Sustainability Outlook Headlines

No exceptions for Odd-Even, government tells NGT

After being pulled up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government finally submitted in court on Wednesday, an action plan to curb pollution in the city. Changing its earlier stance, the AAP government said the Odd-Even road rationing scheme will be implemented with no exemptions, as an 'emergency measure'.

The plan also includes a ban on entry of trucks in city limits,... Read more..

Date : Dec 7

Source: Daily News & Analysis

Four more nations join UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign

In a major collaboration to make the oceans litter-free, four more countries -- Chile, Oman, Sri Lanka and South Africa -- on Wednesday joined UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign by committing measures that include plastic bag bans, new marine reserves and drives to increase recycling. Forty countries are now part of the campaign.

While Sri Lanka has made a commitment to implement a ban on single-use... Read more..

Date : Dec 7

Source: The Economic Times

Sealing of unauthorized construction may resume in Delhi: Supreme Court

Sealing of unauthorized construction in Delhi could begin anew with the Supreme Court on Wednesday saying it would revive the court-appointed monitoring committee to identify and seal illegal buildings as government authorities had failed to stop such illegal structures from coming up.

In March 2006, the apex court had ordered sealing of all unauthorized constructions in the city and appointed a monitoring... Read more..

Date : Dec 7

Source: The Economic Times

First functional First Solar Series 6 thin-film module unveiled off production line

First Solar unveiled the first functional Series 6 thin-film photovoltaic module off the company’s Perrysburg, Ohio, new production line. Presented during a meeting with investment analysts at the Perrysburg facility, the large area Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) glass-on-glass module was part of the first batch of material run completely through the recently activated line. This marks a major milestone in a factory retooling that began just under one year ago, and included approximately $177 million in capital... Read more..

Date : Dec 7

Source: Solar Power World

UP cabinet approves solar energy policy to generate 10,700 Mw green power

The UP cabinet has given nod to a new Solar Energy Policy-2017 which would be effective for five years until 2022. Under the new policy, 10,000 surya mitras will be appointed in the state.

As per the new policy, the UP government aims to generate 10,700MW electricity through solar panels. The same, if achieved, would help in reducing 1.36 crore tonne carbon dioxide which would be equivalent to 6.42 crore... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

Vision to generate 200 Mw solar power in airports: Civil Aviation minister

The civil aviation ministry is envisioning to generate 200 MW of solar power at airports in the country, as a part of the initiative to go green.

The target is to achieve the 200 MW in five to six years across the Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said.

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

Solar projects risk mitigation mechanism under ISA to be ready in a year

A mechanism for reducing the risks associated with financing of solar power projects and make them viable under the aegis of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is set to be rolled out in a year, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said today.

With 19 countries having already ratified its framework agreement, the ISA is set to become a treaty-based global inter-governmental organization on... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

Draft Maharashtra EV policy moots 15% subsidy on price of electric vehicles

The Maharashtra government is finalising a policy to encourage manufacturing as well as purchase of electric vehicles. According to the draft policy, a copy of which was accessed exclusively by ET, the measures include refunding the state goods and services tax (SGST) to the manufacturers and offering a subsidy to those buying electric vehicles.

The state envisages manufacturing of about one lakh electric... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

E-mobility, digital payments, DBT among power ministers’ agenda for meet

Electric mobility, digital payments and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) are some of the topics that will be discussed in the meeting of the Power and Renewable Energy ministers of states here on Thursday.

“The aim of this conference is to review the implementation of various ongoing schemes or programmes and deliberate on a host of issues pertaining to Power and Renewable Energy sectors,” the power ministry... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

ICF collaborates with e-Gle to introduce EVs in India

India Center Foundation (ICF), today announced a collaboration with Japanese EV maker, e-Gle to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in all segments, including passenger, public passenger and larger mobility solutions in India, according to a company statement.

A not for profit and non-governmental organisation, ICF has been working for over two decades towards the country’s socio-economic development.... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Auto

Scientists develop new Graphene-based battery that charges five times faster

Scientists have developed a new graphene-based battery material with charging speed five times faster than today's lithium-ion batteries.

The breakthrough by researchers at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) in South Korea provides promise for the next generation batteries, particularly related to mobile devices and electric vehicles.

Date : Dec 6

Source: ET Energyworld

Notify solid waste management bye-laws in 3 weeks: Delhi High Court to Lieutenant Governor

The Delhi High Court today asked Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to positively notify the Solid Waste Management bye-laws, framed jointly by the city's civic bodies and environmental experts, within three weeks.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar noted that "despite repeated directions" by it to notify the bye-laws, it has not yet been done.

Date : Dec 6

Source: The New Indian Exrpess

Lanco Infratech seeks to sell four wind, solar power assets

Lanco Infratech Ltd, which is undergoing insolvency proceedings, is planning to sell 73 megawatt (MW) of four renewables assets and sought bids from interested buyers.

In a newspaper advertisement, Savan Godiawala, interim insolvency professional in charge of the company, said that indicative time for singing confidentiality undertaking is 15 December for potential bidders who are keen to offer bids for... Read more..

Date : Dec 6

Source: livemint

Andhra Pradesh to set up solar-wind hybrid project with battery back-up

Andhra Pradesh is planning to develop a 160 MW solar-wind hybrid project with battery back-up facility.

Significantly, this is the first such project to be developed in the country.

Recently, Tesla announced the commissioning of a 100 MW power pack system, the world’s largest, in Jamestown, Australia. G... Read more..

Date : Dec 5

Source: Business Line

UN assembly starts drafting plan for ‘pollution-free planet’

Humans are poisoning their environment and themselves at an alarming rate, with pollution of the oceans, soil and air now the world’s biggest killer, a UN conference heard this week.
Urging rapid and united action from governments, businesses and individual consumers, envoys underlined that nine million people are now killed by pollution every year — one in six global deaths.

“Pollution is the biggest... Read more..

Date : Dec 5

Source: news.com.au

Kolkata airport to go green with 15 Megawatt solar power plant

The Kolkata airport is all set to start using clean and green energy for its day to day operations, as its ground mounted grid connected solar plant is ready for commissioning.

The 15 MW plant, capacity wise the largest one among all the AAI airports across the country, is slated to be inaugurated by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju tomorrow.

Date : Dec 5

Source: ET Energyworld

Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali to diversify into solar power business

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, the consumer goods products upstart, is poised to diversify into solar power equipment manufacturing.

“Getting into solar is in line with the swadeshi movement. With solar, each household in India can have power supply, and we are here to make that happen,” Acharya Balkrishna, managing director of Patanjali Ayurved, said in an interview.

Date : Dec 5

Source: livemint

Enphase Energy opens R&D centre in India

Global energy technology company Enphase Energy Inc today announced opening of its first R&D centre in India to establish a best-in-class technology development centre.

India is powering the growth of solar sector with its ambitious targets for clean energy and is expected to be the world s third largest solar market in 2017, a company statement said.

Date : Dec 5

Source: ET Energyworld

French utility Engie plans to go green via biogas and renewable hydrogen

French utility Engie plans to switch all of its gas operations to biogas and renewable hydrogen by 2050, making it 100 percent green, its chief executive said.

The power and gas group has some 70 biogas projects worldwide, including 40 in France, and says that if all its projects get approval its annual investment in biogas could soar tenfold to hundreds of millions of euros per year.

Date : Dec 5

Source: ET Energyworld

Government mulls longer fixed cost recovery period for hydro power

The government is looking at extending fixed cost recovery period of hydro projects to 30- 35 years, from 12 years at present, to bring the tariff down to as low as Rs 2 per unit, Power Minister R K Singh has said.

The ministry is working on the hydropower policy to provide Rs 16,000 crore assistance to projects to promote the clean source of energy and it is expected to be tabled before the Union Cabinet... Read more..

Date : Dec 5

Source: The Economic Times

Inverted Umbrella Brings Clean Water & Clean Power To India

India may have 99 problems, but scarcity of potable water and lack of electricity should not be one of them.

With large pockets of the country receiving high levels of rainfall periodically, it is a travesty that most of it goes wasted. The country's position on the global map also ensures that it gets adequate sunshine throughout the year - which again can be harvested to fuel multiple needs. ... Read more..

Date : Dec 5

Source: ET Rise

International Solar Alliance to become legal entity on Wednesday

International Solar Alliance (ISA) will become a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation or a legal entity on December 6, 2017.

The ISA was jointly launched, on November 30, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then-French President Francois Hollande on the side lines of the UNFCCC Conference of Parties 21 (CoP21) in Paris.

Date : Dec 4

Source: ET Energyworld

Government plans to allow consumers to switch power service companies

Consumers will be able to change their power suppliers just like telecom services, after proposed amendment to the existing Electricity Act is approved, Union minister R K Singh said.
The power ministry will push Electricity Amendment Bill in the forthcoming Budget session, which provides for segregating the distribution network business and the electricity supply business.

"We are bringing a lot of... Read more..

Date : Dec 4

Source: The Times of India

India's largest floating solar power plant in Kerala to start operations today

The largest-ever floating solar power plant in India will be operational in Kerala on Monday.

State power minister MM Mani will inaugurate the plant at the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad at 3pm.

"The solar power plant that floats on the surface of water has a capacity of 500 kilowatts (KW). This is the... Read more..

Date : Dec 4

Source: Money Control

Kerala govt mulls promotion of 'green habitat' concept

Amid concerns about unscientific construction practises, the Kerala government is considering promoting a 'green habitat' concept giving thrust to eco-friendly and reusable building materials, natural water storage and solid waste management.

Haritha Keralam Mission, the state-run agency which envisages a clean and green state, has initiated an initial round of discussion with various experts and... Read more..

Date : Dec 4

Source: New Indian Express