Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Draft rules for utilising solid waste for cement production

With landfill sites across major cities filled beyond capacity, the central pollution control board (CPCB) has now come out with fresh draft guidelines proposing use of solid and industrial waste as fuel in cement industry to ensure that millions of tonnes hazardous waste is utilised. 

According to CPCB, about 7.4 million tonnes of hazardous wastes is annually generated in India, out of which around 3.98... Read more..

Gamesa set to bag 100 MW solar order

Wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa is all set to bag a contract for building a 100 MW solar power plant for Neyveli Lignite Corporation. Gamesa has emerged the lowest bidder in 500 MW NLC tender.

Gamesa has quoted a price for 100 MW. Bidders for the other 400 MW will be asked to match Gamesa’s prices, failing which Gamesa’s contract could be for a higher capacity, NLC’s Chairman and Managing Director, SK... Read more..

Target Corporation to invest $5mn in 'green chemistry' innovation

US retailer Target Corporation aims to invest $5 million in ‘green chemistry’ innovation by 2020. The Minneapolis-based firm aims to improve textile products by eliminating added perfluorinated chemicals and further removing added flame retardants that are potential carcinogens that could pose harm to the end user, textiles workers or their communities.

“Our chemical strategy will be one of the most... Read more..

GM, Honda team up to develop advanced hydrogen fuel cells

General Motors Co. and Honda Motor Co. took a big step toward putting out vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells by forming a joint venture to produce the systems for both companies' vehicles.

The automakers expect to begin production in 2020 at a GM battery-pack facility south of Detroit, creating about 100 new jobs. They'll also work together on setting up fueling stations to make the cars marketable.... Read more..

BP Advocates for Putting a Price on Carbon

A key oil and gas company is saying that governments internationally need to put a price on carbon to increase the percentage of renewables, natural gas and energy efficiency. BP’s Chief Executive Bob Dudley said in the company’s “BP Energy Outlook 2035” that even though carbon emissions will grow at a slower rate than in the past, they will still rise overall.

BP is part of a group of oil companies that... Read more..

171 villages in Visakhapatnam to get solar power soon

A total of 171 remote tribal villages in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts would be electrified with solar rooftops, said MM Nayak, CMD of AP Electricity Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL).

Addressing the Republic Day gathering at the discom office here on Thursday, he said they have already covered as many as 158 villages in which a total of 3,373 houses were given solar power.... Read more..

EESL to invest Rs 24,700 cr for energy conservation in Andhra Pradesh

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a company under the Union Power Ministry, today signed multiple MoUs, worth Rs 24,700 crores, with the Andhra Pradesh government for energy efficiency and solar projects in the state.

The execution of projects through these MoUs would help the state reduce consumption of power and add over 80,000 jobs in the state, EESL said in a release.

... Read more..

Power Ministry misses target despite rise in output for November-December

 Demonetisation may have negligible impact on power sector as output grew by 8.53 per cent in November and 6.13 per cent in December year-on-year but Power Ministry could not achieve the targeted electricity generation during the respective months.

There was a fear that junking high value currency notes of Rs 1,000/500 will lead to slowdown in all segments in the economy including power sector.... Read more..

Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (APEPDCL) to provide rooftop solar power systems to domestic consumers using a minimum of 200 units of power

Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited (APEPDCL) in association with New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited (NREDCAP) and Andhra Bank will provide rooftop solar power systems to domestic consumers who use a minimum of 200 units of power supplied by APEPDCL.

Explaining the project to TOI, APEPDCL CMD MM Nayak said it is introduced on a pilot basis by the discom in... Read more..

Dungarpur to have the first locally-owned Solar Module Manufacturing Plant

Dungarpur is going to have the first locally-owned Solar Module Manufacturing Plant. The unit would come into operation soon which would be fully owned and operated by tribal women. The ambitious project aims to provide employment to 30,000 women. The foundation stone laying programme for the factory was organized on Thursday.

The plant is a joint venture of the state government, IIT-Bombay and Rajeevika... Read more..

Family-sized Solar Car to Race in World Solar Challenge

Solar Team Great Britain has started a kickstarter page to help fund their design for entry in the 2017 World Solar Challenge. Founder Steven Heape leads a team of volunteers from many different disciplines, companies and universities working on a family-sized solar car to compete in the cruiser class. “Cruiser Class is about two or more seats. It’s about a practical car,” says Heape.

The car will carry... Read more..

1.28 million Renewable Energy Certificates traded in January, says IEX

New Delhi: Power exchange IEX today said that a total of 12.88 lakh renewable energy certificates (RECs) were traded in January.

"A total of 12.88 lakh RECs were traded in the REC trading session held on January 25, 2017 at IEX," it said in a statement.

Power distribution companies as well as open access and captive consumers are under obligation to buy RECs from renewable energy producers under RPO mandated by central/state regulatory commissions.

RECs are aimed at providing an easier avenue for various entities, including power distribution companies, to meet their... Read more..