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Govt pulling out all stops for 150 GW renewable energy capacity by 2 Oct

The Indian government is pulling out all the stops to achieve renewable energy (RE) capacity of 150 gigawatts (GW) by 2 October, said two people aware of the development, seeking anonymity.

As part of the efforts, 2.2 GW is to be commissioned by Gandhi Jayanti and another 2.32 GW by 31 October. The initiative comes in the run up to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, COP-26, to start in Glasgow on 31 October.

India‘s installed renewable energy capacity is 147.05 GW, including hydropower projects of 46.37 GW. The country has installed solar and wind energy capacity of 100.... Read more..

Date : Sep 27
Source: Live Mint

Ambition to Impact: Opportunities for Global Collaboration in India’s Clean Energy Economy - A special event at the United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) 2021

A special event on ‘Ambition to Impact: Opportunities for Global Collaboration in India’s Clean Energy Economy’ at the United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) 2021 was co-organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India; the Permanent Mission of India to the UN at New York, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) yesterday.

The webinar showcased India’s efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda through a citizen-centric energy transition and focused on enhancing the speed of India’s clean energy deployment... Read more..

Date : Sep 27
Source: PIB

US, India launch task forces on Hydrogen, Biofuels to expand clean energy technologies use

The US Department of Energy along with its Indian counterparts launched a new public-private Hydrogen Task Force as well as a Biofuels Task Force under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).

"Under the SCEP, the Department of Energy together with Indian counterparts launched a new public-private Hydrogen Task Force as well as a Biofuels Task Force. These groups will help expand the use of clean energy technologies to decarbonize the energy sector," an official statement said on Friday (local time).

The United States and India are both committed to promoting a... Read more..

Date : Sep 27
Source: Economic Times

India makes clean energy commitments at UN summit

India at the first leader-level meeting on energy under the UN General Assembly in 40 years has made commitments to increase renewable energy installed capacity to 450 GW by 2030 and develop and implement a National Hydrogen Energy Mission to scale up annual green hydrogen production to 1 MT by 2030.

Also, it announced to begin a Production Linked Incentive Scheme to add 10 GW solar PV manufacturing capacity by 2025.

India's announcements were among new multi-billion-dollar commitments made on Friday by countries to increase renewables and access to electricity and clean... Read more..

Date : Sep 27
Source: Economic Times

Boost to green corridors: Rs 41,369-cr transmission projects on offer soon

The Centre will soon offer 44 new power transmission projects worth Rs 41,369 crore with most projects under the ‘Green Energy Corridors’ (GEC) plan. These projects would evacuate close to 38 Gw of renewable energy from the Western and Northern parts. Such a large scale of transmission projects under the bidding mode has been offered after a hiatus of at least three years.

GEC is an alternative transmission system for renewable energy (RE) power projects. The first phase of GEC was constructed by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL).

Date : Sep 27
Source: Business Standard

DST launches energy storage developments expected to reach pilot stage

The Department of Science and Technology has launched a collection of scientific developments in energy storage that are expected to reach pilot plant or application level demonstration in the coming months, according to a statement.

The compilation of success stories consisting of 14 successful projects under the Materials for Energy Storage (MES) programme launched by Renu Swarup, Secretary, DST, would enable researchers, stakeholders, and general audience to know about them and these can be scaled up according to national needs and priorities in the near future, it added.

... Read more..

Date : Sep 27
Source: Economic Times

Discussions held towards implementation of Action Plans by States to mitigate pollution due to dust, construction & demolition waste, biomass burning, vehicular pollution, combustion of Solid Waste and stubble burning

A meeting chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav was held at Indira Paryawaran Bhawan in New Delhi today, with Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Environment Ministers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and senior officials from Punjab and Ministries of Agriculture, Power, Animal Husbandry and all other stakeholders for improvement of air quality in Delhi-NCR which tend to aggravate during the winter season. The Chairman of Air Quality commission was also present.

The meeting was called to assess the preparedness... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: PIB

Power Minister underlines scheme funding would be tied to operational and financial improvements in DISCOMs

Shri RK Singh, Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy convened a series of regional level meetings with Energy / Power Ministers / Advisors of States / UTs through video conference in four different sessions on 21.9.2021 and today to discuss the new Reforms Linked Distribution Sector Scheme.

Shri Singh underlined to the ministers that the increasing demand for electricity has necessitated the strengthening and modernization of the Distribution infrastructure. He informed them that the scheme has been designed as a bottom-up scheme and the DISCOMs/States are... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: PIB

RIL, Adani, 17 others evince interest to set up solar PV units under PLI scheme

As many as 19 firms, including Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Adani Group and Tata have evinced interest for setting up solar manufacturing units under a production linked incentive scheme of the government. In April this year, the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 4,500 crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic manufacturing capacity of solar PV modules.

The scheme is aimed at adding 10,000 MW manufacturing capacity of integrated solar PV modules entailing direct investment of Rs 17,200 crore.

"RIL, Adani Group, First Solar, Shirdi Sai and Jindal Poly have... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: Economic Times

PFC, REC disburse Rs 85,000 crore to discoms under Atmanirbhar Bharat package

According to sources, the two lenders have disbursed around Rs 39,000 crore in the second tranche since January to discoms in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir.

State-run sector-specific lenders PFC and REC have disbursed Rs 85,000 crore to electricity distribution companies (discoms) under the Rs 1.25-lakh-crore liquidity infusion scheme aimed at helping these loss-making entities clear the dues to power producers.

According to sources, the two lenders have disbursed around Rs 39,000 crore in the second tranche since... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: Financial Express

Thermal plants to buy 20 MT 'parali' to help keep air pollution in check

Among steps initiated by the government for an air pollution-free season for Delhi NCR, thermal plants would be buying 20 million tonnes of 'parali' (agrowaste).

"Thermal plants are to use at least 10 per cent biomass. Of that, 50 per cent would be parali," Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary R.P. Gupta told media persons.

A meeting was held for review of the situation with major stakeholders for ex-situ utilisation of crop residue and promoting utilisation of paddy straw for pellets/briquettes for co-firing in thermal power plants.

The government said... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: Economic Times

Only 20% of G20 companies' climate targets science-based: Study

Growing numbers of companies in the G20 are setting climate targets but most fail to align with climate science, a new research by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the global body enabling businesses to set emissions reduction targets in line with science, said on Thursday.

Across the G20, 4,215 companies have disclosed climate targets to the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP)'s database but just 20 per cent of these are science-based targets in line with Paris Agreement goals.

This is made up of 2,999 companies in the G7 and 1,216 companies in the G13. In the G7,... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: Business Standard

JPMorgan Invests $1 Billion Green Bond Proceeds in Renewable Energy, Avoiding Nearly 2M Tons of CO2

JPMorgan Chase announced the release of its first Green Bond Annual Report, indicating that the firm has completed the allocation of the proceeds from its inaugural green bond issue. According to the report, the firm directed the proceeds into renewable energy projects across the US, expected to enable the annual avoidance of over 4.7 million tons of CO2 emissions, with JPMorgan’s share of the projects representing more than 1.9 million tons avoided.

The bonds were issued in September 2020, in an offering co-managed by Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise and Service-... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: ESG Today

Honeywell, Wood aim to make sustainable aviation fuel cleaner

Tech firm Honeywell International Inc (HON.O) and consulting and engineering company Wood are set to launch a technology to help companies reduce carbon intensity when making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the partners said on Thursday.

The Biden administration is setting targets to help boost SAF production to shift the aviation industry away from using traditional petroleum-based jet fuel. Earlier this month, the White House said it is targeting 20% lower aviation emissions by 2030. Makers of SAF with a lower level of carbon intensity could be eligible for more government... Read more..

Date : Sep 24
Source: Reuters

Karnataka: New solar power policy in the works

The state government plans to unveil a new solar power policy next month and phase out power purchase agreements (PPAs), which have become problematic for Karnataka because of excess production and must-use clauses.

There are no storage facilities for solar power, and the government finds it difficult to fulfil the rigid requirements of PPAs that were signed long back. At the same time, it has to utilise funds to keep conventional sources alive as a backup.

Officials said that the government was relooking at the solar policy, which was formulated in 2014 and is up for renewal... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: Economic Times

Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri today co-chaired a virtual Ministerial meeting with U.S. Secretary of Energy Ms. Jennifer Granholm to launch the revamped U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).

The SCEP is launched in accordance with U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden at the Leaders Summit on Climate held in April this year.

The SCEP organizes inter-governmental engagement across five pillars of cooperation... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: PIB

CESL to launch the country's first grid scale battery storage program

Converge Energy Solutions Services Ltd (CESL), the newest energy solutions company launched under the aegis of state-owned EESL, will launch the country’s first grid scale battery storage program.

The company, which has executed projects in electric mobility and LEDs in rural areas, will also expand in solar-agri solutions, electric public transport and charging infrastructure. Speaking with Business Standard, Mahua Acharya, managing director, CESL, said battery storage plans of the company will be grid-scale.

Date : Sep 10
Source: Business Standard

Ethanol producers propose to invest Rs 3,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh government is preparing to unveil an ethanol policy to attract ethanol manufacturers in the state. At least 18 investors have proposed to invest Rs 3000 crore in the state.
In the past six months, 18 potential investors have seen land parcels across different locations in the state to set up ethanol plants. Some of the destinations being preferred by investors for setting up manufacturing units are Jabalpur, Satna, Chhindwara, Vidisha, Balaghat, Nemawar and Dhamnod.

Industrial policy and investment promotion department principal secretary and Madhya Pradesh... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: Economic Times

Centre of Excellence on Offshore Wind launched jointly by the two ministers

Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh met with Mr. Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities here today. In the meeting, from the India side, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Secretary MNRE Shri Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi and other senior officials of the Ministries of power and MNRE were also present. The Danish minister was also accompanied by a delegation of officials.

Shri R.K Singh underlined to the Danish side that energy transition towards green is an important part of India’s policy. He... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: PIB

India's first Indigenously Designed High Ash Coal Gasification Based Methanol Production Plant at BHEL R&D Centre, Hyderabad

Methanol is utilized as a motor fuel, to power ship engines, and to generate clean power all over the world. Methanol is also used to generate di-methyl ether (DME), a liquid fuel that is very similar to diesel — existing diesel engines simply need to be minimally changed to use DME instead of diesel.

The majority of worldwide methanol production is derived from natural gas, which is a relatively easy process. Since India doesn’t have much of the natural gas reserves, producing methanol from imported natural gas lead to outflow of foreign exchange and sometimes uneconomical due to... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: PIB

Google Commits to be Water Positive, Replenishing More Water than Consumed by 2030

Alphabet Inc's Google aims to replenish 20% more water than its offices and data centers use by 2030, the company said on Thursday, addressing concerns about water-guzzling tech facilities amid record droughts.

"We are pledging to a water stewardship target to replenish more water than we consume by 2030 and support water security in communities where we operate," Google Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt wrote in a blog post. "This means Google will replenish 120% of the water we consume, on average, across our offices and data centers."

Brandt said the tech giant is... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: Live Mint

Renewable energy expo to begin on Sep 15, to host over 120 exhibitors

A three-day Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo will begin on September 15 at Greater Noida near here where over 120 exhibitors would showcase their products, services and technologies, a statement said on Thursday.

The event will bring together decision makers and influencers as well as technical experts and professionals from leading companies involved in the renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, the statement said.

The expo will also host UK Pavilion by Department for International Trade, European Union (EU) Pavilion, and Bio Energy Pavilion, besides... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: Economic Times

Improved water management system developed can treat toxic textile effluents facilitating its reuse in households and industry

Indian researchers have developed an improved wastewater treatment solution that can completely reuse industrial dye wastewater from textile industry, eliminating its toxicity and making it suitable for domestic and industrial usage. It can reduce water treatment costs and facilitate the reuse of the water in dry regions.

The current 3-stage treatment process for wastewater consisting of primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment is unable to treat toxic industrial wastewater. The stand-alone AOP treatment technique for colour and odour properties in industrial effluents (dye-based... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: PIB

Walmart Highlights Sustainability Commitments with Inaugural $2 Billion Green Bond Issuance as Part of Jumbo Transaction

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today announced it has successfully priced the company's first green bond. Net proceeds from the $2 billion green bond offering will be used to fund existing and future projects that enable Walmart to achieve its sustainability goals.

Over the next few years, Walmart intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds of the $2 billion offering toward a portfolio of Eligible Green Investments that meet certain eligibility criteria within the areas of renewable energy, high performance buildings, sustainable transport, zero waste and circular economy,... Read more..

Date : Sep 10
Source: Walmart

India proposing to come out with mandates for green hydrogen purchase obligations in refining and fertilizer sector ; also eyeing steel;  Government proposing to come up with VGF for green hydrogen in heavy mobility

India is among one of the few countries globally which has kept to its Paris Climate Change (COP21) commitments along with an exponential increase in renewable energy capacity. Considering the pace of development in the energy sector, India is determined to not only achieve, but to exceed its NDC commitments well within the committed time frame. This was stated by Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri RK Singh in his keynote address at the webinar on “A Multilateral Approach to Building a Global Hydrogen Economy” was organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable... Read more..

Date : Sep 9
Source: PIB
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