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Source : pti

Under the ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects‘ scheme, the Indian government has approved 57 solar parks, with an aggregate capacity of 39,385 MW across 13 states, said Mr. R.K Singh, Minister of New and Renewable Energy. Out of this, as many as 9 solar parks have been identified in Rajasthan.

The aggregate capacity of this project would be 7,036 MW. Moreover, the approved list of solar projects includes:

• Bhadla-II Solar Park (680 MW),
• Bhadla-III Solar Park (1000 MW),
• Phalodi-Pokhran Solar Park (750 MW),
• Fatehgarh Phase-1B Solar Park (421 MW),
• Nokh Solar Park (925 MW),
• Pugal Solar Park Phase-I (1000 MW),
• Pugal Solar Park Phase-II (450 MW)
• RVUN Solar Park (1310 MW).

In the written reply to Lok Sabha, the power minister also states that the centre has taken multiple steps to promote renewable energy in the country. FDI of up to 100% is allowed in the renewable energy sector, with no prior government approval needed. Moreover, the centre has waived ISTS charges for the interstate sale of solar and wind power for projects that are to be commissioned by June 30, 2025.

Moreover, Rajasthan has become a highly desirable location for establishing renewable energy (RE) projects, particularly in the solar energy sector. With a capacity of over 16 GW, Rajasthan is the top solar-powered state in India. Moreover, this desert state is targeting 11,000 MW of renewable energy capacity additions in the new Rajasthan Budget 2023.

Source: ornatesolar

The estimated annual revenue from each MRF solar pant is Rs 29 lakh, bringing the total revenue to Rs 87 lakh. The MC would receive a yearly payment of Rs. 26 lakh. Nitin Kumar Yadav, Crest’s president and home secretary, served as meeting’s moderator while the project was discussed and ultimately approved. Senior administrators from various departments of the administration, including the environment and finance, as well as the MC, attended the meeting. The robotic facility was the first of its kind, so officials received a technical briefing on how it would be installed and run.

“It will be challenging to manually clean the MRF centres, as others do, due to their height. To enable automatic cleaning of the solar panels, a robotic facility must be made available “a senior official said.

The municipal corporation plans to install solar panel rooftops in every one of its buildings in the upcoming fiscal year with the goal of focusing on solar energy and regularly converting this endeavour into its new revenue production segment. Since the municipal body authority has already created a thorough strategy in this regard, it has been included in the authority’s next financial budget.

Source: PTI

The administration also plans to set up five megawatt solar power plants on five government buildings. Power generated from these buildings will be adjusted in the HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) electricity bill. Department of renewable energy, Haryana (HAREDA) officials working on the project said that setting up one mega solar power plant requires a minimum of three acres of land and an expenditure of Rs 3 crore.

Under the “Solar city – green city” project, all street lights, lights at government buildings and government residential houses will be replaced with LED lights. The administration also plans to install solar panels on all industrial units in the district.

A senior official working on the project said, “The plan is to generate 20% of the 607 million units of everyday consumption of the district.”

Those using 30 kilowatt and above electricity at their industrial or commercial units will have to install the solar power system. The power department is making a list of such units. Notices will be issued to them. If anyone fails to install the solar plant after three notices, the connection of their units will be cut. Under the Solar City project, the administration also plans to start electric city buses in collaboration with the Haryana Roadways department. Five solar charging stations are to be made to promote electric vehicles at HARERA building in Sector 17, DC office in Sector 1, UHBVN Building in Sector 14, Municipal Corporation Community Center and a park.

Permission for construction of houses of over 500 square meters will be given only if there is a solar power plant in the plans. Meanwhile, residents want the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for installation of solar plants on rooftops on the pattern of Chandigarh, where it is free of cost. At present, they are not coming forward for the solar power plants due to the heavy investment involved.

S K Nayar, president, Citizen Welfare Association (CWA) wrote to the Haryana CM and power minister. Nayar said, “Haryana government must come forward and adopt Resco model.”

Source: PTI

The rise in the adoption of renewables would help in reducing carbon emissions from the power sector.

After slowing slightly (by 2 per cent) last year amid the turmoil of the global energy crisis and extreme weather conditions in some regions, the growth in world electricity demand is expected to accelerate to an average of 3 per cent over the next three years, the IEA’s Electricity Market Report 2023 said.

India’s electricity consumption rose strongly in 2022, while China’s growth was subdued due to its zero-Covid policy.

“Emerging and developing economies in Asia are the driving forces behind this faster pace…,” said the report.

More than 70 per cent of the increase in global electricity demand is expected to come from China, India and Southeast Asia, it said, with a rider that considerable uncertainties remain over trends in China as its economy emerges from strict Covid restrictions.

“The good news is that renewables and nuclear power are growing quickly enough to meet almost all this additional appetite, suggesting we are close to a tipping point for power sector emissions,” said the agency’s executive director Fatih Birol.

Birol added governments the world over now need to enable low-emission sources to grow even faster and drive down emissions so that the world can ensure secure electricity supplies in line with climate goals.

The new IEA report also noted that electricity demand and supply worldwide are becoming increasingly weather dependent, with extreme conditions a recurring theme last year.

In addition to the drought in Europe, there were heatwaves in India, resulting in the country’s highest-ever peak in power demand. Similarly, central and eastern regions of China were hit by heatwaves and drought, which caused demand for air conditioning to surge. The United States also saw severe winter storms in December, triggering massive power outages.

Source: ANI

India is perfectly situated between Germany and Australia, and can contribute to…Read More...

Source: PTI

New Delhi : Uber Technologies will introduce 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in India for ride-sharing over three years, its country head said on Monday, its first move to adopt clean cars.

The EVs will be bought by Uber’s fleet partners from Tata Motors, India’s biggest electric carmaker, Prabhjeet Singh, president, Uber India and South Asia told Reuters.

“We are going to be a big catalyst in accelerating the (EV) ecosystem,” Singh told Reuters.

India’s federal and state governments are pushing for greater electrification of shared taxis, an area currently dominated by Uber’s local rival BluSmart, an electric mobility start-up.

Source: Reuters

Recently, while inaugurating India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 in Bengaluru, Prime minister Narendra Modi mentioned how India’s energy demand has significantly increased and will reach 11 per cent of the global demand as compared to 5 per cent currently.

The plethora of opportunities for energy firms to invest in India comes from the increased demand and energy transition commitments. Renewable energy investment in India is vital for meeting its international and domestic climate goals.

India during its ongoing G20 presidency has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council to further promote the adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable practices in the region, the Asian Lite reported.

India’s power secretary Alok Kumar said the member countries responded positively to the need for energy security and diversified supply chains.

In India’s Budget for the year 2023 also, Rs 35,000 crores were allocated as a priority capital investment toward energy transition in line with the government’s objective to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2070.

These vital policy decisions are being taken to keep India’s energy transition in mind.

However, India’s policies and commitments are also citizen-oriented. The climate change mitigation policies need to be affordable, secure and sustainable. By focusing on the hard-to-abate sectors where decarbonisation options are limited or expensive, Green hydrogen will play a major role in achieving a net zero, the Asian Lite reported.

India is also aiming to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and exports. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Rs 19,444 crore has been allocated for green hydrogen aiming at producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

India has made significant progress in its transformation from a country that relied heavily on coal to a potential leader in the renewable source of energy.

As per the latest data published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India stands at 4th position in the world in terms of installed Renewable Energy capacity, reported News on Air.

Schemes like PM-KUSUM which aims to provide financial and water security to farmers through harnessing solar energy or National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) are key initiatives of the government. The government’s flagship initiative, the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) also aims at synchronizing electricity produced from renewable resources, such as wind and solar, with conventional power stations.

According to the data published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, as of December 31, 2021, works related to the installation of transmission towers and their stringing for an aggregate of approx. 8468 km have been completed, and substations of aggregate capacity of approx. 15268 MVA have been charged. India has consistently backed the switch to renewable energy sources, and one of its initiatives in this direction is the International Solar Alliance.

During her visit to India, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta handed over the signed copies of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, paving the way for New Zealand’s membership of this initiative.

Further, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued a tender for a 1000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in October 2021 to enable DISCOMS to use storage facilities on an on-demand basis. BESS, one of the most important emerging technologies in the Indian renewable energy market, can provide both peak-time power supply and 24-hour electricity to help overcome renewable energy’s unsteady nature.

In addition, International Energy Agency’s India Energy Outlook 2021 also projected that India could potentially have 140-200 gigawatt (GW) battery storage capacity, the largest for any country, by 2040.

Source: PTI

Union Minister of Power, and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh has said India has emerged as the most attractive destination for Renewable Energy (RE) investment and the pace of RE expansion will continue. The Minister said that Power and RE Ministries have taken various reform measures to make India a power surplus nation, which will continue.

The Minister, who inaugurated the 15th edition of ELECRAMA 2023, the world’s largest electrical exhibition, organised by the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, exhorted the industry to utilise the enabling government policies and invest in the growth of power and renewable energy sectors.

“We are proud of what we have achieved in energy transition and climate actions so far. We have emerged as the most attractive destination for RE investment and the pace of RE expansion will continue. Doubling our overall capacity from current levels in the next seven years is the next challenge before us and we shall achieve that,” he said in his speech.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus is on green energy and we are committed towards it,” he said. “Let us power the growth of the country together. Let’s make India great together,” he added.

The Minister also unveiled the ELECRAMA Exhibitors Directory, IEEMA report- “New Energy Equipment Outlook 2023” and Amrit Kaal report- “Path to Developed and Decarbonised India by Schneider Electric.”

Zhemu Soda, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe, Jean Pascal Tricoire, Global CEO, Schneider Electric, Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, Rohit Pathak, President IEEMA, Jitendra K Agarwal, Chairman, ELECRAMA 2023, Hamza Arsiwala, President-Elect, IEEMA, Sunil Singhvi, Vice President, IEEMA, Charu Mathur, Director General, IEEMA and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The biennial electronics congregation, with ‘Reimagine Energy – For Sustainable Future’ as this year’s theme, will have the largest public showcase yet of industry innovations by over 1000 exhibitors from India and abroad occupying 1,10,000 sqm of exhibition space.

The IEEMA’s five-day flagship event, which commenced on February 18, is expected to witness 3,50,000 footfall and over 15,000 pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers.

Source: PTI

This is in the backdrop of the Paris Agreement Rulebook being finalized in respect of Article 6 which focuses on carbon trading through bilateral/cooperative approaches and international market mechanisms. India has taken steps mandated on the Host Party/Country.

Following list of activities has been finalized to be considered for trading of carbon credits under bilateral/ cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 mechanism.

I.GHG Mitigation Activities:

1. Renewable energy with storage (only stored component)
2. Solar thermal power
3. Off- shore wind
4. Green Hydrogen
5. Compressed bio-gas
6. Emerging mobility solutions like fuel cells
7. High end technology for energy efficiency
8. Sustainable Aviation Fuel
9. Best available technologies for process improvement in hard to abate sectors
10. Tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, Ocean Salt Gradient Energy, Ocean Wave Energy and Ocean Current Energy
11. High Voltage Direct Current Transmission in conjunction with the renewal energy projects

II.Alternate Materials:

12. Green Ammonia

III.Removal Activities:

13. Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage

These activities will facilitate adoption/transfer of emerging technologies and may be used to mobilise international finance in India. The activities will initially be for first 03 years and may be updated/revised by NADAIPA.

The ministry has released draft guidelines on pumped storage projects (PSPs) to seek comments from states and state-run companies as well as private firms within a fortnight till March 2, 2023. Keeping in view the immense utility of the PSPs in grid stabilisation as well as meeting the peaking power demand, a need for formulating separate guidelines to promote PSPs was felt to set the direction of its development, the minsitry said in the guidelines.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates regarding on-river pumped storage potential is 103 GW in India. Apart from this, a large number of off-river pumped storage potential is also available, the ministry added.

As of now, eight projects (4,745.60 MW) are presently operational, four projects (2,780 MW) are under construction, and 24 projects (26,630 MW) have been allotted by states which are under different stages of development, according to the ministry.

The draft National Electricity Plan (NEP) published by the CEA indicates that 18.8 GW of PSPs and 51.5 GW of BESS (5-hour battery energy storage system) are required to integrate the planned RE (renewable) capacity addition till 2032.

However, it stated that additional development of PSPs at viable cost would bring down the requirement of BESS. Presently, the environmental clearance (EC) and forest clearance (FC) processes of PSPs are very cumbersome, since these projects are treated at par with the conventional hydro projects for the purpose of grant of EC and FC.

The environmental impact of PSPs constructed on existing reservoirs at on-the-river sites and offthe-river sites are generally less as compared to conventional HEPs (hydroelectric projects), it noted. Unlike conventional hydro projects, the development of PSPs does not lead to significant displacement of people and thus, requires minimum R&R(resettlement).

Therefore, the draft guidelines provided that PSPs constructed on existing reservoirs on on-theriver sites and off-the-river sites are required to be treated as a separate category for the processing of clearances of an infrastructure project.

The off-the-river sites PSPs are located away from the river course and have minimum impact on the riverine ecology. Hence, they may be treated differently for granting the environmental clearance, it added.

It explained that the PSP projects, where both reservoirs are built off-river or where one reservoir is built off-river and the existing on-river reservoir undergoes minor structural modification to connect it with the new reservoir may be treated as B-2 category projects.

Such projects may be exempted from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and public hearings and may only require the preparation of an Environment Management Plan (EMP), it suggested. With the approval of the Union Cabinet, the PSPs have been declared as RE.

However, associate concessions which are available to other renewable sources, are yet to be extended to PSPs, it noted The guidelines noted that the PSP components continue to be taxed at GST (goods and services tax) rate of 18 per cent/28 per cent, whereas the GST on RE such as solar and wind has been kept at 12 per cent.

This affects the viability of PSPs, it pointed out. It provided that the developers shall begin construction within a period of 2 years from the date of allotment of the project, failing which, allotment of the project site shall be cancelled by the state. Further, in order to ensure the viability of the PSPs, states should ensure that no upfront premium is charged for project allocation, it added.

It also provided that to ensure that only viable PSPs are taken up for construction.To reap the long-term benefits and socio-economic development of states due to hydropower projects, states shall consider reimbursement of SGST (state GST) on hydropower project components, it suggested.

States may exempt land to be acquired by off-the-river PSPs from payment towards stamp duty and registration fees, it suggested. Government land, if available, may be provided at a concessional rate to developers on annual lease rent basis, it added.

Storage is an intermediary system where energy is stored and released later. In line with the principles of double taxation avoidance, power from PSPs may be suitably considered to avoid double taxation, it suggested.

PSPs have a minimal environmental impact and have no R&R issues. Therefore, it stated that there will be no requirement of creation of a Local Area Development fund. PSPs are energy storage schemes. They do not produce energy. They are net consumers of energy. Hence, the PSPs would be kept out of the liability of free power, it provided.

The discarded mines, including coal mines in different parts of the country, could be used as hydro storage and thereby become natural enablers for development of Hydro PSPs, the ministry suggested.

Efforts would be made to identify and develop exhausted mines/ coal mines as prospective PSP sites in consultation with the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Mines, it stated. It also provided that the PSPs may be supported through concessional climate finance.

Sovereign green bonds issued for mobilising resources for green infrastructure as a part of the government’s overall market borrowings may be deployed in the development of PSPs which utilise renewable energy for charging, it stated.

Source: PTI

If cultivators use technology properly in the farm sector, it will benefit farmers and their state, the chief minister said while inaugurating the 3-day ‘Krushi Odisha’-2023 here.

The theme of this year’s event, which will continue till February 18, is “Emerging Technology in Agriculture”.

Pointing out that technology is the basis of development, Patnaik said there is a great need for technology in the field of agriculture as well.

Noting that the development of agriculture and farmers is the priority of his government, Patnaik said Odisha has become a leading state in the agri sector.

Odisha is now a food-surplus state from being a food-deficient one, the chief minister said.

On the state government’s KALIA scheme, Patnaik said the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation has come as a security for the farmers who face difficulties to arrange funds for cultivation.

The state government had in 2018 launched the KALIA scheme, under which the farmers are given Rs 4,000 in two equal instalments each year.

In order to raise the income of farmers, the state government has launched Panas (jackfruit) Mission, and Chathu (mushroom) Mission.

These two missions along with the Millet (Mandia) Mission also help the farmers, he said.

Patnaik said the Millet Mission has attracted the attention of the entire country and the world today and it has also helped in increasing the income of self help groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Secretary Arabinda Padhee said the state has planned setting up of around 1000 cold storage centres soon.

The storage capacity of each unit will be 10-15 metric tonne and these facilities will be powered by solar energy, Padhee said.

Source: PTI

New Delhi: Solar energy should be harnessed in Ladakh but without taking away th…Read More…

Source: PTI

“It was a pleasure to join USISP Forum energy industry leaders in Delhi to discuss challenges and opportunities for the clean energy transition in India,” Pyatt tweeted on Thursday.

USISPF is an independent non-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the US-India strategic partnership in Washington DC and New Delhi.

Pyatt is on an official visit to Mumbai, Pune, and New Delhi from February 13-17.

On Wednesday, Pyatt thanked the COEP’s Bhau Institute in Pune for a tour of their engineering labs supporting start-ups and small businesses that will accelerate innovation in India’s clean energy development.

“Thank you COEP’s Bhau Institute for a tour of your engineering labs supporting start-ups and small businesses that will accelerate innovation in India’s clean energy development,” Pyatt tweeted.

Pyatt on Wednesday also tweeted: “Delighted to visit @geindia in Pune today. Great to see American companies working w/India on advanced manufacturing for the #cleanenergy transition. India is the 3rd largest wind power market in the world – and American firms are trusted partners in the India growth story.”

A recent media note by the US Department of State said that Pyatt will discuss further cooperation on the clean energy transition, energy security, and increased energy access across South Asia in the context of US-India strategic cooperation and India’s G-20 Presidency.

According to the US State Department media note, while in Mumbai, Pyatt will meet private sector leaders to foster the deployment of renewable energy sources. He will visit American-invested clean energy manufacturing and technology centres in Pune and speak to entrepreneurs and students at the College of Engineering Pune.

In New Delhi, he will hold bilateral meetings with Indian officials, participate in the 2023 Tata-Hoover India-U.S. Symposium, and participate in a conversation with women leaders in energy, the press note read.

Source: ANI

By 2025, Asia will consume half of the world’s power for the first time, noted a new forecast released by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Nearly 70 per cent of the increase in the world’s power demand is estimated to come from developing countries, with China, India and Southeast Asia leading the way, the Paris-based body said in February 2023.

In terms of absolute growth, China is anticipated to dominate with a rise of 58 Terawatt-hour (TWh) from 2022 to 2025. India is expected to see the biggest percentage growth, with an increase of 81 per cent.

India’s power consumption increased far more quickly than China’s in 2022. This difference might be attributed to several variables, including Zero-Covid policy, population growth, economic progress and rising urbanisation.

China’s Zero-Covid policy, which affected the country’s economy as a whole, slowed down the increase in power consumption.

On the other hand, “In India, the robust post-pandemic recovery continued to support strong electricity demand of over 8.4 per cent in 2022,” the report noted.

The combined demand for energy of the two countries accounted for over 70 per cent of the region’s total consumption of 13,500 TWh, or about 50 per cent of global consumption.

However, Africa’s consumption is still far lower than its proportion of the world’s population. Only three per cent of the world’s total power consumption in 2025 will come from Africa, which is home to over a fifth of the planet’s nearly eight billion people, highlighted IEA.

For the next three years, most of the world’s electricity supply growth will come from nuclear power and renewable sources like wind and solar. This will significantly impact the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, said the document.

“The good news is that renewables and nuclear power are growing quickly enough to meet almost all this additional appetite, suggesting we are close to a tipping point for power sector emissions,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

Drastic reductions in emissions from all sources are urgently needed to prevent the average world temperature from increasing by 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, according to scientists.

Since temperatures have already risen by more than 1.1°C from the reference period, the 2015 Paris climate agreement’s stated goal seems more improbable.

A complete switch from fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil to low-carbon energy sources is one option to achieve the target. Nevertheless, while some areas are using less coal and gas to generate energy, others are increasing their usage, the IEA said in a press release.

“Governments now need to enable low-emissions sources to grow even faster and drive down emissions so that the world can ensure secure electricity supplies while reaching climate goals,” said Birol.

Along with the high cost of electricity production, extreme weather events posed a threat to the world’s power networks in 2022.

“In addition to the drought in Europe, there were heatwaves in India, where the hottest March in over a century was recorded, resulting in the country’s highest ever peak in power demand,” the report read.

Power systems also faced challenges in multiple regions in 2022 due to such events. “Heatwaves and droughts strained the supply situation in both China and India,” the report added.

In India, the demand for electricity increased significantly in 2022 by 8.4 per cent, driven by a combination of the slowdown in economic growth brought on by the Covid-19 epidemic and the peak of the summer season.

“We expect demand growth to continue at close to 5.6 per cent on average per year during 2023-2025,” the agency said.

Source: PTI

In a world wreaked by climate change impacts and struggling to evolve frameworks and strategies to cope, the latest edition of the WSDS will bring together stakeholders from across the planet on a single platform to deliberate on the critical theme of ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action.’

With India holding the G20 Presidency and the critical Global Stocktake set to conclude at COP28 later this year, the three-day Summit at the India Habitat Centre will anchor deliberations on the critical themes of G20 leadership and green development pact; equity and climate justice; driving and financing sustainable development; inclusive green growth; energy transitions and LiFE.

Mr Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will deliver the multilateral leadership address on ‘equity and climate justice’, while Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President, Republic of Guyana is set to deliver the global leadership address.

Mr Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will be part of the inaugural session. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, President- Designate COP28; Mr SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Ms Anne BeatheTvinnereim, Minister of International Development, Norway; Dr Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme; Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University; Prof Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, former IPCC Vice-Chair; Dr Bruno Oberle, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; Dr SoumyaSwaminathan, Former Chief Scientist, World Health Organization; Ms LeenaNandan, Secretary, MoEFCC are among a few notable speakers set to take part in the Summit. Environment ministers from India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Finland are also expected to be part of multiple plenary sessions deliberating on themes ranging from green development pact to climate action and green growth.

The Summit is TERI’s annual flagship multistakeholder event and is the only independently convened event of such scale in the Global South that brings together world leaders, thinkers, scientists, industry and government representatives to work towards long-term solutions for the planet’s health.

Underscoring the key role played by the WSDS in furthering the discourse on sustainable development and climate action, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, said, “We are at a critical juncture where with each passing moment we are losing out on vital time for climate action. In its 22 years of existence, the WSDS has aimed to be a meeting ground for multiple stakeholders – political and thought leaders, scientists, policy makers, representatives from intergovernmental forums, and civil society members – to deliberate on actions, solutions and partnerships needed to make the planet resilient and development sustainable. In terms of climate negotiations, this is a pivotal year, with the Global Stocktake process set to conclude at COP28. With India holding the G20 presidency as well, WSDS 2023 can be a significant platform to further the discourse on inclusive green growth, energy transitions and climate resilience.”

Apart from a host of plenary and thematic sessions, specially-curated fireside chats will have key speakers deliberating on themes such as sustainable ocean management. Other highlights at WSDS 2023 will include high-level sessions on COP28, women leadership, CEO Forum, youth plenary and G20 leadership.

The ‘Act4Earth Manifesto’ will be released at the Valedictory Session of the Summit along with outlining components under the Act4Earth initiative which will include COP28 Compass and the SDG Charter.

About TERI

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), based in India, is an independent, multi-dimensional research organization with capabilities in policy research, technology development, and implementation. An innovator and agent of change in the energy, environment, climate change and sustainability space, TERI has pioneered conversations and action in these areas for nearly five decades. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has centres in six Indian cities, and is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists, engineers, administrative professional and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Source: PTI

India’s plan to lift a key trade barrier on solar modules will deliver a blow to the nation’s ambition of quickly expanding local production, according to domestic manufacturers.

Officials are considering a relaxation of rules for the next two years that restrict imports from China and other foreign producers, because local plants can’t keep up with rising demand…Read More…

Source: bloomberg

NEW DELHI : India will blacklist renewable power companies for three-to-five years if they do not meet project completion deadlines, a government order seen by Reuters shows.

“If any renewable energy project is not completed by the prescribed date of completion, then its bank guarantee should be encashed and the developer blacklisted after asking to show cause,” the order issued by the new and renewable energy ministry said.

The blacklisting will be for a period of three to five years, the order issued on Wednesday said.

The ministry did not immediately respond to queries sent by Reuters.

So far India has not blacklisted any company from renewable energy generation contracts for delays, but the government order said the blacklisting was in accordance with the government’s General Financial Rules and would apply to all tenders.

India needs to add over 40 gigawatts capacity annually to achieve its commitment to 500 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity by 2030. The country’s renewable energy installed base is nearly 175 gigawatts.

The pace of installation is less than 15 gigawatts per annum following disruptions in equipment supply caused by heavy import duties on solar equipment.

As a result of the pandemic, the ministry allowed several extensions, most recently an order in December 2022 granted a one-year extension to March 2024 year for project completion.

Source: Reuters

UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit Monday inaugurated northern India’s largest floating solar power project of 2000kWp worth Rs 11.70 crore at waterworks, Sector 39.

The inauguration was held in the presence of MP Kirron Kher. He also inaugurated a 500kWp floating solar project with fountains at Dhanas Lake. Adviser Dharam Pal, director (environment) Debendra Dalai and Mayor Anoop Gupta were present on the occasion.

The floating solar power plant at waterworks, Sector 39, has been installed at a cost of Rs 11.70 crore, including 10 years O&M (operations and maintenance), and the 500kWp floating solar power plant with fountains has been installed at Dhanas Lake at a total cost of Rs 3.34 crore, including 10 years O&M for the plant as well as for the fountains.

These projects have been designed and executed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society) and will generate a minimum of 35 lakh units (kWh) of solar energy per year with 20% module efficiency.

The Administrator appreciated the efforts of CREST and the Forest & Wildlife Department for developing and beautifying the Dhanas Lake with the lovely fountains, making it another tourist spot of the City Beautiful as earlier people were only aware of Sukhna Lake. He also urged the citizens to install rooftop solar power plants on their residential houses, office buildings, factories so as to tap the solar energy and asked the citizens to join hands with the administration in promoting solar power which is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically viable. “God has been very kind on India that we get so much of solar radiation. So we should make sincere efforts to tap this ultimate source of energy from every inch of space available,” he said

Source: PTI

The Himachal Pradesh government plans to set up various solar projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will provide clean power to consumers at cheaper rates and help in reducing carbon footprints, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Big private players and major Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the country have assured to invest in the state in this vital sector.

According to the statement, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) is coming up with five solar power projects (SPPs), in Himachal Pradesh. Thaplan solar power project of 112.5 MW is being set up in district Una. In addition to this, 20 MW SPP Bhanjal and Kadh in Una district, 20 MW in Fatehpur in Kangra district, 30 MW SPP Kolar in Sirmaur district and 12.5 MW in Rajgir in district Kangra are in pre-construction stage.

To envision the concept of green Himachal, the government has promised to extend all possible support to the executing agency for setting up these projects and take necessary steps to amend policy for purchase of freehold private land in order to facilitate the company.

A committee headed by the state chief secretary has also been constituted to monitor the execution of these power projects so that they could be completed within a stipulated time period.

Source: PTI

The Company has been in ongoing cooperation and correspondence with the NYSE on the late filing issue. The NYSE notified the Company that it will closely monitor the Company’s progress with the milestones and timing submitted to the NYSE. Failure to achieve these interim milestones could result in accelerated trading suspension prior to the end of the July 15, 2023 trading period. In addition, if the Company does not complete the filing of its 2022 Annual Report and any subsequent delayed filings with the SEC by the end of the maximum 12-month cure period on August 16, 2023, the NYSE will move forward with the initiation of suspension and delisting procedures.

About Azure

Azure is a leading independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India. Azure developed India’s first utility scale solar project in 2009, and since then has grown rapidly to become a leader in developing and operating large utility-scale renewable energy projects in the country.

New Delhi : Fossil fuels’ prices are linked to the current cost of living pressures in India, Cambridge Econometrics, a global economics consultancy firm, said in a report released on Thursday, February 16.

Fossil-fuel-related items – transport and household energy – contributed about 20% to India’s annual rate of inflation between April and May 2022, the report said. Due to the rising prices, households in Delhi are currently spending 25% more on fuels and electricity than they did in 2021, and almost 50% more than they did in 2020.

Prices will increase further in 2023, the report predicted. However, renewables are also going to get cheaper. Hence, expanding such energy sources will be the “right policy choice”, the report said.

Links between inflation and energy

Between January 2021 and August 2022, fuel and power prices rose nearly five times faster than overall consumer prices in India, as per a report on fossil fuels and inflation by Cambridge Econometrics, a global economics consultancy firm.

The analytical report, titled “Fossil fuel prices and inflation in India” and supported by the European Climate Foundation also found that in April and May 2022, fossil-fuel-related items (transport and household energy) contributed to around 20% of India’s annual rate of inflation.

This showed in consumer spending. Due to the rising prices, households in Delhi currently spend at least 25% more on fuels and electricity than they did in 2021, and almost 50% more than they did in 2020, the report estimated.

For rural households, this was even more pronounced given their higher spending on energy as a proportion of their income. And it’s only likely to get worse.

The report estimated that the increase in household energy prices makes urban households in the Delhi area have to spend at least Rs 4,100 more in 2022 when compared to 2021. This is despite the Indian government having budgeted the equivalent of about 0.5% of the GDP to shield households from the full impact of global fossil fuel price hikes, the report noted.

However, India has begun investing in the renewable energy sector in a big way. Its renewables plan is part of one of the Nationally Determined Contributions that India has listed as part of the Paris Agreement of 2015: to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 (it was only 40% in India’s first NDC submission).

Apart from developing numerous projects on solar, wind and hydroelectric power, India has also launched a National Green Hydrogen Mission that lays the blueprint to develop and transition to hydrogen as a future fuel.

But despite these moves, “subsidies for fossil fuel industries remain far higher than support for green alternatives”, the report noted. “Coal continues to play a large role in meeting India’s fast-rising energy demand: coal-fired energy production increased by 30% in absolute terms between 2015 and 2021, while its share in electricity production remained unchanged at roughly 75%,” the report read.

Additionally, India’s increasing dependence on fossil fuel imports to meet its increasing energy demands is “a key energy security risk” in future, the report said.

Renewables to the rescue?

However, renewable energy production is now far cheaper than fossil fuel-based electricity production in India, the report pointed out. In 2021, new renewable energy projects in India had one of the lowest costs globally.

For instance, a 2022 analysis found that utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects in India had a lifetime cost of 35 USD per MWh, which was the lowest among major economies included in the analysis.

“A further expansion of renewables, therefore, appears the right policy choice to increase India’s dependency on energy imports, reduce the exposure of domestic consumers to global market prices, and bring down retail electricity prices in the long run,” per the report.

Indeed, the cost of renewables has been falling steeply over the last decade, said the report’s lead author, Carl Heinemann, in a press release. “It is now a well-known fact that renewables are now much cheaper than fossil fuel-based electricity production. In fact, India is among the cheapest locations in the world for new renewable energy projects and these costs are only expected to fall further,” Heinemann said.

“An increased share of renewables to the grid is also resulting in falling wholesale prices according to the RBI. This should guide policymakers in India to increase spending on renewables to ensure it becomes the mainstay in terms of electricity generation instead of locking the country in expensive energy, which will inevitably increase inflation.”

Source: PTI

With over 30 years of experience, Santanu Roy recently retired from GAIL as Executive Director, heading Business Development, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability. He was part of the top management team in GAIL for over a decade and has previously headed other key corporate functions – Strategy & Planning, Projects Development, Total Quality Management, and Centre of Business Excellence.

He led the formulation of Strategy 2020 and the Net Zero plan for GAIL and was instrumental in the successful bidding for a stake in ONGC Tripura Power Company, as well as the execution of the Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda pipeline. He was also responsible for restructuring the debt and equity of Konkan LNG, and setting up new and sustainable business models for CBG (compressed biogas) through PPP route, 1G Ethanol through JV route, LNG by road, and piloting the blending of Hydrogen in City Gas. Additionally, he obtained Board approval for the PDH-PP (propane dehydrogenation- polypropylene) plant and equity infusion in various JVs, and was involved in negotiating MOUs with the Ministry and managing the budgeting activities of GAIL. He was a representative of the Government of India and GAIL at various international forums, including COP 21 in Paris, and served as a nominee Director in several international JVs of GAIL.

Commenting on the appointment, Mohit Gupta, COO, GPSR ARYA, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Santanu Roy as advisor to our Green Hydrogen vertical. His extensive experience and successful track record in the industry will play a significant role in driving GPSR Arya’s Green Hydrogen vision forward”

Santanu Roy, Principal Advisor, GPSR ARYA, said, “It’s an exciting time to be joining a mission-driven company like GPS Renewables that is focused on clean energy. With India betting big on green hydrogen, we need more initiatives like GPSR ARYA that can reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and facilitate a transition to clean energy. The vision to propel India as a net exporter of Energy by 2047 is a real motivation. I am eager to work with the young team to further advance GPS ARYA’s green hydrogen vertical and make a positive impact in the industry.”

Source: PTI

At that time, India’s annual inflation rate (CPI) was between seven and eight per cent.

The report highlights that between January 2021 and August 2022, fuel and power prices rose nearly five times faster (57 per cent) than overall consumer prices in India (12 per cent). This was reflected in consumer spending.

Households in the Delhi region, for instance, are estimated to have spent 25 per cent more on fuels and electricity in 2022 than in the previous year, and nearly 50 per cent more — around Rs 4,100 than in 2020.

For rural households, this was even more pronounced given their higher spending on energy as a proportion of their income.

This is despite the fact that the Indian government budgeted the equivalent of about 0.5 per cent of GDP to shield households from the full impact of global fossil fuel price hikes.

The G20 Energy Transitions Working Group discussions recently held in Bengaluru concluded on the continued usage of fossil fuels for another 15-20 years.

“The cost of renewable energy has been falling steeply over the last decade. It is now a well-known fact that renewables are now much cheaper than fossil fuel-based electricity production. In fact, India is among the cheapest locations in the world for new renewable energy projects and these costs are only expected to fall further,” the report’s lead author, Carl Heinemann, said.

“An increased share of renewables to the grid is also resulting in falling wholesale prices according to the RBI. This should guide policy makers in India to increase spending on renewables to ensure it becomes the mainstay in terms of electricity generation instead of locking the country in expensive energy, which will inevitably increase inflation.”

While the subsidies for renewable energy have gone up over the last one year alone, the support for fossil fuels is still four times what renewable energy receives in India.

Fossil fuel based energy carriers are fully regulated through tariffs, taxes, subsidies and price caps, making it difficult to fully estimate the complete benefits of renewable energy in India.

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, responsible for over 10 per cent of the increase in total global energy demand and is only expected to grow rapidly over the coming decades.

If anything, the higher household energy costs and national import bills from the reopening after the pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war suggest countries like India should look at ensuring energy security and growth by doubling down on investments in renewable sources of energy.

The rapid deployment of renewables is particularly important to diversify India’s power mix away from coal.

In the longer term, increasing the electrification of transport and household energy consumption, coupled with an expansion of renewables, would further reduce household and business consumers’ exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices and limit the need for costly government spending.

“The strong correlation between energy and inflation in India makes a strong case for India to decarbonise its economy. There definitely is evidence to support the argument that renewable energy can moderate the impact of energy prices on CPI in the long run. The lifetime cost per MWh of new solar PV and wind power plants in India are estimated to be far cheaper than that of new coal-fired plants and natural gas-based electricity production.

Increasing the share of renewables in electricity production has been found to reduce spot prices in India’s wholesale market.

Source: PTI