Sustainability Outlook Headlines

This solar tree charges your phone, provides free Wi-Fi

Municipal administration minister SP Velumani on Sunday inaugurated a ‘smart tree’ at VOC Park under which people can rest and browse the internet using free Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Rs 30lakh structure, installed under the smart city mission project, is situated on a 900sqft plot at the park. “While its trunk is made of metal rods covered with fibre, the leaves are made of zinc. It is equipped with a solar... Read more..

Rs 5,500 cr FAME II scheme finalised; all EVs to get subsidy support

An inter-ministerial panel has finalised the roadmap for the second phase of FAME India scheme with an outlay of around Rs 5,500 crore spanning over five years and subsidy support for all types of electric vehicles, official sources said.

The panel decided to offer subsidy to all categories of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers, to promote green vehicles and check... Read more..

HC stays order slashing tariffs of incentivised wind power generators

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has stayed the state regulator’s order that reduced tariffs of electricity supplied by wind projects that received generation-based incentive (GBI) from the Centre.

The order is significant because the GBI issue was seen as a roadblock in Greenko’s planned acquisition of Orange’s renewable energy portfolio, as reported by ET on Aug 21.

... Read more..

Big cities vow to make buildings carbon neutral by 2050

Leaders of some of the world's biggest cities vowed on Thursday to make all buildings carbon neutral by 2050, ensuring they make no contribution to climate change.

From London to Tokyo, 19 mayors said they would put in place regulations requiring all new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030 and all existing ones to reach the same goal by 2050.

... Read more..

Rays Power Infra enters solar retail segment, plans to launch 70 stores by 2020

Lithium-ion batteries that don't catch fire in the offing

At a time when consumer electronics players are aiming to develop safe lithium-ion batteries that don't catch fire, a team of researchers has developed a practical and inexpensive way to help prevent these fires.

In a lithium-ion battery, a thin piece of plastic separates the two electrodes.

"If the battery... Read more..

Siemens Gamesa commissions 3.375 MW project for NTPC

Siemens Gamesa, a renewable energy company, on Wednesday announced commissioning of 3.375 MW of wind-solar hybrid power pilot project for NTPC. 

The project consists of an SG 2.0-114 wind turbine in hybrid with 1.375 MW high efficiency HiT solar panels, which was executed in Bijapur district of Karnataka.

“... Read more..

PTC India looking to exit wind power business

The country’s largest electricity trader, PTC India Ltd, is exploring the possibility of exiting its wind power business and is scouting for investors for this, said two people aware of the development. This comes against the backdrop of India’s renewable energy tariffs hitting a record low. The country’s wind power tariffs plummeted to ₹ 2.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at an auction conducted by state-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd last December.

... Read more..

Scientists develop novel bacteria-powered paper battery

Scientists have developed a low-cost battery made of paper that is fueled by bacteria, and may power disposable and flexible devices. In remote areas of the world or in regions with limited resources, everyday items like electrical outlets and batteries are luxuries. Health care workers in these areas often lack electricity to power diagnostic devices, and commercial batteries may be unavailable or too expensive. New power sources are needed that are low-cost and portable. "Paper has unique advantages as a... Read more..

Wind power tariffs rise in NTPC's 1,200 Mw auction

 Tariffs climbed substantially in the latest reverse auction of 1,200 MW of wind power projects, held by NTPC.

In the first wind project auction in four months, winning tariffs reached Rs 2.77-2.83 per unit. The last auction in April, carried out by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), had seen prices of Rs 2.51-2.52. Industry insiders ascribed the increase to higher finance cost and limited... Read more..

Govt considering subsidy for e-vehicle charging infrastructure, says A K Bhalla

Power Secretary A K Bhalla today said the government is considering providing subsidy for encouraging setting up of e-vehicle charging infrastructure under a policy, to be unveiled in coming days. Bhalla was of the view that it is a chicken and egg story because charging stations would not be set up without enough e-vehicles and e-vehicles sales would not pick up unless there is enough facility to charge these vehicles. 

... Read more..

EESL’s big challenge: Make cheaper, evolved electric vehicles

State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, which leads the country’s energy efficiency and conservation drive, has thrown open a challenge for entrepreneurs and startups to develop electric cars that are more efficient in terms of performance and cheaper than what it had sought in its ecars tender last year.

As part of a two months-long innovation challenge based on a common streak of energy efficient... Read more..