You are here
Sustainability Outlook Headlines
PM Modi's 'Namami Gange Programme': Cabinet approves a massive Rs 20,000-crore budgetThe Union Cabinet today approved a massive Rs 20,000 crore budget for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet 'Namami Gange Programme' for the next five years, which is a five-fold increase over the money spent in the last three decades towards the conservation of the river. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Modi, approved the flagship programme which integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner, a government statement here said. "The programme has a budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for the next five years," the statement said, adding that it... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Economic Times
|
Delhi wants to end BS-III regimeThe transport department may put an end to registration of Bharat Stage-III vehicles as a measure to tackle the rising air pollution in Delhi. If the idea translates into action, only BS-IV four-wheelers or cars will be allowed to be registered in the city. Studies show BS-IV vehicles, which have superior emission standards, reduce particulate emissions by 80% and NO2 by 31%. However, BS III-compliant vehicles that ply on city roads comprise mostly two and three-wheelers. In a meeting held by the transport department recently, joint commissioner (operation) of the... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Economic Times
|
Suzlon group awarded 90MW order by ReNew PowerSuzlon Group has announced that it has won new order for 90 MW turnkey project from its existing customer, ReNew Power. ReNew Power is one of India’s largest Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with clean energy assets of more than 1000 MW of commissioned and under-construction projects. Suzlon will install its revolutionary S97 120m Hybrid Tower WTGs (wind turbine generator) with rated capacity of 2.1MW in Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh (MP). Suzlon will install 29 WTGs at the site Kode and 14 WTGs at Limbwas site in Ratlam district. The project is scheduled for commissioning by March... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Energetica India
|
Wind velocity forecasting to help power evacuationWind power producers in the state can look forward to selling much of the power they generate as TNEB is likely to consider evacuating it based on a forecasting system. Every year, there have been complaints from wind power generators about TNEB's inability to completely evacuate the power they generate between May 15 and September 15. Though Tamil Nadu has 7800MW installed capacity of wind power, the maximum in any state in the country, only 3000MW or less is evacuated due to lack of adequate infrastructure. Wind, unlike solar, is highly unpredictable and according to experts, wind... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Economic Times
|
NDA's move to change existing green laws will be opposed by the CongressGovernment may be in a hurry to bring changes in existing green laws to make them in sync with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development goals, but its plan to bring amendments in environment laws will hit the opposition wall in Rajya Sabha where the NDA does not have numbers. The Congress on Wednesday made it clear that the party would oppose "tooth and nail" any move by the government to dilute the existing provisions. Articulating the party's stand over the issue, senior Congress leader Ashwani Kumar said if the government would try to dilute the existing... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Economic Times
|
What Yahoo's energy efficiency strategy borrows from farmsSilicon Valley tech giant Yahoo has been relatively low-key about its sustainable operations strategy since CEO Marissa Mayer took over in July 2012. But a lack of noise shouldn't be conflated with a lack of progress. Early this month, Yahoo opened a massive data center that uses an innovative “Compute Coop” design — a building layout that reduces the amount of power necessary to cool off the servers housed within. As you might imagine from the name, it looks like a traditional chicken coop, with side openings and a vented roof ridge. Just as significant: last fall,... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Green Biz
|
Enzen Global Solutions acquires wind turbine maker Luminous for Rs 12.6 crEnzen Global Solutions, an energy-utility systems integrator and advisory, has acquired Pune-based wind turbine manufacturer Luminous Renewable Energy Solutions for about Rs 12.6 crore ($2 million), eyeing a huge potential market in India's many villages that still do not have regular access to electricity. Luminous makes small wind and solar hybrid electricity systems, adopted from a USpatented technology that can be installed on roof tops as well as in irregular terrain such as coastal areas. This is the first acquisition for Bengalurubased Enzen, which has set aside Rs 120 crore... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Economic Times
|
YEIDA plans waste management systemYamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is undertaking one of the largest green initiatives yet, with a proposal to develop a comprehensive solid waste management plan. The plan will serve as a blueprint for how waste is handled and managed in the YEIDA area for the next 20 years. On Wednesday, YEIDA invited expressions of interest (EOI) to select a technical consultant which will prepare and implement a Master Plan for the system. According to YEIDA officials, the solid waste management plan will cover nearly 53,000 hectares and cater to a population of about 25... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Times of India
|
Nestlé to Transform California Milk Factory to ‘Zero Water’Nestlé is investing in technology to help reduce the amount of water it uses in California at the five water bottling plants and four facilities where food or petcare products are manufactured. Work is underway to transform the Nestlé milk factory in the city of Modesto into a ‘zero water’ factory, meaning the plant will not use any local freshwater resources for its operations. The project is expected to save nearly 63 million gallons of water each year, equivalent to 71 percent of absolute withdrawals in 2014. Around $7 million has been invested in the project, which is due... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Sustainable Brands
|
Odisha to frame new CSR guidelines soonThe state government is in the process of formulating a new set of guidelines for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the state. "The state government is preparing a status paper on the CSR activities. We are bringing out a CSR guideline as per the need of the state," said state industries minister, Debi Prasad Mishra at Corporate Governance and CSR Symposium 2015, organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce here. The industries department is collecting information pertaining to the CSR activities undertaken by the companies in the state.The guidelines will be... Read more.. Date : May 14 Source: Business Standard
|
India eyes $1.1 bln solar loan from German bank KFWGerman development bank KFW could lend India $1.1 billion for rooftop solar projects, on top of another loan it has extended to help the Asian country fund its ambitious green energy plans, India's top renewable energy bureaucrat told Reuters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to quintuple India's renewable energy capacity to 175 gigawatts by 2022, making clean energy part of his fight against climate change without necessarily committing to a timeline for emission cuts. KFW has already offered India a loan of about 1.38 billion euros ($1.55 billion) to help build a "green... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Reuters
|
Centre unveils policy roadmap on machine-to-machine communicationsSmart street lights that can be controlled from a remote location, parking meters that give advance alerts about vacant slots to approaching vehicles and power meters that do not require manual reading for billing purpose could soon become a reality. The Centre, on Tuesday, announced a roadmap to make such use of technology under a reference document called ‘National telecom machine-to-machine roadmap’. The roadmap is aimed at provide broad guidance on developing machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. Specifics related to policy issues including numbering plan , spectrum... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Business Line- The Hindu
|
Godavari Biorefineries raises $15 million from Mandala CapitalGodavari Biorefineries Ltd, a manufacturer of biofuels and specialty chemicals, on Tuesday announced that it has raised $15 million (Rs.90 crore approximately) in equity funding from private equity firm Mandala Capital. The funds invested by Mandala will be used for a new manufacturing plant for specialty chemicals, an increased capacity for ethanol production, de-bottlenecking of existing plants and strengthening the company’s utility infrastructure, the firm said in a press release. It will also fund an expanded facility for research and development. “In recent years,... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Live Mint
|
Alstom T&D India to supply Power Grid’s 1st 'Make in India’ GISAlstom T&D India has announced that it has been awarded a contract worth approximately €34 million (INR 2266 million) by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Power Grid) to supply two Gas-Insulated Substations (GIS). The two substations will be located at Betul in Madhya Pradesh and Navsari in Gujarat. Both substations will be completely manufactured in India, making this Power Grid’s first ‘Make in India’ 400 kV GIS. The first 400/220 kV GIS substation constructed at Betul will transmit power generated from the Mouda Super Thermal Power Plant – II. The second installation... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Energetica
|
Sea levels are rising faster than previous estimatesSea level rise sped up over the last two decades rather than slowing down as previously thought, according to new research. Records from tide gauges and satellites have shown sea level rise slowing slightly over the past 20 years. But as the ice sheets of West Antarctica and Greenland shed ever more water into the ocean, climate models show it should be doing the opposite. “The thing that was really puzzling us was that the last decade of sea level rise was marginally slower, ever so subtly slower, than the decade before it,” said Dr Christopher Watson from the University of... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: RTCC
|
Starbucks Moving Ethos Water Operations Out of California; Walmart Faces Petition to Do the SameStarbucks has become the latest corporation to move its water bottling operations out of California: Last Thursday, the company announced that it would move sourcing and manufacturing of its Ethos Water out of state due to the serious drought conditions and necessary water-conservation efforts in California. Over the next six months, Starbucks plans to move production to its Pennsylvania supplier, while exploring alternatives to transition to a new source and supplier to serve the company’s West Coast distribution. So far, Starbucks says it has decreased its in-store water... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Sustainable Brands
|
UN: $19bn 'tsunami' of e-waste must be tackledUp to 90 per cent of the world's electronic waste, worth nearly $19bn, is illegally traded or dumped each year, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Computers and smart phones are among the ditched items contributing to this 41 million tonne e-waste mountain, which could top 50 million tonnes by 2017, UNEP says in a new report launched today in Geneva. It follows last month's UN University report, which outlined how 42 million tonnes of elecronic waste were thrown out in 2014 at a cost of $52bn to the global economy. Exporting hazardous waste from EU and... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Business Green
|
CAG slams NMC over solar city schemeThe Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2014-2015 has raised objection over the BJP-ruled NMC's tardy implementation of solar city scheme. Former NCP corporator Vedprakash Arya submitted a memorandum to municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar demanding action against concerned officers from the NMC's electrical department for delaying the work which saw the project cost escalate. The then Congress-led ministry of new and renewable energy had selected Nagpur city under Model Solar City project in November 2008. To implement the project, the ministry had... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Times of India
|
Tidal lagoon energy could replace 80 coal power plants worldwideA race is on worldwide to harness the tides and waves for electrical power, with more than 100 different devices being tested by companies hoping to make a commercial breakthrough. And a new report from the European Union’s Joint Research Centre expresses confidence that the Atlantic Ocean will soon be an important contributor to the continent’s energy mix. It adds that many other countries with big tidal ranges and long coasts are also banking on this form of renewable energy to help reduce fossil fuel use. For years, it has been predicted that the vast quantities of... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: RTCC
|
MNRE approves use of New Power Technology for enhanced efficiency of Thermal GenerationThe Government has approved an Advanced Ultra Super Critical Technology R&D Project at a cost of Rs.1500 Crore involving BHEL, NTPC and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) for enhanced efficiency of thermal generation. The objective of the scheme is to achieve higher efficiency, reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and reduce coal consumption for coal based power plants. This was stated by Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha . The R&D work for the programme is carried out... Read more.. Date : May 13 Source: Energetica
|
Haryana to start liquid waste management system in villagesA new system for liquid waste management would soon begin in villages of Haryana, state Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said here on Sunday. “For this system, three tanks would be set up in a village pond for purifying water and this could be used for irrigation purposes,” he said. The scheme would first be implemented in 1,200 villages of Haryana and the State government would implement real-time mapping system for equitable distribution of canal water and for its monitoring, Mr. Dhankar said. This would help in getting online information on... Read more.. Date : May 12 Source: The Hindu
|
ATIRA eyes industry collaborations for innovative composite productsUnder its centre of excellence for composites, the Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research Association (ATIRA) has come up with innovative products like textile reinforced concrete (TRC) which could substitute as cost effective building material and jute based composites for making 'quick to install' toilets which the institute plans to market through industry and government collaborations. Having transformed from being an extension centre to industry to innovation centre of global repute, ATIRA has taken several initiatives in R&D and has established four Centre of Excellence (COE... Read more.. Date : May 12 Source: Business Standard
|
World Bank says carbon pricing will be key to reaching U.N.’s zero-emission goalSafely reaching the U.N.’s climate target requires governments to have a long-term vision that includes carbon pricing, the World Bank said Monday. A price on carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, “is an efficient way to raise revenue while encouraging lower emissions,” the bank said. The report, “Decarbonizing Development: Three Steps to a Zero Carbon Future,” suggests three essentials for curbing emissions of global-warming gases. United Nations members have set the goal of forging a pact in December for limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees... Read more.. Date : May 12 Source: Japan Times
|
Water level depleted in 39% wellsThe ground water level in about 39 per cent of wells in the country has shown declining trend, the Government told Rajya Sabha today citing a recent analysis. In his reply, Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat said that Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) had informed that around 56 per cent of the wells are showing decline in ground water level in various parts of the country as per the data of pre-monsoon 2013, compared with decadal mean of pre-monsoon (2003-2012). "However, as per the latest ground water monitoring data of CGWB for pre-monsoon 2014, compared... Read more.. Date : May 12 Source: Business Standard
|
Industrial units along Ganga must install real time monitoring before June 30To check discharge of waste into Ganga and its tributaries by the industries, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions for installation of real time monitoring by the industrial units before June 30, 2015. Date : May 12 Source: KNN India
|
