Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Sustainable agri report aimed at policy reorientation and action plan

Policy reorientation and making an accelerated action plan for achieving sustainable agriculture for improved livelihood of smallholder farmers as well as addressing the issues of poverty, hunger and malnutrition that continue to prevail in India, despite various agricultural revolutions (Green, Blue, White, etc.) over the past few decades, were the objectives of a new report on Policies and Action Plan for Secure and Sustainable Agriculture It was presented by a committee, chaired by R S Paroda, and tasked with the aforementioned objectives, to K Vijayraghavan, principal scientific... Read more..

Mahindra Accelo bets big on recycling, may foray into EV motors

Mahindra Accelo, the oldest company of the Mumbai-based business group, sees a big opportunity in recycling and in making motors for electric vehicles, its top executive said, as it diversifies from its original steel trading business. Previously known as Mahindra Intertrade, the company has over the years ventured into processing steel and manufacturing motor cores for home-appliances and, potentially, electric vehicles in future. “One in five fans and one in three air conditioners use our motors,” Sumit Issar, managing director of Mahindra Accelo, told ET. The company has formed a 50-50... Read more..

Shell buys stake in India and Kenya-focused rooftop solar firm

Oil major Shell has made another foray into Indian renewables by acquiring close to a 20% stake in Bangalore-headquartered Orb Energy, which provides credit to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to install rooftop PV and lower power costs. Last year, Shell and European utility ENGIE were among the investors pumping US$20 million into India-based Husk Power Systems, a developer of innovative microgrids working to expand its Asian and African business. Shell also acquired a 49% stake in Cleantech Solar, a Southeast Asia and India-focused C&I solar company last year. The investment... Read more..

India hopes to end single-use plastics within 3 years

India announced an ambitious campaign on Wednesday aimed at eliminating single-use plastics within three years. Environment ministry official Chintan Mishra said efforts to “sensitize” the public against single-use plastics started Wednesday, the 150th anniversary of independence leader Mohandas Gandhi’s birth. Mishra explained the campaign at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in New Delhi. Most Indian states already have some regulations on single-use plastics. The central government is asking all states to try to end their use by 2022. Mishra, however, said the... Read more..

India has potential to become one of the largest electric vehicles markets: Report

India has the potential to become one of the largest electric vehicles (EVs) markets in the world, with the government pushing for the segment in order to curb pollution and reduce reliance on import-dependent fossil fuel, says a report. However, the uptake of EVs has been slow in the country due to the high upfront as well as lifecycle costs cost but long-term investment in research and development (R&D) will create sustained growth, according to the report by the Word Economic Forum and Ola Mobility Institute. Apart from investment, government backing and direction will be crucial... Read more..

Largest assembly of solar lamps: Students create world record on Gandhi's birth anniversary

On Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, students from the National Capital Region on Wednesday created two new records in an event which had officials from the Guinness Book of World Records in attendance. They include the largest assembly and lighting of solar lamps and environmental sustainability lessons to the largest number of students at one place. Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar congratulated the students, saying that they had made the solar lamp with their hands and hearts. He also called for creating an "oxygen bank" by planting at least seven trees in one's... Read more..

AC Energy Invest $20 Million in RE Projects in Asia Pacific

THE power unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. is investing $20 million to partly finance the development, construction and operations of renewable-energy (RE) power projects in the Asia-Pacific (AsPac) region, with a goal of building a portfolio of over 1 gigawatt in the next few years. AC Energy, through AC Renewables International Pte. Ltd., will undertake these power projects together with UPC Renewables, through UPC Solar Asia Pacific Ltd. They formed a 50-50 joint-venture company known as UPC-AC Energy Solar. “AC Energy is investing $20 million via a development loan to finance the... Read more..

India to gradually replace coal with renewable energy'

Reduction of coal consumption is not a one-day process and India has a long-term plan to gradually replace coal with renewable energy, a top environment ministry official said on Monday. Union Environment Secretary C K Mishra said coal based plants will continue using coal but a long term plan was in place to reduce its consumption. "Reduction of coal is not a one-day process. We have a plan in place. A long-term plan where we will replace coal with renewable energy slowly to achieve the goal announced by the prime minister to reach 450 gigawatt. "But plants which are already coal based,... Read more..

Primark announces fivefold increase in its Sustainable Cotton Programme

Primark has today announced a significant expansion of its Sustainable Cotton Programme, with plans to train more than 160,000 independent cotton farmers in sustainable farming methods across three of its key sourcing countries by the end of 2022. The move increases the number of farmers enrolled in the programme to more than five times the current size. The expansion marks an important part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to minimising its impact on the environment and bringing more sustainably-sourced cotton to customers at affordable prices. Cotton is the main natural fibre used to... Read more..

Corporate tax cut to lead to Rs 2,500 cr power discoms savings

The Centre's recent move to lower the corporate tax rate is a positive development for the power sector as it is expected to save Rs 2500 crore a year for the state distribution companies, ratings firms Icra said on Monday.

The move would allow power generators with cost-plus power purchase agreements (PPAs) to pass on tax cuts to power distribution utilities, an official statement issued by the ratings agency said.

As per Icra's estimates, the extent of benefit that would accrue to discoms from the power generation and transmission segments, mainly from central and state... Read more..

Researchers find environment friendly way to develop batteries

Researchers have developed a new concept for an aluminium battery, which will give it twice the energy density as compared to previous versions, and with least environmental impact. The idea has the potential for large scale applications, including storage of solar and wind energy. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, are behind the idea. Using aluminium battery technology could offer several advantages, including a high theoretical energy density, and the fact that there already exists an established industry for... Read more..

PMO steps in to ease supply of credit for green energy firms

The Prime Minister’s Office has intervened to help ease credit supply to renewable energy firms, as the government moves to ensure that India’s efforts to emerge as a clean energy champion are not undermined by a lack of access to funds. The PMO has asked federal policy think tank NITI Aayog to assess the situation after debt financing for green energy projects dried up with large banks such as State Bank of India (SBI) declining to fund projects that have committed to sell power at less than ₹3 per unit, two government officials said on condition of anonymity. Sanction of funds by... Read more..