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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Okinawa announces 24x7 Road Side Assistance for its electric scooters

Under the program, customers can avail three free RSA services. Among the three free services under RSA, customers can use two free towing services. The RSA program will also address issues like: Flat Tyre repair Onsite repair Key Lockout Services Cab service to the customer Assistance on phone In case the scooter runs out of battery, it can be towed to a charging point for free (for first 40 km). The vehicle can also be taken to the Okinawa dealership in case of a mechanical failure. Speaking about the new... Read more..

Source: Indian Autos Blog

Govt to ask RBI to remove priority lending limit for renewable energy sector

In an attempt to further boost India’s emerging green economy, the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) would try to impress upon the Reserve Bank of India for removal of the priority sector lending limit for the renewable energy sector, the government said in a statement on Monday. This comes in the backdrop of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s agenda of providing reliable, sustainable and affordable electricity to the masses in its second term and focusing on changing the energy mix... Read more..

Source: Livemint

BHEL bags Rs 530 crore orders for setting up Solar PV power plants

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the country's largest power equipment manufacturer, today announced it has won three orders worth Rs 530 crore for setting up Solar Photovoltaic power plants on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The orders for a total of 135 Megawatt (MW) capacity have been placed by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco), Gujarat State Electricity Corp (GSECL) and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC... Read more..

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

Power minister positive on achieving 175 GW renewable energy target

Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister Raj Kumar Singh has exuded confidence that the renewable energy target of 175 gigawatt (GW) by 2022 would be achieved. Singh, who took the charge of the ministries in the second term of Modi government, said 80GW of renewable energy has been established while another 24GW is under installation. "The overall renewable energy established capacity has reached 80,000 MW level. 24,000 MW is under installation. For 42,000 MW, bids are at different stages. So, the total is... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

NTPC Offer Draws Out ISA Invite For Other Organisations to Enlist

The New Delhi Headquartered International Solar Alliance (ISA), which finally started on its massive 1000 W mandate recently with the 270,000 plus solar water pump tender (through EESL), continues to lay the groundwork for its next phase of work. After the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) submitted a proposal to approve it as a consultant formally to execute projects across its member countries. The ISA has moved to invite all firms in its member countries who have a record of having installed 250MW... Read more..

Source: Sauer Energy

CII, SIAM urge government to hold talks before finalizing EV policy

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) have urged the Union government to hold wider consultations with the automotive value chain, including the adjacent industry stakeholders that involve renewable energy — power, battery and minerals among others — before finalizing the goals and deadlines for the adoption of electric vehicles in India. CII has called for a three-pronged strategy for industry-wide talks that must involve correct goal setting, a... Read more..

Source: Livemint

Companies may soon be invited to set up battery plants

The government is likely to soon issue tenders inviting companies to set up 50-GW battery manufacturing base in India at $50-billion investment with attractive financial incentives as the Cabinet is expected to consider the proposal in a week. The battery manufacturing programme has been scaled up to 50 GW in a proposal sent to Cabinet from 40 GW that was planned earlier, as first reported by ET on May 8. The government is likely to offer subsidies and duty cuts. This could include reducing minimum alternate... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Assam: Electric buses to be introduced in Guwahati soon

In an effort to reduce pollution, Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) will deploy 15 electric buses in the city under government's FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles) scheme. The trial run for the buses is expected to begin from June 22. Each bus will have a sitting capacity of 31 passengers. "We have got 15 electric buses. It's a central government's initiative. The buses will ply on the roads after a trial run," Chief Engineer Balidan Das said. The buses that will be procured... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

Embassy Office Parks Partners With Lithium Urban Technologies To Introduce E-Vehicles To Reduce Carbon Footprint

Embassy Office Parks, India’s first and only listed REIT, along with the tenant partners have come forth to support multiple environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives on World Environment Day. It has partnered with Lithium Urban Technologies, world’s largest electric vehicle commercial fleet operators, to introduce e-vehicles for intra-park commute. These electric vehicles (EV) are powered by renewable energy powered with zero emissions and zero carbon footprint. Lithium Urban Technologies will... Read more..

Source: For Press release

Panel to consider allowing private companies to sell subsidised LPG

The government has set up an expert panel to consider allowing private firms to sell subsidised cooking gas — a long-standing demand for companies like Reliance Industries because state firms dominate the market by luring customers with a lot of subsidies. Reliance Industries, which runs the world’s biggest refinery at Jamnagar, is a big producer of LPG and has been lobbying the government for years to permit private players to distribute subsidised cylinders. State oil firms sell cylinders to customers at... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

UP first state to invite EoIs to set up EV charging stations

Uttar Pradesh has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from companies to set up charging stations for electric vehicles, the first state to do so after the Union power ministry issued guidelines for such facilities last December to create the infrastructure that will enable widespread use of the less polluting autos. Delhi is perhaps the only city where such charging stations are available currently. The Centre’s guidelines are directed at faster adoption of electric vehicles in states such as Uttar Pradesh... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

In a first, Grameen and Acumen raise Rs 10 Cr credit facility for social impact companies via SDG bonds

Grameen Impact Investments and Acumen announced India's first sustainable development goals (SDG) bond. The LIFE SDG Bond provides a credit facility of Rs 10 crore to five for-profit social impact enterprises. These organisations - LabourNet, Empower Pragati, Edubridge, iSTAR, and iPRIMED - work towards enabling sustainable livelihoods for youth across India in both rural and urban areas. In 2015, the United Nations formulated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to address wide-ranging... Read more..

Source: Yours Story

M&M arm looks to sell EV parts to global firms

To develop its Bengaluru facility into a hub for manufacturing electric vehicles, Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd (MEM), a unit of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M), is in talks with global manufacturers to sell its locally made components such as electric powertrains. In 2018-19, M&M had announced investments of ₹1,000 crore in Karnataka to develop an electric vehicle manufacturing facility. M&M’s move follows the Union government’s decision to promote domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles and... Read more..

Source: Livemint

India’s Madhya Pradesh consults on 500MW of energy storage and manufacturing

Indian firm Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company (MPPMCL) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) for setting up 500MW of grid-scale energy storage capacity as well as a storage manufacturing facility in the central Indian state. Under prime minister Narendra Modi’s first term heading the government, the Saubhagya Yojna electrification scheme brought an extra 2.7 million customers online in Madhya Pradesh, where distribution companies now supply power to 11.5 million domestic consumers out of a total... Read more..

Source: Energy Storage

Sahara India to roll out range of electric vehicles

Conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar on Tuesday announced its foray into automobile sector, with electric vehicles range ‘Sahara Evols’. Variants of electric scooters, motorcycles, three-wheelers and cargo vehicles will be launched by the company. It is also introducing a network of battery charging cum swapping stations. ‘Sahara Evols’, while starting from Lucknow, shall establish its ecosystem in Tier II and Tier III cities of India by the end of this financial year, in a phase wise manner. Subsequently, in... Read more..

Source: Indian Express

Centre seeks proposals for 5,000 electric buses

The central government on Tuesday called proposals from state transport departments for the deployment of 5,000 electric buses, to be supported under the Fame-II scheme. This is the first time that the country has issued such a large tender for electric buses. The selected cities will be offered a subsidy of 40% on cost, or up to Rs 55 lakh per a standard bus of 10-12 metres. The incentive for a midi-bus of 8-10 metres is up to Rs 45 lakh, while for a mini electric bus, it is Rs 35 lakh. The total estimated... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Air Conditioning in India and Africa Is Threatening to Derail Climate Progress

Between booming populations across Asia and Africa, a mushrooming middle class and hotter average temperatures all over the planet each year, demand for cooling technology – chiefly single-room air conditioners – is on track to cause heat-trapping emissions to soar fifteenfold by the end of the century. Of the 1.5 degrees Celsius – or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit – that the planet's average temperature is expected to rise during this 80-year period, air conditioners alone are projected to be responsible for as much as a third of the increase. And a large portion of that will come from developing... Read more..

Source: US News

Coca-Cola India Foundation to Implement Integrated Waste Management Solutions

Coca-Cola India Foundation, Anandana, has announced the establishment of integrated waste management infrastructure along with SAAHAS, CHINTAN and HASIRU DALA, which also includes setting up of Material Recovery and Segregation Facilities (MRFs). The partnerships will also drive social initiatives such as the inclusion of informal waste sector into a formal one, raising awareness of source segregation, influencing attitudinal changes in waste disposal, and protection of natural habitats among others.... Read more..

Source: The CSR Journal

Mahindra Electric expects to double EV sales in FY20 too

Mahindra Electric, a part of the Mahindra group, on Tuesday said it expects to continue with the sales momentum of the last fiscal in which it doubled sales on the back of its focus on electric vehicles for fleet operators and three-wheelers. The company, which saw electric vehicles sales grow two-and-a-half times to 10,276 units in 2018-19 from 4,026 units in 2017-18, has also started supplying EVs to state-owned EESL for the second phase of a combined 10,000 units order. “Last year we have more than doubled... Read more..

Source: The Hindu - Business Line

Corporate Houses Are Going Green With Their Initiatives this Environment Day

One of the major problems that plagues India is fighting against pollution. According to the WHO, a whopping 9 out of 10 people on earth breathe highly polluted air and more than 80 percent of urban dwellers have to endure outdoor pollution that exceeds health standards. This is an alarming situation in the country, we need to understand that the healthy earth is the need of the hour. One of the main reason causing an unhealthy level of pollution in the country is unhealthy manufacturing techniques used in... Read more..

Source: Pocket News Alert

Mahindra Group’s #CelebrateDifferently urges citizens to take climate change action

Part of the larger theme of #RiseAgainstClimateChange, the Mahindra Group’s new initiative aims to motivate citizens to plant a tree to celebrate the joyous milestones in their lives. Alternately, individuals who are not able to do so, can simply like, share or comment on #CelebrateDifferently and Mahindra will plant a tree on their behalf as a part of the Mahindra Hariyali initiative. Planting trees, including improving forest management, conservation, and regeneration, will help offset India’s annual... Read more..

Source: The CSR Journal

On the World Environment Day today, the Union Environment Minister said that School Nursery initiative is proposed to be launched soon

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar today said that his ministry will soon launch an initiative called School Nursery across the country in which school kids will plant a seed, nurture the sapling and on his/her annual result would take the plant to be a trophy. “In this initiative, the local forest department will provide the necessary support, and through this initiative we want to nurture a perpetual bond... Read more..

Source: Press Information Bureau

MNRE Invites Project Proposals For Solar-Driven Seawater Hydrogen Production

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been supporting a research programme on different aspects of the production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources, its safe and efficient storage, and its various applications. In the above background, it has invited Preliminary project proposals on “Solar-driven seawater hydrogen production and producing methane by sequestering CO2”. At present, the processes associated with hydrogen production from renewable energy sources and use are energy intensive... Read more..

Source: Saur Energy

Renewable Energy Dept started Solar Inverter Charger Scheme for people at 40 pc subsidy Chandigarh

Haryana New and Renewable Energy Department has started the Solar Inverter Charger Scheme for the people at 40 per cent subsidy. Those willing to get solar inverter charger can apply online on the Saral portal saralharyana.gov.in latest by June 20, 2019. Applications of all beneficiaries received during the prescribed period, will be selected through a draw of lots. A spokesman of the Department said on Monday that for charging the existing conventional inverter of 600-800 VA having single battery, solar... Read more..

Source: UNI India

Solar power: India Inc leaders now walk the green talk

At the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, around 7,000 handmade bags made from plastic waste were distributed. The message, coming just a few days ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, was loud and clear — green’s the way to go. It seems India Inc, too, has been doing just that, with some CXOs taking the effort to go green on the home front, apart from driving environmental initiatives at the workplace. For these head honchos, waste segregation and water aerators are a thing... Read more..

Source: Energy World - Economic Times
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