Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Falling solar power cost lead to pricing disputes

The matter to decide the tariff at which state discoms will buy solar power from SECI is pending before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
The steep fall in the cost of producing solar power in recent years is now causing conflicts between different arms of state and central governments over the buying price of solar power. 

On November 2, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) intervened... Read more..

Bionic mushroom that produces electricity created by team of scientists, 2 of Indian origin

A team of researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology, Manu Mannoor, Sudeep Joshi and Ellexis Cook have engineered an artificial symbiosis between button mushrooms and cyanobacteriato produce electricity.

The scientists used 3D printing to attach clusters of energy-producing bugs to the cap of a button mushroom.

... Read more..

Builders can seek tax rebates: Urban department notifies ‘green building’ policy

The state urban development department on Tuesday notified its ‘green building’ policy, under which, builders and housing societies obtaining the green building certificate can seek rebates on taxes and development charges.

According to the policy, builders can avail rebate of up to 10 per cent on development charges and societies or homebuyers can get a rebate on property tax up to 10 per cent. The... Read more..

On Diwali eve, Ranchi becomes Jharkhand's 4th district to get 100% power connectivity

All households in Ranchi district now have access to power supply, chief minister Raghubar Das announced on Tuesday. And by 2019, the CM promised, these households will have 24-hour power supply. 

With this, the district became the fourth - after Ramgarh, Bokaro and Dhanbad - to achieve 100% electrification of its households.

... Read more..

Farm fires contribute 33% to Delhi’s PM 2.5

If you were wondering why the pollution situation had again become grim after two days of relative calm, here’s part of your answer: a change in wind direction has resulted in the capital bearing the brunt of crop fires in north Indian states.

Data show that pollution from crop stubble burning contributed to almost 33 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration on Monday. The System of Air Quality and Weather... Read more..

Uttar Pradesh's CM inaugurates Gorakhpur's biggest solar plant

Inaugurating a 1230 kW solar power plant in Gorakhpur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it would give impetus to the green energy drive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would not only help in lighting up many houses but also conserve environment.

The solar power plant has been constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore.

... Read more..

Average spot power price up 45% at Rs 5.94 per unit in October; highest ever sales volume in any month

The average power spot prices jumped over 45% to Rs 5.94 per unit in the month of October on the energy exchange from Rs 4.08 per unit in the same month a year ago. According to a statement by Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), coal shortage, higher demand, lower wind and hydropower generation were the key factors that pushed the sales volume to highest ever in any month. IEX witnessed sales volume of 7,125 million units during the month, a rise of 22% from October and 63% from the same period last year.... Read more..

Wind farm 'predator' effect hits ecosystems: study by Indian Institute of Science

Wind farms act as a top "predator" in some ecosystems, harming birds at the top of the food chain and triggering a knock-on effect overlooked by green energy advocates, scientists said Monday. Wind is the fastest-growing renewable energy sector, supplying around four per cent of global electricity demand. 

Close to 17 million hectares -- an area roughly the size of Tunisia -- is currently used for generating... Read more..

Solar Energy Corporation of India auction for Maharashtra Park put off indefinitely

 Developers’ interest in Solar Corporation of India’s (SECI) auctions hit a nadir when Tata Power Renewable Energy was the sole bidder on Wednesday for an auction for 50 MW at Dhodhainicha Solar Park in Maharashtra. 

The auction has been put off indefinitely. 

Last week SECI postponed a 1200 MW hybrid... Read more..

Sembcorp India posts Rs 153.3 crore profit in September quarter

Singapore-based energy firm Sembcorp's India unit has turned around to post a net profit of Singapore dollar 28.9 million (about Rs 153.3 crore) in the September quarter on better operational performance and commencing a new wind power project. 

Net profit of Singapore dollar (SGD) 28.9 million in the July-September quarter compared with a loss of SGD 2.7 million a year ago, according to a company statement... Read more..

Central government approves moving of resolution for amending ISA Framework Agreement

The central government has given ex-post facto approval for moving a resolution in the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for amending its Framework Agreement to enable membership for all member countries of the United Nations (UN).

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

... Read more..

National Buildings Construction Corporation issues new guidelines for contractors to curb air pollution

With all construction activities halted in the national capital for 10 days starting November 1 in view of rising air pollution, NBCC has come up with new guidelines for contractors at all its project sites across the country, the company's Chairman and Managing Director Anoop Kumar Mittal has said.

The guidelines include the use of steel container trucks, transportation and storage of cement and fly ash in... Read more..