Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Enel Green Power Partnering With Powerhive To Bring Electrification To Rural Kenya

Enel Green Power, a 2015 Zayed Future Energy finalist, and the mini-grid technology provider Powerhive are partnering together to develop and operate solar-powered mini-grids in rural Kenya, according to recent reports.

The $12 million project will involve work in 100 different villages in Kenya -- with 93% of the financing for the project coming via Enel Green Power, and 7% via Powerhive.... Read more..

Delhi utility BSES to procure 700MW of clean energy including solar

Delhi-based private distribution company (Discom) BSES, which is backed by Indian conglomerate Reliance Infra, plans to procure 700MW of clean energy including solar power using a reverse auction process.

BSES, which also operates in Mumbai, is tendering the renewable energy capacity in order to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target. The RPO mandates Discoms to purchase a certain amount of... Read more..

Supply chains play crucial role in cutting carbon emissions

The recently concluded climate change conference in Paris called on corporate houses to reduce their carbon emissions from their supply chain.

Until now, far too many companies have focused only on carbon emissions from their corporate offices and retail spaces. In this regard, Walmart stated that it was on track to exceed its 2015 commitment in this area.

The key to maximizing the potential in corporate reductions is for companies to focus on the area where their biggest impacts lie — in their supply chain.

NRDC’s Clean by Design programme, for example, which targets... Read more..

Electric vehicles will not be taxed in Maharashtra

The Government of Maharashtra is likely to waive value added tax (VAT), road tax and registration charges on electric vehicles in the state. The objective of this step is to increase the sales of electric cars and attempt to reduce the pollution in the state.

The scheme is expected to be rolled out in certain cities initially and later, it might be introduced in other parts of the state. The centre and state... Read more..

State government set to tap green energy

Minister for Power D.K. Shivakumar has said that it has been decided to tap green energy, particularly solar energy, to the hilt to overcome the shortage of power in the State in view of the protests against setting up thermal power plants in the coastal belt and south Karnataka.

He was in Chittapur taluk at Chittapur town in Kalaburagi district to inaugurate works worth Rs. 184.88 crore on Monday.... Read more..

Rays Power Infra to perform EPC for 80MW from Uttarakhand solar tender

India-based EPC company and solar developer Rays Power Infra will perform EPC services for 80MW from the solar tender of Indian state Uttarakhand.

The firm bagged the deals under co-development and pre-bid EPC tie-up models in preparation for the financial bidding that took place in Dehradun in October last year.

... Read more..

Wastecorp Introduces Mobile Wastewater Pump for Government and Industry

Wastecorp Pumps has unveiled what it says is the first engine driven double disc pump for mobile pumping applications.

Designed for government and industry wastewater, sludge and sewage pumping applications, the Sludge Pro double disc pump has fluid handling capabilities ranging from 10–500 gallons per minute (GPM).... Read more..

Electric mobility mission faces infrastructure, finance hurdles

The government’s ambitious National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), which intends to put seven million electric and hybrid vehicles on the road by 2020, may face hurdles from the lack of charging infrastructure and inadequate financing facilities.

Sales of such vehicles have seen a sharp rise after the government rolled out a subsidy scheme—FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and... Read more..

IIFCL to raise Rs1,000 crore from second tranche of infrastructure debt fund

State-owned India Infrastructure Finance Co. Ltd (IIFCL) on Tuesday said it is in the process of raising Rs.1,000 crore from second tranche of infrastructure debt fund (IDF) to finance renewal energy projects.

“We have so far raised Rs.500 crore. Of this Rs.200 crore has been put in by us and Rs.300 crore from LIC. For remaining Rs.500 crore we are in talks with domestic and foreign investors,” IIFCL deputy... Read more..

Monforts debuts improved eco-friendly denim finishing

German textile finishing specialist Monforts has made its Monfortex compressive shrinkage ranges for denim finishing even more cost efficient and eco-friendly.

According to a Monforts press release, stretching and skewing functions for the denim fabric can be performed by a modified Thermex Thermo stretch unit.

... Read more..

India, Russia Sign Agreement For Solar Power Development

Russia has become the latest company to join hands with India to help the latter achieve its massive solar power targets.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Russian Energy Agency (REA) have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up large... Read more..

India's solar surge may slash coal imports

Dramatic cost declines in solar power tenders in India have shaken up expectations on pricing for the renewable fuel and have triggered warnings that the country's need for thermal coal imports will be much lower than some are banking on.

Huge solar power contracts awarded by Indian states to global players in November and December have been priced at levels more than 20 per cent below 12 months ago and... Read more..