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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
NTPC Completes 10 Megawatt Solar Power Plant in IndiaNTPC Ltd. (NTPC), India’s largest electricity generator, has completed its fourth solar power project as part of a plan to add 1 gigawatt of renewable capacity by 2017. The utility built a 10 megawatt photovoltaic project in Talcher in eastern Odisha state, boosting its solar capacity by 50 percent, according to an e-mail from the company. The plant will sell its power under a long-term contract to the Damodar Valley Corp., the grid that connects the state electricity boards of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha states. NTPC, which has about 43 gigawatts of mostly coal... Read more.. Date : Apr 1 Source: Bloomberg
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Mahindra's Halo concept will revolutionize electric sports car in IndiaMahindra and Mahindra showcased their first electric sports car in the country named ‘Halo’ at the recently ended Auto Expo 2014 event. The the first new electric sports car from Mahindra is a two seater and two door electric concept car from the Indian car maker. At the event, Pawan Goenka, Executive Director and President of Automotive and Farm Equipment sectors, Mahindra and Mahindra, said “There is a plan to commercialize Halo, we are working on a bigger power-train and a final design. It will take about three years to be production ready. It may very well turn... Read more.. |
'Plants running at 1/3rd of capacity'The garbage processing plants in the city are processing only half of the waste generated in the city every day, which is just one-third of their processing capacity, experts say. Activists say that the existing plants have a total capacity to process around 2,130 tonne garbage every day. This is nearly 600 tonne more than the 1,537 tonne waste generated in the city and the seven neighbouring villages. Yet the plants process only around 750 tonne, they say. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), on... Read more.. |
'Invest More in Mini, Micro Hydel Projects'The state should invest in more mini and micro hydel projects as well as alternative power sources such as solar energy, V Subhash Chandra Bose, director, Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Water Resources Department, has said. He was delivering a lecture on ‘Water and Energy’ at the Institution of Engineers on Wednesday in connection with the World Water Day celebrations. ‘’Small hydroelectric projects bring least destruction to nature. Waste water recycling infrastructure must... Read more.. |
US unit offers India to co-develop, test carbon capture techWith India relying heavily on coal-fired power plants to meet its electricity needs, a major US' research facility has offered Indian tech experts, scientists and companies the opportunity to co-develop and test technologies related to carbon capture. Once these technologies are implemented and proven to be cost-effective, they could lead to significant reductions in the amount of CO2 emitted world-wide, officials pushing for this collaboration argued. The collaboration offer is part of the overall goal of the Obama Administration to accelerate clean energy revolution. ... Read more..Date : Mar 31 Source: Economic Times
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Solar ATMs changing the face of banking in IndiaA small startup, a frugal mindset and a disruptive technology are shaking up the rural banking scene in India, giving 300 million dwellers a chance to get a bank account. India's rural economy has been growing with disposable incomes rising, especially in rural areas where spending power accounts for 57 percent of the $780 billion spent annually compared to 43 percent in urban areas. However, 60 percent of India's rural population, compared with 40 percent overall, does not have a bank account. In spite of a robust banking infrastructure and a government aim to include the... Read more.. Date : Mar 31 Source: CNBC
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Tamil Nadu's solar rooftop scheme gathers paceWhen all else on the solar front in Tamil Nadu has run aground, residential rooftop solar schemes are looking up. In just a few weeks after the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) called for applications from residents who wish to set up solar rooftop systems, about 1,050 applications have been received. Against the backdrop of the state's grand plans to set up large scale solar plans hitting legal hurdles, this success comes as a flicker of hope. Under the scheme, the government announced... Read more.. |
US Tries To Stop India's Solar Policy While Pushing Fight Against Climate ChangeThe Obama administration talks a lot about the need to develop renewable energy around the world to curb climate change. But right now, it's trying to kill India's effort to boost its domestic solar industry. The U.S. wants India to back off a policy that would require local sourcing for solar energy technology, and has sought World Trade Organization enforcement action. Representatives from the two nations reportedly met last week to try to settle the trade battle over India's rapidly developing solar industry, but reached no... Read more.. |
Maruti to supply new Swift hybrids to governmentMaruti Suzuki is all set to supply an undisclosed number of production-ready Swift hybrid hatchbacks, named Swift Range Entender, to the government as a part of its pilot project. However, the due to upcoming elections, the dates are not yet clear, a source close to the project told Autocar Professional. There would be more clarity on the project by the first quarter of the next financial year ie (financial year 2015), he said. Maruti Suzuki had showcased this ‘green’ Swift at the Auto Expo 2014. The company will provide the... Read more.. |
Mahindra Reva plans experience centers to boost E2O electric car salesSelling a car is tough. Selling an electric car is tougher. After realizing that the E2O electric car isn’t moving off showroom shelves, Mahindra Reva is charting out plans to launch experience centers. These experience centers will allow buyers to experience the various aspects of the E2O before buying one. Also, these centers will educate buyers on how the E2O can save money for them by costing little to run and how the car is actually better for the environment as it doesn’t spew out harmful greenhouse gases. The first... Read more.. |
Noesis Energy raises fund to finance customer projects, report saysNoesis Energy Inc. has raised a $30 million fund to finance customer energy-efficiency projects, technology news website TechCrunch reported Tuesday. The Austin-based company plans to fund projects costing $300,000 to $1 million, the report said. Noesis, which was founded in 2009 as Brazos Software Corp., develops software designed to enable commercial and industrial customers to measure and compare energy consumption. It has 36 employees. Last month, Noesis... Read more.. |
ExxonMobil Agrees to Report Carbon Stranded Asset RiskIn response to a shareholder resolution, ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. energy company, for the first time has agreed to publish a Carbon Asset Risk report on the company website. The report will show investors how ExxonMobil plans for a future where market forces and climate regulations will make some of its oil and gas reserves unburnable. The shareholders, led by the wealth management firm Arjuna Capital, which encourages sustainability, and the nonprofit advocacy group As You Sow, on Thursday agreed to withdraw their resolution if... Read more.. |
Europe's banks in $1-tril risk from 'carbon bubble': report - Responding to Climate ChangeInvestors that ditch coal and gas for lower carbon energy will avoid big losses down the line, according to two new studies released today, further grist for the mill in a growing global campaign to shun financing for fuels blamed for climate change. The first of the studies, which was released today in Brussels, said financial institutions including banks and pension funds could see $1 trillion of assets in fossil fuels at risk if the world agrees to slash emissions of greenhouse gases to avoid runaway climate change. ... Read more..Date : Mar 31 Source: RTCC
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Most of energy's increasing methane emissions will come from oil -- reportOil wells, the oft-overlooked siblings of gas wells when it comes to U.S. EPA regulations, will be responsible for almost all the growth in methane emissions from the energy sector between 2011 and 2018. That conclusion comes from the independent consultancy ICF International, which was hired by the Environmental Defense Fund to study the economic benefits of cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and cutting its emissions would be key to... Read more.. |
Next generation super powerful fuel from bacteriaThe next generation of super powerful fuel, capable of arming missiles and space rockets may come from an engineered bacterium. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have engineered a bacterium to synthesize pinene - a hydrocarbon produced by trees that could potentially replace high-energy fuels such as JP-10 in missiles and other aerospace applications. By inserting enzymes from trees into the bacterium, Georgia Tech scientist Stephen Sarria boosted pinene production six-fold over... Read more.. |
Good global agri practices being replicated in India now - Business StandardThe global best practices are now making an entry into the Indian agricultural sector. In the 12th Plan period, the government has introduced the concept for Good Agricultural practices (GAP) certification for farmers in India, albeit as a voluntary measure. The concept has been formally introduced in the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and according to officials, this certification is encouraged with opening up of agricultural trade in India. Despite slowdown in conventional sectors like textile,... Read more.. |
Erode farmers promote use of biogasA farmers' organisation in Erode held a demonstration using a tractor and a motor cycle powered by biogas at a city college. Around 200 farmers attended the demonstration and some even tried their hand in operating the exhibits on Sunday. The purpose of the demo is to encourage the use of biogas, one participant said. A tractor and a two-wheeler powered through methane were exhibited at the college grounds. Their tanks were removed and modified for the purpose. Methane gas used was extracted from vegetable and animal wastes. To pump... Read more.. |
Investors backing companies providing clean technology, healthcare, food and education servicesAngel investors who have preferred to watch over technology startups in India so far are now looking to include young companies from other sectors under their wings.
As a rising tide of entrepreneurship spreads across the country, networks of investors are backing companies that provide clean technology, healthcare, food and education services.
In some of the country's largest angel networks like Indian Angel Network as well as newer ones such as the Chennai Angels, investments in non-technology companies have risen to well over a third... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Economic Times
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CBSE asks schools to be energy efficientAs the Earth Hour falls on March 29, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked schools to register for it and take measures over six months to make their campuses more energy-efficient.
To educate people about energy conservation, the World Wide Fund for Nature organizes Earth Hour every year. Under this, three schools from each region that have made the best efforts will be recognized as the Earth Hour School Champions.
R J Khanderao, CBSE regional head, Panchkula, said, "Lights and electrical devices will be switched off... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Times of India
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UN author says draft climate report alarmist, pulls out of teamOne of the 70 authors of a draft U.N. report on climate change said he had pulled out of the writing team because it was "alarmist" about the threat. Richard Tol told Reuters he disagreed with some findings of the summary to be issued in Japan on March 31. "The drafts became too alarmist," the Dutch professor of economics at Sussex University in England said by telephone from Yokohama, Japan, where governments and scientists are meeting to edit and approve the report. But he acknowledged some other authors "strongly disagree with me". The final draft says... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Reuters India
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Norway's Investment Can Help End Energy PovertyAgainst the fervent protests of global coal lobbyists, Norway is considering divesting from coal while doubling down on investments in renewable energy and sustainable development internationally. These unprecedented initiatives could unleash billions in investments in renewable energy around the globe. This is great news, but we can't forget that how we get people access to solar and other clean energy is just as important as whether we deploy them at all. That's why Norway should include a commitment to transition energy access investment away from large-scale, centralized energy... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Energy Collective
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UK and India jointly fund renewable energy R&D projectsResearchers from the University of Surrey, UK, have been awarded funding “of the order of hundreds of thousands of pounds” by the UK and Indian governments to support two photonics-based R&D projects which will explore how nanotechnology can benefit the future of renewable energy – both in its generation and storage. Awarded to researchers from the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) at the University of Surrey through the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, both programs, which commenced in the first quarter of 2014, will involve close collaboration between universities... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Optics.org
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MSME proposes to set up Rs 10000-cr fund for tech acquisition and supportThe ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises has proposed to set up a fund for technology acquisition and support to assist the indigenous technology and acquisition of global technology by the India MSMEs. To this effect, A Technology Development Fund of Rs.10,000 crore is proposed for supporting MSMEs to undertake technology upgradation, acquisition, adaptation and innovation to enable them to move up the value chain. The ministry also proposes to refine the current FDI policy in vogue to bring up capacity, capability and technology development of the SMEs. In... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Business Standard
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Solar energy plant to power IIT-KanpurAfter setting up a 50 kilowatt solar power plant on the institute campus, IIT-Kanpur is now in the process of commissioning a 1,750 kilowatt roof-top solar power plant. This work would be done in two phases. In the initial phase, a solar plant of 350 kw capacity will be set up. This will take nearly six months. The second phase will be taken up later.
The power generated by the solar power plant will be supplied to the IIT-K grid and the same will be supplied back to the institute for meeting the power needs of the institute. This would also reduce the dependence... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Times of India
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Hamid Ansari for intensive debate on energy challenges facing IndiaVice-president Hamid Ansari on Wednesday urged a more intensive debate on energy challenges facing India, which sources as much as 80 % of its requirements from abroad and is on the lookout for newer sources of fuel to power its economy. Speaking at the launch of the book The Political Economy of Energy and Growth, edited by Delhi’s lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, which was presented to former finance secretary and secretary in the petroleum ministry Vijay Kelkar, Ansari said “much more needs to be done to focus on the country’s energy security.” The book, which is a... Read more.. Date : Mar 28 Source: Livemint
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