Rs 43,000-crore ‘green energy corridor’ project. The project will be implemented with the assistance of Germany which has promised to provide developmental and technical assistance of € one billion as soft credit," Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ratan P. Watal, said. Speaking at the "National Consultation of Stakeholders regarding Development of Offshore Wind Energy in India" here on Wednesday that the Government is committed to provide a conducive environment for... Read more.. Date : Aug 15 Source: Business Line
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Amid energy competition, India, China hold first Central Asia dialogueIndia and China have, this week, held their first ever dialogue on Central Asia, with the talks seen by analysts as a reflection of both countries’ interests to institutionalise their widening engagement as they grapple with often competing interests. The dialogue, held here on Monday, saw both sides “focussing on the very similar Indian and Chinese approaches to political and economic relationships with Central Asian countries,” the Indian Embassy in Beijing said in a statement issued on Wednesday. “The dialogue,” the Embassy added, “reflected the growing engagement between... Read more.. Date : Aug 15 Source: The Hindu
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Oil and Gas Markets Await $30bn Statoil BreakthroughHydraulic fracturing has revolutionised the extractive industry in recent years. The technological marvel has revitalised the US's lacklustre energy prospects and come to offer a greater promise of economic prosperity to regions across the globe. It is for these reasons and many more like it that companies such as Norway's Statoil have invested heavily in fracking exploration of late. Statoil's recent efforts to tap huge gas reserves worth an estimated $30bn began last week 125 miles off Norway's coast with the launch of a huge underwater compressor, which, if successful, should... Read more.. Date : Aug 15 Source: Business Review India
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City's toilets make HC flush in angerEven while the capital decks up to usher in the 67th Independence Day, the abysmal state of its public toilets has left Delhi high court shocked. A court-appointed panel of scientists from Central Pollution Control Board informed HC on Wednesday that many city toilets have been converted into shelters for goats and stray animals, most having either broken doors or no doors at all, lacking power and water supplies and sporting very poor hygiene. Submitting its... Read more.. |
'Saligao plateau could turn into Sonsoddo'Setting up a new garbage treatment plant without clearing up huge mounds of waste dumped unscientifically for more than than two decades on the Saligao plateau may blow up into an unmanageable crisis like Sonsoddo in Margao, some Saligao villagers said. While an in-principle approval has been given by the local comunidade body to the land acquisition, a section of the residents have opposed the government's move to acquire 97,000sq m of land in Calangute and Saligao, stating that the existing dump... Read more.. |
Winds of unityCutting across party lines, MPs from the coastal States have decided to nudge the Central government on taking immediate measures for the development of wind energy in India. The multi-party Parliamentarians meet organised recently by Climate Parliament on the ‘Wind Power Industry in India: Enabling Future Growth’ has impressed upon the government for the immediate implementation of GBI (Generation Based Incentive) and reintroduction of AD (Accelerated Depreciation). The MPs’ ‘key recommendations and suggestions’ include re-assessment and validation of wind potential at the... Read more.. Date : Aug 15 Source: The Hindu
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Generation-based sops announced for struggling wind power sectorBreathing life back into the subsidy starved wind energy sector, the government has approved the implementation of 'generation-based incentive (GBI)' that was announced in the budget this year. After a hiatus of one and a half year without any subsidy or incentive scheme, the wind power sector would now be able to avail GBI with a retrospective effect. All the wind power projects launched after April 1, 2012 are eligible for GBI. ... Read more.. Date : Aug 14 Source: Economic Times
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Govt approves establishment of drinking water research centreCabinet, on Tuesday, approved establishing International Centre for Drinking Water Quality in Kolkata focusing on research and development on drinking water quality related problems. An official release said that the aim of this centre will be to work in the area of identification, mitigation and management with focus on research and development on drinking water quality related problems with an emphasis on other contaminants, also on arsenic and fluoride. The centre will also provide policy advice. All states/ districts will be covered as bacteriological contamination is... Read more.. Date : Aug 14 Source: Times of India
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Barter solar power for bill reductionA solar generation unit costing around Rs 1 lakh could soon not only light up your home, but also trim your electricity bill if you are able to generate excess power. In a unique proposal, residents could export solar power to the electricity department and balance out their power bill. However, they won't be able to earn money with commercial use of the system. Santosh Kumar, conservator of forest and wildlife, UT, said the... Read more.. |
Steering committee formed for JNNURM programmeUrban development department has notified that, a steering committee has been constituted, for capacity building programme under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for overall supervision and monitoring of capacity building activities in the state with immediate effect. This was envisaged in the toolkit for comprehensive capacity building programme under JNNURM of the ministry of urban development, government of India. ... Read more.. Date : Aug 14 Source: Nagaland Post
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Pollution board closure notice to Bhusan EnergyThe Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has issued closure notice to Bhusan Energy Limited's (BEL) 300 mw power plant at Narendrapur in Dhenkanal district for violation of pollution norms. In a letter to chief operating officer, BEL, the board said the plant is not complying with norms as prescribed by it. Regional officer, OSPCB, Sitikantha Sahu told TOI, "The power plant is being operated without any valid consent from the board. Though the company was asked several times to design its... Read more.. |
FICCI reports on Solar Financing, Securing the Solar Supply Chain and Handbook on Solar Sector reports releasedMr. Tarun Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India today released FICCI reports on ‘Financing Solar Energy’ and , ‘Securing the Supply Chain for Solar in India’ and Indian Solar Handbook and Directory. The reports by the industry come at a time when the solar sector in India is undergoing tough times due to lack of appropriate financial mechanisms, low cost financing alternatives, and regulatory certainty. Addressing the launch function, Mr. Kapoor said, “Lack of finance is the most critical... Read more.. |
Draft Standard For SmartGrid Apps Clears Initial IEEE BallotInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the foremost standards organization, has announced the success of the first sponsor ballot for IEEE P1901.2 “Draft Standard for Low-Frequency (less than 500kHz) Narrowband Power-Line Communications (PLC) for SmartGrid Applications.” Once approved, the standard is intended to specify a new generation of PLC technology for transmission frequencies of less than 500kHz and address a host of existing and emerging smart-grid applications. “With this major step forward, we are now... Read more.. |
IBM introduces new solar and wind forecasting systemIBM has announced a power and weather modelling technology that will help utilities increase the reliability of renewable energy resources. The solution combines weather prediction and analytics to accurately forecast the availability of wind power and solar energy. The solution, named "Hybrid Renewable Energy Forecasting" (HyRef) uses weather modeling capabilities, cloud imaging technology and sky-facing cameras to track cloud movements, while sensors on the turbines monitor wind speed, temperature and direction. When combined with analytics technology, the data-assimilation based... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: Wind Tech International
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Focus on biofuel productionKarnataka produces around 200 million litres of ethanol a year. This is sufficient to meet the national mandate of 20 per cent of ethanol blending. Initiatives which have made the production of ethanol into a co-operative model like the Karnataka Milk Federation have been recognised even by the United Nations. In a seminar on Biofuels organised at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Chairman of the Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board (KSBDB) V Umesh said that the involvement of locals to convince farmers as well as seamless co-operation of government departments was the... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: The New Indian Express
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100 TPD Biofuel Demo Facility to Process Agricultural Wastes in IndiaA biofuel demonstration facility that will process 100 tonne of biowaste per day to produce cellulosic ethanol is under construction in in the Sangli District of Maharashtra, India. According to the developer, Indian biofuel specialist Praj Industries, the second generation cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant will operate on different variety of biomass including agricultural biowastes such as corn stover, cobs and bagasse. The company said that the plant will enable it to consolidate six years of R&D efforts, starting with laboratory trials to pilot scale trials... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: Waste Management World
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CSR mandatory with passage of New Companies Bill: All you need to knowThe New Companies Bill was finally passed in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, making it mandatory for profit making companies to spend on activities related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). With the new legislation, India would possibly become the first country to have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending through a statutory provision. The bill will now go for presidential assent. The lower house of parliament Lok Sabha cleared the bill Dec 18 last year. The Bill, aimed at enhancing corporate governance, also contains provisions to strengthen regulations for... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: Firstpost
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Now, five-star hotels to get 'green' guidelinesTop hotels could soon be donating leftover untouched food and partially used toiletries, allowing guests to order half portions and buying toilet tissue and towels made from recycled paper, besides re-using all their waste water under the government's green agenda. Amid concerns that posh hotels generate a lot of wastage and misuse water, these are some of the guidelines for hotels listing the "dos" and "don'ts" for ensuring an environment friendly venture that the Centre has come up with.... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: Indian Express
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IT-based system for better crop productivityFarmers and agricultural experts in Kerala will soon have access to a powerful scientific tool enabling them to diagnose soil health problems and come up with cost-effective strategies to enhance crop productivity without disturbing the environmental equilibrium.
The Decision Support System (DSS) for sustaining soil fertility will be one of the outcomes of an India-Austria collaborative research project on sustaining and improving rural livelihoods through adaptive approaches to land, soil, and water management.
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India unveils rules to allow Rs.48, 000 crore of tax-free debtIndia allowed 13 state companies to raise as much as Rs.48, 000 crore ($7.9 billion) selling tax- free bonds this financial year, helping generate funds for infrastructure such as roads, ports and power plants. The government will also allow sovereign wealth funds to invest in such debt for the first time, according to a ministry of finance circular obtained by Bloomberg News on Monday. Under the plan, India Infrastructure Finance Co. Ltd and Indian Railway Finance Corp. Ltd can sell as much as Rs.10,000 crore of debt each while Housing & Urban Development Corp., Rural... Read more.. Date : Aug 13 Source: Livemint
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