Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Government planning to vet power usage pattern & charge more for consumption during peak hours

Using the washing machine at night may help you save on your electricity bill. The government plans to introduce a time-of-day power tariff structure for residential customers, where peak-hour prices will be costlier than non-peak rates, after getting data on supply and consumption of electricity, coal, petroleum and renewable energy.

NITI Aayog, the government think tank tasked with creating a knowledge support system through collaboration with national and international experts, will soon set up an energy data management cell.

This unit will uncover India's... Read more..

Date : Apr 14

Source: Economic Times

Australia assures India full technological support to clean Ganga

Australia Monday assured India that it would extend full technological support for the ambitious project to cleanse the Ganga, saying measures like controlling effluent discharge could be used to clean the river.

"Australia has promised its full support to Ganga Rejuvenation plan. This was communicated by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop when she called on Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti here today," a statement said.

Bishop said her country will be too happy to extend all technological... Read more..

Date : Apr 14

Source: Zee News

UP districts with high power theft may get less power

You may soon be getting less power supply if your district has high power theft. In a move that is set to generate much heat, the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has mooted an idea to link power supply with the line losses. This means, the districts which register more line and commercial losses (power theft and less metering) would accordingly get lesser supply. Noida, which registers lowest line loss — around 8% — would thus be at an advantage in terms of power supply than any other district of the state.

The move could ruffle the feathers of 'VIP' districts... Read more..

Date : Apr 14

Source: Economic Times

Government aims to generate 1 lakh mega watt of solar power by 2022: Piyush Goyal

The Union power ministry will fast-track solar and thermal projects in Northeast India where big hydroelectric projects are caught in a logjam. To start with, a 40 MW of solar unit will be set up in Assam, Piyush Goyal, Union minister for power, coal, and new and renewable energy, said on Friday. The minister, in Guwahati to attend a meeting of state power ministers, said he discussed the matter with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The state government has agreed to offer land for the project, Goyal said. "We will also initiate study to find the prospects of canal and... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Economic Times

India plans push for green bonds

The government has approached at least eight lenders, including Rural Electrification Corp. Ltd (REC), to raise low-cost and long-term funds to help finance India’s plan to quadruple its renewable energy production, while also aiming to make it economically viable for debt-laden distribution companies to buy clean power.

The dollar- or rupee-denominated green bonds may be raised by India Infrastructure Finance Co. Ltd (IIFCL), Power Finance Corp. Ltd (PFC), REC, IDBI Bank Ltd, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (Ireda), ICICI Bank Ltd and Yes Bank Ltd, among... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Live Mint

EV trend in Asia: Electric three wheelers finding more users than electric cars

In Asia, there is interesting trend of growth of electric three wheelers in countries such as India and Philippines. In India the electric three wheelers called e-rickshaws are increasingly used in cities such as Delhi. Government in India is also providing new regulations for e-rickshaws. In Philippines the two wheeled motorbike is altered/fitted with a side-car (see the picture below) which is called in local lingo as trike.

The above type is now replaced by somewhat similar looking electric three wheeler (see another picture below) which is called as e-trike.
... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: EE Herald

Centre committed to cleaning all rivers: Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar Sunday said the Centre was committed to cleaning the country's rivers on the lines of project on Ganga taken up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the initiative of cleaning Ganga and now, under his leadership, we will clean all the rivers in the country," said the Minister, who inaugurated Sajjangarh Biological Park built here at a cost of Rs 22 crore.

The Minister called upon the people to save rivers and their tributaries.

He said Rajasthan would soon be turned into a "green... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Zee News

MIT solar flair will provide impetus to rural Karnataka

US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Selco Foundation in Bengaluru are sowing the seeds for large-scale rural solar electrification in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The aim is to pepper rural landscapes with well-placed 10-50 kW solar power micro-grids to directly supply uninterrupted power supply at minimal cost to small clusters of houses in villages.

The idea is to install solar power micro-grids in villages so that larger electric supply grids using conventional thermal/hydel power could more easily meet the growing urban demand for power in future.... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Bangalore Mirror

Garbage disposal finds no takers for CSR

“Everyone is saying Clean India, Clean India, but why are we not asking where will the garbage collected go?” asks Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Social Services organization, pioneers of building public toilets.

Waste management and disposal feature third on the list of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s objectives, but for companies looking to spend their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to clean India, interest in this field is low.

“Ever since the prime minister’s announcement of achieving Swachh Bharat by 2019, we have received many... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Live Mint

Green sub station to power Faridabad Metro corridor

The upcoming Badarpur-Faridabad corridor of Delhi Metro would be powered by a Green Sub-station as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has constructed a host of eco-friendly features at Faridabad including its first ever ‘green’ electrical Receiving Sub-station (RSS).

The RSS, constructed at Sector 46, Faridabad, will provide power to the 13.875-km Badarpur – Escorts Mujesar (Faridabad) elevated corridor. Officials said the DMRC has already applied for its “Green Building” certification to the Indian Green Building Council.

The sub-station has a series of eco-... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: The Hindu

State Plans Solid Waste Facilities in 2,000 Villages

The State government has decided to establish Solid Waste Management System with recycling and waste disposal facilities in 2,000 village panchayats. To be implemented as a pilot project, the villages would be selected from across Tamil Nadu on the basis of certain prescribed norms. A sum of Rs 110 crore would be spent for establishing the facilities.

According to a government order (GO) issued in this regard on March 26, there is a need for sustainable solid waste management system to be set up in all the villages expeditiously, in a phased manner.

“... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: The New Indian Express

Assam to provide 120 ha for solar power unit

The government of the Indian state of Assam is to provide about 120 ha for the installation of a solar power facility. Piyush Goyal, the Union minister of state for power, said the state was taking the initiative in keeping with the central government’s thrust to build the nation’s clean energy capacity.

The proposed facility will have a capacity of 40 megawatts. India plans to achieve its target of power-for-all by including renewable sources in significant proportions in its energy mix.

By 2022, the country proposes to develop its renewable energy project... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Green Tech Lead

Govt drafts new waste management norms

In order to implement waste management policies effectively, the environment ministry has come out with four separate draft rules for managing municipal solid waste, e-waste (computers, mobiles or other electronic/electrical gadgets), plastic waste and medical waste and sought opinion of public\experts\stakeholders within 60 days before fine-tuning and notifying those rules for implementation across the country.

Draft rules have specified certain dos and don'ts for waste generators (both domestic and commercial), manufacturers, producers, consumers, collection centres,... Read more..

Date : Apr 13

Source: Times of India

Can GIFT City be India’s Hong Kong?

This Friday, all roads will lead to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Co. Ltd, also known as GIFT City. Finance minister Arun Jaitley will unveil rules for international financial services centres (IFSCs) at Gandhinagar on 10 April. He will be accompanied by financial regulators and top bureaucrats.

The show of strength reflects the government’s support for the project. It appears provisions of the Foreign Exchange management Act (Fema) will not apply to firms residing in the new city. Some expect Jaitley to back this up by announcing tax concessions that will apply only... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Live Mint

Inox Wind’s shares surge nearly 35% on trading debut

Shares of wind turbine manufacturer Inox Wind Ltd closed nearly 35% above issue price on Thursday on its first day as a public company. Inox Wind, which opened at Rs.400 against the issue price of Rs.325, gained as much as 37.78% to touch Rs.447.80 before closing at Rs.438, up 34.77% from its issue price.

Retail investors were offered shares at Rs.310 per share in the initial public offer (IPO), which was oversubscribed by 18 times.

A market expert observed that there was appetite for issues with good potential.

“If there is a stock which is in a... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Live Mint

Electric, Hybrid Vehicles to Get Cheaper in India; Govt Announces Incentives

In a bid to promote green cars in India, the government recently launched the Fame India scheme- 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India' - as a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Under the scheme, the government has announced to offer incentives on hybrid and electric vehicles up to Rs. 29,000 for two-wheelers and Rs. 1.38 lakh for cars. The government will spend Rs. 795 crore in the first two fiscal years under this scheme.

Starting with metropolitan cities, the scheme will be launched in all major and smart cities of... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: NDTV

Japan to pledge 20% greenhouse gas cut: Report

Japan will promise to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2013 levels ahead of a global summit on climate change this year, a report said today, despite uncertainty over post-Fukushima energy policy. The government will likely announce the new target at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June in Germany, the leading business daily Nikkei reported, citing unnamed government sources.

In a separate report, Kyodo News said Tokyo will set a target of cutting gas emissions "by at least 20 per cent by 2030, from 2005 levels." Japan is one of the few leading polluters... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Zee News

Clean Energy Access Network aims to provide energy access to 300 mn people

(CLEAN), formed by Twelve key stakeholders in the decentralised energy access sector, is aiming to expand access to affordable and reliable energy solutions for India’s ‘last mile’ - which includes over 300 million people who have not been reached by the national grid and do not have access to electricity.

CLEAN has been formed by Ashden India Collective; Council on Energy, Environment and Water; GIZ India; Indian Renewable Energy Federation; SELCO Foundation; Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation; Small Scale Sustainable Infrastructure Development Fund; The Climate Group; The... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Business Standard

HSBC downgrades India's Suzlon Energy

HSBC downgrades Suzlon Energy to "hold" from "overweight". Potential large foreign currency bonds conversion, 35% of FY15 equity, will likely restrict near-term stock price upside, says HSBC. According to Thomson Reuters Eikon datat, stock had 2 buy ratings only. Suzlon rose 2.5% on Thursday on rival Inox Wind's and Nomura recently started coverage on the stock with a "buy" rating and a target price of Rs. 38 rupees.

Date : Apr 10

Source: Business Line- The Hindu

Smart window harvests energy from wind and rain

Weather could power the next generation of smart windows. A team of researchers working at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created glass that tints by harvesting energy from wind and rain. They have published a description of their work and the glass they have produced in their paper published in ACS Nano.

The Abstract reads: The self-powered system is a promising concept for wireless networks due to its independent and sustainable operations without an external power source. To realize this idea, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was recently invented, which... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Energy Harvesting Journal

NITI Aayog making a blueprint to tackle India’s energy woes

India has started work on a plan to ensure energy security that’s being shaped by a group at the newly established NITI Aayog think tank, energy minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is looking to supply adequate power at affordable prices and double electricity generation capacity to two trillion units by 2019, Goyal told delegates at a conference organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a lobby group. “NITI Aayog has set up a group which is now looking at energy security plans for the next 100 years,” Goyal... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Live Mint

How SEWA brings access to energy across India

In India, a lack of electricity can mean sundown equals shutdown – lost productivity and vital income. Now a grass-roots trade group, SEWA, is helping with solar LED lanterns and clean cooking stoves. “Till now we always lived in darkness. Now I have a solar lantern, it has brought brightness and light to us. Our hearts and minds are now bright. We see hope in the future.” – Fulaba, a weaver from the village of Khombhali in the Kutch deserts of North Gujarat, India.

India is an increasingly dynamic player in the modern digital economy, but many thousands of poor and rural... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: CS Monitor

Asia’s investment bank: a new chapter in sustainable development

Recent news that the United Kingdom and other Western European countries will join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has prompted a flurry of discussion about how the United States, which has been reserved about the new institution, should respond. The Chinese-led AIIB is a new international financial institution (IFI) that will finance infrastructure projects in Asia.

Whatever Washington decides, it’s clear that the AIIB and other new multilateral institutions are becoming an important part of the development finance landscape. These banks can support... Read more..

Date : Apr 10

Source: Eco- Business

France backs India’s stand on climate in pre-2020 period

India's demand for a global agreement that will address intensified efforts to tackle climate change between 2015 and 2020 has not gone unheard. Acknowledging the merit of the demand, France, which is hosting the crucial UNsponsored climate negotiations in December, is working towards a global compact that focuses on tackling climate change in the pre-2020 period.

With barely nine months left for the crucial climate change meeting in Paris, the pressure on countries to draw plans to reduce the amount of carbon produced after 2020, known in UN parlance as intended nationally... Read more..

Date : Apr 9

Source: Economic Times

Deciphering PM Narendra Modi's climate change gambit

Prime Minister Modi raised the matter first at the United Nations last year, then when US President Obama visited India, and a third time on Monday this week at the state environment ministers' meeting. The first time the mention was tangential, the second a bit more specific, and the third time he did not mince words. Partly angered by the denial of nuclear fuel to India, Modi said developed countries have no business to lecture India on climate change. On the other hand, India has the ability to guide the rest of the world on how to tackle climate change.

It is not hard to... Read more..

Date : Apr 9

Source: Economic Times