Sustainability Outlook Headlines

'Inkjet' solar panels poised to revolutionise green energy

What if one day all buildings could be equipped with windows and facades that satisfy the structure's every energy need, whether rain or shine?

That sustainability dream is today one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to Polish physicist and businesswoman Olga Malinkiewicz. 

The 36-year-old has... Read more..

Supreme Court stays pollution penalties on NTPC

The Supreme Court has stayed the National Green Tribunal’s hefty fines on power producer NTPC for not fully utilising ash generated from its thermal projects and asked the tribunal to hear the company’s reasons before taking action. 

... Read more..

Siemens Gamesa bags 567 MW wind turbine order from ReNew Power

Wind turbine major Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on Thursday said it has bagged a new order for 567 MW from ReNew Power, an independent power producer.

A statement issued here said the scope of order includes supply of 270 units, out of which 127 units of SG 2.1-122 wind turbines will be installed at Bhuj, Gujarat, and 143 at Davanagree, Karnataka.

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Karnataka govt to introduce 3,000 e-buses, says minister

The Karnataka government on Wednesday said it is looking at introducing 3,000 e-buses in the state as part of its e-vehicle promotion policy in the next three years. 

At an e-vehicle summit here, K J George, minister of large and medium scale industries, said there will be special concessions and incentives to those wanting to set up manufacturing units for e-vehicles in the state. 

... Read more..

Funding blues for green companies, discoms over REC-PFC deal

Renewable energy firms and state power distribution companies fear a funding crunch in the power sector due to the takeover of REC by Power Finance Corp (PFC), even as both state-run firms started meeting stakeholders to allay their concerns.

The two companies that finance power projects recently met credit ratings firms, which have put their borrowing programmes on ‘credit watch’ after the announcement of... Read more..

Solar scheme only for those with direct discom connection

Around 3,150 residents of Sushant Lok 2 Extension and Sushant Lok 3 can’t avail the grid-connected solar rooftop scheme because they are not direct DHBVN consumers.
Launched in 2014, the scheme makes it mandatory for residents living in an area of up to 500 square yards or more to install solar power plant on their rooftop. Residents can use the power generated while exporting the surplus units to the discom, which in return will provide a rebate to them. The solar panels, when purchased from empanelled... Read more..

IIT-Roorkee testing floating device to produce electricity from river surface

Scientists at IIT-Roorkee are testing a floating device that can generate electricity from flowing surface water of rivers and streams, paving the way for an alternative source of renewable energy. 

Traditional hydropower plants require the construction of large-scale dams, which have significant ecological and environmental consequences. 

... Read more..

Solar duty fails domestic producers as demand languishes

India’s bid to protect its solar-equipment makers by imposing a safeguard duty on cheap, Chinese imports has failed, according to domestic manufacturers, who are campaigning for tougher measures.

The country last year imposed a 25 percent tariff on solar cells and modules imported from China and Malaysia for two years. That has resulted in developers either stalling projects to circumvent the two-year... Read more..

Odisha govt may waive road tax on e-vehicles

Following the example of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the state government is planning to waive all kinds of transport-related fees and road tax on the purchase of electric vehicles.

The proposed incentive is aimed at encouraging the use of electric vehicles to address the problems of air pollution and rising fuel prices.

... Read more..

Green energy companies see red due to cancelled tenders, low tariffs

India’s rapidly growing renewable energy capacity, a major achievement of the Modi government, faces a serious slowdown as investors are disappointed by the unrelenting focus on reduction of tariffs and multiple cancellation of bids after auctions.

Central and state agencies have together scrapped solar tenders of close to 7,000 MW in the past year as authorities hanker after cheaper tariffs.... Read more..

EV makers seek lower duty on components, batteries

The electric vehicle industry is seeking customs duty rationalisation on batteries, cells, motor, controlling units and other components currently imported by OEMs. 

Vehicle makers pay a GST of 18% for batteries. The rest of the components are charged 12% and 18% whereas the EVs are sold at 12% GST. This has created an anomaly which is pinching pure-play electric players — mostly smaller players or startups... Read more..

Include solar and electric boats under FAME, says head of country’s first solar ferry firm

The government should add solar and electric boats under the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Electric Vehicles (FAME) policy in the upcoming Budget 2019, said Sandith Thandasherry, founder and chief executive officer, NavAlt Solar & Electric Boats, the company that launched India's first solar ferry in Kerala.

“The electric vehicles (EVs), currently on road, were added in FAME policy. While, solar boats derive more than 75 per cent of their energy from the sun and the rest from the grid, which makes them cleaner,” he said. The industry also expects an import duty exemption on... Read more..