Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Decentralized renewables receive less than 1% of India’s subsidies says study

India’s support for decentralized renewables is “woefully lacking” according to data released this week.

In a new report, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and energy access group Power for All found “major disparities” in India’s subsidy distribution, with less than 1 per cent designated for decentralized renewable options.

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Hyderabad to get electric vehicles charging stations in two years

If everything goes according to plan, Hyderabad will have electric charging stations across the city in the next two years. The TRS government has embarked on an ambitious plan to give a big push to electric vehicles to deter traditional oil-combustion vehicles that cause serious air pollution.

The government will soon unveil a new electric vehicle policy to provide incentives to those who buy electric... Read more..

SECI Tenders 2 GW of inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-Connected Solar PV Projects

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has tendered 2,000 MW of inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be developed across the country.

The capacity tendered comprises eight projects of 250 MW each. The bid-submission deadline is March 21, 2018.

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After Asean, Delhi to host solar alliance meet in March

After holding the India-Asean summit and hosting ten south-east Asian leaders on the Republic Day, the Centre was gearing up for another diplomatic feat with the formal launch of the solar alliance on March 11 in New Delhi, officials familiar with the matter said.

“We are expecting at least 25 countries to attend the solar alliance meet. The representations are likely to be at the head of government or very... Read more..

California aims to have 5 million electric cars on the road and 250k charging stations by 2030

Last week, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced a series of new executive orders to push the state to have 5 million electric cars on the road by 2030.

It’s the most ambitious zero-emission goal in the US, but is it enough? 
It’s an update to the state’s goal to have 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

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Non-payment of bills: Power supply to 2.5L consumers cut in 4 months in Bihar

Electricity connection of around 2.5 lakh consumers in the state were cut over the last four months as per a recent decision of the South Bihar Power Distribution Company and North Bihar Power Distribution Company not to supply power if the energy bill for more than a month remains unpaid.

State energy department sources said on Tuesday power supply to altogether 2,43,973 consumers were disconnected between... Read more..

India set to complete village electrification before target

The Union government's ambitious plan to complete rural electrification by May 1, 2018 is set to be achieved before target with the rural electrification corporation of India (REC) in the last leg of the scheme, informed Dr P.V.Ramesh, chairman and managing director, REC Limited. 

The scheme was launched on August 15, 2015 for the electrification of 18,458 villages by May 1, 2018 in the country of which only... Read more..

NTPC ties up with Jabalpur, Jabalpur City Transport Service to set up EV charging infra

NTPC has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jabalpur Smart City Limited and Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited for setting up charging infrastructure for all segments of electric vehicles across the city. 

Ved Prakash, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Jabalpur & Managing Director, Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited said "Reducing the dependence on fossil fuels... Read more..

Coca Cola to run factories on solar power in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

FMCG major Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) Pvt Ltd on Monday said it will be using solar power as the primary source of energy for manufacturing operations at all its factories in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

HCCB, which owns and operates three factories in the two states, has signed agreements with Vibrant Energy, a Hyderabad-based green energy solutions company, to procure 2.7 crore units of solar... Read more..

Conversion efficiency at 20.41%, LONGi solar creates world record of monocrystalline PERC module

LONGi Solar announced that, according to a test conducted by TUV-SUD, the independent third-party certification test organization, the company’s 60-cell PERC module achieved a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 20.41%, a new world record for a monocrystalline PERC module.

The product tested was a P-type monocrystalline PERC module. Based on efficient PERC cell technologies and innovative design, the... Read more..

NGT convenes meeting to identify landfill sites

The National Green Tribunal has convened a meeting of stakeholders for identifying alternative landfill sites and setting up waste-to-energy plants in the national capital.

A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi said there was “disagreement” among the AAP government, municipal corporations and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on the allotment of land for landfill sites which are needed... Read more..

India’s Renewable Projects’ IRR estimated to be around 9-11 per cent: MNRE

The ministry of new and renewable energy has proposed internal rate of return (IRR) of major renewable energy projects to be in the range of 9-11 per cent. The assumptions are based on zero government incentives, reflecting return rates in a no-subsidy scenario, it said in a draft report.

While IRRs for solar and wind projects are estimated to be between 9 and 11 per cent, small hydro plants are seen to... Read more..