Sustainability Outlook Headlines

SDMC becomes ‘first’ civic body in India to generate solar energy

The SDMC today claimed that it has become the “first” civic body in the country to generate solar energy by installing panels over rooftops of its over 55 buildings and earn a huge income in three months by selling surplus power to a power distribution company. The SDMC also plans to install solar panels over rooftops of its 400 buildings by June 2019, in a bid to ramp up its efforts to go green and earn revenue simultaneously, officials said.

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MNRE Extends Implementation Timeline for Distributed Solar Projects in Andaman &Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands

As per a recent notification by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the implementation timeline of 40 MW of distributed grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects in Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep islands with capital subsidy from MNRE has been extended.

The initial timeline for the program implementation was 2015-16 to 2017-18, which now has been extended to  2016-17 to 2018-... Read more..

MNRE Amends Guidelines for Selection of Solar Park Developers

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended the guidelines for the selection of solar power park developers (SPPDs) through tariff-based competitive bidding process. The amendment provides provision for selection of a solar power park developers (SPPDs) under new Mode 4, 5 and 6 in addition to the earlier Mode 1, 2 or 3. 

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Birla Cellulose, Isko, Lenzing join ZDHC programme

Birla Cellulose, Isko and Lenzing have joined ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme. These new contributors join in the category of value chain affiliates from the textile industry. They will now contribute to the organisation’s vision of implementation of sustainable chemistry, driving innovations and best practices in the textile, apparel and footwear industries.
With Birla Cellulose and the Lenzing Group becoming contributors, ZDHC marks a significant Programme expansion into the area of raw material... Read more..

CERC readying paper on power tariff norms for 2019-24

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will kick-start in the next 10 days the process of setting tariff regulations for the next five years of tariff control period, starting 2019, said its chairperson PK Pujari.

A mechanism to address the recovery of additional capital expenditures by power companies on eco-friendly equipment needs to be worked out urgently, Pujari said. He said during the... Read more..

BIG SUN launches aquatic tracker system for bifacial modules

BIG SUN Energy has created a new version of its dual axis iPV tracker for use with bifacial modules or aquatic applications such as fishery ponds, reservoirs and floating solar (FPV) systems. On display at SNEC PV Power Expo will be the iPV Tracker in conjunction with high-efficiency bifacial modules from two prominent suppliers, demonstrating it as a highly adaptive and highly efficient power generation system.

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Kappahl becomes Sustainable Apparel Coalition member

Kappahl, a leading Swedish fashion chain, has become a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), to help accelerate the development of sustainable working methods and solutions in the fashion industry. SAC is an organisation working to create a sustainable fashion industry, with the vision of an industry that causes no harm to the environment. 

Kappahl will now speed up the pace of change in sustainable working methods and solutions in the fashion industry. As part of the SAC, the company can work with other players in the industry - purchasers, suppliers, researchers,... Read more..

Ather Energy sets up comprehensive charging grid in Bengaluru

Bangalore-based startup Ather Energy has just launched what it claims is the largest EV charging infrastructure in any Indian city. The network, called AtherGrid, will have 30 charging stations in Bengaluru by the end of May, with a target of 60 charging stations across the city by the end of the year. As of the 21st of May, Ather has 14 charging points operational so far.

Once complete, the network will... Read more..

Scientists develop battery that can be charged within seconds

Scientists have developed a novel self-assembling battery device that can be recharged within seconds and could power mobile devices of the future.

Researchers from Cornell University in the US created a new battery architecture to address the demands for energy storage devices that can be charged faster.

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Siemens Gamesa Pursues Hybrid Wind and Solar Projects With Energy Storage

Siemens Gamesa, the leading turbine manufacturer, is looking to go beyond wind — into hybrid systems with solar and storage.

The company’s chief technology officer, Antonio de la Torre Quiralte, told GTM that Siemens Gamesa remains committed to the wind market. However, it is increasingly interested in other technologies to reduce renewable energy intermittency. 

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National Mission for Clean Ganga approves bio-remediation projects to clean drains flowing into Ganga

Logs wound with coir, mud balls, dyes, and certain plant species may soon be used as tools to clean sections of heavily polluted drains that flow into the river Ganga. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved eight projects that will use bioremediation techniques to clean specific drains in Patna, Hardwar, Allahabad, Bulandshahr and Varanasi.

The total flow across all these drains adds up to... Read more..