Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Bhakra Beas Management Board signs MoU for 40 MW hydropower project

After 40 years of completion of Beas Satluj Link (BSL) project, 40MW hydel project would come up at Pandoh-Baggi tunnel. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has entered into an MoU with the Himachal Pradesh government for setting up of 40 MW Baggi power house in Mandi district during the ‘Global Investors Meet’ at Dharamshala on Friday. This power project includes two units of 20 MW each and is located at the tail of Pandoh-Baggi tunnel. BBMB chairman D K Sharma said the project has been assigned to them by the Union power ministry on October 22, after concurrence of all the partner... Read more..

Tata seeks partners for JLR; approaches BMW, Chinese automaker Geely

Tata Group, the owner of Jaguar Land Rover, has approached carmakers including China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. and BMW AG as it seeks partnerships for the beleaguered British automotive business, people with knowledge of the matter said. India’s largest conglomerate has said it’s open to finding partners for JLR to save on costs and share the burden of investing in electric vehicles. The deliberations were at an early stage and Tata could still approach other potential partners, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. It wasn’t immediately... Read more..

EESL to fall short of its target of electrifying government car fleets two years after the deadline

State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited’s (EESL) move to electrify government employees’ car fleet has fallen short of its ambitions with the company set to close its tender for 10,000 electric cars at the end of March 2020 with an expected procurement of only 3,000 such vehicles. There will be no compensation for Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra, who were in September 2017 given a collective tender for these electric cars, Saurabh Kumar, managing director of EESL, told ET. While 10,000 cars were mentioned, the contract with the two manufacturers required them to manufacture... Read more..

Lack of affordable, eco-friendly alternatives is the biggest challenge in the fight against climate change: Study

A very large proportion of Indians say that they are aware of climate change and are keen to address it, but do not have the option to buy environment-friendly products. According to a research by the Mahindra Group, the principal explanation for this paradox is the absence of suitable environment-friendly products and services at an affordable price. According to Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, “It is time for action. Business cannot be divorced from the consequences of climate change on the world we share and the people we love.”

Concerned about climate change

The... Read more..

Waste-to-energy: Researcher develops bio-drying technology in Kochi

A research scholar at Cusat has developed a technology to reduce the moisture content in municipal solid waste (MSW) and make it suitable for manufacturing fuel that can be used in waste-to-energy plants. The researcher, Asha P Tom, who was working under the guidance of Renu Pawels, professor, civil engineering department, Cusat, was recently awarded a doctorate based on her work titled ‘Biodrying: A Sustainable Technology for Municipal Solid Waste Management’. Pawels said the pilot scale bio-drying reactor for treating mixed MSW with high moisture content was developed in collaboration... Read more..

MNRE issues norms for 10 lakh solar power pumps under PM-KUSUM scheme

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued guidelines for setting up of 10 lakh grid-connected solar power pumps under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme. Under “Component C” of the scheme 10 lakh agriculture pumps of 7.5 Horsepower capacity each are planned to be solarised by 2022. As per provisions of the scheme, initially one lakh grid-connected pumps are targeted to be solarised on pilot basis and further scale-up will be carried out after the evaluation of the pilot phase. The scheme aims at ensuring reliable day... Read more..

Andhra Pradesh contests HC order prohibiting revision of PPAs

The Andhra Pradesh government has challenged an order passed by a single-judge bench of the state high court restraining the government from renegotiating or revising power purchase agreements (PPA) signed with renewable energy companies, saying the court order is “bad in law and contrary to the facts on record”. In an appeal filed in the high court, the government said it has the right to negotiate power tariffs. It said the single-judge bench erred in ruling that the government being a third party, had no power to issue the July 1order that directed a high-level committee to renegotiate... Read more..

Neeri to use STP, solar panels for Naik Talao’s facelift

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) will use solar panels for rejuvenating Naik Talao, which has been neglected for long by NMC. Deputy mayor Deepraj Pardikar on Friday convened a meeting over rejuvenation works being entrusted to Neeri. The environmental agency informed in the meeting that there are two big tortoises in the lake, and they will also help in rejuvenation. Officials from NMC’s Pench project department said Neeri have prepared a detailed project report for rejuvenation of Naik Talao. It had earlier estimated the cost of rejuvenation at Rs 3.83... Read more..

Tata steel to deploy EVs for employees in Jamshedpur

Tata Steel is introducing a fleet of electric vehicles for employees commuting in Jamshedpur under its Go-Green initiative. "The company has partnered with Tata Motors to deploy 40 Tigor Electric Vehicles (EVs) by FY22 in a staggered manner," Tata Steel said in an official statement. A batch of nine Tigor EVs were handed over by the Tata Motors’ team to Tata Steel, on Friday, at the company’s plant in Jamshedpur. The EV fleet will also be listed on Digiwheels, Tata Steel’s digital solution (application), to enable employees to manage their commuting related requirements in the operational... Read more..

Kolkata: ‘Ignoring NGT orders adds to pollution’

Environmental crusaders on Friday blamed the spiralling pollution and plunging air quality on the non-compliance of National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and furnished a 35-point report on the issue. “Our failure to comply with so many directives on environment has polluted the city environment. If we fail to take urgent corrective measures, the city we leave behind will not only be unworthy of living, but it will also be too late to reverse the situation,” said legal activist Subhas Datta, whose PILs on environment issues have forced governments to change the status quo. Senior lawyer... Read more..

Long-term planning is needed to make power grids ready for EV load: Report

When electric vehicles (EVs) become a favoured transportation option for Indians, policy makers need to think about the ecosystem it will require, and it is much more than just planning for charging stations. One factor least talked about, or planned for, in the penetration of EV is the load it will put on the power distribution grid. The entry stage of EVs into the Indian market may be much easier than when the market transitions to a more advanced growth stage. A research report released by the Florence School of Regulation to announce the entry of its FSR Global Energy Regulatory Hub in... Read more..

Tamil Nadu: State’s green energy obligation fixed at 21%

Tangedco’s renewable power obligation (percentage of renewable power in total power purchase) has been fixed at 21% for the financial year (2021-22) and of this, nearly 50% will be solar power. The TNERC in its latest order has said solar power must be 10.50% of the total power purchase and compared to last financial year it is an increase by 2%. Tamil Nadu is one among the few states and Union territories to fulfil the RPO each year as majority of the states don’t even cross 60% of their target. “Every obligated entity shall purchase not less than defined minimum percentage of its... Read more..