Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India’s 250 MW solar auction concludes with lowest bid of $0.033/kWh

Tata Power has revealed that its TP Saurya Ltd. unit has secured the rights to develop a 250 MW grid-connected solar project at the Dondaicha Solar Park in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The developer won the auction by Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (Mahagenco) by quoting a tariff of INR 2.51 ($0.033) per kWh.

State-run SJVN and NTPC Renewable Energy also participated in the auction with bids of INR 2.53 and INR 2.82, respectively.

In January, Mahagenco opened bidding from solar power developers to set up 250 MW of grid-connected solar projects at the... Read more..

Germany aims for net zero emissions by 2045, 5 years earlier

BERLIN: German officials proposed on Wednesday (May 5) that the country could bring forward the date for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero” to 2045, after Germany’s top court ruled that existing plans place too much of the burden for curbing climate change on young people.

Under the proposal announced by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the country would increase its emissions reduction targets from 55per cent to 65 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030, and to 88 per cent by 2040.

The timetable would enable Germany to stop... Read more..

UK and India agree on roadmap to combat climate change by 2030

Britain said on Tuesday it had agreed with India on plans to combat climate change by 2030, including protecting forests and working together on the clean energy transition, as it prepares to host the COP26 UN Climate Summit later this year.

“The UK and India share a longstanding partnership and I am greatly encouraged by the steps we have taken today to bolster our joint efforts on tackling climate change,” said COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma.

India to finance 100 MW Bangladeshi solar plant

The federal government will provide $131 million of soft loans for a $177 million, 100 MW solar park near the Jamuna river in Bangladesh’s Jamalpur district, where a second park of a similar size is being planned by Dhaka and a Chinese partner.

With Indian policymakers pushing to establish a domestic solar manufacturing industry, it has emerged the country will provide $131 million of soft loans for the government of Bangladesh to develop a 100 MW solar park.

The 325-acre solar project, to be built on a mainly government-owned khas (fallow) site leased from the Ministry of... Read more..

Biden Pushes for Diversity in Transition to Clean Energy

NEW YORK (AP) — As the nation pushes to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and use cleaner energy sources, President Joe Biden’s administration says it wants to ensure diversity among the communities that benefit from the transition and the people who are hired to do the work.

The administration says it wants more solar arrays erected in communities that have suffered from pollution caused by fossil fuels. It's also directing research grants and opportunities to students and faculty members at historically Black colleges and minority-serving institutions.

The Department of... Read more..

JSW Energy signs PPA for 540 MW of wind power projects

JSW Energy said its arm JSW Renew Energy has sign­ed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the supply of 540 Mw of blended wind power capacity. The PPA is signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

The company in a statement said this is single largest PPA for wind/blended wind power capacity awar­ded to a company and will mark the foray of JSW in this segment.

The firm won these projects in a competitive bidding done by SECI. Earlier on March, it was awarded 450 Gw of wind power capacity. JSW aims to be a 10 Gw energy firm in this decade. In September 2020, JSW... Read more..

Goldi Solar completes supply of 24 MW solar modules to LS Mills

Surat, India: Goldi Solar, India’s most quality conscious solar brand has completed a 24+ MW supply order of solar modules to LS Mills, a leading textile company based in Theni, Tamil Nadu. The modules are for a project based in Aviyoor, Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu commissioned in March 2021. Goldi Solar’s 71690 high efficiency solar panels Goldi 72 GN poly crystalline modules of 335 Wp was used in the project.

LS Mills is expected to save approximately 37.668 GWh of electricity per annum and help offset over 35040 tons of CO2 per year.

Commenting on the... Read more..

Bosch, Shell, and Volkswagen develop renewable gasoline with 20 percent lower CO₂ emissions

Stuttgart, Germany – The available range of renewable low-carbon fuels is growing. Following on from R33 Blue Diesel, Bosch, Shell, and Volkswagen have now come up with a low-carbon gasoline. Their new fuel, called Blue Gasoline, similarly contains up to 33 percent renewables, ensuring a well-to-wheel reduction in carbon emissions of at least 20 percent per kilometer driven. This means a fleet of 1,000 VW Golf VIII 1.5 TSIs alone could save more than 230 metric tons of CO₂ per year, assuming an annual mileage of 10,000 kilometers each. Shell will offset the remaining carbon emissions from... Read more..

India's power consumption grows 41 per cent in April to 119 billion units

NEW DELHI: Power consumption in the country grew 41 per cent in April 2021 to 119.27 billion units (BU) over the same month last year, showing robust recovery in industrial and commercial demand of electricity, according to power ministry data.

Power consumption in April last year was recorded at 84.55 BU. On the other hand, peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, during the first half of this month remained well above the highest record of 132.20 GW in April 2020.

During April this year, peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day touched the... Read more..

Cargill steps up push to cut carbon emissions from shipping fleet

LONDON: Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, has cut nearly 1.5 million tonnes of gross carbon emissions from its fleet since 2017, a top company executive said, as it steps up efforts to go green.

With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions.

The United Nations aims to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050. This target will require the swift development of zero or low emission fuels and new designs for ships.

Cargill achieved an overall... Read more..

NGOs call on ADB to end fossil fuel loans amid climate reboot

A group of non-governmental organisations called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday to end loans to the fossil-fuels sector, as the international lender holds its annual meeting this week with a focus on a green economic recovery.

The ADB, which finances initiatives aimed at boosting economic prospects for Asia's poorest, is also reviewing its lending policies, which its own management has said are not fit for a climate-changed world.

Governments this year have stepped up climate action as U.S. President Joe Biden seeks to reverse measures by the Trump... Read more..

Salesforce Urges Suppliers to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Adds Climate to Contracts

The Salesforce perspective:

At Salesforce, the environment is one of our key stakeholders. As part of our 1.5 degree Celsius Science Based Target, we are actively working with suppliers to set science-based targets of their own by 2024.
Today, Salesforce is introducing new climate commitments that will be integrated in supply chain contracts to help suppliers reduce their carbon emissions. We will work collaboratively with suppliers in determining the right sustainable path forward.
Only when customers and suppliers prioritize data-driven climate action together will we... Read more..