Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Odisha CM inaugurates Rs 2,200 cr power, solar energy, cement projects

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday performed inauguration of total 18 industrial projects through video conferencing from the state secretariat, with total investment potential of Rs 2200 crore. These projects, in diverse sectors like cement, food processing including seafood, solar power, healthcare and metal downstream, will generate employment opportunities for around 3500 people, said an official source... Read more..

Travelling at 600mph: India’s Hyperloop dreams take shape in the Nevada Desert

California just decided to sharply scale back its plans for a high-speed rail artery meant to transform travel up and down the state. But in the desert outside Las Vegas, the transportation ambitions still seem limitless. Here, engineers working for Virgin Hyperloop One are testing a radically different type of mass transit: one that aims to move people and cargo in small wheel-less pods in a vacuum tube at speeds... Read more..

Despite concerns, Ladakh solar plan attracts 50 companies

The government's ambitious plan to set up a 7,500 mw (mega watt) solar power project at an estimated investment of Rs 45,000 crore in Jammu & Kashmir's Ladakh region has whetted the appetite of some 50 topline companies, even as tariff emerged as the key concern. Prospective investors, including major manufacturers, raised a host of issues with the top brass of Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI), the implementing agency under the renewable energy ministry, at a pre-bid meeting on Monday. These ranged from the natural challenges to the bid structure. But the elephant in the room was... Read more..

World Bank approves Rs 11,000 cr for improving safety of hydro power dams

The World Bank has accepted a proposal to provide Rs 11,000 crore to India to improve safety and operational performance of its 733 large dams across 18 states over the next 10 years. The money will be utilised under the ongoing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) for its subsequent phases beginning 2020. Besides operation, maintenance and emergency action plans, the programme will also focus on revenue generation at dams through tourism, fisheries, water recreations and solar and hydro power. 

"The World Bank's country director confirmed the acceptance of the... Read more..

Singapore fund and British developer eye stake in UK government’s south Asian renewables company

Mumbai-based investment fund EverSource Capital is preparing to take a $100 million slice of U.K. government-funded developer Ayana Renewable Power, according to a report in The Economic Times. EverSource is a JV between the Singapore-based Everstone Group private equity fund and U.K. renewables developer Lightsource BP – which rebranded itself last year after oil and gas giant BP acquired a 43% stake in it.

The Mumbai fund is reportedly ready to acquire all of the $100 million stake being offered in Ayana by CDC Group, the U.K. government owned development finance institution which... Read more..

'Increasing maturity': PwC poll highlights growth of ESG and sustainable investing

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and sustainable development ambitions are becoming increasingly important priorities for investors, according to the results of a global PwC survey which points to signs of "increasing maturity" in the responsible investment sector. The consultancy giant's fourth annual Private Equity Responsible Investment Survey published today draws on the views of 162 respondents from 35 countries and territories, including 145 private equity houses.
It found almost 81 per cent of respondents are currently reporting ESG matters to their boards at... Read more..

India proposes more than $12 billion of pollution-reducing incentives

India has proposed incentives worth 885 billion rupees ($12.4 billion) to encourage power plants to install equipment to curb emissions and to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), a government statement said on Friday. The bulk of the money, 835 billion rupees, would be aimed at curbing sulphur emissions from power plants, with the rest devoted to development of EV infrastructure in 70 cities over five years ending 2025, the statement said. The proposal by India's power ministry to its finance commission is in addition to an existing proposal... Read more..

Karnataka: Cesc to use solar power to electrify tribal hamlets in Mysuru

The darkness that many tribal hamlets continue to remain in, despite various programmes being initiated to address the problem, has alerted Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) to the gravity of the issue. The agency has hit upon the idea of using solar power to light up these tribal settlements. Research conducted by the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute reveal that, in the Old Mysuru Region, the population of tribals is highest in Mysuru – 3.34 lakh — followed by 1.2 lakh in Chamarajanagar, 58,054 in Kodagu, 32,329 in Hassan and 22,402 in Mandya. Although most of... Read more..

Kerala looks up at solar energy for its power needs

After recovering from an unexpected natural calamity, the State is now on a renovation mode, building a ‘New Kerala’ that focuses on sustainable development. As part of this, recently the State Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac, in his budget speech, talked about providing around 130-150 crore units of electricity to the consumers from 500 MW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects and 500 MW from floating and terrestrial solar PV projects. He also mentioned that Kerala households have already registered for 200 MW of rooftop solar PV capacity. With a feasible plan in place, we talk to a... Read more..

Build favourable ecosystem for electric vehicles, say experts

 Kerala has huge potential for solar power generation as the state has 22 lakh houses with uninterruptible power source (UPS) system, which can be converted for solar power generation, said Vinod Gopal, selection committee member, Maker Village. He was addressing a session on 'Startups in Renewable Energy Sector' on the concluding day of the KREEPA Green Power Expo organized by the Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs' and Promoters' Association (KREEPA) in association with the ministry of new and renewable energy, state government, ANERT and Suchitwa Mission.

Solar panels cost... Read more..

SoftBank grabs a chunk in India's wind power pie

Softbank has bagged the largest chunk of a 1,200 MW wind power tender concluded Friday, which has marked the company’s foray into the wind sector at a time when constraints around availability of land and transmission infrastructure are pressing. Adani and Ostro Energy, which was acquired by ReNew Power last year, have also bagged a significant capacity of the tender floated by the Solar energy corporation of India (SECI) in December last year. The two companies, however, emerged as the lowest bidders for the tender quoting a price of Rs 2.82 per unit, for 250... Read more..

Agriculture, energy and technology on Argentine president's agenda during India visit

It may be Mauricio Macri's first visit to India, but the Argentine president has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at least three times in the past year. Macri's visit, said Daniel Chuburu, Argentina's ambassador to India, is intended to raise the bilateral relationship between India and Argentina in three key areas - agriculture, energy (fossil fuel and renewable), mining and high technology in areas like space. ... Read more..