Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India’s solar power mission on schedule

The union cabinet Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), India’s ambitious mission to ramp up its solar power hundredfold by 2022 and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The progress of the mission’s implementation is as per schedule in the last one year, said a statement issued after the cabinet meeting.

The ministry of new and renewable energy has successfully sanctioned 802 MW capacity of grid-connected solar projects and 36 MW of off-grid solar projects.

Six major research projects, including... Read more..

IITian showcases compact electric car

In order to solve the problem of traffic congestion and decreasing road space, a student of master of design programme of IIT-Kanpur has come up with a prototype of a compact electric car which can be extended at the rear end to make a second seat.

The car otherwise has a single seat and is meant for the office-goers who drive alone, rarely using the entire seating capacity of the vehicle. Such road users unnecessarily occupy the space on the streets during the busy morning and the evening hours.

Kumar Sudeepta, an MDes student of IIT-Kanpur, who has designed the... Read more..

Solairedirect Energy in talks to set up 20MW Gujarat solar plant

Solairedirect Energy India is in talks with the Gujarat government to set up a 20 MW plant at the Solar Energy Park in Kutch at an estimated cost of 300 crore. "We see ourselves as an independent power producer, or IPP, for this project which will be in Phase-III of the solar park," Solairedirect Energy India managing director Gaurav Sood said. 

The company is a subsidiary of French solar major Solairedirect. Sood said the 300-crore project would have 75% debt component, for which talks were on with lenders. Overseas pension funds and others looking for assured returns of 15-... Read more..

Solar energy to power city by 2012

In what comes as a major incentive for city residents intending to use solar energy for their daily power needs, the Centre has identified Gurgaon among the first 10 places that will be developed as solar cities. 

A survey is underway in the city to determine how much solar power the it can generate daily. 

"The Master Plan is being prepared for all these cities. Gurgaon has a huge potential to tap solar energy. A major awareness drive will be carried out to ensure that people volunteer for the scheme," said Srikanta K Panigrahi, advisor to Prime Minister on National... Read more..

Mumbai engineer designs solar tri-cycle to replace autos

With citizens and government bodies looking to promote bicycles, a city-based engineer has claimed to have invented a solar-motor pedi-cab, (a tricycle of sorts) that could potentially replace the traditional auto rickshaw.

Chunabhatti-based PK Pillai has now sent the designs to IIT-Bombay for comments are looking for funding to promote the model commercially.

The solar powered version of the humble cycle-rickshaw promises to offer a solution to the urban traffic woes in the suburbs.

“It’s like the tri-cycle that is run in northern states of India and in cities... Read more..

Power will be generated from canals

Punjab government is planning to generate 1,500 MW power from the run of the canals, making use of Punjab Energy Development Agency's ( PEDA) indigenously-designed prototype of turbines.

This was announced by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal at the CII's annual Punjab session on the theme of ``Transforming Punjab: Implementing strategies for growth/Inviting private entrepreneurs to become partners in clean energy project'', Sukhbir said the special turbines would be submerged in the canals and rivers of the state to produce more than 1,500 MW power. A delegation led by him... Read more..

PV book-to-bill in 4Q10 remains above parity, says Solarbuzz

In the fourth quarter of 2010, research firm Solarbuzz's PV book-to-bill analysis posted a three-month average of 1.10. Across the entire year, the 12-month average in 2010 reached 1.27 compared with 0.97 for 2009.

According to Finlay Colville, senior analyst at Solarbuzz, "The latest PV book-to-bill figures reflect the ongoing investments across both c-Si and thin-film segments, which are driving strong capacity expansions planned for 2011. Tier 1 c-Si manufacturers are expanding to reach vertically-integrated GW+ status on the back of still strong order books. Conversely,... Read more..

UN Calls for Global 2 Percent GDP Investment In Green Economy

An annual global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) investment of 2 percent could launch a transition to a low-carbon "Green Economy," according to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report released Monday.

According to the report, released as environment ministers from over 100 countries gathered for UNEP's annual governing council meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, investing this sum of around 1.3 trillion dollars could boost global growth levels.

However, doing nothing risks shocks and crises brought on by the current dependence on the resource-hungry carbon... Read more..

IFC, Gujarat Energy body in pact for solar power project

International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private lending arm of the World Bank, and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) have teamed up to identify and develop renewable-energy projects in South Asia.

IFC is working with Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute to design and structure a distributed-rooftop solar-power project in Gandhinagar. The project, a 5MW  solar installation, is expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by about 6,000 tonne a year and mobilize about USD 20 million in private sector investment.

“GERMI’s research and... Read more..

Reliance Industries Says It Hasn't Been Paid for Producing Solar Power

.Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), India’s biggest company by market value, said it hasn’t received a single payment from the Rajasthan state government for solar power it has been producing from its first plant.

The company started generating power from the 5-megawatt plant in July, Rabindra Satpathy, president of the company’s solar unit, said today at a conference in Mumbai. “We’ve yet to see one rupee from the government,” he said.

The default22222 underscores concerns that banks and investors have expressed about whether projects in India’s nascent solar sector will be... Read more..

Juhl Wind and Suzlon Sell 20 MW Community Wind Project

Juhl Wind Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: JUHL), the Leader in Community Wind Power, today announced that Juhl Wind along with its development partner, Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., the North American subsidiary of Suzlon Energy Limited (SEL) have successfully completed the sale of a community based 20-megawatt wind power project. The Grant County Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota consists of 10 Suzlon S88 - 2.1 MW wind turbines and at full capacity produces 20 megawatts of energy, enough electricity to power 7,000 homes in the area.

The wind power plant purchaser, Olympus Power LLC... Read more..

Power Exchange India to start trading in RECs from March 30

Power Exchange India Ltd (PXIL) will start trading in Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from March 30.

REC is a market-based instrument to promote renewable energy.

"The trading in Renewable Energy Certificates on the exchange would begin on March 30... We have already done mock trading," PXIL's Chief Operating Officer Gyan Mohan said.

A power exchange, Mumbai-based PXIL has been operating a market for physical trading in power since late 2008.

These certificates are aimed at plugging the gap between availability of renewable energy sources and the... Read more..