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IOCL gets Environment Ministry’s clearance to set up 2G ethanol plant in Panipat

The Ministry of Environment has granted clearance to the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to set up a Rs 766-crore 2G ethanol plant in Haryana’s Panipat district. Making the announcement through a tweet on Sunday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Happy to inform that Environment Clearance is given to IOCL to set up new 2G Ethanol plant in Panipat.” He also said that the project would help in achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ income. “This project not only promotes use of environment friendly fuel but also aids in fulfilment of government’s goal of doubling farmers... Read more..

Date : Nov 11
Source: The Hindu Business Line

Brookfield in talks to invest $800 million in ReNew Power

Canadian asset management firm Brookfield is in talks to invest $800 million in India’s largest green energy company ReNew Power, said two people familiar with the development. Brookfield, which is currently conducting due diligence, would be providing partial exit to Goldman Sachs. The US investor owns over 48% in ReNew Power. “The deal could be concluded in the next few months as it suits the narratives of both the buyer and the seller. This could be one of the biggest deals in the space. Many global investors are looking at this space in view of its potential,” said a person close to... Read more..

Date : Nov 11
Source: ET Energy World

MNRE issues clarification on hybrid wind-solar projects’ contribution to RPO of discoms

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a clarification regarding contribution of power sourced from hybrid wind and solar power projects towards meeting Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPOs) of discoms. MNRE has said that the RPO contribution of obligated entities, or discoms, consuming power from hybrid wind-solar power plant will be based on the relative proportion of energy contributed by each source in case there is a variation in the capacity mentioned in the PPA and the actual capacity. "The Obligated Entities would have the option to choose the proportion of each... Read more..

Date : Nov 11
Source: ET Energy World

CSE conducts survey to analyse on-grid solar pumps in water-scarce areas

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, conducted a survey of districts that are highly dependent on solar pumps and has come up with a range of recommendations, including making these units on-grid in water-scarce areas. In the wake of the expanding role of solar power in irrigation, the CSE analysed the extent and need of irrigation including the use of pumps, the potential impact on groundwater, and the economic benefits to the government and power companies if they switch to solar-powered water pumps. The survey was carried out in neighbouring Buldhana district, Pilibhit... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: ET Energy World

India, Sweden to engage in clean, innovative technologies through Accelerator Programme

India and Sweden to work together closely in the areas of clean, innovative technologies and share latest knowhow. During a CII India-Sweden Innovations Accelerator Programme held here, a workshop and B2B meeting was hosted with Swedish cleantech and energy efficiency delegation. The Accelerator Programme, being supported by Swedish Energy Agency and Business Sweden, has been running since year 2013 and has facilitated in transferring some of the innovative clean technologies and solutions from Sweden to India. Ludvig Lindstrom, Country Manager – India, Swedish Energy Agency, underlined... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: The Hindu Business Line

City of London explores steps to ‘supercharge’ India’s green finance sector

Aiming at “supercharging” India’s green finance sector, the City of London Corporation, the financial hub of the British capital, on Thursday unveiled a series of recommendations, including reducing structural barriers to investment and innovative financing mechanisms tailored to the Indian landscape. In a report titled ‘Untapped Potential: Supercharging Green Finance in India’, the corporation alongside the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) explores the opportunities and challenges for sustainable finance in India. The report, which has inputs from the UK-... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: The Hindu Business Line

Centre to increase EV charging points with German fund

With German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday pledging to invest 1 billion euros over next five years on environmentally friendly urban mobility in India, the Central government is planning to use a major part of the fund to increase the number of charging points for electric vehicles across the country and to replace diesel buses with electric buses. “Many auto companies have shown enthusiasm over the electric mobility plan of the government. However, electric charging points are a challenge. We will use the fund to set up EV charging stations and to replace diesel buses with electric... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: The New Indian Express

Kochi: Development authority moots solar power project at JLN Stadium

As part of its green city plans, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has proposed to set up solar panels on the rooftop of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Kochi to make the stadium energy-efficient. Speaking at a press conference in the city on Thursday, GCDA chairman V Salim said that the state government has granted permission to appoint Cial Infrastructure Ltd, a subsidiary company of Cial as consultant for the JLN solar project. Green city is part of the larger Kochi economic city project. Under the project, GCDA will install solar panels at around 30,000 sqft area... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: ET Energy World

In battle to curb pollution, Delhi awaits EV policy

As the Delhi government has re-introduced the odd-even scheme to curb air pollution, the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, 2018 awaits to be notified even after close to a year since it was drafted. While the government said it is working on details of the drafts, the manufacturers of electric vehicles said the policy could have played an important role in controlling pollution in the long term. Sohinder Gill, Director General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) said odd-even is meant for tackling a crisis-like situation and has an extremely short-term effect. "Ironically,... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: ET Energy World

Foton PMI to invest Rs 500 cr to set up electric bus manufacturing unit in Pune

PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Pvt Ltd (PEMSPL) on Thursday said it plans to invest Rs 500 crore along with its Chinese partner Beiqi Foton Motor Co (Foton) for setting up an electric bus manufacturing plant at Pune in the next two to three years. PEMSPL, which holds 70 per cent in its joint venture with Beiqi Foton with the rest by the Chinese partner, also said it has entered into a pact with budget carrier SpiceJet to supply electric buses for its operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport here. "Currently we (PMI) have a manufacturing plant at Daruhera in Haryana for... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: The Times of India

Suzuki Motorcycle to start testing electric scooter in India in 2020

Suzuki Motorcycle India has developed a prototype electric scooter which it will start testing it in the country by 2020. Despite wide expectations from the government to swiftly set up the charging infrastructure, the company will not wait for the ecosystem to be completed before starting work on their electric two-wheeler, a top Suzuki official told Moneycontrol. The country’s fifth-largest two-wheeler manufacturer will work closely with sister concern Maruti Suzuki to tap into the car market leader's wide distribution network. "We are developing an electric scooter for India and next... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: Money Control

EESL to Host Inspire 2019, With Focus on Energy Security and Sustainability

In a bid to foster a conducive ecosystem for sustainable energy through innovation, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a joint-venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, Government of India will host its flagship international event, ‘International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency’ (INSPIRE) from November 11 to 12, 2019, in Mumbai. Now in its fourth edition, the event will be co-hosted by the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Resources Institute, India (WRI India) the United States Agency for International Development (... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: Saur Energy

India registers 26.9 per cent decline in Maternal Mortality Rate since 2013

India has registered a 26.9 per cent reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) since 2013, according to the Sample Registration System Bulletin-2016 released on Thursday. The decline in MMR has been from 77 to 72 per 100,000 live births among southern states and in the other states, from 93 to 90, it stated. The ratio has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016 and to 122 in 2015-17, registering a 6.15 per cent reduction since the last survey figures of 2014-2016, according to the special bulletin of the Office of the Registrar General. "It is heartening that the maternal... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: The Economic Times

Investment to fight climate change dropped 11 per cent to $546 billion last year

Global climate finance reached a record high of $612 billion in 2017 driven by renewable energy and lower-carbon transport capacity additions in China, US and India and increased public commitment to energy efficiency but dropped 11 per cent to $546 billion in 2018 due to reduced public money for low-carbon transport and lower private investment in renewable energy. These are the findings of a study “Global Landscape of Climate Finance” by Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) released today. It includes data from 2013-2018 and breaks down climate finance by use, geography and source. The report... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: ET Energy World

Health and safety of 1 billion people at risk from lack of access to cooling: Study

Public safety, health, safe medicine and food supply for a whopping 1.05 billion people in poor rural and urban areas globally are now at risk from lack of access to cooling including adequate refrigeration, air conditioning and other areas that are essential as the earth’s temperatures rise due to climate change, a new study has found. The study, Chilling Prospects: Tracking Sustainable Cooling for All 2019, states that India represents one of the countries to drive the change for rural people living in poverty with significant increase in rural energy access with the Indian government... Read more..

Date : Nov 8
Source: ET Energy World

Cabinet approves MoU between India, Switzerland on climate change

Concerned over environmental degradation, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Switzerland on technical cooperations in the field of climate change. The MoU was signed in Switzerland on September 13. The Cabinet said that environmental degradation afftects the socially and economically disadvantaged more heavily than the better of sections of the society. "Any effort at thwarting environmental degradation would lead to environmental equity in the sense of... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: The Free Press Journal

Cabinet approves pact with Guinea on renewable energy

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval to a pact signed between India and Guinea in the field of renewable energy. "The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval for the MoU (memorandum of understanding) between India and Guinea in the field of renewable energy," an official statement said. The objective of the MoU is to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship and to encourage and promote bilateral technical cooperation in renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity between the parties... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: ET Energy World

India, US and China saw biggest rises in greenhouse gas emissions last year: Report

India, the US and China saw some of the biggest rises in greenhouse gas emissions last year due to booming energy consumption dominated by fossil fuels, putting global climate goals at risk, according to a new report. Emissions jumped 6.3% in India, rose 3.4% in the US and 2.3% in China, consultancy Capgemini said in its World Energy Markets Observatory report. Southeast Asia, where coal use continues to grow, also saw emissions jump, led by Vietnam and the Philippines. That helped drive a 2% rise globally in 2018, up from 1.6% the previous year -- showing that efforts to curb greenhouse... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: The Hindu Business Line

Solar developer can set up higher generation capacity than contracted: MNRE

The renewable energy ministry on Wednesday clarified that solar energy developers can install additional direct current (DC) capacity which can be higher than the contracted alternate current (AC) capacity. Developers convert DC into AC for supplies to discoms. In some cases, they have set up larger power generation DC capacities than contracted AC capacities. The decision is likely to give some relief to solar energy developers. Some states consider higher DC capacity than contracted AC capacity as a violation of power purchase agreements (PPAs). "The installation of additional DC... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: ET Energy World

Allocate 60,000 hectares for solar & wind park on priority, Centre tells Gujarat

The central government on Wednesday directed the state government to hasten the allocation of 60,000 hectares of land for the solar and wind park project in Kutch district. The project is expected to attract an investment of about Rs 1.35 lakh crore. The proposed solar and wind park is one of the projects of national importance that are reviewed every month under the PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) programme. The PRAGATI programme is monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. A top state government source said that the PM wanted to know the reasons for the... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: ET Energy World

SJVNL signs pact for 430 MW hydro project in Himachal

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) on Wednesday signed a pact with Himachal Pradesh for commissioning the 430 megawatt (MW) Reoli Dugli Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab river basin. The pact was signed in the run-up to two-day Rising Himachal Global Investors' Meet in Dharamsala, which is beginning on Thursday. Earlier, the SJVNL had signed seven pacts with the state. SJVNL Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma said the eight projects required an investment of Rs 24,000 crore and they are expected to generate employment for 11,950 people. The eight projects will generate 2,... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: ET Energy World

NTPC: Working strongly on electric vehicle charging infrastructure

State-owned NTPC on Wednesday said it is working on electric vehicle charging infrastructure as it believes that ultimately mobility through EVs will help. NTPC Executive Director Mohit Bhargava said electric vehicle is a good concept but the larger issue is related to the battery. “NTPC is working strongly on the electric vehicle side. On the charging network side,” Bhargava said addressing India Energy Summit here. “There is a larger issue on the battery side...the life of the battery and how do you reuse the battery,” he added. NTPC had earlier said it has signed pacts with cab... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: The Hindu Business Line

Karnataka govt to cut BMTC fares, add 6,000 buses

Setting up a new a Bengaluru Mobility Management Authority (BMMA) and reducing bus fares to popularise public transport are among the measures the government has planned to reduce congestion in the city. By identifying high traffic density roads with the help of the traffic police, the government will create dedicated bus and bicycle lanes at KR Puram, Old Madras Road, Whitefield, Marathalli and Mysuru Road. After a meeting with officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) on... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: Deccan Herald

Maharashtra: Draft regulations for net metering of solar power called anti-consumer

Certain provisions in the draft regulations for net metering of solar power have evoked criticism. The grid-interactive rooftop renewable energy generating systems regulations, 2019, were drafted by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and are open for public feedback till November 18. Advocacy groups have already called the draft regulations “anti-consumer”. As per the proposed regulations, the first 300 units of solar power generated during a billing period shall be netted out against the energy consumption of the consumer in that billing period. Any units generated... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: ET Energy World

Diesel-run auto-rickshaws to go off Patna roads from March 31, 2021

Thousands of auto-rickshaws running on diesel will go off the roads of Patna from the midnight of March 31, 2021, the Bihar government announced on November 6, 2019. Instead, the owners of the auto-rickshaws will be encouraged to switch over to CNG or battery-operated systems. “We have decided to ban the plying of auto-rickshaws running on diesel in Patna in a phased manner to improve air quality and keep pollution levels under control,” Bihar transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said. “Rather, we will promote vehicles running on CNG and battery,” he added. Agarwal was speaking after... Read more..

Date : Nov 7
Source: Down to Earth
CSV