Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Centre sanctions Rs 30 crore for solar cities programme

Funds worth over Rs 30 crore have been sanctioned to 21 states and union territories under the solar cities development programme, the government said Thursday.

These funds were sanctioned during the last three years till November 30 this year.

Out of the total sanctioned amount of Rs 30.36 crore under the... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: The Times of India

Hyderabad airport becomes carbon-neutral

The hub has now achieved carbon-neutral status (Level 3+), as certified by the Airport Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The UK’s Manchester International Airport also achieved Level 3+ status.

“The… status awarded by ACI under its Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is a significant achievement for Hyderabad Airport,” said SGK Kishore, CEO of GHIAL, the airport’s... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: Travel Daily India

India launches online training program for solar PV design

The New and Renewable Energy Ministry has developed an online training programe under public-private partnership for design, installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaics (PV) to meet the manpower requirements of the booming solar industry, an official statement said on Thursday.

The skilling online programme has been developed by the National Institute of Wind Energy under in association with Iacharya... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: IndUS Business Journal

Majuli to be India's first ever carbon neutral district

Assam government has initiated a project to make river island Majuli the country's first ever Carbon Neutral district by 2020.

The project titled 'Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development in Majuli' (SACReD, Majuli) has been initiated by Assam's department of Environment and Forest and was launched by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Biodiversity and Climate) A K Johari at Majuli... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: The Times of India

India needs aggressive energy policy for sustained 9-10 per cent GDP growth: Amitabh Kant

India requires an aggressive energy policy that promotes domestic manufacturing and cuts down import dependence to ensure sustained 9-10 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate over years, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant said.

Such a policy is essential to boost the share of the manufacturing sector in the country’s GDP to 25 per cent, he said speaking at an oil and gas industry event. “The... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: ET Energy World

India to achieve climate change goal earlier than thought

The share of non-fossil fuels in India’s sources of electricity will increase way beyond the nation’s climate change commitments and much earlier than initially thought, according to a five year energy blueprint brought out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a federal statutory body.

CEA said in the draft national electricity plan, 2016, that the share of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: Livemint

Thousands of remote Indian households to receive solar panels, chargers and batteries

More than 16,000 Indian households across 800 remote villages will be given a solar panel, with an eight-hour battery storage backup, according to the Indian minister for power, coal, new and renewable energy and mines, Piyush Goyal.

In an update on the government’s rural electrification scheme known as DDUGJY, Goyal said that these households would be given 5 LED bulbs, an energy efficient ceiling fan and a... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: PV-Tech

Andhra Pradesh to distribute energy efficient tubelights to households

Riding on the success of conservation of massive volume of power through distribution of LED bulbs to the domestic users, the state government is now contemplating to distribute Energy Efficiency Tube Lights to all the households.

The EETLs are expected to save around 50 to 60 per cent electricity consumption from the normal tube lights. The state government is likely to fix the price of each tube light at... Read more..

Date : Dec 16

Source: The Times of India

The Cabinet, Indian government gives ex-post facto approval to India's approach to climate change negotiations

The government today gave its ex-post facto approval to the country's approach to climate change negotiations at a recent UN summit in Marrakesh in Morocco, a move aimed at safeguarding the interest of the poor and vulnerable groups.

"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its ex-post facto approval to India's approach to climate change negotiations at the Conference of Parties (COP... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: Economic Times

NTPC to replace 11 GW of inefficient plants with Rs 50,000 crore investment

NTPC will spend Rs 50,000 crore to replace 11,000 MW of ageing, inefficient plants with modern energy-efficient power stations, minister for power, coal, renewable energy and mines Piyush Goyal said.

The ambitious replacement programme is part of India's efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce the country's carbon footprint, Goyal said at a function organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. ... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: Economic Times

India to Extend LED Efficiency Program to Eight Other Countries

India, one of the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gasses, aims to extend its lighting efficiency program to seven other Asian countries and the UK with aid from the World Bank, reported Bloomberg.

State-backed utility company Energy Efficiency Services in India says the government has signed initial agreements with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and is talks with Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: LED Inside

APEPDCL bags top spot in energy conservation in India

City-based Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited (APEPDCL) bagged the top spot in energy conservation among all 44 distribution companies in the country. The union ministry of power, coal, new and renewable energy and mines announced the results at the National level Energy Conservation Day celebrations held in New Delhi on Wednesday. APEPDCL CMD MM Nayak received the prize from union minister of power Piyush Goyal.

Date : Dec 15

Source: The Times of India

Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL) lights up hope of solar-powered airports

The Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL) at Nedumbassery, which is country’s first fully solar power-run airport, has become a game changer with no less than nine similar airport projects scheduled for completion before March 2017.

According to a report tabled in Parliament, as many as 19 Airport Authority of India (AAI)-run airports have been generating 18.7 MW of green energy after installing solar... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: The New Indian Express

India's first wind power reverse auction deferred

India's first reverse auction for wind power has been postponed by three weeks. The last date for submission of bids has been extended to January 8 in the New Year from December 15, while the opening of bids, earlier scheduled for December 16, will take place on January 9.

“There was a pre-bid meeting on November 29 at which developers sought many clarifications,“ said Ashvini Kumar, Managing Director,... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: Economic Times

Not ready for BS-IV switch: Auto industry

To check toxic emissions from heavy diesel vehicles, the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) recently directed manufacturers that all vehicles sold from April 1, 2017, should be BS IV compliant. This would mean no BS-III compliant vehicle is sold or registered beyond April 1. But Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has informed EPCA that it will be "very difficult" for firms to comply with this order.

Date : Dec 15

Source: The Times of India

RasGas supports India’s shift to clean energy with focus on LNG

RasGas has extended its support to India’s transformation into a land powered by clean, reliable, gas-based energy, as part of efforts to strengthen the economic and energy relationships with the Asian country, the fourth largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

This was highlighted by Hamad Mubarak al-Muhannadi, chief executive officer of RasGas, in his address at the recently held 12th... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: Gulf Times

Surat Municipal Corporation seeks community help in waste sorting project

In order to seek community participation in solid waste management, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has begun identifying residential societies in all the seven municipal zones for segregating the wet and dry household waste.

Official sources said that the drive has begun to spread awareness among the households for adopting simple solid waste management techniques. On an average, around 20 residential... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: The Times of India

Kolkata: Metro Railway observes 'National Energy Conservation Day'

Metro Railway observed 'National Energy Conservation Day' on Wednesday by discussing further measures to adopt non-conventional energy. As part of its energy conservation programme, Metro Railway, one of the major energy consuming organizations in the country, has already undertaken several measures.

"Rabindra Sadan and Rabindra Sarobar Metro stations have been converted to 'Green Stations' and are utilizing... Read more..

Date : Dec 15

Source: The Times of India

World Bank grants $5.19 million for energy financing to MSMEs

World Bank will provide an additional USD 5.19 million grant to MSME industries in the country to help them adopt efficient energy means.

Grant will be provided through World Bank's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) arm.

An agreement for Global Environment Facility (GEF) Grant... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: Economic Times

India saved Rs 4,866 crore through energy efficiency measures last fiscal : Piyush Goyal

The Indian industry saved more than Rs 4,866 crore through adoption of energy efficiency measures last financial year, the power ministry informed today. The top entities who took part in the efficiency drive will be felicitated in a function by power minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday.

The ministry said Goyal will inaugurate the National Energy Conservation Day here and felicitate winners of the National... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: ET Energy World

India to get additional $ 5.19 million financing from IBRD for Financing Energy Efficiency at MSMEs Project

India has signed a grant agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for USD 5.19 million for additional financing for financing energy efficiency at MSMEs project - Programmatic Framework for Energy Efficiency.

The parent project - India: Financing Energy Efficiency at MSME Project (FEEMP) became effective on September 29, 2010 with an original GEF Grant amount of US$ 11.... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: KNN India

Amaranto partners CPEC Ananta to develop 200 MW solar in India

Renewable energy firm Amaranto Group has signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Mumbai-based solar developer CPEC Ananta to build 200MW of solar PV projects in various Indian states over the next three to four years.

Rodolfo Bigolin, managing partner and chief executive of Amaranto Global Asset Management, the investment arm of Amaranto Group, told PV Tech that the firms currently have two projects with... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: PV-Tech

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) admits Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) plea seeking launch of renewable energy contracts

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has admitted the petition filed by the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) for the introduction of green power (renewable energy) contracts. IEX plans to introduce green day-ahead market based on collective transactions, comprising solar day-ahead contract and non-solar day-ahead contract, which will be applicable for merchant capacity.

According to IEX, renewable energy generators will get payment based on schedules and buyers will get more options... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: Business Standard

NTPC enters wind power space, partners with Inox Wind

Marking its foray into wind power generation, state-owned NTPC has partnered with Inox Wind for a 50-MW wind project to be deployed in Gujarat.

“Inox Wind Ltd… has bagged an order for a 50-mw wind power project to be deployed in the state of Gujarat from NTPC Ltd,” a press release said.

With 47 GW of... Read more..

Date : Dec 14

Source: Financial Express

Lack of infrastructure in solar parks hurting projects: report

Incomplete infrastructure at solar parks in India is hurting the development of some large-scale solar power projects, consultancy Mercom Capital Group Llc said in a report on Tuesday.

Lack of access roads, clean green lands, and clear demarcation of land areas in these solar parks are some of the challenges being faced by project developers, Mercom Capital said.

Date : Dec 14

Source: Livemint