Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Indian builders pledge "green" homes in race to meet climate goals

(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - India's top builders have pledged to make at least a fifth of their new housing developments sustainable by 2022, as the country looks to tap sectors other than renewable energy to meet its ambitious climate goals. 

The campaign is led by the Sustainable Housing Leadership Consortium (SHLC) comprising builders Godrej Properties, Mahindra Lifespaces, Shapoorji Pallonji, Tata... Read more..

India’s Mizoram targets 80MW under solar power policy

The far eastern Indian state of Mizoram has adopted its own solar power policy targeting 80MW of solar deployment by 2021/22.

The ‘Solar Power Policy of Mizoram 2017’ noted that cooler temperatures, due to the state’s natural breeze, are highly conducive to setting up solar PV projects in the state. National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has estimated the state’s potential for solar energy to be at around... Read more..

Low solar tariffs to cancel two tenders

The steep fall in solar tariffs may have delighted discoms and other power consumers, but it is also having unintended consequences. Last week, it forced the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to cancel two tenders it had announced last year which were to include storage capacity for the first time in India.

One disadvantage of both solar and wind power is their ‘erratic’ or ‘infirm’ nature — they are... Read more..

Ashok Leyland announces strategic partnership with Sun Mobility for electric mobility

 Ashok Leyland, the Chennai-headquartered flagship company of the Hinduja Group, today announced it has launched a strategic alliance for electric mobility solutions with SUN Mobility, promoted by Chetan Maini, founder of Reva and Uday Khemka, Vice Chairman of the SUN Group.

“This global partnership between Ashok Leyland and SUN Mobility will leverage India’s innovation and engineering potential to develop... Read more..

Tata Power to invest $90 million in renewable energy arm TPREL

Tata Power Co. Ltd plans to invest around $90 million (close to Rs600 crore) in equity capital in its renewable energy arm Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) as the company seeks to develop its immediate pipeline of 320 megawatts (MW) of solar assets, two people aware of the development said.

TPREL currently owns around 2 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind assets, including the assets that it acquired... Read more..

Solar cells & modules: China firms’ plan to make in India drags, but exports rise

Over last three years, more than a dozen Chinese companies announced plans to establish solar cell and module manufacturing facilities in India. Till date, however, not a single Chinese company has established a manufacturing plant in India, even though their exports to India from their facilities in mainland China have been increasing rapidly.

The companies that had announced plans to establish... Read more..

Mizoram to set up 20 Megawatt solar park

Mizoram's Solar Power Project Approval Committee (SPPAC) has approved the proposal for setting up of a 20 MW solar park today.

The project will be implemented by the state power and electricity department and Zoram Energy Development Agency (ZEDA), an official statement said.

A meeting chaired by Secretary... Read more..

Renewable energy industry wants cross subsidy waived

Renewable energy industry representatives have sought the waiving of a cross subsidy surcharge (CSS) levied by States on transmission.

In a letter to Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal, the Renewable Energy Welfare Society (REWS) has said that CSS is the main inhibitor for small investors to play their role in India’s clean energy vision. The... Read more..

Over 25 crore LED bulbs distributed under UJALA scheme: EESL

With the implementation of government's UJALA programme in Arunachal Pradesh, the world's largest non-subsidised LED bulb distribution programme is now being implemented across the country, EESL said today. 

Moreover, over 25 crore LED bulbs have been successfully distributed under the Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All (UJALA) programme, in addition to over 28 lakh LED tubelights and 10... Read more..

A&E Commits to Sustainable Textiles, Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical

Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical (ZDHC) Programme, a collaboration of over 20 leading brands, more than 30 value chain affiliates and 14 associates, has a new addition to the list as A&E joins in.

Proud to join the Programme, A&E is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread, and technical textiles. By becoming a ZDHC... Read more..

Isro's battery technology may soon power India's e-vehicle dream

The central government’s ambitious electric vehicles project will take off soon as the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has approved commercial use of lithium-ion battery technology. The glitch is companies will be required to pay Rs 1 crore for the technology to Isro for every e-vehicle.

Commercialisation of Isro’s technology could save 10-15 per cent of the cost of e-vehicles. Some experts are of... Read more..

Trump urged to reconsider withdrawal of Paris climate agreement

The ten Senators who represented the United States at the 21st Conference of Parties in 2015, have urged President Donald Trump to reconsider and reverse his decision to withdraw from the historic Paris accord on climate change.

"More than 900 US businesses support keeping the US in the Paris Agreement, including 20 Fortune 500 companies. American businesses need the US government at the negotiating table to... Read more..