Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Dabur launches Plastic Waste Collection drive with East Delhi Municipal Corporation

Moving forward on its commitment towards becoming a Plastic Waste Neutral Company by 2021, India’s largest Science-based Ayurveda major Dabur India Limited today Joined hands with East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to launch a unique Plastic Waste Collection drive in the city. Under this initiative, christened ‘My 10 Kg Plastic’, Dabur India Ltd, Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) and EDMC will be running a series of programmes to build awareness about Plastic Waste disposal and involve all individuals, societies, schools and offices in segregation and safe disposal of... Read more..

Govt to give renewables their moment in the sun

In a renewed push to cut India’s dependence on fossil fuels, the central government wants state-run companies to build massive clean energy parks at a cost of around $2 billion each, with built-in incentives to ensure states and operators are invested in the success of the parks. The proposed ultra mega renewable energy power parks (UMREPP) of 2,000 megawatts (MW) each will help developers achieve economies of scale and further bring down solar and wind power tariffs. Setting up such parks will bolster India’s image as a clean energy champion at a time the world is grappling with concerns... Read more..

India achieved solar power target 4 years ahead of schedule: DST Advisor

India has achieved its solar power target four-years ahead of its schedule, as a part of its climate change mitigation strategy, a senior official of the Central government's Department of Science and Technology (DST), said here on Tuesday. The target of installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022 was achieved four years ahead of schedule in January 2018, Adviser and Head of Climate Change Programme of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Akhilesh Gupta said. "India has now set a new target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022, he told PTI on Tuesday. India was one of the least... Read more..

Innolia Energy to set up integrated solar, lithium battery, EV assembly unit in Telangana

Innolia Energy, a US based company, has announced the launch of phase one of the Rs 225 crore integrated solar, lithium ion battery and electric vehicle assembly facility in Telangana. The company promoted by an NRI plans to make a phased investment of Rs 225 crore in the project to manufacture solar modules, assemble lithium batteries and electric vehicles. “As a company promoted by entrepreneurs based in the US who have been serving companies with our technology solutions. This integrated facility is a natural extension,” Arvind Reddy, CEO of Innolia Energy, said. The company plans to... Read more..

Vikram Solar commissions rooftop solar plant in Rajasthan

Solar energy solutions provider Vikram Solar said on Wednesday that has commissioned a rooftop solar plant for SL Nutritions at the RIICO Industrial Area of Nagaur in Rajasthan. A Vikram Solar release here said the Rajasthan solar plant has a capacity of 558 kilowattpeak (kWp). "Vikram Solar used 1,400 of 315 Wp (wattpeak) and 355 of 330 Wp modules to build the rooftop plant. The solar plant is expected to have an annual energy yield of 2,000-2,500 kWh (kilowatt hour)," it said. According to the company, its current portfolio consists of 1,040 MW of engineering, procurement and... Read more..

World Environment School to promote environmental education

Mobius Foundation, a non-profit organization working towards environmental sustainability, today, announced the launch of India’s first environment school in Coorg, Karnataka, statement said. World Environment School, Coorg (WESc) will be the first school in India and South Asia to take a leading role in promoting and delivering environmental education with sustainability at its core. Spread over a hundred acres across the beautiful hills of Coorg, the school’s focus is to build strong environmental and moral values among its students. WESc will be operational from 2021 for Grade 6 to 12... Read more..

Adityanath chairs meeting on Sustainable Development Goals

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday held a meeting with senior officials of the state government to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Uttar Pradesh Vision - 2030. The Chief Minister directed all the nodal officers to prepare a concrete action plan regarding the steps taken for the SDGs in context of the state, an official release issued here said. The Chief Minister said that the Planning Department should take the initiative and expedite work and directed that literature should be prepared on SDGs Uttar Pradesh Vision – 2030 by September 20, the release... Read more..

UP govt clears state's first floating solar power plant on Rihand Dam

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cleared a floating solar power plant on Rihand Dam with an investment of Rs 750 crore. It will be the first water surface floating solar power plant of Uttar Pradesh and biggest in the country. The state cabinet cleared the project that will fetch investment of Rs 750 crore, UP government spokesman Shrikant Sharma told reporters here. He said the water surface floating solar power project will generate 150 MW power and will be completed in 21 months. "It will be first such project of UP and biggest in the country,"... Read more..

Over-capacity, water shortage and renewable power exerts pressure on thermal power plants

A report prepared by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) has pointed out that India’s coal-fired energy sector is facing increasing pressure due to generator over-capacity, water shortages and the rise of low-cost renewables. The report - Risks Growing for India’s Coal Sector, highlights ongoing challenges facing India’s coal-fired generators due to changes in the energy sector, fluctuations in water supply and stranded-asset as well as other risks. David Schlissel, co-author and IEEFA’s director of resource planning analysis... Read more..

India's first cloud-based irrigation set up at Hyderabad International Airport

Giving a robust technology boost to its ongoing environment sustainability measures, GMR-led Hyderabad International Airport became India's first airport to induct a cloud-based central irrigation control system using an 'IMMS online' (Irrigation Management and Monitoring Software) mechanism to control the intricate automatic irrigation system across the 80 acres of landscape spread along the 8.4 km stretch of the airport spine road. A first-of-its-kind technology to be introduced in India, the control of irrigation system is precise and timely, enabling the airport to save water up to 35... Read more..

India halfway through its 175 GW renewable energy goal: Javadekar

Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh): Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that India has already achieved half of its renewable energy production target.

The government plans to achieve 175GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 as part of its climate commitments. Reportedly, India currently has an installed renewable energy capacity of around 80 gigawatts.

Javadekar was addressing the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Greater Noida.

"The world did not... Read more..

Modi bats for South-South ties, plastic ban at UNCCD meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed big at the Fourteenth Conference of Parties (COP14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on September 9, 2019.

India will try to reclaim 26 million hectares (mha) of land by 2030, Modi said. This will help the country achieve its target of creating a carbon sink 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through forest cover, he added.

The target earlier was 21 mha.

The PM’s speech at the COP, which India is hosting, highlighted his administration’s eagerness for South-South cooperation in... Read more..