Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Scientists from IITM Pune Develop New Model to Tackle Air Pollution Menace in Delhi-NCR

Much ahead of the air pollution season in northwest India, especially in Delhi-NCR, scientists have come up with a Decision Support System (DSS) that will not just help zero in on the exact sources contributing to Delhi's pollution, but also predict practical scenarios in winters.

The practical scenario prediction will include the level of pollution if a certain sector is shut down or sources from a certain area/district are controlled and this will help the government decide which sector to shut down or where to reduce activity in view of the prevailing air quality in Delhi.

Power Equipment Manufacturing Scheme

In order to reduce import dependence with regard to power and renewable energy equipment and to promote the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, a “Scheme for Setting up Manufacturing Zones for Power and Renewable Energy Equipment” has been proposed.

It is proposed to set up three Manufacturing Zones over a period of three years. Assistance will be given to these Manufacturing Zones for the purpose of setting up of the Common Infrastructure Facilities (CIF) and Common Testing Facilities (CTF). The selection criteria for these Manufacturing Zones is yet to be... Read more..

NTPC wins auction of 450 MW of Solar projects in Madhya Pradesh; Aims to build 60 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. (NTPC REL), a 100% subsidiary of NTPC, has emerged winner at the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) auction for a 450 MW of solar projects at the Shajapur Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh (M.P).

NTPC Renewables won a capacity of 105 MW & 220 MW quoting the lowest tariff of ₹2.35 per kWh, and ₹2.33 per kWh respectively. The tender received overwhelming response from the bidders with a total of 15 bidders being shortlisted .

Recently, NTPC REL has been given the go-ahead by MNRE on 12th July 2021 under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park... Read more..

Vikram Solar sets up 1.3 GW module manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu

The company is looking to add another 3-3.5 GW capacity in the next four-to-five years
Vikram Solar, which inaugurated its 1.3 GW module manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, is looking to add another 3-3.5 GW capacity in the next four-to-five years at an estimated investment of close to ₹5,000 crore.

Vikram Solar currently has a total installed capacity of 1.2 GW of solar modules at Falta in West Bengal.

With the addition of this new facility located at Indospace Industrial Park, Oragadam, Tamil Nadu, the company’s cumulative PV module manufacturing capacity... Read more..

Tackle climate change with same urgency shown to pandemic, says COP26 prez Sharma

Four months from now, all eyes will be on world leaders slated to meet in Glasgow to discuss measures to combat climate change. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, is anticipated to be the most important meeting to battle rising temperatures, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, wildfires and other catastrophic events.

Ahead of the international climate talks and the G20 ministerial meet on environment, climate and energy which is scheduled on July 22-23 in Naples, British MP Alok Sharma, who is also the COP26 president, speaks exclusively to TOI... Read more..

Suzuki to launch EVs by fiscal 2025, in India first

Japanese compact car maker Suzuki Motor will release its first all-electric vehicle by fiscal 2025, Nikkei has learned, a move that is likely to accelerate an EV shift in the category of compact cars.

The new EV will be released first in India, Suzuki's stronghold, to be followed by launches in Japan and Europe. The first EV model will be made available for 1.5 million yen ($13,700) or less, after government subsidies are taken into account. With Suzuki's entry, all major Japanese automakers are set to enter the EV market.

EV sales have been slow in India, the world's fifth-... Read more..

FCA slams ESG fund applications for claims ‘that do not bear scrutiny’

The UK financial watchdog has written asset managers criticising them over the “poor quality” of applications they are submitting to launch sustainable funds.

Sustainable investment funds are a booming segment of the asset management sector, with assets hitting a record €1.1tn in Europe at the end of 2020 amid the launch of more than 500 new products.

However, as a flurry of activity to launch funds in the UK continues, the Financial Conduct Authority said it has spotted serious flaws in applications it has received to set up environmental, social and governance focused funds... Read more..

Rajasthan announces EV subsidies, following Delhi, Maharashtra & Gujarat

The Rajasthan Government on Friday announced a policy to subsidise the sale of electric vehicles (EV) making it the latest state to have such a policy after Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. As per the policy document, the state component of the goods and services tax (SGST) would be refunded to buyers of all EVs in Rajasthan between April this year and March 2022. Moreover, buyers of electric two- and three-wheelers would be given additional cash subsidies between Rs 5,000 and Rs 20,000 depending on the size of the battery equipped. However, unlike other states with buyer-side subsidies for... Read more..

Andhra Pradesh plans to adopt global technology for energy efficiency

The state government will invite various national and international agencies, such as International Energy Agency, United States Agency for International Development and Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to collaborate with Andhra Pradesh in its energy efficiency movement. Participating in a webinar, chief secretary Adityanath Das said during Covid-19 last year, the state government announced Rs 1,100 crore financial assistance to MSMEs as a restart package.

The chief secretary has directed the energy department to furnish a... Read more..

Discoms' Outstanding Dues To Gencos Fall 15.25 Pc To Rs 82,305 Cr In May

Total outstanding dues owed by electricity distribution utilities or discoms to power producers fell 15.25 per cent to Rs 82,305 crore in May 2021 from a year ago. Distribution companies (discoms) owed a total Rs 97,111 crore to power generation firms in May 2020, according to portal PRAAPTI (Payment Ratification And Analysis in Power procurement for bringing Transparency in Invoicing of generators). The outstanding dues of discoms towards electricity producers have been increasing year-on-year as well as month-on-month for years showing perennial stress in the power sector till February... Read more..

India has emerged as world leader in Energy Transition; India to emerge as a leader in Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia; Government to facilitate easier open access to Green Energy : says Union Power Minister Shri RK Singh

Addressing the conference of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on “Aatmairbhar Bharat - Self Reliance for Renewable Energy Manufacturing”, the Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri RK Singh stated that India had emerged as world leader in the Energy Transition. He said that India had one of the fastest rates of growth of Renewable Energy capacity in the world. Shri R. K. Singh further added that India had pledged in COP-21 in Paris that by 2030; 40% of its power generation capacity will be from non-fossil fuel sources and had already reached at 38.5% and if the... Read more..

Govt to weigh one of India’s greatest reforms this Parliament session

“The Union cabinet may shortly consider the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, that aims to de-license power supply, allowing multiple distributors in the same area and giving consumers the option to switch power suppliers. Post the cabinet’s approval, the bill is expected to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament that begins on Monday. According to the Lok Sabha bulletin, the bill is in the tentative list of government’s legislative and financial business that is expected to be taken up during the sixth session of the 17th Lok Sabha. Speaking at a conference organized by... Read more..