Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Karnataka to set up world’s biggest solar park

Karnataka, which entered the global power map by setting up Asia’s first hydroelectric station, is now embarking on another milestone mission of setting up a mega solar power park, said to be the world’s biggest. The park, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, will come up on 10,000 acres of land in the parched Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district.

Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewal Energy, Upendra Tripathy and Additional Chief Secretary, Karnataka Energy Department, Ravi Kumar, who announced this at a press conference here on Friday, said the work on the proposed park would start... Read more..

Delhi announces 31 sewage treatment plants, 27 sewage pump stations, 600 km of sewers ... read more on social.yourstory.com

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has recently approved proposals of several projects including setting up of 31 new sewage treatment plants (STPs), 27 sewage pumping stations and laying of 600 km of sewers.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisoida, who chaired the DJB meeting, lauded the board for achieving the peak water production of 878 MGD from an earlier production of 835 MGD. 

“DJB plans to set up 31 new STPs, 27 sewage pumping stations and lay 600 km of sewers in the near future which will benefit a large number of people residing in the city,” Sisodia said. 

According to an... Read more..

Maharashtra to invite tenders to supply solar pumps to farmers

The Maharashtra government will invite tenders this month to supply 10,000 solar-powered agricultural pumps to farmers on a pilot basis, an official in the state energy ministry said.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis intends to replace half a million of the state’s 2.9 million electric pumps with solar pumps in five years.

“We are expecting to issue the tender sometime in June, shortlist vendors by August-September and start installation of pumps by December,” the energy ministry official said, requesting not to be identified.

“To ensure that the programme also... Read more..

Re-rolling mills operating at poor thermal efficiency: Study

A study conducted by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) revealed that 300 small scale steel re-rolling mills in the state are being operated at poor thermal efficiency of 20 to 30 per cent resulting in the wastage of heat energy.

A study conducted by PSCST executive director Neelima Jerath comes out with the aforesaid findings. The study revealed that the re-rolling mills contribute considerably towards air pollution, especially in Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna area.

As such, the PSCST also decided to take up research and development studies for... Read more..

Taxis, buses can’t run on non-clean fuel: Delhi govt

After giving app-based taxi services seven days to submit complete details of their drivers and vehicles, the transport department has come out with a notice reiterating the Supreme Court order on non-clean fuel vehicles. The notice highlights the court order and warns operators of taxis, buses and goods vehicles running on diesel and petrol that plying within the city is not allowed.

The notice comes even as the transport department talked about taking action against app-based taxi services flouting the government ban. Delhi government had, several months ago, banned web-based taxi... Read more..

IMF says energy subsidies are now US$5.3 trillion

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global energy subsidies increased from US$4.2 trillion in 2011 to US$5.3 trillion in 2015.

As a percent of world GDP, the subsidies rose from 5.8 percent in 2011 to 6.5 percent in 2015 and now exceed worldwide government health spending estimated by the World Health Organization at US$4.3 trillion.

The largest subsidies are in China (US$2.3 trillion), the United States (US$699 billion), Russia (US$335 billion), European Union (US$330 billion), India (US$277 billion), and Japan (US$157 billion).

Greenpeace Artic oilThe... Read more..

Global climate set for change over decades

The global climate is on the verge of broad-scale change that could last for a number of decades, shows a study by British scientists. 

The change is linked to cooling of the Atlantic, and is likely to bring drier summers in Britain and Ireland. 

The study is based on observational evidence of the link between ocean circulation and the decadal variability of sea surface temperatures called the Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation (AMO).

"Sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic vary between warm and cold over time-scales of many decades. 

"These variations have... Read more..

BS-IV emission norms to be applicable across India from April 2017

Sale and registration of any new vehicle not complying with BS-IV emission norms will not be allowed anywhere in the country from April 2017. Road transport ministry has issued a draft notification making BS-IV norms mandatory across the country in a phased manner starting this October.

"The mass emission standards for BS-IV shall come into force all over the country in respect of four-wheeled vehicles manufactured on or after April 1, 2017, said the notification.

Already, BS-IV is applicable in almost all major cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and... Read more..

Solar Impulse 2 Is Airborne, Flying From China To Hawaii

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) is in the air as you read this. André Borschberg is anticipated to fly for 6 days and 5 nights, and land on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. If this flight is successful, there will be new world records set for solar aviation. The Si2 team released the following official news for the flight from Nanjing, China:

Swiss Pilot André Borschberg took off in the single seater aircraft this morning from Nanjing Lukou Airport at 2:39 am local time China (06:39 pm UTC) on May 31 2015 in the People’s Republic of China, bound for Hawaii, USA in what will be the exploration leg... Read more..

Rs 125 crores to turn Northeast into organic farming hub

The ministry for development of Northeastern region has embarked upon an ambitious plan worth Rs 125 crore to convert the region into a hub of organic farming in India.

Announcing this here on Wednesday minister of state for DoNER Jitendra Singh said that they are going to target production of organic fruits and cardamom in its first phase.

Pointing out that it was the part of Central government’s “Make in Northeast Policy”, Mr Singh said that his ministry has also given approval for Rs200 crore worth project in drinking water supply and road sector for Assam.

... Read more..

Big jump in renewable energy certificates trading volumes

The marked pick-up in the demand for renewable energy certificates that was seen in the trading session for May, which was held on Wednesday, has been attributed to a recent judgment of the Supreme Court.

As many as 256,579 non-solar and 83,189 solar RECs were sold on the two country’s energy exchanges—IEXL and PXIL—roughly four times the volumes seen in April. These RECs were worth Rs. 38.5 crore and Rs. 29 crore, respectively. Comparatively, in May 2014, only 29,555 non- solar RECs and 2,120 solar RECs were sold.

(RECs are generation-based ‘certificates’ awarded (... Read more..

NGT decision on Kanpur tanneries hailed

Tannery associations and owners have hailed National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision to allow closed tanneries, situated on the banks of the Ganga here, to operate on a trial basis for 19 days in June. During this period their effluent levels will be checked by a team of experts.

The tribunal, while passing an order on a bunch of petitions on Tuesday, asked all industrial units to provide details of steps taken to curb pollution level to the joint inspection team, comprising experts from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-... Read more..