Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Electric vehicles are starting to buoy global metals market

The market gloom over the metals that will power the cars of the future is starting to lift. Supply overhangs and then the coronavirus pandemic had crushed short-term prospects for the minerals used to make rechargable batteries.

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Union Minister of Jal Shakti held discussion with Assam Chief Minister through VC for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat held discussion with Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal regarding implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the State through video conferencing today. Government of India is committed to provide assured basic services to the people living in rural areas of the country with focus on improving their living standard. Drinking water supply is a service delivery, wherein the quantity, quality of water supplied and periodicity of water supply... Read more..

Odisha to scale up solar power production to 1,500 MW

The Odisha Government has decided to increase solar power production capacity to 1500 MW by 2022 to promote carbon neutral green energy and meet its renewable power obligation (RPO). As of now, around 474 MW ongrid solar power plants have been installed at different parts of the State through Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDCOL) and Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).

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World Bank and Government of India sign $750 million Agreement for Emergency Response Programme for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises

The World Bank and the Government of India today signed the $750 million agreement for the MSME Emergency Response Programme to support increased flow of finance into the hands of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

The World Bank’s MSME Emergency Response Programme will address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of some 1.5 million viable MSMEs to... Read more..

CPPIB, others in talks to buy SBG Cleantech

Kolkata: Solar trees to light up pavement, park at township

As part of its efforts to promote the use of non-conventional energy, civic authorities in New Town, an emerging satellite township on the outskirts of the city, have decided to set up solar trees and road studs across its length and breadth. A top official of the New Town... Read more..

PM to unveil Asia's largest solar plant in MP on July 10: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation Asia's largest 750 MW Rewa ultra mega solar plant in Madhya Pradesh via video conferencing on July 10, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Delhi on Sunday. A state government release also quoted that Chouhan has met Union minister of state for energy R K Singh at his residence in the national capital and urged him to attend the inauguration programme.

PPA solar projects may be exempted from high customs duty on Chinese imports

In what may be music to the ears of solar power producers setting up their projects using Chinese equipment, government proposes to exempt those having power purchase agreements (PPAs) with procuring states from the steeper customs duty levy. Sources in the power ministry said that all solar power projects having valid PPAs as on August 1, 2020 will escape the proposed import duty on solar equipment and components even if such imports are to be done from China. This would be an one time exemption as the government under its Atmanirbhar Bharat mission wants to restrict imports of all... Read more..

Okaya Bags EV Charger Deal From PGCIL in Meghalaya

Okaya, a flagship company of Okaya Power Group has announced that it has bagged a major contract from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a Maharatna PSU of Government of India. PGCIL has given this contract to Okaya for supply, installation and commissioning of over 55 Multi-Standard EV charger (100 kW) as per CCS2/CHAdeMO Protocol, and 15 kW DC fast chargers as per DC-001 in Shillong, Meghalaya. Committed to meet the fast-emerging demand for both Charging Infrastructure as well as EV Charging Solutions across the country, Okaya will be deploying its ‘‘state-of-the-art’’ EV... Read more..

Electrification work at world's 'largest' COVID care centre completed in record time: Discom

To ensure seamless power supply to the world's "largest" COVID-19 care centre here in a "record time", more than 100 workers and officials of discom BRPL worked round the clock to lay 22-km-long cable underground and install 24 transformers for a load of 23 MW, its spokesperson said on Sunday. The 10,000-bed Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre in south Delhi was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday. "The (electrification) task was completed in a record time of nearly 15 days with over 100 discom officials and workers toiling round the clock under the direct supervision of... Read more..

Plans in Place to More Than Triple Local Solar Manufacturing Capacity

The government has proposed a major push to domestic manufacturing of solar equipment in the country that would completely eliminate the need for imports The central government has proposed a major push to domestic manufacturing of renewable energy (solar) equipment in the country that would completely eliminate the need for imports, particularly from countries such as China. As part of the plan, an accelerated manufacturing plan is being operationalised that is incentivising setting up of solar cell manufacturing capacity of 4,000 MW that would allow project developers to restrict the... Read more..