Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Solar tariffs set to rise on rupee depreciation, rising interest rates, safeguard duty

Solar power tariffs are facing upward pressure thanks to the latest Depreciation of the Rupee against the Dollar, imposition of safeguard duty and rising interest rate scenario.

“While there has been a fall in PV module price level, solar bid tariffs in the near term remains exposed to cost pressure due to depreciation of Rupee by about 7 per cent over the last four months, given the import dependence on... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

With eye on tariffs, ministry tweaks eligibility for solar tender

Solar power developers have expressed their concerns alike, saying the government was forcing them to enter the manufacturing business.

The government has scaled down the... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Economic Times

Solar power installations in India down 52 per cent in April-June 2018

Solar installations in India plunged 52 per cent to 1,599 MW during the second quarter of 2018, mainly due to uncertainties around trade cases and module price fluctuations, says a report. According to Mercom India Research's 'Q2 2018 India Solar Market Update', the installations stood at 3,344 MW during the first quarter.

"The drop in solar installations in Q2 2018 after four consecutive quarters of growth... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

High-Level EU Delegation Arrives In India Next Week

A high-level European Union delegation will be here next week to explore collaboration with India in green businesses and promote circular economy which aims to limit wastage of natural resources.

European Commissioner for Environment and Maritime Affairs Karmenu Vella will lead the delegation which will visit India from September 4-7, the European Union said in a statement.... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: Business World

‘No construction sans solid waste management policy’

The Supreme Court said it was “pathetic” that some States and Union Territories had not bothered to frame a solid waste management policy.

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Hindu

India’s most polluted: 30% have no clean up plan

A good number of India’s most polluted cities are not too keen to clean up their act, according to a list maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Of the 102 cities singled out by the Centre for their alarming pollution levels, only 73 have submitted a plan of remedial action to the CPCB. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Nagpur and Jaipur are among the prominent cities that are yet to submit their plans.

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Hindu

Maharashtra power utility starts converting agricultural feeders to solar

MSEDCL has started converting agricultural feeders to solar. Initially, 500 MW load will go solar. Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has decided to convert entire farm pump load to solar by 2025.

A source in the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co (MSEDCL) said in the first phase solar plants will be set up for agricultural feeders having load of 200 MW. “In the next phase, 300 MW will go... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

NTPC commissions its first electric vehicle charging station in Vishakhapatnam

State-owned power generator NTPC Ltd today announced it has commissioned its first charging station for electric vehicles in Vishakhapatnam in line with the government’s plan to switch to electric mobility.

The charging facility was commissioned in Simhadri in Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh and has been designed in house by the engineering team of NTPC’s power project at the location.... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

India conducts first LiDAR-based wind profiling to set up offshore farms

India has successfully conducted a first-of-its-kind LiDAR-based offshore wind profile measurement at the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) said in a recent report.

The Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) unit was situated about 23 km from the Gujarat coast.

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

Solar rooftop panels for government buildings, schools, colleges in next phase

The MC is going to install rooftop solar panels at all government buildings and educational institutions in the second phase of the Smart City mission. Besides, a heritage walk will be constructed around historical buildings across the city.

A meeting of civic officials was conducted in this regard on Sunday wherein the projects to be included in the final list of total Smart... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Times of India

NLC India installs solar power units at 7 offices, each to generate 1 MW

NLC India Limited has installed solar power units at the open terrace of the seven office buildings in Neyveli at a cost of Rs 5.49 crore with the support of Union new and renewable energy ministry. NLCIL contributed Rs 4.12 crore for the project while the ministry extended 25% subsidy for the project.

NLCIL chairman and managing director (additional charge) and director (finance) Rakesh Kumar formally... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: ET Energy World

Kerala's floating solar plant survives nature’s fury

In a home-grown engineering success story amidst the flood ravage, one of the largest floating solar power plants in the country at Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad has managed to survive the extreme conditions in the reservoir during last month’s heavy rains.

KSEB officials said that though they feared that the 500 kWp (kilowatt peak)... Read more..

Date : Sep 4

Source: The Times of India

Solar Energy Corporation’s fresh wind tender sees better response

The Solar Energy Corporation of India’s revised wind tender following cancellation of the earlier one has attracted a marginally better response as transmission issues continue to worry developers. The original tender for 2,000 MW attracted bids of 1,200 MW— 300 MW each from four developers. This led to SECI cancelling the tender.

Date : Aug 31

Source: The Economic Times

Malaysia requests consultations with India over solar safeguard duty - WTO

Malaysia has requested consultations with India over its 25% safeguard duty on imports of solar cells and modules from developed countries, China and Malaysia, in a World Trade Organisation (WTO) filing dated 30 August.

In the filing, Malaysia said it seeks to hold consultations as soon as possible with the participation of representatives from India’s investigating authorities.

Date : Aug 31

Source: PV Tech

Hyderabad: Discoms propose tariff for electric vehicle charging stations, battery swap

With electric vehicles on the rise and charging stations coming up in the state, Telangana power distribution companies have come up with electric vehicles tariff for charging station and battery swap. For low tension (LT) use, the companies will charge 6.10 per unit and for high tension (HT) usage, 7.10 per unit from 6am to 10am and 6pm to 10pm. From 10pm to 6am (next day), 5.10 per unit will be charged. For all other slots, 6.10 per unit will be charged.

Date : Aug 31

Source: ET Energy World

India tries one-off smaller solar tender with low ceiling to shrink tariffs

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has written to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) directing it to hold a one-off smaller 1.2GW solar tender with a significantly lower ceiling tariff, with the hope of driving tariffs down further.

Dilip Nigam, the letter’s author and coordinator of the Solar Mission and Solar Parks scheme, told PV Tech: “We have a feeling that people are quoting... Read more..

Date : Aug 31

Source: PV Tech

Global Mobility Summit to see some 'policy announcements': Niti vice-chairman

Top government officials and automobile industry leaders are expected to deliberate on future of mobility at the upcoming 'Global Mobility Summit' on September 7-8 here. The summit, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will see 'some policy announcements' after the event, Niti Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar today said.

"It (Global Mobility Summit) will be biggest disruption in the... Read more..

Date : Aug 31

Source: ET Energy World

BMTC to run electric buses in 5 years, says deputy CM G Parameshwara

Over the next five years, the state government will phase out diesel buses deployed for public transport in Bengaluru, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said, giving hope to citizens long complaining about rising pollution.

The city will, instead, have electric buses for public transport, Parameshwara, who also holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, said after opening the eighth edition of ‘Bus World... Read more..

Date : Aug 31

Source: ET Energy World

Maersk Tankers tests wind power to fuel ships

Maersk Tankers is testing the use of wind power to fuel its ships, a new technology it says can cut fuel consumption by up to 10 percent and help the industry reduce polluting emissions.

The move comes as the global shipping industry is suffering from rising oil prices and preparing for fuel costs to rise further by around a quarter, or some $24 billion, in 2020 when new rules limiting sulphur kick in.... Read more..

Date : Aug 31

Source: ET Energy World

Government should offer incentive to help India achieve solar power target by 2022: LSI

Sebi approved merchant banker LSI Financial Services feels Indian government should contemplate offering financial stimulus including price incentives and subsidised credit to domestic solar cell and module manufacturers.

The incentives will not only make the country’s module manufacturers globally competitive but also help India achieve its ambitious National Solar Mission target to add 100 gigawatt (GW) of... Read more..

Date : Aug 31

Source: ET Energy World

Solar power growth rate loses pace amid safeguard duty chaos

The pace of solar power capacity addition in the April-June period has dropped sharply after notching rapid growth in four consecutive quarters as recent policy chaos around safeguard duty on imports and reopening of power purchase agreements begin to tell on promoters.

According to an update from green energy market tracker Mercom India, the rate of adding solar installations declined 52% to 1,599 MW in the... Read more..

Date : Aug 30

Source: ET Energy World

Rajashtan eyes solar projects of 2000 MW from recent SECI, NTPC auctions

Rajasthan is a frontrunner to get more than half of the 5180 megawatt solar projects auctioned in the past two months by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), NTPC and Maharashtra government under the open access system.

With its own 1500 MW projects coming up, the state now sets sights on a cumulative capacity of 7500 MW in the next two years which can put the state ahead of Karnataka which now has the... Read more..

Date : Aug 30

Source: ET Energy World

CPCB TO INSTALL 2 AIIR MONITORING STATIONS IN RAIPUR

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will install two “Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations” (CAAQMS) under CPSU-CSR Project in Raipur, officials informed.

To monitor ambient air quality in various cities, CPCB has decided to install CAAQMS at 60 locations in 38 million-plus population cities and State capitals in the country.

Date : Aug 30

Source: The Pioneer

Vijayawada to have its own e-waste collection point

Over the years, segregating the e-waste generated in city has become a herculean task for Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC). To overcome the problem, the civic body is in talks with Guntur-based Smart Waste Management System (SWMS) to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of an e-waste collection point at Auto Nagar of Vijayawada.

According to the VMC officials, the city has been... Read more..

Date : Aug 30

Source: The New Indian Express

100 MW Veltoor solar power plant in Telangana gets quality certification

The Veltoor Solar Power Project in Telangana, owned by SE Solar Ltd, Suzlon’s Special Purpose Vehicle with CLP India, has been awarded the world's first solar project quality certificate for a photovoltaic plant. According to Suzlon, it is the world’s first, and currently only, global guideline for certifying solar PV projects.

The certification by DNV GL awarded to the 100 MW Veltoor Solar Power Project... Read more..

Date : Aug 30

Source: The Hindu Business Line