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Sustainability Outlook Headlines
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research signs MOU with cGanga (think-tank of NMCG) for development of sludge management framework in IndiaIndia Water Impact Summit continues with many more experts from India and abroad sharing their insights on the topic of conservation and development. Experts from Norway joined their Indian counterparts to discuss ‘Arth Ganga – River Conservation Synchronised Development’ on 4th day of the summit. In a session on Sludge management, Dr. B. Bala Bhaskar, Ambassador of India to Norway said, “We need to take advantage of best practises of Norway in India and see how they can be adapted to local needs.” He extended his support to NMCG and cGanga. Ms. Karina... Read more.. |
Ola plans to setup a manufacturing hub for electric two-wheelers in Tamil NaduHomegrown ride-hailing giant Ola is looking to set up a manufacturing hub for electric two-wheelers in Tamil Nadu, for which it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government on Monday. The company in a release said that the planned two-wheeler factory in Tamil Nadu would draw an investment of Rs 2,400 crore, would employ as many as 10,000 people and would have an initial production capacity of 2 million vehicles annually. "We are excited to announce our plans to set up the world’s largest scooter factory. This is a significant milestone... Read more.. |
Madhya Pradesh Invites Bids for 100 MW of Solar Projects Under KUSUM ProgramThe Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) has invited bids for setting up of 100 MW of grid-connected solar power projects under Component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program. The power generated from the projects will be sold to the Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Limited (MPPMCL). Apart from the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project, the successful bidder will also have to take care of the projects’ comprehensive maintenance for 25... Read more.. |
DTC looks at private players to boost electric bus fleetIn a first, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), which hasn’t procured buses in a decade, will be roping in private players to augment its fleet with electric buses. DTC had started the process in June by floating tenders to look for an operator, but the project couldn’t fructify even after reaching an advanced stage. The corporation has again floated tenders, but this time with modified clauses to attract more probable operators. DTC has floated tenders for selecting an operator for procurement, operation and maintenance of 300 electric buses, which will be paid... Read more.. |
Solar module imports to face 40% customs duty, cells 25%India plans to impose new tariffs on imports of solar cells and modules from 1 April 2022, power and renewable energy minister Raj Kumar Singh said. The finance ministry will issue an order to impose a basic customs duty of 40% on modules and 25% on solar cells as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India strategy, Singh said in an interview. The customs duty will replace a 15% safeguard duty that is being imposed on imports from China and Malaysia. Such a move will make solar cells and modules imported from China expensive and is being seen as part... Read more.. |
Gujarat to get India's largest renewable energy generation parkIndia's largest renewable energy generation park will come up in Gujarat with a generation capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW). The foundation stone of Hybrid Renewable Energy Park near Vighakot village in Gujarat's Kutch district will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the PMO said. During his day-long visit to his home state, the Prime Minister will also lay foundation stone of a desalination plant and a fully automated milk processing and packing plant in Kutch, the statement added. The Renewable Energy Park will be spread over 72,600 hectares,... Read more.. |
Gap joins US Cotton Trust Protocol & Textile Exchange’s 2025 Sustainable Cotton ChallengeLeading global apparel company Gap Inc. has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and Textile Exchange’s 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge as part of its integrated sustainability strategy and to help it achieve its commitment to use only 100% sustainably-sourced cotton by 2025. Gap Inc.’s target of sourcing 100% of its cotton from more sustainable sources by 2025 is set across its collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta. The Trust Protocol will help Gap Inc. meet this goal by providing verified data on... Read more.. |
India drops to second position in BNEF’s 2020 Climatescope ranking; Chile bags top spotIndia has dropped to the second position in Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (BNEF) 2020 Climatescope survey ranking from first last year, as a result of a decline in clean energy investment, which fell 12 per cent in 2018-19 to $8.5 billion and has plummeted 32 per cent since 2017. Chile has bagged the top spot in the survey reflective of its strong clean energy policies while, Brazil remained at the third position. However, the report added that Mainland China and India continued to be the biggest markets for clean energy investment with Mainland China far and... Read more.. |
Qualcomm unveils IoT Services Suite to digitally transform smart citiesGlobal chipmaker Qualcomm on Thursday announced a new Internet go Things (IoT) Services Suite, which aims to deliver comprehensive IoT as a Service (IoTaaS) solutions to enable the digital transformation of smart cities and connected spaces globally. According to the company, the IoT suite also demonstrates the continued momentum of the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Programme, which has brought together 300 members since its launch in April 2019 and showcased a tangible example of what can be achieved with the launch of the Qualcomm Smart Campus in San... Read more.. |
Bihar-based Husk Power Systems first minigrid firm to power 100 communities, 5,000 small biz customersHusk Power Systems, a Bihar-based rural firm operating renewable mini grids in Asia and Africa, on Thursday said it has surpassed 100 community mini-grids and was serving more than 5,000 micro-enterprise customers -- two firsts in the industry. According to the press release, the firm continued to grow from March to September and saw a 52 per cent increase in customers in India, while its revenue grew by 101 per cent during the same period. “The 100 mini-grids, located in India and Tanzania with near-term expansion to additional African markets including... Read more.. |
IESA, UNIDO tie up to boost energy storage innovations in IndiaThe India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization have joined hands to promote innovations in energy storage in India. On November 1, the Facility of Low Carbon Technology Deployment (FLCTD) by UNIDO launched the 4th round of innovation challenge to support and encourage new innovations in Indian energy storage and e-mobility space. IESA is a supporting partner for this innovation challenge. There will be grant of up to USD 50,000 for winning technologies, and recognition from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, UNIDO... Read more.. |
AP lays out plan to introduce 10 lakh EVs by 2024Andhra Pradesh plans to attract an investment of Rs 30,000 crore and create 60,000 jobs in the electric vehicles (EVs) manufacturing sector, even as the state government laid out a plan to introduce 10 lakh EVs by 2024. The state said it planned to develop a holistic research and development ecosystem, together with manufacturing units, to propel EV growth in AP. The state government presented its plans on EVs at a high-level (virtual) meeting convened by Niti Aayog on Tuesday. A Centre for Advanced Automotive Research, in collaboration with organisations like... Read more.. |
India seeks cheaper renewable power contracts to spur solar, wind projectsIndia is considering plans to assist renewable energy developers as cash-strapped utilities shun the long-term contracts needed to underwrite new wind and solar projects, according to people familiar with the proposals. State-run Solar Energy Corp. is discussing an option to pool electricity supply from renewable energy projects by developers including Adani Green Energy Ltd. and offer it to utilities at a more affordable price, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss private details. That should help the firms seal pacts with utilities and... Read more.. |
All-women green energy consultancy set up in KeralaWomen in key positions to drive the message for fast-tracking the adoption and use of sustainable or renewable energy The lofty ideal of empowering women has inspired a non-resident entrepreneur to set up a consultancy-cum-project management firm back home in Kerala by bringing women in key positions to drive the message for fast-tracking the adoption and use of sustainable or renewable energy. The firm, Vydyuthi Energy Services, specialises in consulting, training, energy audits and project management in the key focus areas like energy efficiency, renewable... Read more.. |
Moody's maintains negative outlook for India's power sectorThe chief reasons for the unfavourable forecast were uncertainty about demand revival and delayed payments from State-owned distribution companies. Agencies Talking about the renewable energy sector, Moody's Investor Service said that India will play a leading role in contributing to Asia-Pacific's installed capacity in the next 12 to 18 months. Moody's Investor Service maintained its negative outlook on India's power sector, even as the rest of Asia-Pacific continued to be stable. The chief reasons for the unfavourable forecast were uncertainty about demand... Read more.. |
Maharashtra to add 17,385 MW renewable energy capacity by 2025The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has come out with a renewable energy policy that has set a target of adding 17,385MW renewable energy capacity by 2025. It was cleared by the cabinet on Wednesday. An investment of Rs 75,000 crore is expected in this sector in the coming five years. Other than this, a lot of solar energy will be generated in off-grid mode especially by installing 1 lakh solar farm pumps every year. The current installed capacity is 9,305MW and work on projects having 2,123MW capacity is in progress. The state policy is in line with India’s... Read more.. |
IFC, Aavas Financiers sign pact for affordable green housing finance for low-income borrowersAn endeavor to address a critical gap in affordable green housing in India will benefit scores of low-income borrowers, including women. It will further help boost green housing business opportunities and scale green housing finance, thereby supporting an enabling environment for green buildings and the Government of India's national 'Housing for All' program. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with Aavas Financiers Ltd—a retail, affordable housing finance company—and Aavas Foundation. The project will help improve access to... Read more.. |
IIT Guwahati researchers develop an efficient method to harvest drinking water from airResearchers at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed novel materials that can efficiently harvest water from humid air. A research team led by associate professor Uttam Manna from the Centre of Nanotechnology, IIT-G, along with his research team have come up with this path-breaking work. The results of this research work by the IIT-G research team led by associate professor from the chemistry department, Prof. Manna, along with his research scholars Kousik Maji, Avijit Das and Manideepa Dhar has been published in the prestigious... Read more.. |
Guidelines issued for feeder-level solar plant installation under PM KUSUM SchemeF. No. 32/645/2017-SPV Division Government of India Ministry of New and Renewable Energy *** Block no. 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi -110003 Date: 04 December 2020 Office Memorandum Subject: Guidelines for Implementation of Feeder Level Solarisation under ComponentC of PM-KUSUM Scheme Vide OM of even number dated 04.11.2020, Ministry had issued scale-up and expansion of Pradhan Mantri Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) Scheme. Under the scaled up Scheme, a target of solarization of 7.5 lakh existing agricultural pumps has been kept... Read more.. |
Jeypore gets battery operated vehicles for waste managementAs many as 12 battery operated vehicles (BOVs) were put to use for solid waste management in Jeypore town on Monday. Jeypore Municipality has been collecting around one tonne dry and wet waste from the 28 wards in the town using six tractors and as many mini trucks. However, locals have been demanding to increase the number of vehicles engaged in lifting of waste form across the town as the existing ones were inadequate to cater to the town’s population. Accordingly, the state government had sanctioned 20 BOVs for the municipality at a cost of around `50 lakh... Read more.. |
SBU to keep subsidy flowing for BPCL customersBharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will create an SBU (strategic business unit) for its domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) business to ensure its seven crore household customers continue to get government subsidy on cooking fuel after the company is privatised. The SBU will allow the government to work around the issue of giving subsidy to a private company in the three years the new owner/s will have to decide on whether to retain the domestic LPG business, a top oil ministry official told TOI. The SBU will maintain separate accounts, with records of... Read more.. |
Pune: PMC nod for ‘rent electric bike’ projectThe Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will soon start a project on trial basis under which local residents can rent an electric bike. “The civic standing committee has given its nod for implementation of the project,” said Standing Committee chairperson Hemant Rasane. The project, proposed by BJP corporator Amol Balwadkar, will enable local residents to use electric bikes on a rent of Rs 4 per km or Rs 100 per hour. It will also be available on daily, weekly or monthly rents. The private company that will implement the project will set up... Read more.. |
Companies form initiative to scale up green hydrogen productionLONDON (Reuters) - Seven companies, including developer ACWA Power and Spanish utility Iberdrola, have formed a joint initiative to scale up production of “green” hydrogen in the next six years and bring down costs, they said on Tuesday. “Green” hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel made by electrolysis, using renewable power from wind and solar to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. It is increasingly being touted as a way to decarbonise emissions-intensive heavy industry and transport sectors, but currently costs of production are too high to be competitive with... Read more.. |
This Startup will build your house in three weeks at half the costFinishing touches are being given to a 600sqft single bedroom house in a corner near the IIT-Madras cricket ground, inside the sprawling tech campus. From the outside, it’s nothing but a small building, but take a step inside and you would see no ordinary brick and mortar structure. The young turks supervising it would tell you it has been created ground up in less than three weeks, at nearly half the cost of traditional construction and is fully 3D printed. Built by Tvasta, a startup founded by three 2016-batch IIT-M mechanical engineering graduates, the... Read more.. |
Andhra Pradesh Floats Empanelment Tenders for 8 MW of Residential Rooftop Solar SystemsThe Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APEPDCL) has released two tenders for the empanelment of agencies to install 8 MW of grid-connected residential rooftop solar projects of capacity between 1 kW and 500 kW. The solar systems will be developed under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model. Apart from the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the systems, the successful bidder will also have to provide comprehensive maintenance for five years. In the first tender for the capacity of 1 kW to 10 kW, interested... Read more.. |
