Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Railways to sell garbage at stations

Eager to generate non-fare revenue from various sources, Railways is firming up proposals to sell the garbage generated at stations across the country.

"We are examining a proposal from a waste management group which has offered Rs 1.50 per kg for garbage to be collected at railway stations," said a senior railway official involved in exploring various avenues for generating non- tariff revenues.... Read more..

Preserving forest carbon sinks top of donors' climate mitigation agenda

New research has found that developing countries with large carbon sinks and good governance tend to be the main destination for major green donors' climate mitigation funding.

The study by the University of East Anglia (UEA) compared the factors used to allocate climate mitigation finance to 180 developing countries by the five largest donors - Japan, Germany, France, Norway and the United States. Ways of addressing the global need for reducing greenhouse gas emissions vary from... Read more..

Government to hold separate auctions for solar projects using desi modules

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has decided to hold separate auctions for solar projects using domestically manufactured modules to help local producers of panels that can tap the sun's energy. For some auctions, the ministry is also dropping a requirement for panel makers to source locally made solar cells.

"The first of these, a 500 MW tender for solar projects using only locally produced modules... Read more..

Energy from waste: IFAT India 2016 focusing on sustainable use of waste for India

According to Germany Trade & Invest, the company that deals with Germany's external business and the marketing of the country as an economic location, the Indian environmental technology market is on a double-digit upward trend. IFAT India 2016 offers an opportunity to benefit from this highly promising national market. India's leading trade fair for environmental technology will be held at the Bombay Exhibition Center (BEC) in Mumbai from September 28 to 30. In addition to water and waste water treatment... Read more..

Maharashtra plans $10 billion infra fund

In what Maharashtra claims will be a game changer, the state is planning a whopping $10-billion fund, which would be used for building infrastructure in rural areas of the state and specifically in Mumbai.

The move to create this Infra Fund comes after the state has struggled to create new infrastructure because of the huge debt of Rs 3.30 lakh crore. The state is also planning to use the money from this... Read more..

Greenpeace Reveals ‘Detox Catwalk’ List Of The Most Eco-Friendly Fashion Brands

Greenpeace has unveiled its 2016 ‘Detox Catwalk‘ - a list of fashion brands making the effort to clean up their supply chains and also those failing to do so.

Over 70 major clothing labels made a commitment to Greenpeace to remove toxic chemicals from their supply chains completely by 2020, and the new report monitors their progress towards this goal.

... Read more..

Hartek Power bags 330-MW solar projects,on track to hit target

Leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Hartek Power today said it bagged sub-station orders for 330-MW solar projects across the country in the June quarter.

With this, the Chandigarh-based Hartek Power is set to connect 500-MW solar projects to the grid in 2016-17, said a company statement here.

... Read more..

Indian solar facing first curtailments in Tamil Nadu

Developers have experienced curtailment of solar power in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, according to India’s Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA).

While wind power has faced curtailment in the past, now solar energy is being curtailed for the first time, sometimes in the range of 50-100% during peak generation periods, Mitali Ghosh, SPDA assistant secretary general, confirmed to PV Tech.... Read more..

57% of new buildings in India will be 'green' by 2018, 2nd highest globally: Study

India will soon have the second highest number of green buildings in a country globally at 57% by 2018, rising from 37% at present, just behind South Africa at 61%, says a new study.

Environmental regulation has been rated as the most important trigger by a majority of survey respondents (52%) for constructing new green buildings in the country, according to World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket... Read more..

All public transport vehicles to ply on CNG from November in Allahabad

Come November, all public transport vehicles or three-wheelers would ply on bio fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG). This will help reduce pollution in the city.

Gujarat-based private company in collaboration with Indian Oil will open at least six CNG filling stations for the purpose, of which three will be operational from November 1.

... Read more..

Pollution Board to keep an eye on polluting industries

The district pollution board has succeeded in goading major polluting industries in Ghaziabad and Hapur to install online pollution monitoring systems. As per pollution board officials a total of 22 industries under 'most polluting' category have installed a system called Continuous Stack Emission Monitoring Systems (CSEMS) which enables the pollution board to keep a tab on the discharge of effluents on a real time basis without physically visiting the site.

... Read more..

4,000 MW available in exchanges at around Rs 2 per unit: Piyush Goyal

With the power demand in summer at a peak, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that electricity is available at exchanges across India, and without network congestion, at rates around Rs 2 per unit.

"Summer afternoon power check: 4,144 MW available at Rs.2.13/unit across India," Goyal said in a tweet.

... Read more..