Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Govt lines up over Rs 16k crore to support rooftop solar projects

The government has lined up almost $2.5 billion (about Rs 16,800 crore) for providing low cost finance to achieve the target of installing 40 GW grid-connected solar rooftop systems.

"The ministry is in negotiations with the KfW Development Bank to secure soft loans of 1 billion euro. They have already provided $100 million funding," The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Upendra Tripathy... Read more..

Date : Jun 6

Source: The Economic Times

Ministry, UNIDO tie up to create awareness on use of solar thermal tech

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are on a mission to sensitise industries about the use of solar thermal technologies in heating and cooling applications.

Highlighting the benefits of using such technology in industries, particularly in terms of reducing carbon emissions, MNRE Director R P Goswami said the ministry extends... Read more..

Date : Jun 6

Source: Business Line

NGT allows conditional operation of 2 tanneries

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has allowed two tanneries of Kanpur Nagar to operate on certain conditions.

NGT in its order has directed management of these two tanneries to operate their units for two weeks only, as during this period a team of experts would examine the equipment and measures taken by them for checking pollution. If the measures taken by them are found according to the set standard, they... Read more..

Date : Jun 6

Source: The Times of India

Konkan Railway steps up initiatives for a greener Earth

Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd has reiterated its commitment to the environment of World Environment Day. Konkan Railway, a signatory to United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since October 2001, has always been a forerunner in adopting and ensuring eco-friendly initiatives in its working. This is reflected in vision, mission and objective statements of KR, which is always striving for environment protection/ conservation.

Date : Jun 6

Source: The Economic Times

Trash burning goes unabated in Agra

Despite a ban on burning of garbage by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), trash could still be seen on fire at several places across the city on daily basis. This is happening when the AGRA Municipal Corporation claims that it has directed area supervisors to identify such spots under their jurisdictions.

On May 31, the tribunal had issued notices to 11 departments including Union ministry of environment... Read more..

Date : Jun 6

Source: The Economic Times

Punjab river water unfit for drinking

A recent report from the Punjab Pollution Control Board claims that the water of the four rivers in the state has become so polluted that it is unfit for drinking.

The pollution watchdog, in its April 2016 report, said that water samples were collected from around 37 locations under the National Water Quality Monitoring (NWQM) programme.

Date : Jun 6

Source: Indian Express

MNRE invites comments on the National Policy on RE based Mini/Micro grids draft

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited comments from stakeholders on its draft ‘National Policy for Renewable Energy based Micro and Mini Grids’.

MNRE is issuing a policy to provide implementation solutions and approaches for overcoming common issues and challenges that hamper the growth of the mini-grid sector. Individual states are encouraged to refer to this policy document for... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Sustainability Outlook

India-US ink MoU to boost energy security, clean energy

India and the United States on Thursday signed an MoU here to enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Washington visit.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by India’s Power Secretary P.K. Pujari and US Ambassador Richard Verma, a statement here said.

Date : Jun 3

Source: Greentech Lead

Draft water bill proposes ‘water for life’ for all

A proposed new law on water promises to give every person the right to a minimum amount of “safe water”, while making the state “obliged” to “protect” and conserve water.

The draft National Water Framework Bill says every person would be entitled to “water for life” that shall not be denied to anyone on the ground of inability to pay. It defines this “water for life” as that basic requirement that is... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: The Indian Express

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures wins 100 MW power purchase agreement in reverse auction under NSM program in India

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has announced that it has been awarded a 100 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) in a reverse auction, conducted by Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI). The auction falls under the National Solar Mission program which was launched by the Government of India to achieve 100 GW of installed solar capacity in the country by 2022.

The 25-year agreement was signed at a... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Energetica India

Mahindra launches its first electric sedan

Automobile manufacturer Mahindra Electric on Thursday launched its first all-electric, zero-emissions sedan — eVerito.

According to the company, the D2 variant of the sedan is priced at Rs. 9.50 lakh (ex showroom Delhi, post state subsidy and FAME incentive).

“The eVerito is an innovative combination of... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Greentech Lead

Jaipur Municipal Corporation plans to generate power from garbage

Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) plans to generate power from garbage as part of its effort to make Jaipur a world-class city by converting the domestic waste into energy in the city.

According to a report filed in the high court, on a petition on making Jaipur a world-class city, JMC said it plans to set up power plants with a capacity to use 700 metric tons of garbage daily out of 1,300 metric ton... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: The Times of India

North Delhi Municipal Corporation to inaugurate Waste-to-Energy plant next week

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation is all set to inaugurate its much-awaited waste-to-energy plant next week at the Narela-Bawana landfill site.

After this plant is made operational, Delhi will have the capacity to use almost 50% of the garbage generated daily to produce electricity.

The project has been... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: The Times of India

Low-Carbon Fuels Initiative Aims to Scale Up Sustainable Corporate Fleets

A global initiative called below50 that aims to scale up the development and use of low-carbon fuels launched today with 20-plus organizations and global brands including Audi, DuPont, DSM, Joule, LanzaTech, Novozymes and Yale University.

Only 3 percent of current transportation fuels are considered low-carbon by the International Energy Agency.

Date : Jun 3

Source: Environmental Leader

Renewables row with US: Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal for dialogue, amicable solution

Government has decided against dragging the US to the WTO for alleged violation of the world trade body's norms on renewable energy as it prefers a bilateral solution , Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

"The US has requested for bilateral consultations to which we readily agreed. The commerce ministry is in dialogue with them. We believe that dialogues are a better way in sensitive subjects like... Read more..

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Economic Times

India among top 5 green energy markets in 2015: report

The 2015 global renewable energy development had a strong Indian flavour to it, with India being ranked among the top five nations in new investments, and in the top four as regards creating jobs in the green energy sector.

Emerging markets broke the record in 2015 by committing larger investments than developed nations.

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Hindu

2,000-acre waste recycling park proposed near Madhugiri, Karnataka

The State government has embarked upon a comprehensive initiative to tackle Bengaluru city’s garbage that includes setting up a mega waste recycling park on 2,000 acres of land near Madhugiri of Tumakuru district, on the lines of Seoul.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Tuesday, Minister for Bengaluru City Development K.J. George said the Urban Development Department had zeroed in on the land... Read more..

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Hindu

India’s Karnataka issues letters of approval for another 260MW solar

The Indian state of Karnataka has released another set of letters of Approval (LOAs), this time for 260MW of solar PV capacity that were allotted in its dispersed 1.2GW solar auction in March.

These deployments of no more than 20MW each will be spread across 14 taluks, which are separate localities within Indian states.

Date : Jun 2

Source: PV-Tech

PMC moots 200 plastic, e-waste disposal centres

Taking care of domestic plastic and electronic waste will not be your headache any more as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to set up 200 disposal facilities across the city soon.

Segregating plastic and e-waste is the objective behind the initiative.

Civic officials say that innovative methods... Read more..

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Times of India

Uma Bharti to visit Israel to gain insight on water technology

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti is visiting Israel in June to gain first-hand knowledge on technologies and expertise in water sector including desalination, urban water systems and smart metering and how they can be implemented back in India.

“Uma Bharti will visit Israel end of this month to see what kind of technologies can be adopted in India,” Spokesman of Embassy of Israel, Ohad Horsandi told... Read more..

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Indian Express

1,497 houses in Amasebail, Karnataka to get solar lamps

The Amasebail Charitable Trust will launch a programme to install solar lamps in 1,497 houses in the naxalite-affected Amasebail Gram Panchayat here on June 1.

Addressing pressperson here on Monday, A.G. Kodgi, president of the trust and former MLA, said that the total cost of installation of the solar lamps was Rs. 2.13 crore.

Date : Jun 2

Source: The Hindu

First Solar says investments in India not justified at low tariffs

First Solar Inc., a US-based photovoltaic (PV) panel maker and one of the first overseas companies to enter India’s solar energy market, is looking to bid for newer solar projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to retain a 15-20% market share in the highly competitive solar energy market, said country head Sujoy Ghosh in an interview to Mint.

But aggressively low tariffs remain a hurdle... Read more..

Date : Jun 2

Source: livemint

Pollution turning Taj Mahal yellow: NGT notice to Centre

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Centre to respond to the plea of an environment enthusiast alleging that largescale burning of municipal solid waste in Agra was turning the Taj Mahal yellow.

The green panel also restrained civic authorities from burning municipal solid waste and other waste in open in Agra and the areas around the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone.

Date : Jun 2

Source: Times of India

KERC Determines tariffs and other norms for Solar Rooftop and Small Photovoltaic Power Plants

This Order is applicable to all new grid connected solar rooftop and small solar photo voltaic power plants, entering into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and commissioned on or after 2nd May, 2016 and up to 31st March, 2018.

Sharing of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) benefits between the generating company and the beneficiaries

... Read more..
Date : Jun 1
Source: Reconnect Energy

New wind power capacity may decline to 2,500 MW in FY17: ICRA

New capacity addition by the wind power sector may decline to 2,500 MW in current fiscal against that of 3,415 MW in last fiscal due to challenges faced by the segment in the two states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, rating agency ICRA said today.

It, however, said that the long-term outlook for the wind sector remains strong given the favourable government support and large untapped wind power potential... Read more..

Date : Jun 1

Source: The Economic Times