Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Delhi at epicentre of global groundwater crisis: Report

New research has shown that the largest groundwater depletion in the world is happening in northern India. Delhi is the epicentre of this fast-developing crisis, and it’s getting worse by the day.  “From Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Western UP and Rajasthan, 32 cubic km of water is being lost every year, which is much more than the usual, and it’s only partially being recovered in successive monsoons,”... Read more..

ET GBS 2019: Electric-mobility needed to charge up India's cities

Innovations in electric mobility across categories such as cars, flying vehicles and hyperloop are needed to address growing transportation needs of India’s rapidly expanding cities, said speakers at the Global Business Summit in New Delhi. Any technological innovation in the transportation sector in a populous country such as India, however, has to be both high-volume and low-cost, said Infosys cofounder Nandan... Read more..

Sustainable Cotton Challenge spurs shift in market

The Sustainable Cotton Challenge is a catalyst to spur a shift in the market toward the use of more sustainable cotton. By committing to use cotton from the respective initiatives and standards, brands are ensuring that the intentions of their sustainable sourcing strategies are maintained and the integrity of their commitments are uncompromised. This first annual 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge Report has included information and statistics on the achievements and impacts that cotton programs are having on... Read more..

Maharashtra power utility gets additional 1,000 MW cheap solar power

After tying up for 1,000MW solar power at the rate of Rs 2.71 and Rs 2.72 per unit in 2018, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) will now sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) for another 1,000MW cheap solar power. It has received bids for this quantum at Rs 2.74 and Rs 2.75 per unit. This purchase will prevent increase in power tariff in the coming years. An MSEDCL spokesperson said the... Read more..

‘Cheap money’ to speed up global PV, storage momentum

Cheaper finance from development players would shorten the renewable transition of many countries and kickstart the local small-scale PV and storage market, according to BloombergNEF (BNEF). The firm published a study this week showing concessional funding would bring cost parity forward by several years for PV and wind producers across emerging markets.... Read more..

SolarEdge increased revenue 54% in 2018 as strong demand set to continue

Major PV inverter and smart energy manufacturer SolarEdge Technologies has reported record fourth quarter and full-year 2018 revenue, which increased by 54.4%, due to strong product demand. Despite critical component shortages throughout the year, SolarEdge reported record fourth quarter revenue of US$263.7 million, up 39.9% from the prior year period and up 11% from US$236.6 million in the prior quarter, which... Read more..

Gujarat auctions 500MW of PV and tenders 175MW in solar parks

Tata Motors bets big on e-buses, to supply 80 units to WB govt

Tata Motors Ltd is eyeing big business from electric buses after it bagged orders for supplying 255 units to various state transport unions across the country, a company official said Wednesday. Rohit Srivastava, product line head (passenger commercial vehicles) of Tata Motors said that the commercial vehicles business of the company is seeing considerable growth and presently enjoying a market share of 45 per cent... Read more..

Industrial belts to get over 2,000 power distribution boxes

The power distribution company has planned to revamp electricity distribution system in industrial belts ahead of summers to ensure proper power supply and cut on outages. Discom is planning to install additional transformers and 2500 distribution boxes in industrial belts housing small scale units. Industry associations representing Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) have complained of frequent power cut leading to abrupt breaking of process of operations causing hefty losses. Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Ltd superintendent engineer Subroto Roy said, “... Read more..

Developing nations need to invest 4.5% of GDP in infrastructure to achieve SDGs

A new World Bank report finds that investments of 4.5% of GDP will allow developing countries to achieve their infrastructure-related Sustainable Development Goals and stay on track to limit climate change of up to 2°C. Beyond the Gap, also finds infrastructure investment compatible with full decarbonisation need not cost more than more polluting alternatives. Today the infrastructure gap is huge: 940 million people live without electricity, 663 million lack improved sources of drinking water, 2.4 billion... Read more..

India approves US$1.6bn of rooftop solar support

India has approved the second phase of its programme to hit 40GW of grid-connected rooftop solar by 2022 and announced INR118 billion (~US$1.656 billion) in central government subsidies to support residential solar systems and incentivise distribution companies (Discoms). Bridge to India’s latest quarterly report found that India had an installed capacity of 3,855MW of rooftop solar at the end of 2018, which was... Read more..

Indian Railways Pushes Towards Goal Of Full Electrification By 2022 With ABB Deal

The deal will supply ABB’s industry leading converters for electric trains to Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi in Northern India. ABB will build the converters at one of ABB’s largest locomotive supply factories in Nelamangala, in Southern India. “We are delighted to be contributing to the electrification of India’s rail network with ABB’s locally manufactured solutions,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “By... Read more..