Sustainability Outlook Headlines

'Government plans to achieve 20,000 MW of solar production by 2017'

Power Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the government plans to achieve 20,000 MW of solar production by 2017.

"The solar energy mission envisaged 20,000 MW of solar electricity generation by 2022. But this target has been scaled up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to 1,00,000 MW (1Gw) by 2022," he said at a symposium "Conference of Parties (COP 21)-Building Synergies, Shaping Actions" organised at the... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: The Economic Times

Environment Ministry plans to introduce tree farming

The Centre has planned to introduce tree farming in India to increase the forest cover in the country, Union environment and forests minister Prakash Javdekar said here on Sunday.

Chairing a high level meeting of concerned officials of the forests ministry and department of Maharashtra here, Javdekar said the ministry was giving stress on forestry this year and wants to ensure total forest cover with trees... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: The Economic Times

Electricity supply to face disruptions amid high demand and acute water shortage

Electricity supply across India will be vulnerable to disruptions this summer as the official forecast of severe heatwave will boost demand significantly, while power stations face acute water shortage this year because of the alarming dip in water levels that has forced some plants to shut down.

Water shortage is not only hurting coal-based and hydropower plants but will also decrease the efficiency of... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: The Economic Times

First Solar Completes 1 GW Solar Panels Shipment To India

At a time when India and the US are sparring over the former’s policy on use of domestically manufactured solar power modules, a US-based module manufacturer has achieved a landmark achievement.

First Solar has announced that its cumulative solar power module shipment to India has crossed 1 GW and it has become the first thin-film solar panel manufacturer to achieve this feat. The achievement no mean feat... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: CLEANTECHIES

Indian State Of Kerala Issues 200 MW Solar Power Tender

The southern Indian state of Kerala has finally joined the bandwagon of Indian states launching massive solar power tenders.

The Kerala State Electricity Board has floated a tender for 200 MW solar power capacity. Bidders shall be able to submit bids for project capacity between 10 MW and 200 MW.

Benchmark... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: CLEANTECHIES

Government does its math to fast-track rural electrification

The government is exploring ways to fast-track rural electrificationBSE -0.78 % in Odisha, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Assam, which are home to most un-electrified villages.

The matter came up for discussion at a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official source said.

"During... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: The Economic Times

Henkel India to provide solar power to villages in Maharashtra

In line with Henkel’s global Sustainability Strategy for 2030, the German adhesives maker’s Indian arm, Henkel Adhesive Technologies India Private Limited, has embarked upon its CSR project Lighting Lives, which aims to provide electricity to villages in Maharashtra by installing solar panels.

As part of 2015-16 budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has set a deadline of May 1, 2018 for 100 per cent village electrification. Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, the ministry... Read more..

Date : Apr 4

Source: Business Standard

New policies to boost generation of power from biomass, biofuel: Piyush Goyal

The government will unveil a raft of new policies to boost hydropower and electricity from biomass, biofuels and cogeneration as well as significant increase in the use of electric cars, Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said.

The government will also correct transmission bottlenecks, improve last-mile grid connectivity and take steps to increase demand for electricity as many power... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Economic Times

Suzlon bags 197.40 MW wind power project in Gujarat

Wind energy solutions provider Suzlon Group today said it has bagged an order for development of 197.40 MW wind power project from a leading private sector power utility in Gujarat.

Suzlon will install its S97 suite of wind turbine generators (WTGs) with 120m and 90m hub height and rated capacity of 2.1 MW each, the company said in a release issued here.

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Economic Times

Green certificates sale up 62% at 49.56 lakh in 2015-16

Sale of renewable energy certificates (RECs) increased by about 62 per cent to 49.56 lakh this fiscal as compared to 30.64 lakh in 2014-15.

Similarly, the sale of RECs jumped by 87 per cent in March to 12.66 lakh compared to 6.76 lakh in February this year in monthly auction held yesterday.

Power... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Economic Times

Creating demand for surplus energy key challenge of government policies: Secretaries

India's energy sector has turned around from an era of scarcity and faces a problem of plenty, making demand creation a key driver of government policy, secretaries of power, coal and renewable energy said.

The country has about 25,000 Mw of idle and underutilised electricity generation capacity as private companies set up power plants in anticipation of high prices, Power Secretary PK Pujari said at the... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Economic Times

AIIB eyes first loans to India

India hopes to receive one of the first loans issued by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) later this year, as it looks to raise $500 million for solar power projects from the newly created lender, Indian officials said.

Funding for clean energy projects would allay fears of environmental lobbyists that the bank’s relaxed lending criteria could promote dirty fuels like coal in... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: livemint

Kejriwal launches Green Delhi initiative

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched the Green Delhi programme by planting trees at the Triangular Park at the ITO Chowk.

The event comes on the eve of his promise to rid the Capital’s streets of dust — a major contributor to air pollution.

The initiative was launched in line with a detailed... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Hindu

GE arm to invest in green energy projects

General Electric Co. (GE) will, through its arm, infuse equity into renewable energy projects in India and help lenders in Europe strike project financing deals with Indian clean energy firms looking for low-cost capital.

The US-based power equipment producer, which has a 67-acre manufacturing plant in Pune where it produces wind turbines and other equipment, is hoping to step up its presence in India with... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: livemint

Study: Lightweight Materials In Vehicles Increases Vehicle-Cycle GHG Emissions But Improves Fuel Economy

The use of lightweight materials (carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, wrought aluminum, etc.) in vehicle manufacture results in higher vehicle-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, but also in improved fuel-economy, which leads to a net benefit as far as total life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions go, according to a new study from Argonne National Laboratory.

The improved fuel economy of lighter-weight vehicles is... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: Clean Technica

Antarctica alone may lift seas a meter by 2100: scientists

Melting ice from Antarctica could raise oceans by a metre before 2100 at current rates of greenhouse gas emissions, doubling previous forecasts for sea level rise, according to a study released Wednesday. Such an abrupt change would spell disaster for major cities and coastal areas across the globe, forcing hundreds of millions of people to seek higher ground.

Over a longer time scale, the study concluded,... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: livemint

Tamil Nadu power regulator cuts solar tariff

The Tamil Nadu electricity regulator TNERC has cut the price the state power distributor will pay to solar power generators from Rs 7.01 a unit down to Rs 5.10 a unit for generators without the benefit of Accelerated Depreciation and Rs 4.56 for those availing themselves of the benefit. Getting into effect beginning April, this order stays for a period of one year.

The primary determinant of this price a... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: The Economic Times

GE launches digital wind farm, new efficient turbines

US-based diversified group GE today launched a digital wind farm and its wind mill 2.3-116 which offers 30 per cent more gross annual energy production over its predecessor.

"The Digital Wind Farm solution is a dynamic, connected and adaptable wind energy ecosystem that leverages big data and analytics and pairs a world-class turbine with a digital infrastructure This in turn enhances production, reduces... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: The Economic Times

India, Israel to further cooperation to water conservation

After cementing their partnership in defence and agriculture, India and Israel are looking to further their cooperation to water conservation, recycling and desalination.

Israel is the partner country in India’s “water week” starting on 4 April and many technologies in water conservation and desalination pioneered by Israeli companies will be on display.

Date : Mar 31

Source: livemint

Suzlon wins another order from IOCL for 48.30MW wind project

The Suzlon Group has announced another turnkey order of 48.30MW wind power project from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The project consists of 11 units of S97 120m all-steel hybrid tower and 12 units of S97 90m tubular tower with rated capacity of 2.1MW each. The project has the potential to provide power to 26,000 households and reduce 0.10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.

Located in the... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: Energetica - India

Puri Oil Mills to invest Rs 210 crore in four hydropower projects in Haryana

Delhi-based Puri Oil Mills is set to strengthen its renewable energy business by setting up canal-based solar photovoltaic power plant in Haryana. It is firming up plans to set up green energy projects including a string of hydropower projects in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

The mustard oil producer has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Haryana Renewable Energy Department that... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: The Economic Times

Environment ministry releases new Bio-medical waste management rules

The Environment ministry today released the new Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 which will bring in a wider and more comprehensive regime for bio waste management.

"The new bio-medical waste management rules will change the way country used to manage this waste earlier. Under the new regime, the coverage has increased and also provides for pre-treatment of lab waste, blood samples, etc. It mandates... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: The Economic Times

Heritage Foods commissions 2.1 MW wind power project in Andhra Pradesh

Heritage Foods (India), one of the private sector enterprises in India, has commissioned its first wind power Plant 2.1 MW capacity at Chinahothur Village, Vajrakarur Mandal, Ananthapur District in Andhra Pradesh on March 27, 2016 for captive consumption.

This plant is expected to generate 5 million Units per annum to be utilized, consumed at Gokul Dairy Plant and Chittoor Dairy Plant of the Company under... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: myiris

Torrent inks pact to develop 197.40 MW wind power project

Torrent Power Ltd said it has entered into a contract with a leading wind turbine generator manufacturing group for development of the 197.40-MW project. The 197.40-MW wind power project capacity will be developed across three sites in Kutch and Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat, the company said in a press release.

The project is expected to be commissioned progressively by March 2017 and shall have offtake... Read more..

Date : Mar 31

Source: India Today

Solargise India Plans 2 GW Solar Power Capacity In 4 Years, Partners With GE

Subsidiary of UK-based Solargise Limited in India has announced ambitious capacity addition plans over the next 4 years.

Solargise India Limited recently announced plans to set up 2 GW of solar power capacity over the next 4 years. The company plans to invest Rs 12,000 crore (US$1.8 billion) for this venture.

Date : Mar 31

Source: CLEANTECHIES