Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Using renewable energy for cooking needs will take more time

It is going to take a longer time for renewable energy and electricity to replace conventional fuels for cooking.

Speaking at a webinar on World Biofuel Day, Tarun Kapoor, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said, “In cooking and industrial use, the prime need is for heating and therefore electricity may take sometime before it can take over.”

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327 items make up biggest chunk of imports from China

Just 327 products — ranging from mobile phones and telecom equipment to cameras, solar panels, air-conditioners and penicillin — accounted for nearly three-fourths of the imports from China, a study has estimated, while pointing out that it is possible to find alternative sources to get these goods or manufacture them in India.... Read more..

Finance Minister launches an Online Dashboard for the National Infrastructure Pipeline

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Online Dashboard here today through video conferencing.

The online dashboard is envisaged as a one stop solution for all stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects in New India. The dashboard is being hosted on the India Investment Grid (IIG) (... Read more..

Himalayan Geothermal Springs release huge amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Carbon outflux from Earth’s interior to the exosphere through volcanic eruptions, fault zones, and geothermal systems contribute to the global carbon cycle that effects short and long term climate of the Earth. Himalaya hosts about 600 geothermal springs having varied temperature and chemical conditions. Their role in regional and global climate, as well as the process of tectonic driven gas emission, needs to be considered while estimating emissions to the carbon cycle and thereby to global warming.... Read more..

Karnataka’s e-vehicle policy yet to pick up speed

Karnataka was the first state in India to introduce an electric vehicle policy aimed at promoting manufacture and use of battery-run green vehicles. However, Karnataka Electric Vehicle & Energy Storage Policy 2017 has made no headway so far.

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Tata Power, Azure Power and O2 Power emerge winners in NTPC auction

A Chinese company that had expressed interest in a solar auction conducted by NTPC pulled out, while India’s Tata Power, Azure Power and O2 Power won projects of 300 MW-400 MW each, with the lowest... Read more..

Solar cameras to track snow leopards near Army & ITBP camps in upper reaches of Himalayas

The forest department of Uttarakhand has decided to install solar-powered camera traps in the upper reaches of Himalayas to monitor snow leopards, which are listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN’s Red List. The installation will be done in and around the Army and ITBP camps and in the first stage, nearly 40 cameras are to be installed, officials told TOI. The camera images would be used for population... Read more..

In absence of NGT directions on waste mgmt, biz goes on as usual

Though clear directions about the revised deadline for implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules-2016 are yet to be announced by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), at the ground level not many things have changed since the first deadline of March 31 fixed by the tribunal.

Whether source segregation... Read more..

France to build 1.5 GW of floating offshore wind in the Mediterranean Sea

The French National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) is preparing to launch the public consultation phase for the siting of future floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea.

On 29th July, the CNDP confirmed that it will organize a public debate for two 250 MW floating wind farms and transmission systems in the... Read more..

Suzuki, Toshiba, Denso EV battery plans go on the back burner due to the coronavirus pandemic

The India joint venture of Suzuki Motor, Toshiba and Denso is likely to put on hold plans for a second phase of its project to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, even as the work on the first phase is currently behind schedule, people in the know said.

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Government grants ISTS waiver extension for solar, wind projects until June 2023

The power ministry has extended waiver of inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charges and losses on supply of power generated from solar and wind sources until 30 June 2023.

It added that no ISTS charges would be levied for 25 years from the date of commissioning of the power plants for the supply and sale to entities having renewable purchase obligations.

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Dropbox Looks to Purchase 100% Renewable Energy by 2030

San Francisco-based Dropbox has announced new sustainability goals for 2030. Environmental targets for the document management software company include sourcing energy for their operations from 100% renewable sources.

Dropbox also plans to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1, 2, and 3 business travel emissions within 10 years. In addition to their headquarters, the company has 12 offices globally.... Read more..