Sustainability Outlook Headlines

SECI tenders 2GW of local content solar under CPSU scheme

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has issued a tender for 2GW of solar to be procured by Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), as per its announcement at the beginning of this month. This is part of the CPSU Scheme Phase II, which mandates cells and modules to be sourced locally, and projects will be developed on a build, own operate (BOO) basis. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: PV Tech

Put renewable energy in poll manifestos: Indian firms

A total of 160 private companies and NGOs on Monday made an appeal to all political parties to include decentralised renewable energy solutions in their manifestos for the general elections. The appeal was signed by Panasonic India, Barefoot Power, CSIR-NEERI, Observer Research Foundation, Prayas Energy Group and several others. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

Tesla likely to enter India by 2019-2020

Elon Musk isn’t giving up on bringing Tesla to India. “Would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next!” Tesla’s billionaire chief executive officer said in a Twitter post, nearly 10 months after he blamed restrictive policy for delaying the carmaker’s entry into the world’s fourth largest automobile market.The Narendra Modi-led government has been wooing Tesla to set up a factory but Musk, in a May 2018 Twitter post, had pointed to “some challenging government regulations” as a hurdle. The year before, he had sought temporary waiver on import penalties and other restrictions... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

Gridco aims to buy 550 Mw renewable power from SECI in FY20

Odisha's bulk power buyer cum trader Gridco aims to procure 550 Mw of solar and wind power through Solar Electrification Corporation of India (SECI) auctions in 2019-20. “The bulk power purchaser will get around 300 Mw of solar power and 250 MW wind power through SECI. The power purchase will be made to meet the RPO (renewable purchase obligation)”, said an official.
... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Business Standard

FAME-II: Govt sets up panel for monitoring, sanctioning of projects

The government has constituted an inter-ministerial panel for monitoring, sanctioning and implementation of projects under the Rs 10,000-crore FAME-II programme, aimed at incentivising clean mobility. The Project Implementation and Sanctioning Committee will be chaired by the secretary in the Department of Heavy Industries and will have other members including NITI Aayog CEO, Department for Promotion of Industry... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Business Standard

Despite govt scheme, Nagpur University spends its own money on solar panels

In another case of financial mismanagement, the Nagpur University (NU) has preferred to spend from its general funds for installing solar panels at its two buildings — exam section and Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) — even though it has the option of availing the state government scheme for renewable energy projects at all its properties. As per its own audit report, the NU has suffered losses to the... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

World’s top 10 countries in wind energy capacity

According to a recent report by Power-technology.com, China tops the chart with 221 gigawatt (GW) of installed wind capacity followed by the United States and Germany. Here are the top 10:

1. China
China has a installed capacity of 221 GW and is the leader in wind energy, with over a third of the world’s capacity. It has the world’s largest onshore wind farm with a capacity of 7,965 megawatt (MW),... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

India can't attain 9-10% GDP growth without revolution in farm sector: Kant

India cannot achieve 9-10 per cent GDP growth without a revolution in the farm sector, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Monday. Addressing Mahindra Samriddhi Agri awards, he said there is a need to boost investment in the agriculture sector as well as to introduce new technology and market reforms. Kant also stressed on scrapping Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee and some old laws like the Essential... Read more..

Date : Mar 19

Source: Business Standard

India pilots resolutions on Single-use Plastics and Sustainable Nitrogen management at 4th UNEA

In a significant first, India piloted resolutions on two important global environment issues relating to Single-use Plastics and Sustainable Nitrogen management at the fourth session of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) which was held in Nairobi from 11th to 15th March 2019. UNEA adopted both the resolutions with consensus. The theme of the UNEA this year was Innovative Solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable production and consumption. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Press Information Bureau

Power Ministry to bring norms to promote green transmission cables

The Power Ministry is likely to issue soon new norms for bringing greener options of electricity transmission cables like aluminium to protect environment from ill-effects of lead-based equipment, according to a source. Admitting that lead electricity transmission cables are an environmental hazard and poisonous, the Power Ministry along the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has been discussing issue with... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

Fortum to power India's electric vehicles, plans 700 charging points

Fortum, one of the world's leading clean energy companies, is eyeing a signal role in powering a wide fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) on Indian roads. With a dominant presence in Nordic countries and the Baltic region, Russia and Poland, Fortum is looking to deepen presence in India by building on its network of charging points for EVs. Fortum India which has already operationalized 36 direct current (DC),... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Business Standard

Maharashtra: MSEDCL plans strategy for power faults

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has chalked out a two-pronged strategy to overcome frequent power faults affecting 40,000 consumers in Ghansoli. The 7km-long underground 22KV power cable stretching from Kalwa sub-station to Ghansoli via Airoli suburban railway station often suffers faults. Each major fault results in a 12-hour power cut. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

New hydro policy to help meet renewables target

While the government’s decision to re-classify large hydroelectric projects as renewable energy will certainly help the sector, the move will also go a long way in meeting the targets set by it for the sector, according to analysts. Earlier this month, the Union Cabinet approved a new hydroelectricity policy that, among other things, included large hydro projects within the ambit of renewable energy. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: The Hindu

In Delhi, peak power demand to cross 7,400 Megawatt this summer

The capital’s power demand is expected to cross 7,400 megawatts (MW) this summer — around 400MW more than last year. Arrangements have been firmed up by BSES discoms to source adequate electricity to meet the demand of over 42 lakh consumers. These arrangements include long-term PPAs and banking arrangements with other states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Manipur and... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

France’ EDF to roll-out smart meters in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh

In what may help India reduce its electricity distribution losses, state owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has roped in French government-owned power utility Electricite de France SA (EDF) for putting up five million smart meters in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Creating a smart meter architecture minimises human intervention in metering, billing and collection process and helps in reducing theft by... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Livemint

Young environmental activists across the world skip school in a call to action

The movement, inspired by the actions of 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, spanned more than 100 countries and 1,500 cities, where students gathered in the streets and at their state capitols to call for action. "Today, the tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of kids who are striking around the world are doing it not because we want to skip school, but because we are scared," 12-year-old Haven Coleman, who co-founded and co-directed the US Youth Climate... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: CNN

IKEA and shipping giant CMA CGM to pilot first sustainable marine biofuel

Under a partnership announced among Swedish furniture giant IKEA, shipping group CMA CGM, the Port of Rotterdam and non-profit the GoodShipping Program, the first container ship will refuel with the new biofuel on March 19. The biofuel took three years to develop by GoodFuels, and is made from "forest residues" — waste from paper and pulp production — and waste cooking oil. It is expected to cut CO2 emissions by up... Read more..

Date : Mar 18

Source: Green Biz

Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to head transformative mobility mission

Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will head the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which is being set up to promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country. The Union Cabinet on March 7 had approved setting up of the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Business Standard

SJVN hopes to develop hydro power projects on Chenab: CMD

SJVN Limited, a public sector unit, has declared an interim dividend of Rs 589.47 crore at Rs 1.5 per share to its shareholders for the year 2018-19. The company has paid interim dividend of Rs 158.25 crore to Himachal Pradesh government, which holds 26.85 per cent equity in the PSU. The dividend cheque was handed over to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur by Nand Lal Sharma, chairman & managing director, SJVN... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Energy World - Economic Times

OMCs float fresh tender for procuring 910 million litres of ethanol

In the backdrop of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approving Rs 2,790-crore interest subvention for bank loans worth Rs 12,900 crore to sugar mills aimed at facilitating additional distillery capacities, the public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have floated a fresh tender for procurement of 910 million litres (ML) of ethanol. In sugar season 2018 (October-September), the OMCs requirement of ethanol for blending with petrol stood at 3,136 ML and for the current 2019 season. The same... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Business Standard

Govt proposes national green aviation policy

The civil aviation ministry will create a simplified regulatory regime to speed up clearances for airport development and other aviation projects while taking due care of environment sustainability, according to a white paper. In a white paper on 'National Green Aviation Policy' that has been put up for public comments, the ministry said aviation regulator DGCA would work with other government agencies for making bio-jet fuels commercially viable. Besides, the watchdog would assess and understand emissions... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Times of India

Corporates need to play greater role in achieving SDGs: Niti Aayog

Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar on Thursday underlined the need to mobilise funds from all sources especially corporates to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kumar further said the focus should be on 'conscious capitalism' wherein corporates go beyond chasing bottomline and focus on ensuring maximum social return.... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Business Standard

Telangana calls bids for 31 MW rooftop solar power projects

Telangana has invited global competitive bids for setting up rooftop solar projects totalling 31.12MW. The Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited, the nodal agency for development of renewable energy, has invited eligible bidders for setting up of grid-connected rooftop solar photo voltaic systems. ... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Business Line

Imports of Chinese auto parts set to rise as government pushes for electric cars

India, the world’s third-largest automobile market, will rely more on China for components as the government pushes for electric vehicles. In the financial year 2018 alone, Chinese exports to India touched $4.3 billion — up 27 per cent over FY13 — with the automobile industry executives saying that there’s no sign of slowing down in the future. India imports 10 times more auto components from China than it exports. The ever growing import of auto components from China pose a threat to local auto components... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Economic Times

LNG demand journey to be shaky in India, slow due to infrastructure limits

India’s demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is set to rise by about 10 percent this year even as the country adds import capacity at a faster clip, because infrastructure constraints keep gas from getting to consumers and hinder growth rates. New Delhi made a commitment in the Paris Agreement of 2015 to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of India’s economy by one-third, and aims to more than double the share... Read more..

Date : Mar 15

Source: Business Standard