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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India’s Waaree Energies Plans To Double Solar PV Module Production To 1 GW

The recent policies enacted by the Indian government to promote solar power capacity may finally be reaping positive results for the domestic solar module manufacturers.
 
One of the emerging module manufactures in India — Waaree Energies — will increase its production capacity to 1 GW per annum, the company has announced. Waaree Energies recently completed an upgrade of its production facility from 250 MW to 500 MW. The company now plans to double the production capacity again.
 
The company also announced that it received orders to provide modules for 40% of the... Read more..

Source: Clean Technica

China and India will drive demand for energy

Despite the dramatic recent weakening in global energy markets, ongoing economic expansion in Asia - particularly in China and India - will drive continued growth in the world's demand for energy over the next 20 years, says the new edition of the BP Energy Outlook 2035.
 
Global demand for energy is expected to rise 37% from 2013 to 2035, or by an average of 1.4% a year, the outlook suggests.
 
The outlook projects that demand for oil will increase by around 0.8% every year till 2035. The rising demand comes entirely from the non-OECD countries; oil consumption... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

Corporates to deposit 2 per cent CSR budget with Gujarat govenment

Gujarat Chief Minister  has announced that state-based companies would have to deposit two per cent of their CSR budget to the state government. She made the announcement while inaugurating the manufacturing plant of Asian Aerosol OAN Pvt Ltd in Eklera village of Umbergam taluka of Valsad district.
 
Patel said that from April this year, corporates would have to deposit two per cent of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) allocations with the government. She added that her government would utilise these funds for construction of toilets and building automated kitchens... Read more..

Source: India CSR

IKEA Sees Sales of Green Products Soar, Sales Exceed $1 Billion in 2014

Multinational home products company IKEA, known for its assemble-it-yourself furniture, reported that it sold $1.13 billion worth of sustainable products last year. That included items that saved or generated energy, helped people lead healthier lives, or reduced waste use and waste production, according to the IKEA 2014 Group Sustainability Report. It was an increase of 58 percent over 2013.
 
 “Our customers also tell us they care about climate change and want to live more sustainably,” said IKEA group CEO and president Peter Agnefjäll. “Through the amount of visitors in our... Read more..

Source: Eco Watch

RE-INVEST 2015 Concludes with 2,66,000 MW Commitments of Green Energy

The RE-INVEST 2015 which concluded today is the take off point which will have a multiplier effect in the economic front, said the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley. Addressing the valedictory session of the three day event, Shri Jaitley said that this will lead to enormous jobs generation, investments resulting in profitability, competitiveness between various sectors, filling up the gaps in power supply, enhancement of manufacturing sector, and yet not hurting the environment. The Finance Minister pointed out that this conference is a starting point of a great initiative whose effect... Read more..

Source: Press Information Bureau

Govt to set up green channel for clean energy projects

The government will set up a "green channel" to boost the growing green energy sector in the country, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today. Standard guidelines will be unveiled soon to give faster clearances to the clean energy projects, he added. 
 
His statement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced mega plans for tapping of various renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, to give a boost to economic growth as well as fight climate change. 
 
"As an Environment Minister, let me assure you -- if you are building green energy we... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

Invest in cities, renewable energy, UN envoy Michael Bloomberg tells conference in India

Welcoming India"s efforts to confront climate change, the United Nations Secretary-General"s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael Bloomberg, said today that the country was incredibly well placed to capitalise on the benefits of renewable energy.
 
Noting the Government"s plan to install about 100 gigawatts of solar power across the country by 2022, Mr. Bloomberg pointed to the major development benefits that the country could achieve, given the large amount of solar radiation it gets and the reduced level of infrastructure needed to pump solar energy into... Read more..

Source: India Gazette

Yes Bank launches India’s First Green Infrastructure Bond issue of INR 500 Crores plus Greenshoe

YES BANK, India’s 4th largest Private Sector Bank has announced that it will raise INR 500 Crores plus greeshoe via issue of India’s FIRST ever Green Infrastructure Bonds. The bonds are for a tenor of 10 years.
 
The amount raised will be used by YES BANK to finance Green Infrastructure Projects in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects including Solar Power, Wind Power, Biomass, and Small Hydel Projects. KPMG in India will be providing the Assurance Services annually, on the use of proceeds in line with the Green Bond principles.
 
At the 1st Renewable... Read more..

Source: Yes Bank

India to create a federation of 50 solar power-rich nations: Piyush Goyal

Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, Union Minister Piyush Goyal today said efforts will work to create a federation of 50 solar power -rich nations and also make India the world's renewable energy capital. "The PM has left behind a task for us to bring together the 50-odd solar rich countries and we are going to take this on as our responsibility," Goyal said here.
 
The Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Minister said his government will build a federation of countries which have interest in solar and have the potential to become masters of renewable... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

NTPC to build $10 bn-worth green energy projects

State-run power generator NTPC will invest Rs.60,000 crore ($10 billion) for setting up renewable energy projects in the next five years, the company announced Tuesday. NTPC, in a statement here said, it will add 10,000MW to its existing capacity of 43,143MW through solar projects in the next five years.
 
The company has renewable power capacity of 110MW, which has generated 100 million units of electricity in the current fiscal. NTPC said it will set up renewable power projects of 10,000MW capacity in the country over the next five years. An overall investment of around Rs.60... Read more..

Source: Zee News

Britain and Kolkata Municipal Corporation launch climate change toolkit for civic councillors

In a tie up with the British government, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Tuesday launched a first-of-its-kind sensitisation toolkit on climate change for its councillors here. The toolkit was launched by Baroness D'Souza, the lord speaker of the House of Lords, and city Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, as part of a continuing British engagement with KMC which aims to make Kolkata a climate smart city.
 
Britain is working with municipalities, urban local bodies and other agencies across India towards low carbon and climate resilient development of cities, a British Deputy High... Read more..

Source: Zee News

Solar power: New government can begin with big business set-ups

PM Narendra Modi may have taken a dig at AAP over its free electricity promise, but one sector where both the Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre are focused on is solar power. While AAP's poll manifesto has details about its plan to make Delhi a "solar city", BJP had also promised to expand and strengthen the national solar mission ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 
 
AAP's aim is to ensure that 20% of Delhi's energy needs are met by solar power by 2025. Experts say the new government can easily deliver on this by targeting large "energy guzzling" consumers first,... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Hindujas to enter solar power in India, may spend Rs 6,000 cr

The Hinduja Group, with business interests ranging from power and automobiles to financial services, will be entering the solar power sector in India to develop a generation capacity of 1,000 MW, in phases. This is part of the group’s strategy to execute only short-gestation greenfield opportunities in India, and focus more on acquisitions for growth.
 
Gopichand P Hinduja, co-chairman of the London-based Hinduja Group of Companies, said that becoming a major solar power producer in India was an integral part of the conglomerate’s plan to invest $10 billion in the power and... Read more..

Source: Financial Express

India to get tough on clean power compliance

India will enforce renewable generation targets as part of impending new energy policy Piyush Goyal, minister for coal, power and new & renewable energy (MNRE) has said adding that penalties for non-compliance with an existing scheme will soon be issued.
 
Speaking at the RE-Invest conference in New Delhi, Goyal said companies that had not met their Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) would be penalised. Goyal warned in July 2014 that enforcement of the RPO was necessary to help the country meet its renewable energy targets.
 
The minister also confirmed the... Read more..

Source: PV Tech

Leed-rated green building space in India crosses 800 million sq ft

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) today said that 833 million sq ft of green building space in India is LEED-certified. 
 
USGBC's LEED green building certification system is the world's foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Every day, 1.7 million sq ft of space is certified using LEED. 
 
"...Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) comprises 833 million square feet of green building space in India," USGBC said in a statement. 
 
This announcement was made recently at a summit... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Solar energy output goal could create 1 million jobs: Study

India's goal of reaching 100 gigawatt solar energy goal by 2022 could create one million jobs, a new analysis released today said.
 
The analysis also said that it will also improve the energy access for Indian citizens and help fight climate change. 
 
"Achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recently announced 100 gigawatt (GW) solar energy goal by 2022 could create as many as one million jobs while greatly improving energy access for Indian citizens and fighting climate change," the analysis said.
 
The analysis titled "clean energy powers local job... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

PM and Michael Bloomberg announce partnership to advance the Smart Cities Initiative

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and former Mayor of New York City, Mr. Michael Bloomberg, today announced a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, to advance the “Smart Cities Initiative.”
 
The Smart Cities Initiative is a historic effort to promote economic growth, improve governance, and deliver more effective and efficient public services to India`s urban residents. Under the partnership, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide assistance to the Ministry of Urban Development to select cities for Smart... Read more..

Source: PM India

Mahindra Group's renewable energy arm aims to be $1 billion entity

 Mahindra Group's renewable energy arm aims to become a $1 billion entity in next two to three years with one gigawatt (GW) of owned solar energy capacity along with another 3 GW of third party projects. 
 
Mahindra Susten, which expects to have 350 MW of EPC installations by the end of the year is looking to scale up its own solar energy capacity from the current level of 80 MW. 
 
The company, which is a portfolio of Mahindra Partners, the private equity arm of the Group, is looking at consolidating its solar energy base in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

PM Modi right in focusing on smart cities; will lead to stronger growth: Michael Bloomberg

Giving thumbs up to Modi government's focus on developing smart cities, Michael Bloomberg, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Cities & Climate Change on Monday said, "From my experience, he (PM Modi) is absolutely correct to make cities a central focus of his work."
 
"The more India invests in sustainable cities, the stronger its economy will grow," Bloomberg said. Giving a special address at RE-INVEST 2015, Bloomberg said, "Prime Minister Modi is showing that confronting climate change goes hand-in-hand with smart economic growth."
 
Bloomberg urged both... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Power Minister Piyush Goyal confident of $100 bn investment in green energy in 5 years

With about 300 firms committing investments in the green power space, Power Minister Piyush Goyal is confident that the country will receive over USD 100 billion in renewable energy sector over the next five years. 
 
"It is obvious that if they are investing in nearly 266 GW (2,66,000 MW) of energy there will be huge investments. The targetted USD 100 billion will certainly be exceeded," he told reporters at the ongoing RE-Invest conference. 
 
An estimated Rs 6 crore is needed to set up a 1 MW of solar capacity. 
 
Essel Group in a statement today said... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Government commitment on clean power buoys participates at RE-Invest 2015

India's first global renewable energy meet and expo has created lot of enthusiasm and optimism among participants who are buoyed by the government's commitment to set up 170 gigawatt of clean power, a sector so far considered niche and neglected. 
 
Over 200 investors, 350 exhibitors and 1,000 delegates are participating in the February 15-17 event, RE-Invest 2015. 
 
"The very fact that this event has been organised, which has drawn so much attention to this sector, shows that the government has commitment towards clean energy and this business area. This makes us... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

India needs to fix finances to make renewable energy dreams a reality

Over the past few years, the government of India has set ambitious targets for wind and solar energy: Current targets would see wind and solar capacity grow by 600 per cent through 2022, to 60 GW and 100 GW of energy, respectively, from current cumulative installed capacity of about 25 GW. To put those numbers in perspective, 1 GW provides power for 700,000 modern homes; 160 GW would power a sizeable portion of India's energy needs.
 
These targets are good for both India's energy supply and for economic growth - a theme emphasised by US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime... Read more..

Source: Business Today

Utilizing Wastewater Presents Environmental and Economic Opportunities

Among the most urgent concerns for the future is to have enough water to sustain a human population projected to reach 9.6 billion people by 2050.[1] The UN Millennium Development Goals recognize that access to water and sanitation is essential to economic development and poverty alleviation.[2] However, global consumption patterns indicate that we are becoming more water profligate, and the waste that pollutes water supplies generally remains an unmitigated hazard. According to some estimates, 70 percent of drinking water in India is contaminated by sewage, which is a significant... Read more..

Source: Breaking Energy

Negotiating text for Paris climate pact prepared in Geneva

A negotiating text, described as a "key milestone" towards a new universal agreement on climate change was reached here Friday after negotiators accepted major demands of India and other developing nations for a pact set to be reached in Paris in December.
 
The UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said nations concluded the 'Geneva Climate Change Talks' by "successfully preparing the negotiating text" for the agreement set to be reached in Paris at the end of 2015 and will come into effect in 2020.
 
The negotiating text covers the substantive content of the new... Read more..

Source: Zee News

Andhra inks MoUs for 4,000 MW wind power

Andhra Pradesh on Sunday signed MOUs for generation of 4,000 MW wind power and 200 MW hybrid power. The MoUs were signed here on the sidelines of Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet and Expo (Re-invest).
 
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who unveiled the state's wind power and solar power policy, invited investors to invest in the state, promising to clear all proposals in 21 days.
 
Addressing the inaugural session of the meet, Naidu also assured investors in green energy of several exemptions and non-stop-plan-to-execution scheme.
 
Stating... Read more..

Source: India TV
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