Sustainability Outlook Headlines

GE launches 1.7-103 low wind speed turbine for India market

For wind farm operators, the turbine’s large 103-meter rotor will help deliver high-efficiency output and attractive project economics, according to GE. The 1.7-103 also provides a 30% increase in annual energy production compared to its predecessor 1.6-82.5. (A 100MW wind farm powered by 1.7-103 turbines can generate electricity required to fulfill the needs of 413,000 Indian homes per year and offset carbon emissions of 291,000 TCO2 per year.) 

“The launch of our new wind turbine 1.7-103 is a testament to GE’s commitment to... Read more..

GE sinks $24 million into first solar project in India

General Electric is expanding its renewable energy business as its Energy Financial Services unit has entered into a partnership with Welspun Renewables Energy to enlarge solar energy generation in India.

The unit of Fairfield-based GE is making its first investment in a solar power project in India, funding $24 million for a 151-megawatt solar photovoltaic power project that Welspun, an Indian clean energy generating company, put into operation last year. The Neemuch project powers 624,000 homes and mitigates an estimated 216,372... Read more..

Attero to Integrate the Informal Sector of eWaste Management

Attero Recycling, a startup in the e-waste management sector is delivering clean recycling of e-waste with technologies that are zero risk to the environment. The firm works towards organizing the informal e-waste management sector under a single roof. With the word ‘Attero’ meaning waste in Latin, the budding venture offers customized end to end solutions for e-waste management, electronics asset recovery, refurbishment and retailing of electronics. The startups stand one among the companies with the capability to collect e-waste and extract pure metals from end of... Read more..

Low-carbon energy key to Africa

 Low-carbon energy is the quickest and cheapest way of providing electricity to the 70 per cent of people in sub-Saharan Africa without access to power, analysis suggests.

UK businesses could make the most of a STG12 billion annual investment opportunity to provide the energy revolution Africa needs, according to think-tank Green Alliance.

Large-scale renewables projects are boosting jobs and energy, with solar schemes bringing 4,000 jobs to Ghana, a doubling of Kenya's geothermal capacity by 2030 and an increase of eight per cent in Ethiopia's wind power capacity.

The... Read more..

Wind looks to profit from coal's decline

 Coal currently generates about 37% of America's electricity supply, a fall from almost 50% in 2008. Nearly 21GW of coal-fired electricity generation has retired over the past five years, representing 6.2% of US's 2009 coal fleet, and power companies have announced plans to shutter another 34GW.

A recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) suggests the retirements are unlikely to end there, identifying tens of thousands more megawatts that are "economically vulnerable" under current market conditions.

Environmental regulations are a major factor in the transition... Read more..

Four-junction, four-terminal solar cell boasts 43.9% efficiency

 Semprius Inc. has developed what it says is the first four-junction, four-terminal stacked solar cell capable of achieving a efficiency level of 43.9 per cent by using the company's proprietary micro transfer printing process.

To achieve the world-class efficiency performance, Semprius collaborated with Professor John Rogers and his team at the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois art Urbana-Champaign and researchers at Solar Junction.

Initial trials yielded solar cells with measured efficiencies up to 43.9 per cent. The company claims... Read more..

Rwanda Seeks FDI from India

 Rwanda today sought foreign direct investment from India in the areas of health, infrastructure, medicine and IT.

"We need investment in education, health, infrastructure, medicine and information technology. Investment proposals from India are cleared in a single day," Rwanda's High Commissioner to India, Ernest Rwamucyo told PTI today.

He said both countries had signed deals to co-operate in vocational training, renewable energy and rural electrification.

He thanked the Government of India for awarding scholarships to students from Rwanda to study in educational... Read more..

Suzlon hopes to get new wind projects of 300-500 MW in FY15

 Suzlon Energy, world's 5th largest wind turbine maker, hopes to get orders for 300-500 MW this fiscal following changes in renewable energy policies in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, a senior company official said.

"The major markets for new projects in India are states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Seemandhara and Gujarat," he said. "We are well positioned to convert these opportunities into sales and implementation."

India already has the 5th largest wind generation capacity in the world, just above 20,000 MW.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy... Read more..

Insurance companies increase premium for hydropower plants

 NEW DELHI: Insurance companies have raised the premium for hydropower plants across the country after last year's flash floods in Uttarakhand that led to huge claims. Companies like National Insurance Co Ltd, United India Insurance Co Ltd and Oriental Insurance Co have raised premium rates multifold for hydroelectric projects, sources said. 

Insurance companies have received huge damage claims from hydropower companies like NHPC and Jaiprakash Associates for power plants located in Uttarakhand after the floods, forcing them to revise the existing rates. Insurance contracts for most... Read more..

India ready with draft policy to reduce emissions from deforestation

 NEW DELHI: Taking forward an agreed framework of the 2013 Warsaw climate conference, India has come out with a draft national policy on 'reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation' (popularly known as REDD+ initiative) which will enable local communities to get financial incentives for increasing forest cover. 

The REDD+ initiative is a global mitigation mechanism under a UN body, linking deforestation, degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests with reduction of greenhouse gas emission. 

It has provision of... Read more..

Alstom India shares surge 12% as parent firm weighs GE offer

 MUMBAI: Shares of Alstom IndiaBSE 11.87 % surged almost 12 per cent today after its parent French firm said it is considering an offer of more than 12 billion euros from US-based General Electric for its power business and has reviewed a declaration of interest from Siemens. 

AlstomBSE 11.87 % India's stock shot up by 11.87 per cent to settle at Rs 456.60 on the BSE. During the day, the scrip gained as much as 17.82 per cent to Rs 480.90. 

On the National Stock Exchange, the stock zoomed 10.25 per cent to close at Rs 449.50. 

While over 15 lakh shares were traded on... Read more..

GE’s Pune facility to focus on renewable energy

 PUNE, APRIL 30:  

With American transportation and energy major GE’s upcoming Greenfield multi-modal facility near Pune due to go on stream in June, the company is eyeing doubling its share in the Indian wind energy equipment market by 2016.

With a clear focus on the energy sector, renewable energy forms the first phase of operations of the new facility at Chakan. The plant that involves a total investment of $200 million, will begin by making larger wind machine assembly heads and converters (that are currently being imported) for wind turbines.

The company also has... Read more..