Sustainability Outlook Headlines

CESL issues first-of-its-kind tender for procurement of 1 lakh Electric Three-Wheelers

State owned Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)- an entity under the Ministry of Power, Government of India,has issued a tender for the procurement of 100,000 electric three-wheelers (E3W) today. This is the one-of-its-kind tender issued by any government entity ever. A request for proposals has been issued inviting original equipment manufacturers(OEMs) to provide proposalsfor E3W under different use-cases – including, municipal solid waste collection, freight loaders, food and vaccine transport and passenger... Read more..

Kerala Assembly passes resolution demanding Centre to withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 6 (ANI): The Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Centre to withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

In the House, K Krishnankutty moved the resolution in the assembly which is proposed to be present in the Parliament.

Before moving the resolution in the House, the state electricity minister said, "Central government failed to discuss with states about the electricity amendment bill and was unable to reach a consensus. As both the Centre and the state governments have the right to make... Read more..

Swiggy partners with Reliance BP Mobility to build EV ecosystem

Online food delivery platform Swiggy has partnered with Reliance BP Mobility Limited (RBML) to build an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, the Bengaluru-based company said on August 5, a move in keeping with its ambitious plan to switch to EVs and bring down vehicle costs.

The food delivery startup has also partnered with Hero Lectro, an e-cycle manufacturer, and Fast Despatch Logistics, a last-mile delivery player in the UK, to enable end-to-end delivery of orders through cargo e-cycles. EV trials are already in Bengaluru, New Delhi and Hyderabad, the company said in a statement.... Read more..

JNPT inducts nine Electric vehicles

In a major push under green port initiatives and with a vision to achieve sustainability goals, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) today deployed 9 electric vehicles for its employees to travel within the port area. India’s premier container handling port, JNPT has been working towards adopting sustainable solutions in its operational area since its inception.

The induction of the EV fleet is in line with JNPT's green port initiative, and the deployment of eco-friendly mobility solutions for the JNPT employees is yet another addition to the port's host of sustainable, green... Read more..

Rural average electricity supply at 22.17 hours a day, 23.36 hours in cities in June 2021: Power Ministry

New Delhi: The average power supply per day was 22.17 hours in rural areas and 23.36 hours in cities during June 2021, Parliament was informed on Thursday. "In June 2021, the average availability of power in the rural areas was 22.17 hours (in a day), and in urban areas, it was 23.36 hours," Power Minister RK Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

As per independent surveys, the availability of power in rural areas has gone up from an average of 12 hours in 2015-16 to 20.50 hours in the year 2020; and in the urban areas, the availability of power has gone up to 22.23 hours... Read more..

No turning back:' Biden signs order targeting half of all vehicles sold in US to be zero-emissions by 2030

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden said "there's no turning back" on the future of an electric auto industry Thursday as he signed an executive order setting a target for zero-emissions vehicles to account for half of all automobiles sold in the USA by 2030.

The nonbinding goal hinges on major investments by the federal government in charging stations and other infrastructure.

It’s part a series of actions Biden announced aimed at jump-starting a dramatic shift toward electric vehicles as part of the administration's broader agenda to tackle climate change and compete with... Read more..

13 plants under SATAT have initiated supply of CBG

The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed that as on 22.7.2021, supply of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) initiated from 13 CBG plants under Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative. So far Oil and Gas Marketing Companies participating in SATAT have procured about 1957 ton CBG from entrepreneurs.

Under SATAT initiative Oil and Gas Marketing Companies are continuing to invite Expression of Interest from potential entrepreneurs for production and supply of CBG... Read more..

New method of producing hydrogen from water using magnets shows energy-efficient route to manufacturing of the fuel

Indian researchers have come up with an innovative hydrogen manufacture route which increases its production three times and lowers the energy required that could pave the path towards environment-friendly hydrogen fuel at a lower cost.

As a fuel, hydrogen has a critical role to play in driving the paradigm shift towards a green and sustainable economy. In addition to having about 3-fold higher calorific value compared to non-renewable energy sources such as coal and gasoline, the combustion of hydrogen to release energy produces water and is thus completely non-polluting. Due to... Read more..

Scotiabank Issues USD 1 Billion Sustainability Bond

TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2021 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced the closing of its
inaugural USD 1 billion 3-year Sustainability Bond offering, in support of the
Bank's commitment to making a positive impact and creating better communities
for every future. Net proceeds from the Sustainability Bond offering will be
used to fund the financing or refinancing, in whole or in part, eligible green
and/or social assets, which refer to new or existing assets, businesses or
projects that meet the Scotiabank Sustainable Bond Framework Eligibility
Criteria.

Battery Operated Vehicles exempted from payment of fees

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification dated 2nd August 2021 to exempt Battery Operated Vehicles from the payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark. This has been notified to encourage e- mobility.

Click here to see GSR 525 (E) 2 august 2021 registration fees exemption to battery operated vehicle.pdf

Electric vehicle recharging points soon at all Metro stations in Kerala

Kochi: In a major boost to the electric vehicles usage, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has decided to set up electric charging points in all Metro stations.

As a pilot project, KMRL in association with agency for new and renewable energy research and technology (Anert) will set up charging points in four Metro stations soon.

Once found viable, the project will be extended to all the 22 Metro stations.

“We have held preliminary talks with Anert officials in this regard. We will conduct a survey for handpicking the four stations where the charging points are to be installed... Read more..

India’s top carmaker Maruti Suzuki sees hydrogen as ‘interesting alternative’

Company pushing sales of cars operating on CNG and also investing in hybrid technology, says annual report
The use of hydrogen power for mobility is an “interesting alternative” for India, especially as it would reduce dependence on lithium imports, the chairman of Maruti Suzuki, India’s top-selling carmaker, said on Monday.

Demand for lithium for batteries is soaring as governments across the world push automakers to meet stringent targets for cutting carbon emissions, partly by phasing out internal combustion engines.

EVs, a hard sell
In India, however, the... Read more..