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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Annual energy audits a must for Discoms, says Power Ministry

The Ministry of Power has made energy audits an annual requirement for electricity distribution companies in a regulation notified on Thursday.

“Every electricity distribution company shall conduct energy audit (accounting) for every financial year within a period of three months from the expiry of relevant financial year. There shall not be a gap of more than twelve months between two energy audits (accounting),” according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Manner and Intervals for Conduct of Energy Audit (Accounting) in Electricity Distribution Companies) Regulations, 2021.

... Read more..
Source: The Hindu Businessline

IEX starts cross-border electricity trade for integrated South Asian market

The Indian Energy Exchange, India’s premiere energy marketplace, is pleased to announce
commencement of the Cross Border Electricity Trade (CBET) on its platform. This is a first-of-its
kind initiative for the Exchanges to expand their power markets beyond India to the South Asia
region towards building an integrated South Asian regional power market.

In a remarkable development following the notification of CBET Regulations by CERC in the year
2019 and the recent notification of CBET Rules in March’21 by the Central Electricity Authority
(CEA), NVVN... Read more..

Source: Iexindia

P&G commissions first in-house solar plant

Hyderabad plant is its first in India to get the facility, and fifth globally
Procter & Gamble on Monday said it has commissioned its first in-house solar plant at the company’s Hyderabad manufacturing site.

This is P&G’s first site in India and only the fifth manufacturing site globally to house a solar plant. Spread over 16,000 sq mt and comprising nearly 3,000 panels, the facility has a capacity of 1 MW clean energy production. It will reduce P&G’s carbon footprint by an estimated 1,030 tonnes annually, a release said.

Plant Head of the Hyderabad... Read more..

Source: The Hindu

Odisha: Energy min directs officials to expedite rural electrification

BHUBANESWAR: State energy minister Dibya Shankar Mishra has directed officials of the department to expedite the rural electrification works in the state.

During a recent meeting on the department’s key programmes, the minister also reviewed progress of various development projects and programmes relating to infrastructure, village electrification and implementation of 5T and Mo Sarkar initiatives in energy department.

Though 100% villages in the state have already been electrified, the minister asked the officials to complete household electrification in the next few months... Read more..

Source: Economics Times

National climate vulnerability assessment identifies eight eastern states as highly vulnerable; Extreme events are on rise both in terms of their number and severity: DST Secretary Professor Ashutosh Sharma;

The National climate vulnerability assessment report released today has identified Jharkhand, Mizoram, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal as states highly vulnerable to climate change. These states, mostly in the eastern part of the country, require prioritization of adaptation interventions, the report pointed out.

The report titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’, which identifies the most vulnerable states and districts in India with respect to current climate risk and key drivers of... Read more..

Source: PIB

Renewable energy key part of India's growth programmes: Javadekar

New Delhi: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday said India is increasingly leveraging renewable energy to fuel its growing power consumption as it scales programmes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat. India has only 3 per cent contribution in the historical emissions and that the US, Europe and other regions have contributed more to harmful emissions over the last 150 years, the Minister said at Amazon Smbhav event.

"Though we are not part of the problem, we want to be part of the solution. Even today's current emissions of the world, we are only 7 per cent of the world emissions... Read more..

Source: Economics Times

India to become No 1 EV maker in world: Nitin Gadkari

The government wants to encourage automakers to introduce flex-fuel engines in India and he is in the final discussion with manufacturers, says the Union Minister
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday expressed confidence that lithium-ion batteries would be manufactured fully in the country in the next six months and India will become number one electric vehicle maker in the world in due course of time.

Addressing the Amazon's Smbhav Summit virtually, Mr. Gadkari further said that the government wants to encourage automakers to introduce flex-fuel engines in India and he is... Read more..

Source: The Hindu

Aditya Birla Group''s cellulose arm bags maiden UN award for sustainability

Birla Cellulose, part of the Aditya Birla Group and one of the largest global manmade cellulosic fibre (MMCF) producer, has emerged as a winner in the first edition of the “National Innovative and Sustainable Supply Chain Awards” by UN Global Compact Network India.

The case study presented by the company– Liva Reviva by Birla Cellulose & Fully Traceable
Circular Global Fashion Supply Chains – was awarded for innovation in recycled and circular
fibre made with pre-consumer fabric waste and end-to-end ‘live’ supply chain transparency
and traceability through its... Read more..

Source: Birla Cellulose

CPCB, DPCC told to take remedial action against WTE plants

New Delhi: National Green Tribunal has directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take remedial action against the three waste-to-energy plants in Ghazipur, Okhla and Narela-Bawana. CPCB had audited the WTE plants and found violations at three units, before giving its recommendations to NGT.

NGT said CPCB may utilise the experience of functioning of waste-to-energy plants in Delhi for similar steps elsewhere, particularly metro cities.

For the Okhla plant, CPCB recommended it implement measures to improve ambient air... Read more..

Source: Economics Times

India may build new coal plants due to low cost despite climate change

India may build new coal-fired power plants as they generate the cheapest power, according to a draft electricity policy document seen by Reuters, despite growing calls from environmentalists to deter use of coal.

Coal’s contribution to electricity generation in India fell for the second straight year in 2020, marking a departure from decades of growth in coal-fired power. Still, the fuel accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s annual power output. read more

Environmental activists have long rallied against India adding new coal-fired capacity. Solar and wind energy... Read more..

Source: Reuters

India is looking towards kick-starting the hydrogen ecosystem development, says Shri Dharmendra Pradhan; Petroleum Minister addresses the Hydrogen Economy- New Delhi Dialogue

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today said that India is looking towards various colors to kick-start the hydrogen ecosystem development. Addressing the Hydrogen RoundTable on “Hydrogen Economy: New Delhi Dialogue – 2021”, he said that in India, we have taken various initiatives with respect to the greater use of hydrogen in India’s energy mix. Government of India recently announced the National Hydrogen Mission in the Union Budget 2021 for making a hydrogen roadmap for the country. “We are working on a pilot project on Blue Hydrogen, Hydrogen... Read more..

Source: PIB

US, India to launch hydrogen task force under Strategic Energy Partnership

NEW DELHI : India and the United States will launch a Hydrogen Task Force under the Strategic Energy Partnership between the two countries soon, announced US Deputy Secretary of Energy, David M Turk.

He made the announcement at the inaugural edition of the Hydrogen Roundtable titled "Hydrogen Economy: New Delhi Dialogue - 2021".

"We are working together with partners in India to launch a US-India Hydrogen Task Force under the US-India Strategic Energy Partnership", said Turk.

"The United States is committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. We will focus on... Read more..

Source: Live Mint

India eyes plan to blend hydrogen in natural gas grid; sees biomass as H2 feedstock

Singapore — India envisages a bright future for hydrogen in the next 15-20 years, supplementing natural gas via blending in the grid and in compressed natural gas for vehicles, the president of the Hydrogen Association of India said April 15.

Speaking at the virtual conference "Hydrogen Economy: New Delhi Dialogue - 2021," R. K. Malhotra said India has already been experimenting with blending hydrogen into CNG, but that the current cost of the blend was higher than the unblended CNG, because "the cost to produce hydrogen is much higher than the cost of the natural gas."

He... Read more..

Source: SP Global

BRFL textiles pioneers water-free fabric dyeing with new sulphur dyeing process

BRFL Textiles Private Limited’s new continuous textile dyeing method has enabled it to eradicate water from its process, the business announced in a press release on April 15. The company, which operates India's largest single-roof ‘state-of-the-art’ fabric processing facility, announced that it is the first business in the textile sector to use this technology.

The business’ energy co-generation design reuses 48 tonnes of steam per hour which enables it to save 250 tonnes of coal per day and significantly reduce its carbon footprint, according to its press release. Its plant in... Read more..

Source: Fashion Network

Carbon tax could help Asian countries hit climate targets: IMF

1. Introduction and Outlook

Good evening! [wăn shàng hăo]. I would like to thank Governor Yi Gang for inviting me here today, and to the People’s Bank of China for co-hosting this important event.

Given the challenges facing us at this pivotal moment, I would like to draw inspiration from three Chinese sayings.

The first is this: “Dispel the clouds and see the sun”.

Last year, the world was clouded by the worst pandemic in a century and the deepest recession since the Second World War.

Now the outlook is starting to become sunnier. With the recovery... Read more..

Source: IMF

S. Korea eyes to set global standards for EV wireless charging: 50kW charging, 80% charging in an hour

South Korea said Thursday it will ramp up efforts to promote a homegrown charging technology for electric vehicles (EVs) as an international standard, as the country plans to penetrate deeper into the growing sector.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards held a virtual meeting with experts from home and abroad to further foster the wireless charging technology for EVs with a capacity of 50 kilowatts, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

South Korea proposed the technology as a global standard to the International Electrotechnical Commission last... Read more..

Source: Korea Herald

Facebook signs renewable energy deal in India; says it has reached net zero

Facebook (FB.O) has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday.

Facebook also said that as of 2020, the company's global operations were supported wholly by renewable energy and that it has reached net-zero emissions.

The 32 megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working on together to supply renewable power... Read more..

Source: Reuters

Inaugural Edition of The Hydrogen Economy – New Delhi Dialogue 2021; Hydrogen Roundtable being Organised by The Energy Forum and FIPI under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 15th April 2021

The Energy Forum (TEF) and the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, are organising a Hydrogen Roundtable titled “Hydrogen Economy- the Indian Dialogue-2021” in a virtual mode on 15th April, 2021 to discuss emerging hydrogen ecosystems and exploring opportunities for collaboration, cooperation and coalition.

As the world chases its international climate commitments and takes steps to counter climate change, Hydrogen is gaining increasing importance as a source to bridge energy gaps and also as a... Read more..

Source: PIB

India will raise climate ambitions but 'not under pressure': Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said India will raise its climate ambitions but "not under pressure", and that it will not allow anybody to forget their historical responsibility.

However, the environment ministry later issued a clarification stating Javadekar "had only said that India will 'over achieve' its commitment made in Paris and not said that India will 'raise its ambitions'".

India is suffering because of the mistakes of others and "is not responsible for climate change that is happening", he said at a climate conference at the French... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

India, France to push joint initiatives on climate change

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) India and France on Wednesday agreed to further joint initiatives on solar power, eliminating single use plastic and green hydrogen.

Environment and Climate change Minister Prakash Javadekar had a bilateral meeting with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean Yves Le Drian in which both discussed boosting global action on climate change.

2021 is the year of Indo-French year of environment and the ministers' deliberation took place ahead of the Glasgow summit in June.

Speaking at a panel organised at the Embassy of France,... Read more..

Source: Uni India

Oberoi Group signs MoU with EESL to further sustainability initiatives

New Delhi: Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, announced it has signed an MoU with The Oberoi Group to augment its sustainability initiatives.

EESL said that it will assist The Oberoi Group in implementing several energy-efficient initiatives, including clean energy systems across its properties through its Building Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP).

These initiatives will help reduce the group’s overall carbon footprint and strengthen its energy conservation efforts, the company said.

Under the contract, EESL... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Green hydrogen auctions, purchase obligations in the offing

The government is planning to use 2,000 mega-watt (MW) solar and wind power capacity for hydrogen production. It will also hold green hydrogen auctions as part of a broader plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Apart from industrial use, hydrogen technology can also be used to store electricity and potentially to run vehicles.

Sources said plans were also afoot to make it mandatory for user industries like fertilisers and petroleum refineries to purchase 10% of their hydrogen requirements from domestic green hydrogen sources.

The country currently consumes about 5-6... Read more..

Source: Financial Express

Apple announces support for mandatory climate change disclosure rules

“Today’s bold announcement from Apple affirms that there is support from companies to mandate the disclosure of comprehensive, decision-useful climate-related information that financial markets, investors and stakeholders need,” said Mindy Lubber, CEO and President of Ceres, which has long called for mandatory corporate disclosure of climate risks. “In becoming the first major U.S. publicly traded company to come out in favor of the SEC issuing mandatory climate disclosure rules, Apple is demonstrating their commitment to transparency and support for necessary regulatory change.”

“... Read more..

Source: Ceres

Bank of America boosts its ESG financing goal to $1 trillion by 2030

Bank of America last week more than tripled its environmental financing goal, saying it wants to deploy more than $1 trillion by 2030 to accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon, sustainable future, according to a Thursday press release.

Since launching its environmental business initiative in 2007, the bank said, it has financed $200 billion in sustainable activities, including asset-based lending, tax equity investments and capital raising in the energy and transportation sectors, among others. It pledged to back $300 billion in low-carbon activities between 2019 and 2030.... Read more..

Source: Utility Dive

Centre extends FAME-II certificate validity to one year from date of issue

New Delhi: The Department of Heavy Industries on Monday extended the validity of FAME-II certification of electric vehicles (EV) for obtaining subsidies to one year from the date issuance instead of a blanket expiry on 31 March.

This essentially means that automakers who received certification later than 1 April 2020 for receiving subsidies under the scheme will continue getting subsidies till 12 months from the date of issuance of the certificate and will then have another one month to renew their certification.

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of hybrid and Electric... Read more..

Source: Economic Times
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