Sustainability Outlook Headlines

12 dyeing units to lose power supply due to defunct effluent plant

The district administration on Wednesday directed Tangedco to cut power supply to 12 textile bleaching and dyeing units at Mangalam here as their common effluent treatment plant (CETP) was not functioning properly.

The direction was given as per the recommendion of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which after inspection found that important machines used for the reverse osmosis process were not... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: ET Energyworld

NGT SLAMS JAL BOARD OVER CLEANING OF YAMUNA RIVER

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) over cleaning of the Yamuna River. It said there has been no “meaningful progress” on the ground in the last three years and panel noted that work on 14 sewage treatment plants (STPs) has not even begun despite its January 13, 2015, judgment on the river's rejuvenation.

“In spite of proceedings in the case in the last three years, there is no... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: Daily Pioneer

Solar developers ask government to rethink on manufacturing-linked tenders

Solar project developers have requested the government to reconsider the proposed large scale, manufacturing-linked solar power tenders, saying it would compel them to foray into equipment manufacturing, which is a completely different business requiring different skillsets.

Risks involved in setting up of power projects and venturing into manufacturing of equipment are not comparable either, as the power... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: The Economic Times

Stop groundwater extraction from borewells running without permission: NGT to DMRC

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to stop extraction of groundwater from borewells that are running illegally in the national capital.

The tribunal made it clear that the DMRC can only use water from those borewells for which it has permission.

A bench headed... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: India.com

Now, solar panels atop Indian Railways' passenger trains to power fans, lights

The Indian Railways is doing its bit to conserve the environment and lessen the carbon footprint by deciding to fit solar panels on its passenger trains. The total weight of solar panels, which would operate fans, light and mobile charging slots, on each of these coaches could be around 120 kg.

It is expected that each such coach will generate between 15 to 20 units (KWH) of electricity per day. Such fitment... Read more..

Date : Jul 26

Source: One India

Delhi CM announces solar energy scheme aimed at raising farmers income by 3-5 times

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced the 'Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna' which aims to increase the income of farmers by three to five times in the national capital. As per the scheme approved today by the Delhi Cabinet, maximum of one-third surface area of the agriculture land can be used for installation of solar panels in such a way that agriculture activity is not affected.

Date : Jul 25

Source: Money Control

Rooftop solar power installations cross 1 GW

Rooftop solar installations in India have crossed 1 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s SPIN portal.

SPIN is an online application for expediting project approval, reporting submission and monitoring the progress of implementation of rooftop solar projects.

According to the SPIN... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: Business Line

MNRE plans RE-Invest with ISA's first General Assembly meet in October

The second edition of RE-Invest, Indian government’s flagship renewable energy event, will be held from October 3 to 5 this year, after having gone through several rounds of rescheduling in the past couple of years. The event will be held alongside the first general assembly meet of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a treaty-based inter-government organisation headquartered in India.

This year’s RE-... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: ET Energy World

Greenko bags approval for 2.75GW solar-wind-storage project in India

Hyderabad-headquartered firm Greenko Energies has received state government approval for a huge renewable energy project involving 1GW of solar, 550MW of wind and 1.2GW of pumped energy storage in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The news was reported by Indian outlet The Hindu, which was then posted on the Andhra Pradesh government website last Friday. The project would be located at Pinnapuram village... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: PV Tech

India offers Uganda $205 mn credit to boost energy, agriculture sectors

India has offered Uganda a total $205 million worth of credit to help the East African country expand its electricity distribution infrastructure and invest in its agriculture sector, which employs majority of its workforce.

A statement issued in Kampala where India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi started a two-day visit on Tuesday, said Modi and his host President Yoweri Museveni also discussed reform of... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: ET Energy World

Haryana government defines cleaning rules; focus now on 2-way segregation of waste

The state department of urban local bodies has notified the Haryana Solid WasteManagement Policy and Strategy, under rule 11 and 15 of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, laid down for all states by the Union ministry of environment and forest, following orders from the Supreme Court.
“This policy has been in the pipeline for a while. It was framed as... Read more..

Date : Jul 25

Source: The Times of India

Government’s plan to scrap old, polluting vehicles runs into roadblock

The Union road transport and highways ministry’s ambitious vehicle scrapping policy, which proposed a mandatory cap of 20 years on the life of all commercial vehicles starting in 2020, has hit a roadblock. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the ministry to take a host of measures, including more active consultations with states, before implementing the policy, three officials familiar with the matter said.

Date : Jul 25

Source: Hindustan Times

Production of desi lithium-ion battery launched in Tamil Nadu

Production of indigenously developed lithium-ion battery that can bring down the cost of various cell-powered systems, including electric vehicles, was launched here on Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the lithium-ion cells production, at a function held at CSIR Madras Complex in Taramani here.

Date : Jul 25

Source: ET Energy World

ReNew Power gets Sebi's nod for initial public offering

Goldman Sachs-backed ReNew Power has received markets regulator Sebi's approval to float an initial public offering (IPO).

The company's IPO comprises fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,600 crore and an offer for sale of 94,377,109 equity stocks by existing shareholders, including Global Environment Fund, Green Rock Energy and GS Wyvern Holdings, an investment arm of Goldman Sachs.

Date : Jul 25

Source: ET Energy World

Delhi government to launch solar rooftop demand aggregation program

In a bid to increase the adoption of clean energy, the Delhi government is planning to launch Solar Rooftop Demand Aggregation Program for domestic customers. The program aims to benefit consumers including residential, schools, hospitals, and municipal segments with an expected aggregated demand of 40 Megawatt using the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: The Economic Times

Keep GST rate on lithium-ion battery same as electric vehicle, says SMEV

Reduction of GST rate on lithium-ion batteries to 18 percent is a welcome step, though it is still higher when compared to factory-fitted... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: The Economic Times

BRICS bank approves $600 million loans for South African, Chinese projects

The New Development Bank, set up by the BRICS group of emerging economies, has approved loans of $300 million for energy projects in South Africa and $300 million for a transportation project in China.

South Africa, which will host a BRICS summit later this week in Johannesburg, is trying to diversify its energy mix to reduce its reliance on heavily polluting coal-fired power plants.

Date : Jul 24

Source: The Economic Times

PepsiCo to collect back plastic waste generated by its products

In response to a notice served by Ramanathapuram municipal commissioner S Parthasarathy, PepsiCo India said that it would soon start collecting back the plastic waste generated by its products in Tamil Nadu. “According to the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016, the companies like PepsiCo should collect back the plastic waste being generated by its brand items by itself or assign some third party to do so. “When they assign the civic body as their third party, they should have to pay the civic... Read more..

Date : Jul 24

Source: The New Indian Express

This Rs 8,000-crore solar scheme may help Indian firms boost manufacturing

A new 12 gigawatts solar energy scheme, which has been deftly crafted to mandate local manufacturing without violating WTO’s trade rules, is in the final stages of approval, and will help local industry withstand the onslaught of cheap imports, senior government officials said.

The Rs 8,000-crore scheme will be a significant boost for... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: The Economic Times

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance, becomes 68th member of grouping

Myanmar has joined the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA), becoming the 68th member of the grouping that is aiming at optimum utilisation of solar energy.

Myanmar Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin handed over the ISA Framework Agreement to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a bilateral meeting here on the margins of this year's Delhi Dialogue, the premier annual... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: ET Energy World

35 developers express interest in Gujarat's offshore wind project

As many as 35 national and international developers have expressed interest in the country's first offshore wind energy project, and the process of inviting Request For Proposal (RFP) should take place next month, according to senior officials.

The wind energy project with a capacity to produce 1,000 megawatt has been planned off the coast of Pipavav port in Gujarat.

The project is being developed jointly by Central Ministry of... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: The Economic Times

Solar industry body seeks complete exemption from safeguard duty on solar equipment

Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA) has sought complete exemption of safeguard duty on solar equipment for ongoing project, saying such a move can jeopardise investments worth Rs one lakh crore and kill thousand of jobs.

This comes after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), in its recent report, recommended imposition of safeguard duty on imports of solar cells/modules into India for a... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: ET Energy World

First tender for 1,000-mw solar capacity in DSIR likely in August

Gujarat Power Corporation (GPCL), Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL) and Gujarat Electric Transmission Corporation (GETCO) along with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) are implementing the project.

The first tender for the 1,000-megawatt (mw) solar capacity in... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: The Economic Times

India pushing ahead on Sustainable Devolvement Goals: UN Envoy Akbaruddin

India is "pushing ahead" on its national efforts to meet Sustainable Devolvement Goals by undertaking one of the highest rates of renewable energy expansion and building 11 million homes under the world's largest affordable housing programme, India's top envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin has said.

Speaking at the 'High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development' yesterday,... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: ET Energy World

MPCB ties up with 2 cement factories to use plastic waste as fuel

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has tied up with two cement factories to use plastic waste generated across the state as fuel for their manufacturing plants.
The apex body of cement producers in the state will have to play a major role in minimising single use plastic, said the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board authorities.

Integrated cement plants will... Read more..

Date : Jul 23

Source: The Times of India