Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Two Indian renewable power producers plan to sell $750 million in domestic bonds: sources

Two of India's biggest renewable energy companies, Greenko Group PLC and ReNew Power Ventures Pte Ltd, plan to sell a combined $750 million worth of rupee-denominated bonds in the domestic market, three bankers told Reuters on Tuesday.

The pair turned to the domestic market after the central bank introduced limits on selling rupee-denominated bonds overseas, known as masala bonds, said the bankers, who... Read more..

SoftBank Vision Fund, Sun Mobility in talks for $100 million investment

SoftBank Vision Fund, the $100 billion technology investment fund of Japan’s SoftBank Group, is in early talks to invest as much as $100 million in Reva Electric founder Chetan Maini’s latest venture Sun Mobility, said two people aware of the development.

Sun Mobility is a joint venture between Chetan Maini’s Virya Mobility 5.0 and Khemka family’s Sun Group, which has investments across sectors such as... Read more..

New type of washable solar cell developed

Scientists have developed a new type of water-proof solar cell which can provide electricity even after being soaked in water or stretched and compressed.

The finding could open the way for wearable solar cells, which will provide power to devices such as health monitors incorporated into clothing, researchers said.
These could include sensors that record heartbeats and body temperature, for example,... Read more..

Energy firms back European Union plan for CO2 cap on power subsidies

A group of energy firms has backed a disputed plan by EU regulators to attach emissions limits to subsidies for providing back-up power capacity to avert blackouts.

The proposal by the European Commission, which would set a cap of 550 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour for new power stations, ruling out less-efficient coal and gas-fired plants, has been fiercely contested by Poland and some other EU... Read more..

All Indian Villages to have Electricity by Next Month: Union Minister

First time since becoming the Central Minister of State for Energy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R K Singh arrived in Patna on Monday where he was given a warm welcome by the state leaders, including party state President Nityanand Rai.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh said that by the end of next month, every single village in India would have electricity.

... Read more..

Pollution regulator frames standards for 16 industries using polluting fuels

The apex pollution regulator has framed standards for sulphur and nitrate oxides for 16 industries that use inferior quality fuel that releases these pollutants.

The standards are yet to approved by the environment ministry. Surface heavy fuels like Furnace Oil (FO) and Pet coke generate large amounts of pollution, according to the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).... Read more..

Nissan to Hyundai keen on India’s $203 million order for electric vehicles

Renault SA, Hyundai Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are among companies interested in supplying India 10,000 electric cars as part of the country’s efforts to reduce emissions and curb fuel imports, a government official said.

The deadline for bids has been extended by four days to 22 September to help allow overseas companies ascertain rules for imports, Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency... Read more..

After Sembcorp, IDFC Alternatives announces exit from Mytrah Energy

India Infrastructure Fund (IIF), a fund managed by IDFC Alternatives Ltd, has successfully exited its investment in Mytrah Energy (India) Pvt Ltd (MEIPL). This is the second announcement of an exit from IDFC Alternatives, one of the largest domestic multi-asset class fund managers, with over $3.6 billion under management.

On August 31, 2017, it had announced its exit agreement with Sembcorp Utilities (... Read more..

Waste composting: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) softens stand on Oct 2 deadline

With apprehensions raised by housing societies on whether they would be able to meet the October 2 deadline set by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for mandatory waste segregation and composting in their premises, the civic body on Monday said it would give societies leeway of three months to start the waste management at source, provided they submit a detailed plan to the corporation.

The BMC... Read more..

₹300-crore solid waste management plan for Delhi

The Centre has approved a ₹300-crore plan for improving solid waste management in Delhi, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has announced.

Addressing an event organised by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), Puri said the fund would be utilised for procuring machines for collection, transport and storage of solid waste, procurement of decentralised... Read more..

NTPC invites developers to set up 100 waste-to-energy plants

Firms with annual turnover of at least Rs 190 crore would be eligible for evincing interest for these plants. The shortlisted firms would be empanelled for setting up the plants through a tender process separately.

NTPC has invited national and international players to set up 100 waste-to-energy pollution-free plants across the country under the Swachh Bharat mission.

... Read more..

Only 1.5% e-waste recycled via institutional process: Assocham

A meagre 1.5 per cent of the total e-waste generated in India is recycled through an institutional process, a study by industry body Assocham said today.

“The top three Asian countries with the highest e-waste generation in absolute quantities are China (6 million tonnes), Japan (2.2 million tonnes) and India (1.7 million tonnes),” it said, adding, “The global quantity of e-waste is expected to touch 49.8... Read more..