Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Chandigarh biggest 15 MW solar plant project to be delayed

The city’s biggest solar project of installation of 15 megawatt solar plant in the city is all set to be delayed by more than a year. The Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (Crest) had planned to set up 15 MW solar plant at Chandigarh municipal corporation water works in Sector 39.

But the MC has now decided to upgrade water storage capacity in Sector 39 water works, which is... Read more..

Climate commitments by over 9,000 cities

Commitments to climate actions have been made by more than 9,000 cities from 128 countries, around 240 states and regions from over 40 countries and more than 6,000 businesses in 120 countries representing $36 trillion, says a UN yearbook for 2018.

Making commitments is only the first step towards the transformations necessary to achieve the Paris climate goals, says "Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2018"... Read more..

SDMC, SECI ink MoU to develop two solar plants

The municipal body for south Delhi Friday signed an agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for developing two solar plants for generating total power worth 27.5 MW, officials said. The work on the two units is likely to begin in the first half of April next year, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said. 

"The SDMC inked an MoU with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)... Read more..

Foreign players sweep Gujarat solar auction

Foreign developers won the entire 700 MW being bid for at the solar auction conducted by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) on Friday, with the Softbank-backed SB Energy winning 250 MW at the lowest tariff of Rs 2.84 per unit. Finnish developer Fortum also bagged 250 MW while French major Engie got 200 MW, both bidding the same price of Rs 2.89 per unit. 

The last auction conducted by GUVNL in September... Read more..

India's energy subsidies down by 36 percent to Rs 1.51 lakh crore in FY 17

India's total energy subsidies amounted to Rs 1,51,480 crore in financial year 2017, a 36 per cent decrease since FY14, according to a new report released Thursday.

The report released by the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said, India's fossil-fuel subsidies fell sharply by nearly 70 per cent, from Rs 1,73,330 crore in FY14 to... Read more..

Siemens Gamesa secures order for 126-MW wind projects in Maharashtra

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on Thursday said it has secured an order from one of India's largest utilities to construct a 126-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra. 

As part of the turnkey contract, Siemens Gamesa will provide the infrastructure to install and operate the facility, including supply, erection and commissioning of 63 units of SG 2.0-114 wind turbines in Maharashtra,... Read more..

REC solar panels bring clean energy to remote Himalayan communities

Marking the recent United Nations Global Climate Summit in Katowice, Poland, REC Group, the leading European brand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, reports on its own initiatives to bring clean energy to communities that were previously reliant on polluting sources of power. In cooperation with Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE), which leverages tourism to provide clean energy and digital education access to remote communities, REC Group contributed its solar panels that now generate energy in remote... Read more..

Shell to acquire 49% stake in Cleantech Solar

Royal Dutch Shell Plc has picked up 49% stake in Cleantech Solar, a Southeast Asia and India-focused solar energy systems developer, for $100 million in what could be the British energy giant’s first investment in the alternate energy space in Asia. 

The transaction is expected to get concluded in January 2019, the two companies said on Wednesday. Headquartered in Singapore, Cleantech Solar owns and operates... Read more..

GE Renewable Energy wins order to supply wind turbines to ReNew Power

GE Renewable Energy announced on Wednesday it has been selected by ReNew Power to provide 120 GE 2.5-132 turbines for the Gadhsisa Wind Farm in Gujarat, India.

The wind farm will have a total installed capacity of 300MW, making it the largest full turnkey EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) project by GE Renewable Energy in India, a company statement said.

... Read more..

India still faces challenges to meet growing power demand: World Bank

Despite making a remarkable progress in electricity distribution over the years, India still faces challenges to meet its growing demand for power and reliable supply still remains low in the country, the World Bank said in a report. 

India has made enormous progress in expanding household access to electricity and reducing power shortages over the last few years. In 2018 India achieved 100 per cent village... Read more..

Industry, experts hail Delhi's draft electric vehicle policy

Several industry leaders and experts in electric mobility on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi government's draft "Electric Vehicle Policy 2018", which aims to ensure adoption of 25 per cent e-vehicles among new registrations by 2023.

"The draft policy is the finest ever policy for electric vehicles I have seen. I would like to congratulate the Delhi government that they are thinking in such a direction," Professor... Read more..

GST on recycled construction waste products to be reduced to 5 per cent

In a bid to promote reuse of debris generated by the construction industry, the government will soon reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on products made from recycled demolition waste to five per cent.

Currently, the recycled products -- such as concrete blocks or bricks for masonry made from construction and demolition (C&D) waste -- attracts GST of 18 per cent.

... Read more..