Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Shri Nitin Gadkari says priority of the government is to fight pollution and develop Indian technology and innovation towards e-vehicles

Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that priority of the government is to fight pollution and develop Indian technology and innovation towards e-vehicles. Addressing India Global forum 2021on ‘Climate Action;Electric mobility Now’ he said Indian research is working aggressively towards pursuing green hydrogen. Shri Gadkari said we are trying our best to convert all our construction material to greener options. He said warm response is being received from the public on the adoption of Electric Vehicles, and he... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: PIB

Govt plans institution to fund businesses focused on electric vehicles: Gadkari

The government is planning to set up an institution to fund businesses with a focus on electric vehicles as well as facilitate new financial instruments for lending to the public transportation and commercial vehicle segment, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.

Addressing the India Global Forum 2021, Gadkari also said the government is planning to bring incentives for construction equipment vehicles to encourage them to become electric ones.

According to a recent report, India's electric vehicle financing industry is projected to be worth Rs 3.7 lakh crore in 2030... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: Economic Times

Govt gives extension to renewable projects delayed due to Covid

The government has extended relief to renewable sector amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic by allowing an extension of two-and-a-half months for power projects with commissioning dates between April 1 and June 15, 2021.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the changes that will prevent developers from being charged penalty for delaying commissioning of projects beyond the agreed timelines.
With the second wave of the pandemic resulting in lockdowns in different parts of the country, work on several power projects also got suspended resulting in... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: Economic Times

Regulator Sets Incremental Tariffs for Solar Safeguard Duty Compensation

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), in a recent order, ruled that Fortum Solar India is entitled to compensation for the additional cost incurred due to the imposition of safeguard duty through incremental tariffs.

The Commission asked the distribution companies (DISCOMs) to pay the supplementary bills for the incremental tariffs at the rate and minimum contracted capacity determined, from the commercial operation date until the date of the order in three equal monthly installments.

The Commission also directed the developer to abide by the affidavit dated... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: Mercom India

Green to Greener: GAIL eyes 1 GW renewable energy capacity, to set up biogas, ethanol plants

GAIL (India) Ltd will invest about Rs 5,000 crore to build a portfolio of at least 1 gigawatts of renewable energy and set up compressed biogas as well as ethanol plants as it steps up efforts to expand the business beyond natural gas.

As part of a push to embrace cleaner forms of energy, GAIL will be laying pipeline infrastructure to connect consumption centers to gas sources and spend as much as Rs 4,000 crore on renewable energy, GAIL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain said.

"We are a business that is already eco-friendly - gas. And now we want to leverage our... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: Business Standard

Amazon’s green fund invests in ION Energy

Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund has made its first investment in India through energy-tech startup ION Energy and participated as a part of the startup’s Pre-Series A round worth $3.6 million.

Amazon was joined by Silicon Valley-based Climate Capital, early-stage investor YourNest Venture Capital, Riso Capital and Venture Catalysts, among other angel investors.

The funds will be used to bolster the team as the startup looks to double its headcount, according to ION Energy. It is also expected to use the proceeds from the round for product development and expand its software... Read more..

Date : Jul 2

Source: Mint

India to set rules to encourage companies shift to green energy

India is making rules that will encourage companies to switch entirely to renewable power, a key step toward decarbonizing the nation’s fossil fuel-dominated economy.

The new regulations will allow companies to purchase renewable electricity from state distributors at “green tariffs,” Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh said at the virtual BloombergNEF summit on Tuesday. Hurdles for businesses seeking to buy clean power directly from generators will also be eased, he said.

Accelerating use of clean energy in offices and factories, the largest power consuming segment in the country... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Economic Times

NHAI plans EV charging stations along national highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to set up several EV charging stations that will help in boosting electric vehicle infrastructure in India in coming days. The plan is part of real estate development along the national highways across the country.

According to reports, the NHAI has identified more than 650 properties across 22 states with a combined area of over 3,000 hectares to develop highways infrastructure. NHAI will team up with with private sector in the next five years to undertake the development programme.

As many as 94 sites have been... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Hindustan Times

Chandigarh is ready with action plan on climate change, forms 5 working groups

On the basis of different missions under the state action plan on climate change (SAPCC) for Chandigarh, five working groups have been formed by the UT administration.

These groups include solar mission and enhanced energy efficiency; sustainable water mission; Green India mission; sustainable habitat (which includes air, waste, transport and health) and strategic knowledge for climate change.

The UT administration, in its action plan for climate change and to control air pollution, had submitted various initiatives from promoting battery-operated vehicles, green buffers... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Economic Times

Cabinet approves Rs 3.03-lakh-crore scheme for power distribution sector

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a reforms-based and results-linked revamped power distribution sector scheme with an aim to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of discoms.

"Power distribution reforms need to be strengthened... Today, the Cabinet has approved the new scheme worth Rs 3.03 lakh crore, including Rs 97,000 crore Central outlay," said R K Singh, power and renewable energy minister after the Cabinet briefing.

The scheme will provide conditional financial assistance to strengthen the supply infrastructure... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Economic Times

New Research Project to Develop Optimized Biogas from Bacteria

As climate change demands a fast transition towards sustainable power, the project aims to supplement existing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, with one that can be stored to produce heating or electricity on demand.

Biogas is mostly methane, with some carbon dioxide and traces of other gases, and it is produced by the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic digestion). Like biomass, biogas is burnt to produce energy without adding fossil fuels to the carbon cycle, and therefore it is a sustainable energy source.

Biologist Manuel... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

Spain joins campaign to phase out coal by 2030

Spain joined an international campaign to set a date for closing all coal plants by 2030 on Wednesday, signing up to a target it looks well-placed to beat by a wide margin.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance now counts 23 national governments among 133 members united by the desire to speed up the demise of coal-fired power generation and contribute to reining in planet-warming carbon emissions.

North Macedonia and Montenegro also joined the campaign, along with French asset manager Amundi (AMUN.PA) and Canadian utility Capital Power Corp (CPX.TO).

With abundant sunlight,... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Reuters

Amazon's carbon intensity falls, but CO2 emissions soar 19 per cent due to pandemic sales boom

Amazon has revealed that its absolute carbon emissions grew by nearly a fifth in 2020, hitting 60 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide as demand for online shopping deliveries skyrocketed throughout the pandemic.

The web and retail giant released the figures this evening as part of its 2020 sustainability report, which details the progress the company has made towards its overarching goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040, as well as its ongoing effort to mobilise other companies to join its Climate Pledge corporate decarbonisation initiative.

The update reveals the... Read more..

Date : Jul 1

Source: Amazon

Electricity (Amendment) Bill likely to be introduced in Monsoon session: Power minister R K Singh

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021, which enables power consumer to choose from multiple service providers as in the case of telecom services, is likely to be introduced and pushed for passage in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning in July.

Participating in the virtual BloombergNEF (BNEF) Summit, Power and Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said the bill seeks to delicense distribution of electricity.

"We proposed to delicense distribution of electricity just like the generation. The Cabinet note on the bill was circulated and all concerned ministries have... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: Economic Times

India's first just energy transition centre launched

India's first just energy transition centre launchedn the run-up to UN climate summit named COP 26, New Delhi-based International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) on Tuesday launched its India Just Transition Centre (IJTC).

Its inaugural virtual session was attended, among others, by MPs Jairam Ramesh and Jayant Sinha and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal, Vinod Kumar Tewari.

At the event a new report titled 'Five Rs: A cross-sectoral landscape of Just Transition in India' was also released.

Speaking at the event, Ramesh... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: Economic Times

CIL forges ahead towards Energy Efficiency - CIL to replace diesel machinery with LNG; add 1500 EVs to reduce carbon footprint

In a bid to reduce carbon footprint in its operational area, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) has put special thrust on energy efficiency measures and is forging ahead with a series of measures to offset carbon emission in mining operation in all its coal producing companies. Apart from taking immediate action for efficient use of energy, CIL has also drawn an ambitious 5-year plan of carbon offset in different fields of its operation.

Coal companies have several areas for implementing energy efficiency measures such as colonies, buildings, offices, industrial establishments, etc.... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: PIB

Mass Emission Standards for E 12 and E 15 Fuels notified

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification dated 28th June 2021, notifying mass emission standards for E 12( blend of 12% ethanol in gasoline) & E 15 fuels , thereby facilitating their use as automotive fuels.

Comments have been solicited from all concerned stakeholders within a period of thirty days.

Date : Jun 30

Source: PIB

KKR partners with Crossover Energy to develop clean energy projects

Buyout firm KKR & Co Inc said on Tuesday it would exclusively partner with renewable energy consultant Crossover Energy Partners to develop solar and wind power projects and energy storage systems in North America.

Private equity firms are making a new investment push into clean energy after President Joe Biden's administration recommitted the United States to the Paris climate accord. KKR has been a significant investor in renewable energy since 2011.

In April, the White House said it would back a national clean energy mandate to require the U.S. grid to get most of its... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: Economic Times

JBIC to support exports of coal power plants with CCS or ammonia co-firing

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will provide support for exports from coal power plants if they come with emissions-cutting steps such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and co-firing ammonia, JBIC Governor Tadashi Maeda said on Tuesday.
The Group of Seven nations pledged earlier this month to rapidly scale up technologies and policies that accelerate the transition away from unabated coal capacity, including ending new government support for coal power by the end of this year.

Unabated coal power means lacking measures to cut emissions.

“In my... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: Reuters

EGEB: Indian fossil-fuel billionaire to invest $10.1B in clean energy

India’s Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man and a fossil-fuel billionaire, announced he will be investing 750 billion rupees ($10.1 billion) over three years in clean energy.

Ambani is chairman, managing director, and the largest shareholder of Reliance Industries, a Fortune Global 500 company and India’s most valuable company by market value. Reliance is a diverse company that gets 60% of its revenue from oil refining and petrochemicals.

Ambani announced that Reliance will spend 600 billion rupees on four gigafactories to produce solar modules, hydrogen, fuel cells, and a... Read more..

Date : Jun 30

Source: Electrek

India to allow ethanol-based 'flex engines' in vehicles, launch scheme in 3 months: Nitin Gadkari

India has decided to allow ethanol-based 'flex engines', which power vehicles using local farm produce and not fossil fuels, and will be rolling out a scheme on the same in the next three months, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

Gadkari said other countries of the world like Brazil, the US and Canada have flex engines which are powered by farm produce and exhorted automakers like BMW, Mercedes and Toyota to develop vehicles running on the alternative fuel.

A switch to locally-produced ethanol will be helpful for a country like India which relies majorly on crude... Read more..

Date : Jun 29

Source: Business Standard

Govt not to phase out Kota thermal power plant’s two units

The state government, following objection by local Congress leaders and employees’ union, on Monday stepped back on its decision of phasing out 110-megawatt capacity units 1 and 2 of Kota Thermal Power Station (KTPS) from June 30.

It decided not to shut down the units till the expiry of its environmental approval on December 31, 2022. The state government also assured the leaders that it will set up 300-megawatt capacity solar power plant in case KTPS fails to obtain environmental approval for continuity of operation of these two units after December 31, 2022.

UDH minister... Read more..

Date : Jun 29

Source: Economic Times

TERI launches coalition to decarbonise urban freight in India

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today launched the Sustainable Urban Freight Coalition (SUFC), a consortium of public and private stakeholders of urban freight in India to bring together industry, academia, and civil society for Sustainable Urban Freight (SUF) practices.

The coalition was launched at a virtual event by Pawan K Agarwal, Special Secretary, Logistic Division, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). “The journey of facilitating sustainable urban freight in cities shall be largely driven by local actions and urban local bodies. The coordination and... Read more..

Date : Jun 29

Source: Renewable Watch

Rs 3.03 lakh crore power scheme in Cabinet on Wednesday

The Rs 3.03 lakh crore power distribution reforms scheme announced in Budget this year will be considered by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, sources said.

The five-year revamped reforms-based, result-linked power distribution scheme of financial assistance to discoms will target infrastructure creation and system up-gradation.

Of the total allocation of Rs 3,03,058 crore, the central share will be Rs 97,631 crore, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.
“We expect it is one of the major reforms with state specific intervention in place of one size fits all... Read more..

Date : Jun 29

Source: Economic Times

NTPC invites EoI to set up 1 GW battery energy storage system

In a push to India’s green energy plans, state-run NTPC Ltd has floated a global tender for setting up a 1,000-megawatt hour (MWh) grid-scale battery storage system.

The plan involves designing, building, and operating such a system and also offers a co-investment partnership. One GWh (1,000-MWh) of battery capacity is sufficient to power 1 million homes for an hour and around 30,000 electric cars.

Large battery storages can help India’s electricity grids, given the country’s ambitious clean energy targets and the intermittent nature of electricity from clean energy sources... Read more..

Date : Jun 29

Source: Mint