Sustainability Outlook Headlines

First Solar to build 45MW of solar power projects in India

First Solar will build 45MW of AC solar power projects through its Indian subsidiary in the state of Telangana.

The power generated from the project will be supplied through the grid to the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana State Limited (TSSPDCL), at a levelized tariff of INR6.49p/kWh for a period of 20 years.

Construction work on the project is expected to begin by October 2014 and will come online by May 2015

The project will include... Read more..

India not bound to cut greenhouse gas emission levels: Centre

India is not bound to mandatorily cut greenhouse gas emission levels under Kyoto Protocol but voluntary efforts are being undertaken to reduce them, the government said ton Wednesday.

India is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol.

"India does not have legally binding emission reduction commitments under Kyoto Protocol...We are not bound for any emission cut," Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar... Read more..

Brandix factories get Marks & Spencer eco accreditation

Two Brandix Apparel Solutions – Lingerie Cluster manufacturing facilities in Nittambuwa have been awarded Eco Factory Attributes by the global retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) in recognition for achievements in reducing their environmental footprint.

The two factories have reduced energy and water consumption by 30% and 15% respectively and are recycling or reusing 100% of their solid waste, enabling them to score 91 points out of 100 at the M&S Eco Factory Audit.

Eco Factory... Read more..

NDA eases green rules to push investments

 Through a quick series of notifications, the Union environment ministry has eased rules for mining, roads, power and irrigation projects and other industrial sectors. It has diluted a host of regulations related to environment, forest and tribal rights. Besides, sources in the ministry say, more changes in regulations are in the pipeline.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had earlier done away with the requirement of public hearing for coal mines below 16 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) wishing to expand output by up to 50 per cent. This has now been extended to mines above 16... Read more..

Most hydel power projects to become operational after 2017

The Power Ministry expects over 75,000 MW of hydro power capacity to become operational in the 13th Plan period (2017-2021). Once this is happens India’s total hydro power capacity will be at 1,14,785 MW.

The Ministry gave the data in the action-taken-report on issues raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy. To the committee’s concern that there was lack of private sector participation in the segment, the Ministry said nearly 20,000 MW of the 75,000 MW capacity under development is in the private sector.

Development of hydro electric projects is an intricate... Read more..

Mandvi hospital to be carbon-free by 2016

A hospital located in remote tribal area of Surat district is aiming to be the country's first such medical facility to have zero-carbon emissions.

Tejas Eye Hospital in Mandvi, which is managed by Divyajyoti Trust, has already started going green with various initiatives to save water, electricity and reduce carbon emissions. The hospital has already got its carbon footprint mapped through a UK-based firm Carbon Earth Ltd in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG), the most widely used international carbon calculation methodology.

Ameetsinh Vaghela, Asia-Pacific... Read more..

India plans safety protocol for dam water discharge

With hydropower dam disasters repeatedly posing a threat to lives, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is working on an action plan to implement safeguards that will protect riverbanks and project areas from emergencies. This comes in the backdrop of disasters such as the one in Himachal Pradesh that claimed the lives of 24 students from Hyderabad and the flooding of parts of Uttarakhand by the Alaknanda river that left at least 6,000 dead or missing in its worst flooding in decades. The latest crisis has been the Kosi flood situation in Bihar that has led to the evacuation... Read more..

Tax sops for wind energy to boost Suzlon: Chairman Tulsi Tanti

With government announcing the re-introduction of tax incentives for investors in wind energy, Suzlon EnergyBSE 4.11 % is confident of boosting its India business. The Pune-based turbine maker expects additional demand for 1,000 MW of wind energy installations in the Indian market that has been adding close to 2,000 MW of capacity annually. 

Suzlon is confident of bagging orders to the tune of 2,000-2,500 MW over a period of two years, said Suzlon chairman Tulsi Tanti. "Incentives in wind energy enabled small and large scale firms to reduce their electricity costs and tax. With... Read more..

100 % sewage treatment under ambitious anti-pollution program for the Yamuna

 With Delhi categorised as the most polluted city by a UN body, the city government on Friday embarked on an ambitious programme to clean its air and water which includes 100 per cent treatment of sewage and industrial effluents, that contaminate Yamuna river, within three years.

Removal of encroachments on the river floodplain are also part of long term measures to check water pollution. The High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted to examine measures to check air and water pollution also suggested optimum utilisation of treated wastewater from STPs and CETPs, prevention of dumping... Read more..

U.P. reels under power crisis

Uttar Pradesh is in the grip of acute power crisis with restricted demand of electricity going up to about 13,000 mega watt and availability of power on Sunday ranging from 10,000-11,000 MW. The demand has gone up due to humid weather condition in the State.

To meet the demand, U.P. Power Corporation officials have resorted to emergency roistering as a result of which heavy power cuts were imposed in village and tehsil level, which were ensured of 14-15 hours of power supply.

Power cuts are also imposed in district headquarters and cities such as Lucknow, Agra and Noida.... Read more..

First Solar to facilitate funding for micro-grid projects

US-based First Solar, one of the world’s leading solar module manufacturers and solar power plant owners, says it is willing to facilitate funding for micro-grid based rural electrification projects in India.

Solar plant-local grid combination is seen as a solution to the vast number of villages that have none or no meaningful electricity. A few hundred villages have been provided solar-based electricity by companies such as Mera Gaon Power, a start-up, and Minda NexGen Tech of the Minda group. But the challenge (and the profits) lies in scaling it up.

Government data show... Read more..

Tamil Nadu Plans To Cover 300 Government Buildings With Rooftop Solar Power Projects

Governments across Indian states seem to be scrambling to launch programs to set up solar rooftop projects after the success of such projects in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state. The latest state to join the bandwagon is the southern state of Tamil Nadu, which has had years of supply-demand issues in the power sector.

The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has announced plans to set up solar rooftop projects at about 300 government buildings across the states and has floated tenders for the same. The agency is believed to be already working on two projects... Read more..