Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Mahindra to invest ₹1,000 crore by 2020 for electric vehicles

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd on Wednesday unveiled plans to invest as much as ₹1,000 crore in Karnataka to build a facility for the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs). Mahindra, which mainly produces sport-utility vehicles and tractors, will implement the project through its subsidiary, Mahindra Electric. The firm will also build components for EVs at the so-called electric technology manufacturing hub in Bengaluru.

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Safeguard duty: NTPC, Acme clash over solar power tariffs

The imposition of safeguard duty on imported solar panels and modules has led to a clash over tariffs between NTPC and developer Acme Solar.

Acme Solar, which won 600 MW in a 2,000 MW solar auction held by NTPC in August, has filed a petition against NTPC in the Delhi high court for introducing new conditions in the letter of intent issued in mid-October. Winners of the remaining 1,400 MW have not objected... Read more..

Renewable energy demand by RE100 group companies up 41% in 2017

RE100 members companies witnessed an increase of 41% in demand for renewable energy in 2017 compared with 2016, according to an RE100 report on Thursday. Due to fall in prices of renewables, RE100 companies in more than 140 markets across the world switched from fossil fuel to renewable energy, with 37 companies were already over 95% renewable, and six members reached their 100% goal for the first time.

RE100 is a collaborative initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. RE100 is sort of a club of companies that heavily rely on renewable energy and have a target of... Read more..

Make in Odisha: Rs 4.1 lakh crore investment proposals received

The Make in Odisha conclave organised by Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha has witnessed investment proposals worth a whopping Rs 4.19 lakh crore for projects across 15 sectors that will create 5.91 lakh additional jobs.

The second edition of the event held in Bhubaneswar saw participation of 5,074 industry leaders and delegates and 31,806 people visited the industrial expo set up by the state during the... Read more..

IIT-M startup develops solar-powered cold storage for farmers

In an attempt to cut wastage of agricultural produce and augment income for farmers, IIT Madras-incubated startup Tan90 has developed a portable, solar-powered cold storage device to preserve farm produce. 

The company has worked in collaboration with the Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre, part of the Murugappa Group, on the project. 

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MNRE proposes wind turbine certification guidelines

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has prepared a draft of the Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme (IWTCS).

This scheme had been prepared in consultation with the National Institute of Wind Energy Chennai. An official statement said, “The IWTCS is a consolidation of relevant National and International Standards (IS/IEC/IEEE), Technical Regulations and requirements issued by Central Electricity... Read more..

BHEL commissions 120 MW Pulichintala hydro power plant in Telangana

State-owned engineering giant BHEL said Monday that with the completion of fourth and final 30 MW unit, it has completely commissioned 120 MW Pulichintala Hydro-Electric Project (HEP) in Telangana.

The other three units of the 4x30 MW Pulichintala HEP, commissioned earlier by the BHEL have been operating successfully, BHEL said in a statement.

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BBMP plans to convert waste to energy on a trial basis

Following an inordinate delay in developing waste to energy plants to address municipal waste issues of Bengaluru, the city corporation has now planned to install these plants on an experimental basis in two of its existing waste processing units.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has entered into an agreement with several waste to energy companies including Nexus Novus, Satarem India and Essel... Read more..

UP pollution board issues notices to 300 institutes for violation of waste management rules

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has issued notices to over 300 institutions— including schools, hospitals, hotels private colonies, government bodies and other commercial units— of five districts for ‘violation of solid waste management rules’. This is the maximum number of violations that has surfaced in the Agra district. The board has warned of strict action if the required improvements are not made within 15 days. 

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EV infra policy soon; individual can set up charging station for commercial use

The power ministry would soon bring an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure policy, which will also allow individuals to set up charging station for commercial use to boost e-mobility, said Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh Sunday. 

"We have circulated the EV Charging Policy for comments (among other department/ministries). The second line of the policy says that everybody is... Read more..

CBG plants will be established in three districts in Haryana

Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi on Sunday said that crop residue based Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants would be established in three districts of the State namely Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Jind.

Apart from this, a MoU had been signed between Indian Oil Corporation and Renewable Energy Department under which crop residue would be purchased from farmers for these plants and energy would be generated out of it... Read more..

Chandigarh administration to issue notice for non-installation of solar panel

With the deadline for installing rooftop solar power plants at residential properties set to expire on November 17, the UT administration is planning to issue notices to those who have failed to comply with the orders.

The Chandigarh administration, in a notification issued on May 18, 2016, had made installation of rooftop solar power plants mandatory in residential houses measuring 500 square yards and... Read more..