Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India Inc must use sustainability as a key driver of growth

The Asian Development Bank has forecast that India's economic growth will outpace China's in 2015/16, thanks to improvements in the country's political and macroeconomic conditions. Not surprisingly, PwC's latest Annual Global CEO Survey suggests that 71 per cent of Indian CEOs are very confident about growth over the next three years (the highest number among all CEOs surveyed worldwide).

Indians may feel proud about overtaking China as the world's economic engine without realising that this #1 position comes with a huge cost: the rapid depletion of scarce natural resources... Read more..

Date : Apr 7

Source: Business Today

Scania and Swedfund invest in Indian biogas

Scania and the development financier of the Swedish state Swedfund are establishing a partnership to develop the production of biogas as an automotive fuel in the Indian city of Nagpur, which is located in the state of Maharashtra and has 2.5 million inhabitants. The biogas will be produced from digested sludge from one of the city’s wastewater treatment plants in collaboration with local companies. Nagpur is participating in the Indian government’s initiative to improve the environment and transport systems in the country’s 100 largest cities.

"This is a Swedish venture,... Read more..

Date : Apr 7

Source: Biomass Magazine

'Should Guide the World on Fighting Climate Change,' Says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a National Air Quality Index on Monday morning at a two-day environment conference that will discuss simplifying green laws to facilitate ease of doing business.

Here are 10 updates:

"India has to take the lead in guiding the world on thinking of ways to combat climate change," the Prime Minister said. "The world thinks India doesn't care about the environment, we must change that," he said, adding, "India has always respected the environment."
PM Modi also said, "Some people feel environment and... Read more..
Date : Apr 6
Source: NDTV

Pact on smart cities likely during Modi’s visit to France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a first look at the future of his plan for “100 smart cities” during his visit to France this week, when he travels to the city of Toulouse. Sources told The Hindu that French President Francois Hollande and Mr Modi will discuss investment for the government’s pet project. Puducherry and Chandigarh are top contenders for development as a smart city as part of a bilateral agreement, though sources said Hyderabad and Nagpur are also being considered.

While refusing to confirm which city would finally be announced during the visit, French... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: The Hindu

Over 1 crore renewable energy certificates unsold at IEX

Showing continued sluggishness in the renewable energy certificates market, more than one crore such certificates remain unsold at the power bourse IEX, even as the government aims to boost green energy generation in the country.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are aimed at providing an easier avenue for various entities, including power distribution companies, to meet their green-energy obligations.

One REC is equivalent to 1 MWh of electricity generated from renewable sources.

However, the trading of these certificates on Indian Energy... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Business Standard

Renewable energy forms one-eighth of country's power

Renewable energy forms around one-eighth of the cumulative installed capacity of power generation in India, while in Karnataka it is about one-third. The cumulative installed capacity of power in the country as of February last was close to 257,780 Mw. Of this, the renewable energy capacity comprises of 34,351 Mw, said Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) Project Engineer in Mysuru Dinesh Kumar.

In Karnataka, he said, the installed capacity for power was 14,802 Mw, comprising of renewal energy of 4,749 Mw which included wind energy 2,623 Mw, small hydro... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Business Standard

Swachh Bharat: Some ‘elite’ services to pay extra 2% cess

Users of “elite” services including telecommunications, insurance, manpower recruitment agencies, hotels and restaurants above a certain threshold and business auxiliary services among others may have to shell out more in the form of Swachh Bharat cess.

The revenue department is preparing a list of services which will attract the additional 2 per cent cess provided for in the Budget 2015-16, over and above the proposed 14 per cent, official sources told The Indian Express.

“A one per cent increase in service tax results in an additional mop up of Rs 12,500 crore... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Indian Express

Boost to rooftop solar power

The state government is set to introduce a policy that will encourage households and other buildings—institutional and commercial—to install rooftop solar plants and do their bit in reducing carbon footprint.

Speaking to TOI on Thursday, state power and non-conventional energy sources minister Manish Gupta said a draft document on net metering for grid interactive rooftop solar photo voltaic (SPV) power plants is ready and the policy is likely to be announced in June. Sources said the UK government had helped the state develop the solar scheme.

Net metering is... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Times of India

ONGC Gets US Patent on Hydrogen Generation Process

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Wednesday said it has received US patent on a hydrogen generation process, opening up new vista for generating the clean energy source from water on commercial scale.

"United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Patent to ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) Trust and Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai for the innovative research work on 'Hydrogen Production Method by Multi-step Copper-Chlorine Thermochemical Cycle'," the company said in a statement here.

Hydrogen is considered as one of the most... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: NDTV

Panel on environmental flow in Ganga basin to meet for consensus

A three-member panel constituted by the Centre to decide the environmental flow in the Ganga basin which gave varying opinions over the quantity and quality of water to be maintained in Yamuna, is likely to meet this week to arrive at a consensus.

The committee, which includes the additional secretaries of the Water Resources and Environment ministries, was set up last year for recommending as to what should be the environmental flow in the Ganga basin, including in Yamuna.

Difference of opinion among the committee members over the flow in Yamuna was believed to... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Zee News

DU students harness wind energy produced by Metro trains

A group of Delhi University students has discovered an innovative way of harnessing wind energy churned out by Metro trains to generate electricity.

The project, undertaken by Kalindi College, has also got the backing of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which allowed the students to install a turbine on trial basis at one of the underground metro stations.

"While standing at a metro station one day, the students realised that the wind energy produced in the tunnel by these fast moving trains gets wasted, and they decided to find out how it can be harnessed... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Economic Times

Indra Nooyi bats for environment sustainability

Stressing on creation of long-term values, Pepsico boss Indra Nooyi has said a company that "cuts corners" on environment sustainability and fails to invest in future innovations will not stay on for long.

"Performing in the short term is important -- you won't make it to your long-term goals if you don't deliver results day-to-day," she said during her address at the 50th annual convocation of Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta here on Saturday.

"But a company that fails to invest in future innovations, that cuts corners on environmental sustainability, or... Read more..

Date : Apr 6

Source: Zee News

Smart City project will be implemented on public-private partnership mode after cabinet approval

Smart City project is in advanced stage and will be implemented on public-private partnership (PPP) mode after cabinet approval.

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said this during discussions with a Swedish delegation, led by Anna Johansson, Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure.

During the deliberations, Naidu gave an overview of the policy framework and other initiatives of the ministry. He said the Urban development Ministry is undertaking three important projects at the moment.

"One is Smart City Project, second is rejuvenation of 500... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Economic Times

Smart traffic signals can cut greenhouse gas emissions

Smarter programming of stoplights could improve efficiency of urban traffic, reduce travel time and significantly cut unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, say Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers, among them one of Indian-origin.

The new findings were reported in a pair of papers in the journals Transportation Science and Transportation Research: Part B.

In these papers, MIT and Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay (IIT-Bombay) alumna Kanchana Nanduri and MIT assistant professor Carolina Osorio described a method of... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Zee News

Panel on Yamuna 'E-flow': Centre calls for consensus among members

Differences of opinion among the members of a panel set up to decide on the 'Environmental Flow' in Yamuna river has forced the Ministry of Water Resources to ask them to arrive at a consensus so that their report can be submitted to another body set up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The three-member committee, which includes the Additional Secretaries of the Water Resources and Environment ministries, was set up last year by the government to recommend as to what should be the environmental flow in Ganga basin, including in Yamuna.

Meanwhile, NGT in... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Zee News

Citigroup: Battle Between Cheap Oil & Renewables Will Define Future Of Energy.

In a major new report, global investment bank Citigroup has defined the current battle between cheap oil, and renewables like wind and solar, to be so fundamental it will define the future of energy.

But it says that while the slump in oil and associated gas prices may provide some road-humps for wind and solar, renewables will win out because of basic economics, as well as energy security and environment issues. And, Citigroup says, because renewables are the cheapest way to substitute coal-fired power.

Oil is the single largest source of primary energy... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Clean Technica

Renewable energy: Evolving a strategic interest for states

Increasing the share of Renewable Energy (RE) is considered an important energy policy goal globally. It has rightly received significant public policy attention in India, including a separate ministry and national missions aspiring to achieve ambitious RE targets. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently revised the targets five-fold for solar from 22GW to 100 GW by 2022. It is also considering a National Wind mission.

RE appears to be a desirable strategy for India on several fronts other than solely as a climate change mitigation response. It is an... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Rays Power to set up 7 MW solar roof-top project for DMRC

Solar power solutions provider Rays Power Experts today said it has bagged a contract from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for setting up 7 MW solar roof-top photovoltaic project on selected stations and sites.

"Rays Power has bagged the tender for the construction and commissioning of a 7 MW solar roof-top voltaic power plant for selected stations and sites of Delhi Metro Rail Co- corporation (DMRC)," the company said in a release.

The scope of the contract includes complete design, engineering, civil work, installation, testing and commissioning of the... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Business Standard

NTPC’s solar power plans may become unviable as states reluctant to buy expensive clean energy

Reluctance on part of states to buy expensive clean energy has put a question mark on the feasibility of the country's biggest power generator NTPC's plans to install the targeted 15,000 megawatt of solar power in the next five years.

The Cabinet had last month given its nod to NTPCBSE 0.37 % to set up solar capacity of this magnitude in three tranches. The first tranche of 3,000 MW is to be set up under a mechanism of 'bundling' two units of solar with one unit of unallocated thermal power so as to bring costs down. In executing this project, NTPC is faced with a two-pronged... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Economic Times

Mitsui sets eyes on PM Narendra Modi’s pet infra, energy projects; sees big investment opportunities in India

Japanese trading powerhouse Mitsui is stepping up its focus on India, with a special eye on infrastructure development, energy and lifestyle as it seeks newer growth opportunities and markets to diversify from its strong resources focused investments worldwide that are under pressure on the back of volatile commodity prices.

Mitsui considers India as a natural investment destination. It remains one of its 4 priority markets in Asia along with China, Indonesia and Mynmar and is integral to its globalization vision for 2020. From helping build its ambitious smart cities to... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Economic Times

California Imposes Water Restrictions to Deal With Drought

Governor Jerry Brown ordered mandatory water use reductions for the first time in California's history on Wednesday, saying the state's four-year drought had reached near-crisis proportions after a winter that brought record-low snowfalls.

Brown, in an executive order, directed the state Water Resources Control Board to impose a 25 per cent reduction on the state's 400 local water supply agencies, which serve 90 per cent of California residents, over the coming year. The agencies will be responsible for coming up with restrictions to cut back on water use and for monitoring... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: NDTV

After Chevron, ExxonMobil lose interest; private energy firm to head consortium to build India's gas pipeline

A private energy firm is likely to be appointed by October as the head of the consortium to build India's first international pipeline that will bring natural gas from Turkmenistan, traversing 1,800 km via Afghanistan and Pakistan.

After several rounds of negotiations, the four countries have resolved most concerns and plan to begin the bidding process in a month to select the leader of the consortium that would build, own and operate the pipeline, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.

The project has been delayed for several years in the absence of... Read more..

Date : Apr 2

Source: Economic Times

Collaborative network targets to shape resource efficiency in the textile supply chain

Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and cKinetics collaborate to develop a network across textile production hubs
With an increasing thrust towards driving resources management across global textile supply chains, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and cKinetics have launched a collaborative network in India. The network aims to facilitate exchange of expertise, learnings, best-practices, knowledge and data between its members, and provides factories in India (as well as globally in future) with added-value created through... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: Sustainability Outlook

Centre will encourage use of green fuel: Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has said that besides Swachh Bharat, the Centre aims to make India a pollution-free country by encouraging the use of alternative fuel on a large scale.

He was speaking after inaugurating a bus manufacturing facility of Sweden-based Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. at Narasapaur Industrial Area near Kolar on Tuesday.

The Centre will not hesitate to trash ‘the redundant’ Motor Vehicles Act in order to facilitate the use of ethanol.

Utilisation of locally available... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: The Hindu

NTPC’s solar power plans may become unviable as states reluctant to buy expensive clean energy

Reluctance on part of states to buy expensive clean energy has put a question mark on the feasibility of the country's biggest power generator NTPC's plans to install the targeted 15,000 megawatt of solar power in the next five years.

The Cabinet had last month given its nod to NTPCBSE 1.15 % to set up solar capacity of this magnitude in three tranches. The first tranche of 3,000 MW is to be set up under a mechanism of 'bundling' two units of solar with one unit of unallocated thermal power so as to bring costs down. In executing this project, NTPC is faced with a two-pronged... Read more..

Date : Apr 1

Source: Economic Times