Sustainability Outlook Headlines

80 Indian companies are now doing sustainability reporting

About 80 Indian companies are now doing sustainability reporting using the framework developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

D K S Moorthy, director in Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (Assist), said the number was about just 34 a year ago, indicating that more and more companies were recognizing the value of such reporting. Wipro, Infosys, TCS, ITC are among those doing GRI-based sustainability reporting.

GRI is a non-profit organization that works towards a sustainable global economy by providing sustainability reporting... Read more..

Biogas keeps this police station bright

The erratic power supply has not spared the men in khaki across the state, as police stations also bear the brunt of the power cuts. But a police station in rural Chekkanurani in Madurai district is a clear exception.

Not just the police station, located about 15 km away from the city, but the adjacent bus terminus and the four-road intersection there also shines bright, thanks to a biogas plant that runs on biodegradable waste installed in the village. 

"Electricity is usually produced through a diesel power generator. Instead of diesel, we use methane gas produced in... Read more..

Tamil Nadu power regulator seeks comments on solar power policy

The Tamil Nadu state energy Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on its consultative paper on issues related to the government's solar energy policy.

The Tamil Nadu Energy Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has called for the comments/suggestions by Dec 28 on issues like solar purchase obligation, net metering, renewable energy certificate (REC) for solar power generators, banking of solar power, transmission and wheeling charges, cross subsidy surcharge, reactive power charges, adjustment of generated power for captive use and... Read more..

India’s first green township coming up at Electronics City

Bangalore will be pioneering the country’s first township according to the globally accepted norms of a green building. A green building is a structure that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout its life-cycle.

Spread over 120 acres, this environment-friendly project named NeoTown is being executed by Patel Realty and will find its home at Electronics City, South Bangalore.

NeoTown has met the criteria laid down by the Indian Green Building Council. IGBC guidelines include preservation of existing trees and water bodies, energy efficiency in... Read more..

India's energy system better than China, says WEF

 India's energy system is better than that of neighbouring China in the context of an integrated economic, environmental and energy security perspective, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2013, released today, has ranked India at 62nd position, much ahead of China which is placed at 74th spot.

The index measures the strengths and weaknesses of countries' energy systems from an integrated economic, environmental and energy security perspective, WEF said.

Norway has the topped list that features... Read more..

Govt to push for hazardous waste treatment plant in Dharbandora

The state government has started pushing forward a proposal for setting up of a hazardous waste treatment plant (HWTP) in Dharbandora although it has been facing opposition from the locals.

The project though was granted environmental clearance in 2008 but it languished due to opposition from locals.

The Union ministry of envionment and forest (MOEF) had also given grants of Rs 2 crore for the project and the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) had given clearance. The government has decided to push forward this project which has become imminent in view of lack of... Read more..

India to invest in Iran renewable energy sector

India will provide money and technical know-how to Iran to build wind and solar power plants, the Iranian official media reported Monday.

Both sides have already finalised an agreement, Xinhua quoted the Press TV as saying.

The private sector will be involved in the endeavour, said Yousef Armodeli, head of Iranian Renewable Energy Organisation.

He also said that several contracts were signed with the private sector to construct renewable power plants capable of generating 12,000 MW of electricity.

Iran's production capacity of renewable energy will double by the... Read more..

Airbus-Backed SG Biofuels Talking to Energy Companies to Expand

SG Biofuels Inc., backed by Airbus SAS, is talking to large energy companies including state oil producers in Africa and Southeast Asia over helping to develop its technology that turns plant material into vehicle fuels.

The company is speaking to potential partners that want to mix biofuel with diesel or jet fuel as it plans to grow into new markets, Chief Executive Officer Kirk Haney said in a telephone interview. It’s also talking to developers with experience in building and scaling up large agricultural projects, he said.

The San Diego-based company is studying... Read more..

CER Permit Ban on Non-Kyoto Nations Is Bearish, Barclays Says

Restrictions on the use of United Nations Certified Emissions Reductions by countries not joining the second period of the Kyoto Protocol may cause CER prices to fall, Barclays Plc said.

Negotiators agreed last week in Doha to ban countries which don’t commit to binding emission-reduction targets from 2013 from using CERs to meet their greenhouse-gas reduction targets. Kyoto’s second period, known as CP2 or KP2, starts in January.

“While seemingly shrinking the market for CERs, the post-2012 call on CERs from countries not agreeing KP2 targets was always seen as extremely... Read more..

Central Bank of India offers loans for solar systems

Central Bank of India would provide loans to the people willing to install solar systems in their houses to overcome the power crisis, said D.Lakshmi Narayanan, assistant general manager of the bank, on Saturday.

He told presspersons after inauguration of a retail expo organised by the bank to provide loans for solar power equipment, houses and vehicles that people could avail of the loan depending upon the cost of the equipment.

He said that in Tiruchi region comprising 10 districts and Karaikal in Puduchery the bank had disbursed Rs.1,200 crore as loans this year.... Read more..

UN Climate Change Negotiations 2012: Admitting to 20 years of mixed results, Doha agrees to fresh gas emission cuts

The two week long climate talks in Doha came to a close with 194 countries agreeing to implement a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, from 2013 through 2020. The Doha round of talks mark the beginning of a transition to a new global climate change regime that will come into effect from 2020 and include within its ambit all countries.

Marked by a near total absence of an increased effort by industrialised countries to reduce emissions and paucity of funds to help developing countries to limit climate change, the Doha talks made an important shift by recognizing that 20... Read more..

PTC defers $1 bn energy infrastructure fund plan

Electricity trader PTC India Ltd has deferred plans for a $1 billion energy infrastructure fund, reflecting the waning interest in the country’s power sector, once a big draw for investors but now buffeted by a resource crunch and corruption allegations on coal block allotments.

After ending its alliance with UK-based management company Ashmore Group Plc, PTC was seeking partners in the fund that was to acquire equity stakes in power projects. It was unsuccessful in this as potential partners shied away after the allegations of improprities in coal block allocations surfaced... Read more..