Sustainability Outlook Headlines

LEED with a regional perspective

The U.S. Green Building Council was in Bangalore last week to tie up an extra local stamping to its international LEED rating, making it more relevant to India. “Our multi-city trip to India will showcase our commitment to the Indian market to make LEED more pertinent to Indian conditions,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, COO, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The event saw the release of “alternative compliance paths” for LEED, for making the system more applicable to India’s regional climate, geography, land use laws and more. “USGBC and TERI have plans to work together in the field of... Read more..

Carbon tax repeal in Australia to help in coal supplies to India

The move of Australian Parliament to repeal the carbon tax in the country is likely to help coal exporting companies in delivering cost effective and high quality fuel to Indian markets, according to Adani Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of India's Adani Group.

The repeal of the carbon tax in Australia on Thursday will lower costs for Indian firms such as Adani and GVK exporting from the country, Adani Mining spokesperson told PTI here today.

"It reflects the Australian government's strong commitment to supporting export opportunities in the resources sector, and further... Read more..

4,000 units fail to submit annual report on e-waste

Even as the city of Kochi is reeling under lack of ways to dispose of the electronic waste, the units which function under the jurisdiction of pollution control board (PCB) have not yet provided details of e-waste generated and its disposal.

As per the 'E-waste Management and Handling Rules, 2011', the units should submit the annual report on e-waste management to the PCB.

The rules came into effect in 2012 and subsequently the PCB had sought the report from the units. In Kochi there are more than 4,000 units, comprising star hotels, hospitals, clinics, laboratories and... Read more..

Biggest Power Producer Warns Coal Stocks Running Out

Six of India's coal-fired power plants do not have enough stocks to weather even a "small" disruption in supplies, with fuel reserves sufficient for only up to two days, the country's largest power producer has warned.

State-run NTPC has asked the power ministry to ensure more coal is sent to the six plants - which have a combined capacity of 16,840 megawatts or 15 per cent of India's total energy capacity from coal-fired plants - particularly as the incoming monsoon rains could disrupt supply deliveries.

India, which uses coal to generate more than half of its electricity,... Read more..

Tata Power Solar partners Bajaj Finance for selling products

Tata Power Solar has partnered with Bajaj Finance to provide interest-free loan options for solar products of about Rs 2.5 lakh to consumers.

"This national financing tie-up will help make solar much more attractive and an affordable alternative to conventional power sources," Tata Power Solar said in a statement.

The interest-free EMI option will be applicable to all Tata Power Solar products across various categories, including solar lighting products, solar water heaters and power packs systems.

This option will provide instant credit processing for items below Rs 2... Read more..

India to Irrigate 35 Million Hectares, Generate 34,000 MW Power via River Linking

The Union government has estimated an additional irrigation of 35 million hectares of land and generate 34,000 mega watts of hydro power, through inter-linking of rivers, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti stated.

The central government's National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 inter-state river links under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).

Under the 30 river links, the aforementioned quantity of hydel power and land irrigation is possible, Bharti said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The inter-linking of... Read more..

Value Labs installs 13 MW of solar power

In perhaps the first venture of its kind in the Indian domestic IT sector, Value Labs has installed and commissioned 13 MW of solar power to emerge self-reliant in its power demands.The Hyderabad-based, IT product development, services and consulting company has invested close to Rs 100 crore in this initiative. It has established solar power plants in two locations. The first is a 8 MW unit in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana State. The second is in Kadiri in Anantapur district, now in Andhra Pradesh.

“The idea to go for self-reliance in power came to us around four years ago,... Read more..

Mayor Sole to lead fight for JNNURM funds

Mayor Anil Sole, who is also president of All India Council of Mayors, has decided to lead initiative for getting funds sanctioned for ongoing projects approved under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The central government had announced it would stop sanctioning funds for ongoing projects due to delay in completing projects by the civic bodies.

As reported by TOI on June 15, NMC had lost Rs 253.95 crore approved for ongoing projects due to Centre's decision. Sole said all ongoing projects could not complete due to weak financial status of the civic bodies. "... Read more..

India Targets 35% Renewable Energy Share In Installed Capacity Mix By 2050

2040-50 may finally be the decade when the installed renewable energy capacity in India would overtake the coal-based installed capacity, if the ambitious Integrated Plan for Desert Power Development is fully realized.

Under the Desert Power India – 2050 plan, a gargantuan 455 GW of renewable energy capacity addition has been targeted to meet India’s ever-growing need for electricity. According to a government enterprise, the Asian giant would require an installed power base of 1,388 GW, compared to the current 250 GW.

About two-thirds of this 455 GW renewable energy capacity... Read more..

Increased power generation narrows peak deficit to 3.7%: CEA

 The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) reported an increase of nearly 20,000 MW of generation capacity, which narrowed the country's peak power deficit  from 6.3 per cent in June 2013 to 3.7 per cent last month.

The total power requirement during the month stood at 1,42,647 MW of which 1,37,352 MW was met, leaving a supply shortage of 5,295 MW, the CEA data showed. 

Debashish Mishra, Senior Director (Consulting), Deloitte additionally attributed the fall in deficit to the severe industrial slowdown. He said, "The peak power demand grew less than 1 per cent in FY'14 or less... Read more..

Polaris Bags 'Best Implementation of Green IT' Award at National IT Leadership and Excellence Award Ceremony

Polaris Financial Technology Limited, a leader in financial technology products, solutions and services that enable unprecedented operational productivity for the global Financial Services, was awarded the 'Best implementation of Green IT' award at the National IT Leadership and Excellence Award ceremony by the Asia Outsourcing Congress. The grand ceremony was held at Malabar, Taj Lands End, Bandstand, Bandra (W), Mumbai.

The National IT Leadership & Excellence Awards is a benchmark to recognize excellence throughout IT industry. The award focuses on the contribution of... Read more..

Government offering financial help for e-waste management

To facilitate e-waste management in the country, the government is implementing a scheme under which financial assistance is provided for awareness and capacity building activities relating to e-waste management. 

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar told Lok Sabha on Wednesday that under the 'Creation of Management Structure for Hazardous Substances' scheme, government is also setting up integrated recycling facility for e-waste. 

"In addition, guidelines for implementation of e-waste rules 2011 have been formulated," he said. 

Javadekar said monitoring of... Read more..