Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Thin-Film Solar Tops India Panel Performance, BNEF Says

Indian solar plants using silicon-free panels, mostly supplied by First Solar Inc. (FSLR), emerged as the best performers in the first year of operation, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said.

An analysis of 33 projects in Gujarat, India’s biggest state for solar installations, found that those using thin-film panels without silicon achieved an average capacity utilization factor of 19.6 percent, compared with 18.5 percent for competing technologies, the London-based researcher said in a note to clients.

“This is consistent with thin-film performing better at high temperatures,”... Read more..

Date : Oct 6

Source: Bloomberg

'Global fish catch on the decline'

Investing in large-scale industrial fishing, building bigger boats, and giving subsidies for pursuing deep sea fishing would be a waste of resources for India (or any other country for that matter) as the global fish catch is on the decline, said French-born marine biologist Daniel Pauly.

He was in the capital the other day to attend the on-going threeday international conference Ecosystem Conservation, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ECOCASD 2013).

The idea that the high seas hold... Read more..

Date : Oct 6

Source: The New Indian Express

Resource management and Brand Positioning catapult 14 innovative solution providers and 9 brand leaders in the Parivartan Awards 2013 shortlist

Parivartan Sustainable Leadership Awards today announced the 2013 shortlist for the Sustainability Innovation Challenge and Sustainable Brands categories - an array of diverse innovations in waste recovery systems to help reuse materials in newer ways, innovative lead battery recycling systems and resource monitoring tools feature in the shortlist. The announcement follows the Corporate Sustainability Stewardship category shortlist released last week.

The finalists were chosen by a group of 30... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: Sustainability Outlook

India to set up 750 MW Grid-connected Solar PV Power Projects

India Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of a scheme for setting up of 750 MW of Grid-connected Solar PV Power Projects under Batch-1 of Phase-11 (2013-17) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support from the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF), according to the press release by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on Thursday.

The total VGF requirement for implementation of the scheme is estimated as Rs. 1,875 crore at the rate of Rs.2.5 crore/ MW The actual requirement will, however, depend on... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: Commodity Online

Energy-efficient appliances help save 4 cr units

Mumbai suburban residential consumers of Reliance Power saved over four crore units of electricity by switching over to energy-efficient appliances, since 2007.

RInfra is the largest power distribution licensee in Mumbai, which serves about 28 lakh consumers spread over 400 sq. km.

RInfra runs periodic exchange schemes for its consumers offering them energy-efficient home appliances in association with leading manufacturers. The products offered include T5-tube-lights, CFL bulbs and five- star rated ceiling fans, refrigerators and air-conditioners.

Since 2007, under... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: Business Line

India’s Ultra-Mega Solar Plant to Sell Record-Low Power

India plans to sell power at a record-low rate from a 4-gigawatt solar photovoltaic farm that will more than double the nation’s sun-powered capacity.

Six state-owned companies, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) and Power Grid Corp. (PWGR) of India Ltd., will form a joint venture to build the first gigawatt by the end of 2016 and sell their output at a maximum 5,500 rupees ($89) per megawatt-hour, Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said in an interview.

The price is 10 rupees cheaper than the lowest solar power bid in... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: Bloomberg

Tata discom selects IBM for smart grid implementation

Global information technology player IBM on Thursday said it has been selected by Tata Power Delhi Distribution (TPDDL), the electricity supplier in the national capital, to conceptualise, design and deliver an advanced smart grid solution.

The IT-enabled solution will help collect and analyse real-time information from smart meters, which will enable Tata Power Delhi Distribution to better manage energy output and further reduce outages.

As a part of its smart grid initiative, Tata Power Delhi Distribution will collaborate with IBM to develop an advanced metering... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Railways explore natural gas to fuel locomotives

The Indian Railways proposes to utilise natural gas as fuel for its fleets of diesel locomotives in line with the international trend. This will have a substantial effect on reducing the emission of carbon and in making the railway system environment-friendly, stated Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi today.

Inaugurating 10th edition of the International Rail Exhibition and Conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the capital today, Kharge said that under the Research, Design and Standard Organization (RDSO),... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: Economic Times

NABARD funds for energy-efficient IP sets in state

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has taken up a novel power conservation scheme: It is helping farmers replace inefficient and outdated irrigation pumpsets (IP) with new and energy-efficient ones without any additional cost.

Speaking to Express, the bank’s chief general manager (CGM) of Karnataka region G R Chintala said that the project, being implemented in Byadagi taluk in Haveri and Nippani in Belgaum districts, on pilot basis has proved to be effective.

The replacement of old and obsolete IP sets with the new and improved ones will save... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: New Indian Express

Powerloom weavers look for options to go in for solar energy

Powerloom weavers in Somanur and nearby areas are exploring options that will give them financial support to go in for solar energy.

P. Kumarasamy, secretary of the Coimbatore District Job Working Powerloom Unit Owners’ Association, told The Hindu on Wednesday that just a handful of powerloom weavers in the district have installed solar panels. A unit with 10 looms requires five kw solar system. The cost for this works out to Rs. 6.5 lakh.

The association organised a meeting a few weeks ago to create awareness on solar energy and several weavers had expressed willingness to... Read more..

Date : Oct 4

Source: The Hindu

World Bank sceptical about India’s power sector bailout

The World Bank is sceptical about India’s ambitious bailout plan for state government-owned distribution companies announced in September last year.

Ashish Khanna, lead energy specialist for the World Bank, said that while bailouts are an opportunity in crisis, “the proof of the pudding is in eating it”.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday check at the launch of a report related to rural electricity supply, Khanna said it would take six months to a year for the results of the bailout plan to be visible and termed it more of a crisis for the banking sector than for power... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: Livemint

Indian Companies Seek Business-Trust Listings in Singapore

Indian wind-power developers and a toll-road operator are flocking to list in Singapore, but they could be in for a bumpy ride thanks to India's struggles with a weaker currency and an ailing economy.

Companies from the South Asian country seeking to unlock value from their assets are planning to raise close to US$2 billion by listing business trusts in the city-state, where yield-hungry investors have pumped billions of dollars into trust listings this year. Firms that establish trusts get a chunk of capital as they sell shares in certain businesses, usually those that offer... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: WSJ

Envoys Spar Over Aviation Carbon Market Compromise Deal

Aviation negotiators have begun final talks in Montreal over the creation of a carbon market for the world airline industry.

More than 190 countries in the International Civil Aviation Organization are discussing a revised proposal by the assembly’s President Michel Wachenheim that would limit the European Union emissions trading system prior to the global deal and exempt countries with a low share in international civil aviation. The triennial meeting ends Oct. 4.

At stake is international... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: Bloomberg

30% of energy spend is on diesel: Survey

Companies allocate nearly 30% of their energy spend on diesel, primarily to run generators, a study has revealed.

A survey by Schneider Electric and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy showed that on an average 300 companies covered spent around Rs 3.4 crore annually, of which around Rs 1 crore was spent on diesel to fire generators. "We're seeing rising energy costs impact bottom-lines across industries in the country, especially impacting the SME sector. Rising energy cost is further compounded by the lack of a reliable grid... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: Times of India

Latest IPCC Climate Report Puts Geoengineering in the Spotlight

Attempts to counter global warming by modifying Earth's atmosphere have been thrust into the spotlight following last week's report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Mention of ‘geoengineering’ in the report summary was brief, but it suggests that the controversial area is now firmly on the scientific agenda. Some climate models suggest that geoengineering may even be necessary to keep global temperature rises to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: Scientific American

Indian Govt launches mega petroleum conservation campaign

Dr. M.Veerappa Moily Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas launched the Mega Petroleum Conservation Campaign at a National Workshop on Fuel conservation in Transport Sector here today. Speaking on the occasion he informed that under the guidance of his Ministry, Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) has formulated benchmarking norms for LPG stoves, and diesel pumps, in consultation with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and other stakeholders. This will facilitate availability of more fuel efficient appliances to the consumers, thereby reducing... Read more..

Date : Oct 3

Source: Northern Voices Online

Government asks CEA to help private hydropower developers to avoid delays

The government has asked the power ministry's technical arm, the CEA, to facilitate hydropower project developers prepare foolproof project reports, a move aimed at curbing growing instances of delays and rejections because of faulty or incomplete project reports.

This comes at a time when 95 hydropower projects, with aggregate generation capacity of 40,000 MW, are awaiting techno-economic clearance from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

"DPRs (detailed project reports) that come to CEA for approval are often incomplete or unsatisfactory. So now the government has... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: Economic Times

US, EU irked by India’s compulsory licence plan for green technologies

The US and the EU have raised strong objections to India’s decision to allow compulsory licensing in the green technology sector.

Compulsory licensing allows domestic producers to manufacture copied versions of patented environment-friendly products.

India’s National Manufacturing Policy, issued in late 2011, explicitly talks about the Government issuing compulsory licences (CL) for green technology in cases where patent holders charge unreasonable rates, or where domestic demand is not being met in a satisfactory manner.

“US and European clean-tech companies fear... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: Business Line

Solar energy startups out to power rural India

Numerous solar energy startups are delivering cheap and accessible power to rural India. These ventures have come up with solutions - ranging from solar off-grids to solar-powered home systems - that are not just cost-effective but also less toxic than traditional fuels like kerosene.

"In a country, where large swathes of population have little or unreliable access to basic power, off grids is the solution," said Shyam Patra, 36, founder of Naturetech Infrastructure. The four-year-old, Lucknow-based startup provides electricity to... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: Economic Times

Mercom Capital: India must get on track with PV auction process

Several obstacles to the installation of new solar power generating capacity in India must be overcome if the government’s ambitious renewable energy plans are to stay on track, according to Raj Prabhu, chief executive officer at clean energy consultancy and communications firm Mercom.

The latest phase of India’s solar power installation programme, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is expected to implement solar power capacity over phases with the current phase ending in 2013 and the next phase taking place from... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: PV Tech

APEC agrees to joint efforts to develop renewable energy

Members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreed on Monday to establish joint efforts for the development of renewable energy in the 21 member economies.

The agreement was achieved during the first day of the three-day conference on clean, renewable and sustainable use of energy being hosted by Indonesia, this year’s APEC chair, in Nusa Dua, Bali. The agreement will be presented to the APEC senior official meeting Oct. 1 to Oct. 2 for approval.

Lead shepherd of the APEC Energy Working Group, Phyllis Genther Yoshida, said that the 21 economies had struggled to... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: Jakarta Times

India May Announce 750-Megawatt Solar Auction in October

India may announce this month an auction of licenses to build solar-power plants after a gap of almost two years, offering developers as much as 3 billion rupees ($48 million) of direct grants for the first time.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is awaiting Cabinet approval to invite bids for 750 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity, Ministry Joint-Secretary Tarun Kapoor said in an interview in New Delhi. The auction, which may be announced in the next 10 days, is typically held about 45 days after bids are invited, he... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: Bloomberg

India: Supplyco to start selling organic products soon

Considering the increasing demand for organic products, Supplyco will consider selling such products through its outlets, said Anoop Jacob, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies.

Jacob said the need to promote organic products has become the need of the hour.

"Measures will be initiated soon to sell organic products through Supplyco outlets,” he said. “The government will also look into those measures which has to be initiated at the earliest to check the booming rise in vegetable prices,” he said.

Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas said... Read more..

Date : Oct 2

Source: New Indian Express

NHPC plans jt ventures with pvt players

State-run NHPC plans to join hands with private sector players for developing hydel power projects. In this regard, the company has held preliminary discussions with various independent power producers.

The country’s largest hydro power producer is also diversifying into thermal, solar and wind energy projects.

The company would be looking to partner private players to develop greenfield hydro power projects where construction is yet to start, NHPC Director (Finance), A.B.L. Srivastava, said.

It would be a “win win situation” for the company as well as the private... Read more..

Date : Oct 1

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Pollution watchdog to take a close look at Krishna waters

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will be conducting the first in-depth survey to assess the sources and extent of pollution in the Krishna river. The survey will be undertaken after the MPCB appoints a resource agency and should be completed over a period of six months.

The survey will offer up a detailed view of the pollution in the Krishna, a major river of the state that originates at Mahabaleshwar in Satara. It flows till the Rajapur bund in Shirol in Kolhapur and then enters Karnataka.

The MPCB is now studying the capacities of various agencies in the... Read more..

Date : Oct 1

Source: Times of India