Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Transco once again seeks Centre’s approval to surrender costly power

Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (AP Transco) has so far written two letters to the secretary of Union ministry of power requesting to surrender the high cost thermal power. Initially, AP Transco wrote on October 11, 2019, seeking permission to surrender the power allocated by the Centre for two plants – NTPC Kudgil and NTECL Vallur — citing ‘dismal operational performance’ causing overall per unit cost of power surging to Rs 10 per unit. ... Read more..

Japan's NTT to build renewable energy business, says Nikkei

Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) will develop a renewable energy business with its own electricity grid and is likely to invest over 1 trillion yen ($9.3 billion) by fiscal 2030, Nikkei reported on Monday.

The move by the telecommunications conglomerate comes as renewable energy is seen... Read more..

Austria to support purchase of electric cars with 5,000 eur from July

Austria will boost financial incentives for buying battery-powered cars and bicycles, and triple grants for charging points from July in its efforts to fight global warming, the economy minister said on Monday.

Electric car buyers will get 5,000 euros ($5,640) in support from Wednesday, up from 3,000... Read more..

PSU power lenders to discourage states from using Chinese equipment, tech

Draft EIA Notification is an attempt to weaken regulation, silence affected communities

The government has put up for public consideration and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020, which if put into force will replace the EIA Notification of 2006 for all future projects.

The EIA process scrutinises the potential environmental impact and negative externalities of a proposed project before ground is broken and determines whether it can be carried out in the... Read more..

Goa to pilot sensor based monitoring for water service delivery and provide 100% tap connections by 2021

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his letter to Chief Minister of Goa, expressed happiness that the State plans to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by 2021.

Launched by Prime Minister last year, Jal Jeevan Mission aims to ensure that... Read more..

VSCL inks MoU with IIT-BHU to expedite Smart City work

To accelerate the pace of the Smart City mission in Varanasi, the Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) signed a MoU with Varanasi Smart City Limited (VSCL) and also launched a virtual centre- ‘Smart City Cell’ at the institute.

Signing the MoU, director IIT-BHU Prof Pramod... Read more..

UP government to install 670 MW rooftop solar capacity across 5 cities by 2024

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday said it has set a target of installing 670 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity across five "religious" cities of the state by 2024. The government will also provide a subsidy of Rs 1,332 crore for the installation of rooftop solar projects in Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj, Minister for Department of Additional Sources of Energy Shrikant Sharma said in a statement.

... Read more..

Powering Livelihoods to provide ₹1 cr to 6 firms working on clean energy-based livelihoods solutions

Powering Livelihoods, an initiative by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro Innovations Foundation, has announced it was providing a cumulative emergency funding of ₹1 crore to six Indian enterprises working on clean energy-based livelihoods solutions.

Their names have not been shared as due diligence is still on.

... Read more..

ABB Power Grids India, NIT Warangal To Drive Smart Electric Grid Education

ABB Power Grids India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Institute of Technology Warangal (NITW) in Telangana for cooperation to drive smart electric grid technology education, skills development and research activities.

For a nation-wide smart electric grid, India's education system and future talent play a vital role. In recognising this need, ABB Power Grids India has partnered... Read more..

India joins ‘Alliance for Poverty Eradication’ at UN as founding member

India has become a founding member of an Alliance for Poverty Eradication at the UN, launched by the President of the General Assembly, aimed at focussing on efforts to boost global economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande will formally launch the ‘Alliance for Poverty Eradication’ on June 30, which he said will serve... Read more..

NTPC awarded project management contract for 500-MW solar park in Mali

NTPC has been awarded the project management consultancy contract for the development of 500 megawatt (MW) solar park in the Republic of Mali, ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) said on Wednesday.

According to the press release, the announcement was made in an event hosted by the International Solar Alliance here, and was chaired by renewable energy minister R K Singh.

... Read more..