Sustainability Outlook Headlines

REC Tenders for Solar Street Lights in Rural and Tribal Areas of Nashik

The Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) through its REC Foundation has issued tender for the engagement of PMA/ implementing agency for the procurement and installation of 1650 solar street lights in the rural and tribal areas of Nashik district of Maharashtra.

The last date for bid submission is November 2, 2020, and the techno-commercial bids will be opened on the same date. As the project is envisaged... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: Saur Energy International

NHPC plans to develop 600-MW ultra mega solar park in Uttar Pradesh

State-run hydropower major, NHPC, is planning to develop a solar park of around 600 Megawatt (MW) capacity in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, it said in a virtual event on Wednesday.

The proposed site is an island with Ghaghra river flowing from both its sides.

“NHPC is planning to develop a solar park of... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Economic Times

Air pollution now biggest health risk in India, says report

Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019, according to the State of Global Air 2020 by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute. Overall, air pollution was now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, the report noted.

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Hindu

India undertakes massive ramp-up in solar components production

An Indian firm is the world's largest solar company today.

A global ranking in September revealed that Adani Green Energy Ltd (Agel), part of the Adani Group conglomerate, had overtaken Hong Kong's GCL New Energy to become the world's top solar developer.

The five-year-old Adani's sprint to the top was possible thanks to an Indian government contract in January to build 8 gigawatts (GW) of large-scale solar capacity. The world's biggest solar offtake award took Adani's total solar portfolio to 12.3GW - roughly 70 per cent larger than GCL. One gigawatt can power over a million... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Straits Times

Setting up solar manufacturing capacity is a low-hanging fruit: Azure Power CEO

With the Indian government trying to provide a level-playing field to domestic solar power equipment manufacturers, the business is set to become profitable, helping more capacity to be set up locally over the next two-four years, Ranjit Gupta, chief executive officer of New York stock exchange-listed renewable energy firm Azure Power has said.

“Almost Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 85,000 crore of solar equipment is imported from China every year to fuel India’s solar growth. There is no reason why we should be doing that,”... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Economic Times

Autos to be fitted with electric batteries

The government is mulling replacing existing internal combustion (IC) engines in auto-rickshaws with electric batteries in a move aimed at lowering air pollution levels in major cities. To encourage auto-rickshaw owners to switch to the new technology, the government plans to set up battery swapping stations and a number of charging stations.

“According to studies, 37 per cent of the air pollution is generated by the vehicles. We need to act fast to move to electric vehicles (EVs) as... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Economic Times

2021: New deadline for 100% door-to-door waste collection

The state government on Thursday approved a new solid waste management (SWM) policy and strategy, which set 2021 as the deadline for segregation of waste at source and 100% door-to-door collection, while laying out guidelines to protect the health and dignity of pourakarmikas.

The Karnataka State Urban SWM Policy-2020 lays out a road map for urban local bodies, including BBMP, to implement time-bound... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: Deccan Herald

Donald Trump accuses China, India and Russia of not taking care of their ‘filthy air’

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused China, India and Russia of not taking care of their filthy air as he justified America’s withdrawal from the landmark Paris climate agreement.

“Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia. Look at India. The air is filthy,” Mr. Trump said during the final presidential debate with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I walked out of the Paris Accord as we had to take out trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly,” he said in response to a question on climate change.

Mr. Trump has ... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Hindu

Kerala: Muhamma takes to biopod waste management

A novel organic waste management project has been kicked off in Muhamma Grama panchayat, which involves conversion of organic waste to manure and fish and poultry feeds.
Under the project, ‘biopods’ or a type of a compost bin will be set up at households, poultry farms and fish farming centres. The system uses the larvae of Black Soldier Fly to decompose organic waste to usable nutrients.
... Read more..

Date : Oct 23

Source: The Times of India

Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches eco-friendly , efficient and DME fired “Aditi Urja Sanch” Unit at CSIR-NCL, Pune

The Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today inaugurated the DME fired “Aditi Urja Sanch” unit along with the DME-LPG blended fuel cylinders and handed them over for common public and CSIR-NCL (National Chemical Laboratory) canteen use on a trial basis at CSIR-NCL premises virtually through video-conferencing.Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in his address said, “The launch of this burner will also provide a significant boost to the 'Make in India' campaign as all the... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: Press Information Bureau

Solar-powered cold storage to reduce food wastage in India

Indian farmers have always struggled with reducing wastage of their produce due to a variety of reasons, including rickety market linkages and lack of facilities to store fast perishable items for any length of time. Food wastage in South and Southeast Asia is nearly 40%, according to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

This has severe implications in India, where more than 80% of the farmers... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: India Climate Dialogue

PHDCCI PITCHES FOR INDIA TO BE A HUB OF “SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY”

The new Aatma Nirbhar Bharat has got to be up to scratch and, for being competitive with the world, we need to understand that mobility and vehicles need fuel on the go. Alternate fuels should be made available on the go as India’s time to lead in this segment has arrived now, Amb Mr. Manjeev Singh Puri, Senior Indian Diplomat & India’s Former Ambassador to Nepal, European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Nations reflected on during the Session on “Way Forward for Making India, a Hub of Sustainable Mobility” in first-ever “AFT Virtual Virtual Expo & Conclave 2020”... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: PHD Chamber of Commerce

Sterlite Power secures financing for VNLTL project in India

Global power transmission company Sterlite Power has secured funding of Rs20.7bn ($281m) for its Vapi II North Lakhimpur Transmission (VNLTL) project in India. The debt financing was provided by Indian financial institution Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

In June, the company acquired the VNLTL project, and... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: Power Technology

AP to set up 7 storage plants to tackle power fluctuations

In a major development, the state government has decided to set up Pumped Hydro Storage Power Projects (PSP) as part of its decision to promote new renewable energy power plants.
The PSP mode is likely to balance fluctuations in total input power from the existing renewable energy plants depending on solar and wind power stations. PSP projects will act as largescale energy storage stations.

Date : Oct 22

Source: The Times of India

Andhra Pradesh govt proposes to set up solar plants to produce 10,000 MW

The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to set up its own generating units to produce 10,000 MW of solar power to meet the energy requirements of the agriculture sector. The government has already issued an order for setting up the Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation Limited, as a subsidiary of Power Generation Corporation of AP, to erect the 10,000 MW solar power plants.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who chaired a high-level review meeting on the power sector here on Wednesday, directed the officials to... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: The Economic Times

Indexed renewable energy tariffs can save up to Rs 21,880 cr for discoms over 5 yrs

Indexed (inflation linked) renewable energy tariffs can save India's discoms up to Rs 21,880 crore over the next five years, a joint study by IEEFA and CEF said.

Inflation indexation of tariffs for future solar capacity could provide much-needed financial respite to the distressed power distribution sector and help India move away from coal-fired power, a joint briefing note by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and CEEW-Centre for Energy Finance (CEF) said.

Date : Oct 22

Source: The Economic Times

SECI announces an extension for its 100 MW (AC) Solar PV Project (200MWp DC capacity) along with 50MW/150 MWh Battery Energy Storage System tender in Chhattisgarh

In the month of September, The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had invited bids for a 100MWac/200MWp solar project with a 50MW/150MWh battery energy storage system at Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh.

In addition to the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the project, the contract also included operations and maintenance... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd

Coimbatore Corporation had little to show to NGT committee on progress in waste management

The State Level Monitoring Committee of National Green Tribunal for Solid Waste Management in Tamil Nadu has asked the Coimbatore Corporation to speed up the steps it had promised to take to decentralise solid waste management.

Committee Chairman Justice (retd.) P. Jyothimani briefly reviewed on Tuesday the progress the Corporation had made since the last meeting in January this year. After taking stock of... Read more..

Date : Oct 22

Source: The Hindu

Men's wear brand Indian Terrain Fashions ties up with Fairtrade India

Fashions Ltd on Tuesday said it has tied up with Fairtrade India to offer fashion collections with an eye on serving the farmers of Gujarat besides protecting the environment.

The city-based company through the partnership has committed to source over 50 per cent of the brand's collection through 'sustainable supply chains over the next three years'.

Date : Oct 21

Source: Business Standard

MNRE Drafts Policy Framework To Promote DRE Livelihood In Rural Areas ; Invites Comments By Stakeholders

In recent years, a wave of innovators and entrepreneurs has come up with a variety of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) livelihood applications, which are not only energy efficient but also economically viable in rural settings. Modular design of such DRE livelihood applications ensures scalability without large investments. DRE livelihood applications can be defined as applications powered by renewable energy, which are used for earning livelihoods directly such as solar dryer, solar powered cold storage/chillier, solar charkha, etc., or which help in earning livelihoods such as solar... Read more..

Date : Oct 20

Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

PM to inaugurate India Energy Forum next week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week inaugurate the annual India Energy Forum by CERAWeek, which gathers energy leaders to further important dialogue on the nation's new energy future. Modi will deliver the inaugural address at the virtual event, to be held on October 26-28, organiser IHS Markit said in a statement.

Date : Oct 20

Source: The Economic Times

Reliance says India will fully shift to renewable energy in few decades

India will fully move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy in the next few decades, the chairman of Reliance Industries, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, said on Monday.

Reliance, which operates two giant refineries with a combined capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day in western India, aims to become a net zero... Read more..

Date : Oct 20

Source: Business Standard

60-70 polluting power plants to be closed soon: Javadekar

Union Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday announced that 60-70 pollution-causing power plants would be identified and closed in the next two years as he discussed steps taken by the Narendra Modi government to tackle the pollution menace.

Date : Oct 20

Source: The Economic Times

More Indian Oil petrol pumps to offer EV charging facilities

India's top oil firm IOC is remodelling business with an increased focus on petrochemicals to hedge volatility in the fuel business, while at the same time turning petrol pumps into energy outlets that offer EV charging points and battery swapping options besides conventional fuels as it looks to make itself future-ready.

In an... Read more..

Date : Oct 20

Source: Live Mint

Bangladesh may cancel Nov LNG import tender after receiving high offers

Bangladesh may cancel a tender to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) in November, after receiving offers to supply the shipments that were too expensive, two energy officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

State-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company, which is in charge of LNG imports into the country, received offers from the Asian unit of Vitol and Swiss trader AOT Energy to supply 138,000 cubic metres of LNG for Nov. 12-13 delivery, said the two officials, who work for Rupantarita.

Date : Oct 20

Source: The Economic Times