Sustainability Outlook Headlines

IIT scientists develop catalyst to make biofuel using Rajasthani sand

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, have gone a step further in the quest for low-cost bio-fuel. The scientists have shown that oil extracted from algae can be converted into diesel by using sand from Rajasthan.

World over scientists are working on converting algae oil into biofuels (a fuel derived immediately from living matter) using different catalysts.

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Solar plants to power lights on the street of Lucknow

Emphasizing on the need of electricity to scale up development in the state, the UP government on Tuesday reiterated it would ensure 24-hour power supply to all electrified areas by October 2018.

Making the point on the floor of the house during the budget session, finance minister Rajesh Agarwal said the state government entered into a '24x7 Power for All' agreement with Centre in April and would, therefore... Read more..

Solar energy storage manufacturers want lower GST levy on batteries

Solar energy storage manufacturers have sought lowering the Goods and Services Tax levy on batteries.

In a letter to Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy, and Mines, Piyush Goyal, the India Energy Storage Alliance said, “We believe the rates currently proposed for these components if applicable also to secondary batteries (that is rechargeable batteries/energy... Read more..

Poor response forces NTPC, NLC to extend bid date for Andaman projects

NTPC and Nevyeli Lignite Corporation (NLC) have extended the bid submission date for their storage-linked solar power projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands following poor response from bidders.

The closing date for NTPC’s 24 MWh storage tender has been extended to August 3. The bid submission deadline for NTPC’s 3.2 MWh storage tender has been extended to August 7.

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Shell plans to spend $1billion a year on clean energy by 2020

Royal Dutch Shell plans to spend as much as $1 billion a year on its New Energies division as the transition toward renewable power and electric cars accelerates.

“In some parts of the world we are beginning to see battery electric cars starting to gain consumer acceptance” while wind and solar costs are falling fast, Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden said in a speech in Istanbul on Monday. “All of this is good news... Read more..

Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation to operate electric buses

Soon, Chennaiites can travel in environment-friendly electric buses operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). Transport minister M R Vijayabaskar on Saturday made an announcement in this regard on the floor of the state assembly, when demands for grants for transport department came up.

A senior MTC officer said Ashok Leyland had manufactured the battery-operated buses last year. As MTC was... Read more..

Mettur power plant stops generation

Generation was stopped at the Mettur Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) on Saturday night after the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board generated more power through wind mills. Due to this, 600 MW of power generation was affected.

MTPP officials said they were instructed by higher ups stop electricity generation. "We will again start generating electricity once we get the nod from higher officials," said an MTPP official.... Read more..

Committed to climate change as per own values and requirements: External Affairs Ministry

India has said that it remains committed on the issue of climate change "as per its own values and requirements", days after the US announced its decision to pull out of the landmark Paris agreement.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that the focus of the Indian government is on International Solar Alliance (ISA) and other methods of renewable energy.

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PM Narendra Modi to meet state chief secretaries to push development agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to meet all chief secretaries together -- probably for the first time -- on Monday to fast-track all-round development of states by taking a cohesive approach.

At the upcoming national conference of chief secretaries, finance secretaries and planning secretaries of states, Modi will deliberate on the issue and take stock of their position on various fronts.... Read more..

NTPC Mouda asked to use treated sewage water instead of Gosikhurd dam water

The Maharashtra state government has decided not to provide raw water from Gosikhurd dam to NTPC’s 2,320MW power plant at Mouda. The government has asked NTPC to use treated sewage water instead.

Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the media that a meeting was held in Mantralaya on Thursday on irrigation projects of the district. “NTPC uses 100 million metre cube (mm3) raw water. This water is... Read more..

Tata Power DDL to set up two pilot solar microgrids in Bihar

Tata Power Delhi Distribution (TPDDL) plans to set up two pilot solar microgrids in Bihar in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, General Electric and Tata Trust.

With this, the company is exploring a viable business model for distributed electricity generation and electrification of remote areas.

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Delhi Lt Governor for enhancing capacity of waste-to-energy plants

Lt Governor Anil Baijal today suggested to the EDMC to explore the possibility of enhancing the capacity of the construction and demolition (C&D) plant at Shahstri Park and the Ghazipur waste-to-energy unit in east Delhi.

He made the suggestion during an inspection visit to the C&D plant, which, according to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), "recovers and recycles about 95 per cent of... Read more..