Sustainability Outlook Headlines

NTPC to invest Rs 50,000 crore to add 10GW solar energy capacity by 2022

State-owned power giant NTPC is planning to add 10GW of solar energy generation capacity by 2022, which entails an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore, to be funded mainly by green bonds, a source has said. At present, NTPC has installed renewable energy capacity of 920 MW, which includes mainly solar energy. It has formulated a long term plan to become a 130 GW company by 2032 with 30 per cent non-fossil fuel or renewable energy capacity. "The company will complete tendering of 2,300 MW of solar energy capacity by the end of this fiscal. Thereafter it has planned to add 4GW each in 2020-... Read more..

Tenders floated for setting up solar panels on Tamil Nadu govt buildings

The Central Electronics Limited, a public sector undertaking, has floated tenders to set up rooftop solar power panels on government buildings across Tamil Nadu. This follows Tamil Nadu Energy Development Authority (TEDA) and Energy Efficiency Services Limited signing an agreement in this regard in September. More than 1.6MW capacity rooftop solar panels are to be installed atop government buildings in the state. Captive solar power generation would help many government departments, which are among the worst defaulters of power bills, to avoid depending fully on grid power. It could also... Read more..

Haima Automobile confirms India entry

Late in November 2019, we told you that Great Wall Motors will be joined by another Chinese carmaker at Auto Expo 2020 – Haima Automobile. Today, we have official confirmation from Haima about its plans for an India entry. Speaking to Autocar India, a company spokesperson said, “It is certain that Haima Automobile Group, a three-decade-old pioneer passenger car manufacturer from China, is all set to make its foray into the Indian automotive sector.” Haima is in the process of firming up its plans for the Indian market, and is currently in talks with the central and state governments. “... Read more..

Delhi cabinet approves policy on electric vehicles to curb pollution

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government on Monday approved a policy on electric vehicles (EVs) with a focus on two-wheelers, shared transport vehicles, and commercial vehicles to lead the change to electric mobility, at a time when the state is grappling with severe levels of pollution. “Pollution levels are very high in Delhi and vehicles contribute a lot to that. We had circulated the first draft in November 2018. After several rounds of discussions, this policy has been made. By 2024, we want that 25% of the vehicles to be electric vehicles. The aim is to reduce air pollution and... Read more..

Energy farming to empower UP farmers

In a first, the new Kisan Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Scheme of the Centre is set to promote energy farming in agricultural sector in the state. The initiative is aimed making the best of ‘usar’ (alkaline) and ‘banjar’ (infertile) stretches of Bundelkhand which have been lying unproductive so far by using it for setting up solar energy plants, producing energy and selling it to government. The idea of ‘energy farming’ will not only help farmers to earn by selling power to government but also use it to operate their tube-wells for irrigation purposes. Energy minister Srikant Sharma... Read more..

FM holds pre-budget consultation with representatives from water and sanitation sectors

Discussions were held on challenges faced in providing quality of water, sanitation, solid waste management and drainage in India Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman held her 9th Pre-Budget Consultation meeting with the leading representatives from Water and Sanitation sectors here today in connection with the forthcoming General Budget 2020-21. Along with the Finance Minister, the said aforesaid meeting was attended by Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs; Atanu Chakraborty, Secretary, DEA; Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Revenue... Read more..

Villgro, CEEW launch $2.5-million initiative to support clean energy-based livelihood solutions

Social enterprise incubator Villgro Innovation Foundation recently announced that it has jointly embarked with Council on Energy, Environment and Water(CEEW) on a novel initiative, ‘Powering Livelihoods’, with a vision to bolster India’s rural economy through the scaling up of clean-energy solutions.

The initiative, worth $2.5 million, aims to provide dedicated capital, technical, and sectoral growth support to at least five enterprises which are deploying innovative, clean energy-powered livelihood appliances and shall enable them to undertake large-scale commercial operations over... Read more..

Solar federation surprised over high prices of home lighting systems in TN

Between August 2013 and now, the prices of solar panels have fallen precipitously, from around 60 US cents a watt to a third of it. Yet, the prices of projects for solar home lighting systems have risen sharply. Why is this so, wonders the National Solar Energy Federation of India. In a recent letter to Dheeraj Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Federation has sought to draw his attention to the “exorbitant prices revealed upon recent opening of a few financial bids against a tender of the District Rural Development Agency, for providing solar home lighting... Read more..

India could become fastest growing energy market by 2030

India’s Energy Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that his country will surpass China and become the world’s fastest growing market for energy by 2030. “We are on our way to become the world’s largest energy consumer,” the minister said, noting that India plans to use a combination of conventional fuel and sustainable fuels to create a “balanced energy mix.” The energy and steel sectors will play important roles in driving India on the path of becoming a $5-trillion economy, the minister added on Twitter. India aims to move to a gas-based economy and looks to invest around $100 billion in... Read more..

Govt mulling premium on petrol, diesel prices on BS-VI switchover

Consumers may feel the pinch of higher fuel prices in coming months as the government is considering a proposal to allow oil marketing companies charge a premium on retail prices of petrol and diesel to recover their investment in producing less polluting fuel. Public and private sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have appealed to petroleum ministry to support a plan to raise consumer prices of auto fuels to help them recover a portion of investments made in upgrading their refineries to produce BS Stage-VI fuel. If this proposal is accepted by the government, retail prices of petrol... Read more..

The city of Chennai in India is arming itself against climate change: KfW finances sustainable rainwater management with EUR 150

Better protection against flooding for around 550,000 residents and business owners Securing of drinking water supplies Construction of 215 kilometres of rainwater harvesting channels and infrastructure for rainwater storage Today in India's metropolis of Chennai, KfW Development Bank signed a contract worth EUR 150 million for sustainable rainwater management with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal of the measure is to establish a wide-reaching and integrated rainwater management system,... Read more..

Take up pisciculture, go for solar energy: Nitish Kumar to farmers

Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday asked the officials of Saran district to promote the trend of ‘Niche Machchli Upar Bijli’ in ‘chour’ (wetland) areas to increase production of fish along with solar power. Addressing a meeting to review the development works under the ‘Jal-Jivan-Hariyali Abhiyan’ at the Saran collectorate in Chhapra, the CM said maximum number of farmers should be motivated to construct ponds in such a way that fisheries could be done in the pond and solar energy can be generated from the makeshift top of the solar panels. He said farmers should be motivated to do... Read more..