Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Solar installations in first half of 2019 at 3.2 GW, down 35 per cent

Solar installations in India, during the first half (H1) of 2019 reached 3.2 gigawatts (GW). This is a 35 per cent decline in capacity, compared to 5.1 GW added in H1 of 2018, according to Mercom India. In its report on Q2 2019, titled India Solar Market Update, Mercom found that the total installations in the Indian solar market declined by 14 per cent in the second quarter, reaching 1,510 MW as against 1,761 MW in Q1 2019. Installations were also lower year-over-year (YoY) compared to 1,665 MW in Q2 2018. In Q2 2019, large-scale installations totalled 1,218 MW compared to 1,498 MW in Q1... Read more..

Date : Sep 6

Source: The Hindu Business Line

India’s Rajasthan state government announces 50GW solar goal by 2025

The state government of Rajasthan has come up with a new draft solar policy. The proposed policy package aims to establish the state as a global hub for solar with 50 GW of installed generation capacity within 5-6 years. It envisages an R&D hub for the deployment of renewable energy technologies and solar-wind hybrid projects, with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing balance-of-system costs. The new policy aims to achieve 25 GW of grid-connected solar projects up to 2021-22 to fulfill the renewable purchase obligation of state electricity distribution companies (discoms) from... Read more..

Date : Sep 6

Source: IEEFA

Bosch opens expanded smart factory in Bidadi for mobility solutions

Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, has inaugurated its expanded smart factory for mobility solutions in Bidadi (Phase II), 35 km away from Bengaluru.The plant features the latest Industry 4.0 solutions and carbon-neutral technology. “Bosch is taking a further step toward more efficient, more flexible, and sustainable manufacturing in India in order to boost competitiveness and meet rising demand in the local market. The new Bidadi plant will further boost India’s strong role in the Bosch Group’s global network,” Volkmar Denner, Chairman of the Board of Management... Read more..

Date : Sep 6

Source: Auto Components India

India experiences 45 pc coastal erosion, gets special importance in UNCCD

Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to combat desertification (UNCCD) was held on Monday in New Delhi, where India took the presidency for the next two years. The primary focus of COP14 is desertification and degradation of land while aiming to add around 50 lakh hectares of degradation affected land fit for fertilisation in the next 10 years. However, with 45 per cent of 7,500 km Indian coast experiencing severe erosion, coastal erosion has also gained special importance at UNCCD. While speaking to ANI, Dr R Ramesh, Director, National Centre for Sustainable... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: New Kerala

Govt lining up big-ticket reforms to energise India power market

The government is lining up big-ticket power sector reforms that will change the architecture of domestic electricity market, make it more responsive and reduce cost for distribution utilities as well as consumers through intense competition. The power ministry has set up an expert group headed by special secretary in the ministry to chart a course for "deepening of power markets in India". Simultaneously, the ministry has also appointed consultants EY (Ernst & Young) to suggest ways to bring alive the power market by identifying the voids in the current system. The reforms push,... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: Energy world - Economic Times

Achieving Global Consensus on How to Slow Down Loss of Land

Expectation are high, perhaps too high, as the 14th Conference of the Parties (CoP 14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) now into the third day of its two-week session being held outside the smog-filled Indian capital of New Delhi. At the inauguration on Monday, India's minister for environment, forests and climate change, Prakash Javadekar, soon after ceremonies to mark his taking over as president of the Convention for the next two years, said he would be happy if CoP 14 could achieve consensus on such difficult issues as drought management and land... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: Global Issues

Shift to EVs will be gradual; may account for 25-30% of vehicles by 2030

The transformation from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles would be gradual, said J Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu Transport Secretary. “Electric vehicles would probably account for 25-30 per cent of the total vehicle population by 2030.” he said Speaking at an event to announce the launch of the Society for Smart E Mobility (SSEM), Radhakrishnan said that the State Government's Electric Vehicle Policy has been finalised and will be announced in three weeks. The policy would cover both the supply and the demand side, besides supporting EV battery manufacture. He added that 100... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: The Hindu Business Line

India’S Coal-Fired Energy Sector Faces Risk: Report

India's coal-fired energy sector is facing increasing pressure due to generator over-capacity, water shortages and the rise of low-cost renewables, a report by the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and the Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) said on Wednesday. The report -- 'Risks Growing for India's Coal Sector' -- provides an overview of the ongoing challenges facing India's coal-fired generators due to changes in the energy sector, fluctuations in water supply and stranded-assets as well as other risks. "The energy landscape has changed dramatically in... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: India4U

EESL plans to set up EV charging stations in Kolkata

State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) on Tuesday said it is in talks with the West Bengal government for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the metropolis and adjoining New Town area. The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), the West Bengal Transport Department, Power Department and the Urban Development Department are involved in installing the proposed EV charging stations, officials said. "We are planning 400 public EV charging stations in the city and New Town. Soon, a deal with NKDA will be inked," EESL Regional Head Sudeep Bhar said. "We... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: Energy world - Economic Times

BS-VI transition will make rest of the year difficult for auto industry: SIAM

Auto industry body SIAM on Wednesday said the industry, which has been reeling under a prolonged slump, is staring at a difficult road ahead for the rest of the year due to transition to BS-VI emission norm from BS-VI by April 2020. Terming it as a "huge challenge", Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Rajan Wadhera said on an average each vehicle manufacturer is spending close to Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade all of their model line-up to meet the new emission norm within a short span. "The auto industry, as we all have seen in the past eight months, has witnessed... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: Free Press Journal

Cleantech firm 75F lands $18M funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures & OGCI

Cleantech firm 75F today said that it had raised $18 million in Series A funding, led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). The round also had participation from Building Ventures, Rise of the Rest, and Clean Energy Trust, making it the largest investment in the energy-efficiency technology category in the Asia Pacific region so far. This takes the total funds raised by 75Fto $25 million. 75F, a US and India based company, provides energy-efficient, Internet of Things (IoT) powered wireless building automation for commercial buildings. Deepinder Singh... Read more..

Date : Sep 5

Source: Economic Times

Rajasthan govt, US state to collaborate in energy sector

The Rajasthan government and Utah state of the US have entered into a partnership for knowledge sharing in the energy sector. The two states signed an MoU last week to advance state-level policy exchange, share emerging knowledge of innovative energy solutions and to develop direct ties between Utah and the Rajasthan government agencies and private sector energy companies for creating new grid and off-grid energy availability. Rajasthan's principal secretary of energy Naresh Pal Gangwar said that the partnership was about knowledge sharing in energy sector and will benefit the two states.... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: Energy world- Economic Times

Mutual fund houses are coming up with 'ESG' schemes

Mutual fund houses seem to be fascinated by the concept of ESG, short for environment, social and governance. After ESG schemes from Quantum Mutual Fund and SBI Mutual Fund, it is the turn of Kotak Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Both the fund houses have filed documents with Sebi for their ESG products. Do these funds offer anything special? Simply put, ESG investing includes building a portfolio of companies that meet high environmental, social and governance standards. Ideally, this is what fund managers in all markets look for- companies that have high standards. Many... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: Economic Times

Himachal Pradesh signs agreements to tap 250 MW solar power

Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday signed two pacts for setting up solar power plants with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. One pact for Rs 600 crore was signed with Renew Energy Private Ltd for setting up a 150 MW solar plant, which is proposed to commission by 2021, while the second was signed with CSE Development (India) Private Ltd for setting up a 100 MW plant. On behalf of the state government, the pacts were signed here by Principal Secretary Prabodh Saxena where Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present. Thakur said the state would facilitate the companies to obtain permissions and... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: Energy world- Economic Times

Charging ahead? India's electric car revolution faces bumps

Paritosh Mitra, who drives a motorised rickshaw in Delhi, knows what he wants next and has saved 100,000 rupees ($1,390) to get it: an electric rickshaw. But he won't buy one until it comes with all the basic features that he needs as a commercial driver. That includes a top speed of at least 40 km (25 miles) per hour and convenient recharging. "There are the e-rickshaws plying the streets now but they are battery operated and have very little speed, so it is of no use to us," Mitra said. "Also, they need six hours to charge the battery at home and with that they can only move about 50 kms... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: Energy world- Economic Times

EESL plans to set up EV charging stations in Kolkata

Date : Sep 4

Source: Energy world- Economic Times

Ashok Leyland's BS-VI vehicles with fleet operators first

Commercial vehicles major Ashok Leyland Ltd, which claims that it is the first Indian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to meet BS-VI emission norms for all its heavy duty trucks, will first seed its BS-VI compliant vehicles with fleet operators to get their feedback, a senior company official said on Tuesday. Chief Technology Officer N. Saravanan also said the challenge is to get the required quality of fuel for BS-VI vehicles across the country. "We will first seed the BS-VI with fleet operators and get their feedback. We are looking at some market pockets for this purpose," he told... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Free Press Journal

Uttar Pradesh tenders 16 MW of ‘Capex mode’ rooftop solar

The projects are to be installed for captive use with grid integration. Bids can be made for capacities in three different categories: 1 to 10 KW (aggregating to 1.2 MW), 11 KW to 100 KW (10 MW) and 101 KW to 500 KW (4.8 MW). To be eligible, the bidder should be a solar cells, modules or PV system power-conditioning unit manufacturer registered in India, or it should be a PV system integrator who has installed/commissioned solar plants aggregating to 120 KW for 1-10 KW capacity, 1000 KW for 11-100 KW, and 480 KW for 101-500 KW. The scope of work includes design, manufacture, supply,... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: PV Magazine

Energy projects worth Rs 13,161 crore being implemented under smart cities mission

The government has earmarked spending Rs 13,161 crore for energy projects being implemented under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) with most of the funds dedicated to developing basic infrastructure for enhancing the grid and supply. Also, solar rooftop projects will account for around a half of this expenditure, according to a study. "Cities have also proposed projects in solar energy, electric vehicles, waste-to-energy and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, indicating their appetite for low-carbon projects," the report by Centre for Policy Research (CPR) said. It focuses on the low... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

"Agri sector to drive social, economic transformation in India'

The agriculture sector will be at the centre-stage of innovation and will lead India towards overall social and economic transformation by 2020, R Chandra Babu, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University, has said. The country has witnessed a jump in agri-tech start-ups, with funding of $248 million in the first half of 2019, which is a three-fold rise compared to $73 million in 2018, he said. Nasscom has reported the emerging positive shift in India in enterprising fields, from IT and e-commerce, to other unconventional areas such as education, health and agriculture that offer the... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: The Hindu Buisness Line

India has an opportunity to benefit from a global economic situation

President of US-India Business Council (USIBC) Nisha Desai Biswal has said India should present its growth vision and why businesses should look to invest in the country at a time when the global economy is beset with challenges. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US later this month. Biswal, 55, said the USIBC members are eager to hear from him. “The recent economic reforms announced (in India) have assured global investors that the Modi government is very seized with managing this economy and bringing India back into a more robust growth scenario,” she said.... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: Financial Express

India embarks on cleaner rides with all-electric taxis

Among the thousands of cabs that weave their way through the congested morning traffic in the capital New Delhi and surrounding business hubs, a white and blue cab with the words "electric vehicle" catches the eye. In a city where app-based cabs are booming due to poor public transport, a start-up has launched the country's first all-electric cab service. Some residents have embraced the initiative. Business analyst Mahak Chopra says she prefers using app-based cabs so she can catch up on work or her reading during long commutes. She now books one from Blu Smart Mobility so that her ride... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: The Observer

Climate Emergency: India offers financial and technical support to developing nations

In the run up to two key United Nation’s summits on Climate Change this month, India has raised the pitch for finance and technology support to developing nations to achieve the Paris Agreement goals of keeping a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was taking decisive steps in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which is the heart of the 2015 Paris pact. “In Chile, when we meet in the next COP... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: Eleven Myanmar

Railways testing waters for locomotives to run on lithium-ion batteries

After a push for electrification, the Indian Railways is now testing waters for locomotives that can run on lithium-ion batteries. Chittaranjan Locomotive Works will be making 10 such railway engines. A locomotive, powered by lithium-ion batteries, has already been developed and put into operation at the Eastern Railway. Lithium-ion batteries are the most common ones used in electric vehicles (EVs) and has higher energy density compared to their weight. “With plans for full-electrification of the Indian Railways gathering momentum, these battery locomotives will be used for small functions... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: Business Standard

FinMin clears subsidy plan for EV, mobile batteries

The finance ministry has approved a Niti Aayog plan to subsidise manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones. The proposal entailing annual subsidy of Rs 700 crore will now go to the cabinet for its nod, a senior government official told ET. The expenditure finance committee (EFC), under the ministry, has given its go ahead to the official think tank’s proposal for creating 50 GWh (Gigawatt hours) battery capacity in the country. “The proposal will now be sent to the cabinet for approval, following which the Aayog will invite bids in December,” the official said. The... Read more..

Date : Sep 3

Source: Economic Times