Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Solar panel maker Waaree Energies secures ₹100 crore from Centrum Financial, others

Waaree Energies, a Mumbai-based company which provides solar panel solutions, has secured around Rs. 100 crore ($15.6 million) in its new funding round. The investment in the company was made by Centrum Financials along with a few other investors. While the company revealed that Centrum Financials invested Rs. 25 crore, investment of other investors remains unknown. In a statement, Hitesh Doshi, founder and managing director of Waaree Energies, said:

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All villages in Bihar are now electrified: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

All 39,073 villages of Bihar were now electrified, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said here today. He added that every household in the state would have a free power connection by the end of the next calendar year. 

The efforts in this regard were a part of Kumar's seven resolves ("saat nischay") of good governance. "We have come a long way since 2005 when we assumed power. Back then, small towns and villages... Read more..

Only six states, UTs comply with Centre's renewable purchase obligations

Only six out of 29 states and seven union territories are complying with the central government's Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets, a Greenpeace India report said on Wednesday.

Under the RPO, states are suppose to achieve certain targets by ensuring that their power-share comes from green or renewable sources. In case the states are unable to produce enough renewable due to any-reasons, they buy... Read more..

NGT’s action plan will ‘dilute’ Graded Response Plan: EPCA

The Supreme Court-mandated EPCA today said the latest measures announced by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to clean the city’s toxic air may “dilute” the Centre-notified Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and create “confusion” among the implementing agencies.

Sunita Narain, a member of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority or the EPCA, said the GRAP, which it is authorised to... Read more..

CPCB likely to go for new devices to study Delhi air quality, says official

A top Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) scientist on Monday said that the agency may consider using advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) devices to vertically monitor the air quality of Delhi-NCR.

CPCB’s air lab chief Dipankar Saha said the agency is currently focussing on strengthening its surface-level monitoring network, however, in “later stages”, vertical monitoring will also be taken up.... Read more..

Government unlikely to scrap customs duty on import of solar panels

The government appears to have turned down a plea by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to scrap import duty on solar panels imposed last year, according to the minutes of a meeting held earlier this month. 

The renewable energy ministry had backed the demand by solar developers that such equipment should continue to be exempted from duty. 

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45 lakh families to get power supply in MP under Saubhagya

State-run Rural Electricity Corp (REC) today said that Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) was launched in Madhya Pradesh to provide electricity connections to about 45 lakh families.

"Saubhagya was launched in Madhya Pradesh on December 22, 2017, by Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," an REC statement said.... Read more..

Indian green energy agency IREDA files IPO papers with SEBI

State-run Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has filed draft papers with markets regulator Sebi to float an initial public offering. 

The proposed share-sale comes at a time when the government is working on ramping up renewable energy generation capacity as part of larger efforts to increase clean energy portfolios. 

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Hyet Solar Plans €200 Million Solar Fab In India

This month India witnessed bittersweet news on the solar power front for its Make In India program that promotes foreign investment in the manufacturing sector.

The world’s largest solar module manufacturer, Trina Solar, suspended plans to set up a module manufacturing facility in the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh. On the heels of this news came the announcement by Netherlands-based Hyet Solar that it is... Read more..

Projects worth Rs 69,475 crore sanctioned for electrification: Power Ministry

The power ministry today informed projects worth Rs 69,475 crore have been sanctioned so far under two flagship schemes aimed at rural and urban electrification in the country and the government's programme is on track to implement universal household electrification in India by March 2019.

The ministry said, the Modi government has given special focus to rural electrification under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram... Read more..

Ultimate Sun Systems eyes to expand its presence in Maharashtra

In a move to expand its presence in Maharashtra,Ultimate Sun Systems (USS), a renewable energy solutions company has on Friday announced that it is opening a new office in Mumbai and has partnered with ANB New and Renewable Energy LLP for the Maharashtra market.

"Maharashtra is a key market for us, given that it is the Indian state with the highest GDP and has impressive growth prospects and high energy... Read more..

Ten lakh energy efficient pumps for UP farmers

In a bid to save energy and accelerate achievement of targets for BJP government's flagship scheme 'Power for All', the state government would launch Kisan Uday Yojana. Under this, 10 lakh energy efficient pump sets of different capacities would be given to farmers.

Talking to TOI, energy minister Shrikant Sharma said: "While on one hand, the scheme will help in addressing the issue of energy conservation,... Read more..