Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Rajasthan is most attractive solar project destination in India, proves NTPC auction

Rajasthan confirmed its position as the most attractive solar project destination in the country with the latest NTPC auction in the desert state, which saw the winning bids falling to Rs 4.35-4.36 per kwH.

Of the 130 MW on offer, 50 MW was won by Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital and 60 MW by Mahindra Susten, both offering to sell electricity produced from their projects at an identical Rs 4.35 per... Read more..

MoEF gets 2 weeks from NGT to submit report on Kopri wetlands

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) another two weeks time to submit its report on the survey of the 20 hectare wetland area in Kopri. The NGT has also asked them to rethink whether it is essential and permissible to reclassify the area from coastal regulatory zone (CRZ)-3 to CRZ-1.

The MoEF has already failed to submit a report twice in the past. This... Read more..

WWF Calls for Standards for Green Bonds

Industry standards in the Green Bond market are needed in order to overcome the “complexity and confusion” that is currently hampering investor confidence in financing green projects, new research from WWF has suggested.

It has called for the “proliferation of standards, frameworks and guidelines” in order to increase the volume of capital entering the Green Bond market, which is suffering as a result of “... Read more..

Water ATMs for smartest Bhubaneswar soon

The smart city will soon facilitate a smart way of providing safe and potable drinking water for its citizens. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private firm, Piramal Sarvajal, to set up water ATMs in the city.

Bhubaneswar is the second city in the country to have water ATMs after Delhi. Among the smart cities, it is the first one to... Read more..

National Green Tribunal calls for impounding of more than 10-year old vehicles

The National Green Tribunal on Monday said the government should look at impounding vehicles which are more than 10 year old. It also called for impounding of 15 year old petrol vehicles.

The tribunal is expected to resume hearing on its on its order banning plying of over 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR on July 18.

... Read more..

Sunabeda, Debrigarh to be eco-sensitive zones soon

The Centre has approved the state government's proposal to declare boundary periphery areas of Sunabeda and Debrigarh wildlife sanctuaries as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ).

Official sources said the Centre will soon come up with a notification in this regard. Once declared an ESZ, demarcated areas beyond the sanctuary boundary will be regulated.

... Read more..

India discussing solar dispute at WTO with US

The Indian government is in talks with the US over a dispute on India’s solar programme at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and would decide on filing suits against the US based on the outcome of the talks, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

“The Indian government believes in discussion, dialogue, consultation and resolution of issues, rather than going through the legal processes, which are... Read more..

‘Solar module efficiency poised to go up’

The efficiency of modules is likely to go up by about two per cent over the next two years and it takes about three years on an average for the manufacturing process to fully adapt to the next level of efficiencies, according to Sujoy Ghosh, Country-Head, First Solar India.

Over the past four years, First Solar has improved its solar module efficiency faster than equivalent efficiencies improvements in Poly... Read more..

First e-waste management unit of AP begins operation in Vizag

IN yet another major step to curb environment pollution, the first e-waste management unit of the state has started functioning in Gajuwaka in the Port City. The Green Waves Recyclers, authorised by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) for safe disposal of electronic waste and in collaboration of the GVMC, has set up 50 e-waste collection bin across the city.

The Port City generates an estimated... Read more..

Honda Co-Developed a New Hybrid Car Battery in Order to Avoid Procuring Rare Earth Metals From China

Japanese automaker Honda has co-produced the world’s first magnet for hybrid and electric cars that requires no heavy rare-earth metals.

The quest to find an alternative to heavy rare-earth elements in magnet manufacturing came after a 2010 dispute, during which China temporarily banned exports of rare-earth minerals. Even before that, however, Honda had been working to reduce the use of the materials in its... Read more..

YES Bank & SIDBI join for financing energy efficiency projects

YES BANK, India fifth largest private sector Bank, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SIDBI under the Partial Risk Sharing Facility (PRSF) for financing Energy Efficiency Projects program. The pact is the latest endeavor in YES BANK continuing commitment towards financing and promoting clean energy projects.

The PRSF has been sponsored by the World Bank with the support of Global Environment... Read more..

Inox Wind bags 50 mw wind project in Gujarat

Inox Wind has bagged an order for supply and commissioning of 50 mw of wind turbines for Atria Wind Power, the former said in a release Monday.

The project, located in Gujarat, would be completed by March 2017.

The order comprises of supply and installation of 25 units of Inox Wind's 113 meter rotor... Read more..