Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Hero MotoCorp invests Rs205 crore in electric vehicle start-up Ather Energy

Delhi-based scooter and motorcycle maker Hero MotoCorp Ltd on Thursday said its board had approved an investment of up to Rs205 crore for a 26-30% stake in Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) start-up Ather Energy Pvt. Ltd.

“Adoption of environment-friendly fuel is a priority for Hero MotoCorp, as is propagating sustainable manufacturing through green facilities. Hero MotoCorp intends to enhance its... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: Livemint

India ranked fifth in terms of bio-capacity: Study

The WWF’s Living Planet Report 2016 has ranked India fifth in terms of bio-capacity – an ecosystem’s capacity to produce resources such as food, fibre and renewable raw materials and absorb carbon dioxide.

While Indians have a low personal carbon footprint at an individual level, it is a challenge when aggregated by population size. This equation will be further... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: The Siasat Daily

'World Bank must aid countries to manage shift to cleaner coal'

The World Bank and other global development lenders like the Asian Development Bank must help countries such as India to finance the shift of their coal production to more efficient technologies so they can meet their COP21 commitments, World Coal Association Chief Executive Benjamin Sporton said.

By not financing coal projects, the World Bank is actually pushing countries to use inefficient technologies... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: The Hindu

CPCB likely to take decision on lifting moratorium on 3 industrial clusters soon

Decision on lifting moratorium on three industrial clusters in Gujarat–Vapi, Ankleshwar and Vatva–will be taken soon with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) all set to present its final report shortly, a top government official said today. “(Lifting of moratorium) is an important decision, and we have been making representation (to CPCB) for that. We are confident now, Centre will take its decision, and it will be in our favour,” Additional Chief Secretary, state forests and environment department,... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: Indian Express

1000 toxicity for a minute's exposure to burning garbage fumes in Bengaluru

Spending a minute next to a burning garbage dump will expose a Bengalurean to 1,000 times more toxins than the daily safe limit, an Indo-US team of researchers has found.

The team analysed 24 garbage dumps in and around the famed garden city.

“As you walk down the street in India, there are just piles of... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: Deccan Herald

Green guards move NGT for order execution

Environmentalists Rajesh Pandit and Lalita Shinde have moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for execution of its judgment dated October 17, 2015 on the pollution of Godavari inTrimbakeshwar.

While delivering the judgment, the NGT had given directives to reduce the river pollution. But these directives are yet to be implemented by the authorities. Following this, Pandit and Shinde have moved the NGT,... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: The Times of India

Major environmental changes seen for Mediterranean: Study

Global warming is likely to change the environment of the Mediterranean region in ways unseen in the past 10,000 years, reshaping forests and turning parts of Europe into desert, researchers warned Thursday.

The Mediterranean is known as a hotspot for biodiversity, and it is warming up fast.

Already its... Read more..

Date : Oct 28

Source: Zee News

Gamesa secures major 130 MW solar order from Atria Power

Gamesa, India’s leading renewable energy company, has announced a new 130 MW solar project with Atria Power to be commissioned in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by March 2017.

This is the biggest order since its entry into Indian Solar market in 2015. As per the new solar order, Gamesa will handle the complete value chain of Design & Engineering, Procurement, construction, commissioning and O&M of the... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Sustainability Outlook

Green certificate sales up by 41 percent to 2.9 lakh in October, in India

Sales of renewable energy certificates (RECs) jumped about 41 per cent to 2.90 lakh in October compared to 2.06 lakh in September this year.

Power distribution companies as well as open access and captive consumers are under obligation to buy RECs from renewable energy producers underrenewable purchase obligations (RPO) mandated by central/state regulatory commissions.

Date : Oct 27

Source: Business Standard

India to supply Rs 1.34 crore LED bulbs, equipment to Vanuatu

India will provide LED bulbs and other energy efficient equipment worth USD 2,00,000 (around Rs 1.34 crore) to Pacific island nation Vanuatu as a grant, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

Goyal is on a two-day visit to Vanuatu and leading a thirteen-member Indian delegation.

During the visit,... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: ET Energy World

India moves up by just one notch on World Bank's 'ease of doing business' index

After pinning its hopes on a significant improvement in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, India has managed to move up by only one rank in the Doing Business Report 2017. India’s position on seven out of 10 parameters also went down, compared to the previous year's rankings.

The government said the ranking failed to take into account the various reform initiatives undertaken by it.... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Business Standard

Mahindra Bets Big on Electric Vehicles, Launches e2oPlus at Rs 5.46 Lakh

Homegrown auto major (M&M) is looking for a bigger play in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, with plans to launch electric versions of its existing conventional engine models.

The company has launched e20 Plus hatchback priced in the range of Rs 5.46 lakh to Rs 8.46 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), is also looking at expanding its EV portfolio further.

Date : Oct 27

Source: News 18

Environment minister, India reviews green steps

Delhi government's environment minister Imran Hussain on Wednesday reviewed preparations of various land owning agencies against burning of garbage, dry leaves, plastic. He also assessed the dust control measures at various construction sites to check air pollution.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the environment and revenue departments, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi Development... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: The Times of India

Tata Power Renewable Energy signs PPA for 100 MW solar project at Anantapuram solar park, Andhra Pradesh

Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), India’s largest renewable energy company, today announced the signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 100 MW solar project at Anantapuram solar park in Andhra Pradesh with the Solar Corporation of India (SECI). TPREL is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Tata Power Company, India's largest integrated power company. The commercial operations date (COD) of the project as per the PPA is 16th of... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Orissa Diary

CPCB issues closure notice to 295 units in Maharashtra for not installing online continuous monitoring systems (CMS)

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the state pollution control board to issue closure notices to 295 units in Maharashtra region for not installing online continuous monitoring systems (CMS).

Talking to KNN, Rajendra Kothari, President, Bombay Industries Association (BIA) said, “The pollution control board has already issued notices to 295 units earlier to install CMS. But some industries... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: KNN India

Significant PV project deadline extensions in India’s Uttarakhand

Delays in solar PPA signing combined with a petition from developers has led to significant project commissioning deadline extensions in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, according to consultancy firm Mercom Capital Group.

A total of 181MW solar capacity were awarded across 23 projects in the state in October 2015and these projects were due to be commissioned this month. Major winners included Acme (50MW) and... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: PV-Tech

Power generated from waste for the first time at Kathamandu, Nepal

After years of continuous effort, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has finally succeeded in generating electricity from waste for the first time in Nepal.

The KMC office said the first test conducted at Teku transfer station to generate electricity from waste on Sunday was successful.

Though the technical team had already... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: The Himalayan Times

Rooftop solar firms look to raise equity investment

Dozens of rooftop solar energy start-ups in India are looking to raise equity funding at a time when the sector needs to speed up capacity expansion to achieve the target of 40 gigawatt (GW) of installed capacity by 2022.

Several of these companies are looking for equity funding before they tie up loans from large financial investors such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), company... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Livemint

India Inc increases focus on reducing carbon emission: CDP

Corporates are increasing focus on setting emission reduction and renewable energy targets besides putting up an internal price on carbon as part of risk mitigation, says a report.

According to CDP's latest climate change report, as many as 47 firms on the BSE 200 index have disclosed information related to climate change as against 34 companies in 2010.

The report... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Economic Times

Indian companies not adhering to environment guidelines could be snubbed by global investors

In April 2016, pension funds managed by Reliance Infrastructure was part of the global strategy of Norges, the Norwegian financial services behemoth, to get rid of portfolio constituents that dealt with coal.

Due to its high carbon intensity and consequent damage on the environment, coal is anathema to institutions like Norges that believe in sustainable investments. The seven... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Economic Times

Government plans waste plant at Rajghat

With waste treatment capacity only 50% of what is generated each day, the Delhi government is looking to convert the Rajghat power plant, now closed, into a waste-to-energy plant.

In a ministerial meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways of handling solid waste, a decision was taken to carry out a feasibility study on converting the plant into a 4,000-tonne-per-day (tpd) facility. The city produces roughly 10,... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: The Times of India

Suzlon forms JV with Ostro Energy for 50-mw solar project

The Suzlon group today announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Ostro Energy for development and construction of a 50-mw solar project in Telangana.

According to the contract signed between Ostro Energy and the Suzlon group on Monday, Ostro Energy shall acquire 49 per cent stake in Prathamesh Solarfarms, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Suzlon to execute this project, the company... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: Economic Times

APGenco to focus on capacity addition

APGenco MD K Vijayanand informed that they are embarking on a massive capacity addition aimed at increasing power generation to 12,000 MW by 2022.Addressing newsmen after a meeting with the officials of Genco, Transco, SPDCL, EPDCL and SECM (State Energy Conservation Mission) on the various development initiatives in the power sector, here on Wednesday, Vijayanand said that plans are afoot to increase solar energy to 4,500 MW as against 1,000 MW now and wind energy to 7,000 MW against the present 1,800 MW. “... Read more..

Date : Oct 27

Source: The Hans India

Thapar varsity students design pocket-friendly electric car

Thapar University students have designed an electric car with an aim to make travel more pocket-friendly.

The car can be charged from solar energy as well as from electricity and can run for 75 km after it is fully charged. It has an average of 30 paise/km. It decreases further if the car is charged through solar energy.

Date : Oct 27

Source: The Tribune