Sustainability Outlook Headlines

NGT orders FIR against 124 polluting industries in west UP

In a strong-worded order on Wednesday, the National Green Tribunal directed the state pollution control board to register an FIR against 124 industrial units located on the banks of Kali, Krishna and Hindon rivers in seven districts of western UP. 
While observing that these industries have “polluted water bodies by releasing untreated effluents into them, bringing untold miseries upon poor villagers”, the green court ordered... Read more..

Government to bid out 25 GW solar capacities in Ladakh

The government will come out with a single bid for setting up 25 GW of solar capacity in Ladakh, Power Minister R K Singh said today, and asserted that renewable energy is a must for sustainable development. He also said that India will achieve the target of having 175 GW of renewable energy before 2022. 

"I am going to come out with the huge bid in Ladakh which is highest solar potential area. I have got a... Read more..

India to comfortably achieve 100 GW solar energy target by 2022: Government

German start-up trials solar car that can charge as you drive

A Munich-based start-up has taken advantage of the strong Bavarian sun this summer to test the final development of the charging system of its Sion car, an all-electric solar vehicle that lets you charge as you drive.

Germany will likely miss its target of putting 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020 but the government said in April it was ready to offer support to companies that make batteries for... Read more..

IIT Madras Develops Biodegradable, Super-Absorbent Polymer

Scientists at the chemistry department at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in Chennai have developed a biodegradable super-absorbent polymer using chitosan—a kind of sugar extracted from seafood waste, citric acid and urea. Each gram of the polymer can absorb 1,250 grams of water. The polymer can be used to... Read more..

Gujarat leads India in approved capacity of solar parks

Gujarat has emerged has as the top state in terms of approved power generation capacity in various solar parks. Out of the total 26,449MW capacity approved in 45 solar parks in 22 states, Gujarat has received the nod from the Union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) for developing the maximum 6,200MW capacity spread across three solar parks.

The state has so far received approval for three solar... Read more..

Over 100 acres land allocated for energy storage: Andhra CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said around 100-150 acres of land has been allocated to develop energy storage facilities in the state.

The announcement came at the inauguration of the world's first-ever high energy storage device developed by Bharat Energy storage technology (BEST) earlier in the day.

... Read more..

Solid Waste Management Centre at Khaltsi made functional

After the successful functioning of Choglamsar, Diskit and Nimoo Solid Waste Management Centers under `Project Tsang -Da’, one more Solid Waste Management Center at Khaltsi was made functional today in presence of Deputy Commissioner Leh, Avny Lavasa.
On the occasion, DC, Leh, ACD, Leh and SDM Khaltsi distributed dustbins among the households, hoteliers and shopkeepers of Khaltse village. ACD, Leh Tsering Paldan informed DC, Leh that initially a fee of Rs 50/   from the households and Rs 200/- from the... Read more..

MNRE seeks exemption from safeguard duty for current solar power projects

The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has urged the finance ministry to exempt solar power projects under implementation from 25% safeguard duty imposed on imported solar equipment last week.

“We have requested the finance ministry to exempt projects that have already been awarded or were at the implementation stage before July 30,” MNRE secretary Anand Kumar told ET. The duty came into effect on... Read more..

India to be power surplus in 2018-19: Central Electricity Authority

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has pegged energy and peak power surplus at 4.6 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively, this fiscal, indicating that India will be a power surplus country in 2018-19. 

Last year, the CEA in its load generation balancing report (LGBR) had also projected that India would become a power surplus nation... Read more..

SECI cancels 2,000 MW wind tender as infra woes keep bidders away

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has cancelled a recent 2,000 megawatt wind power tender, which was undersubscribed, owing to lack of sufficient transmission infrastructure, officials aware of development said.

“We have decided to cancel the tender since the response was not good,” a senior government official told ET. “The bid was undersubscribed by 800 MW, so we couldn’t have gone ahead with it.”... Read more..

Landfills to help solid waste management plants cope with excess waste

There is, more often than not, a price to be paid for cleanliness. There are, as the cliché goes, no free lunches. And sometimes, the price might just be too heavy – in the case of citizens dwelling near solid waste management plants in Mysuru, it was the stench and the threat of diseases. However, these residents can now heave a sigh of relief with the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) deciding to... Read more..