Low Carbon News in India in March 2014
India, China release first joint report on climate
At a time when the two countries are facing similar challenges in dealing with the issues of climate change, India and China on Tuesday released a joint report for the first time to address the rising environmental problems in their cities. ‘The China India Low Carbon Study’, which is the first project of its kind was launched on the sidelines of the third Strategic Economic Dialogue, in Beijing. Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Director-General of TERI, Dr R K Pachauri, who released the report said the study examines the main factors in low carbon development – financing, low carbon technologies and on-the-ground implementation
The event not only marks a successful conclusion of the China-India low carbon study but also helps lay a solid foundation for the next step to further deepen and widen the study on low carbon development between the two countries.
Madhya Pradesh State to have 400 MW wind energy by month-end
State is likely to have 400 MW of wind energy by month-end, as against the existing mark of 346 MW. Also, it expects to increase it to 1,900 MW by December 2015.
At present, MP boasts of having 85 projects of 3,280 MW capacity under construction. All these projects were started in last six months. State government has notified ‘policy for implementation of wind power projects in Madhya Pradesh-2012’ for development of wind power projects in state through private sector participation.
The company plans to set up two wind farms with a combined capacity of 170 MW in state, through its two wholly owned subsidiaries, DJ Energy (DJE) and Uttar Urja.
Web-GIS tool for estimating rooftop solar power potential
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has unveiled the first-ever cloud based open-source Web-GIS Tool for estimating rooftop solar power potential for Indian solar cities.
The main objective of this initiative is to develop a high performing and flexible Web-GIS tool to estimate the rooftop solar power potential for Indian cities. The web-GIS tool will be launched in Chandigarh followed by other cities.
This initiative is being supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), with strategic support from the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Goa implements scheme to encourage renewable energy
Under the scheme, the government will refund up to 25 per cent of the Infrastructure Tax paid for buildings which are certified Green by the Energy and Resources Institute
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that to encourage renewable energy, his Government intended to implement a scheme to grant a refund up to maximum 25 per cent of Infrastructure Tax paid for buildings which are certified Green by the Energy and Resources Institute(TERI).
This scheme will be made effective from September 01, 2014, he said at a workshop on Demystifying green buildings & GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) for developers, organised recently by CREDAI-GOA.
The Workshop was to encourage the endeavor to mainstream sustainable green buildings in Goa.
He admitted that the labour was an important issue as regards construction industry in the State and assured to streamline the same. It is pertinent to note that Goan construction industry relies heavily on migrant labour brought from other States.
Intertek gets mandate to certify wind turbines
Intertek has been recognised as a certification body for wind turbines under India’s Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) programme.
In a statement, Rajesh Saigal, Regional MD, Intertek South Asia, said: “Energy from wind holds high promise in India as a non-conventional energy source that can supplement grid power generation and it is more important than ever for manufacturers selling or installing wind power in India to understand the applicable regulations and standards .
Wind power currently accounts for more than 70 per cent of renewable capacity in the country. As of December, India’s installed wind power capacity was 20,149 MW.
India and Sudan Agree to Promote Cooperation in Renewable Energy
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah held a bilateral meeting for promoting cooperation in renewable energy with a delegation from Sudan.
The talks focused on the areas of possible cooperation especially in the development of wind energy, solar energy, biomass and small hydro resources. It was also agreed that Ministry of New & Renewable Energy would provide support for resource assessment and training in the areas of wind and solar energy through its technical institutions viz. Centre for Wind Energy Technology, Chennai and the National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurgaon.
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), the Indian green energy financial institution would provide knowledge and technical appraisal assistance in developing renewable energy projects on commercial basis. A team comprising officials from Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, IREDA, CWET and NISE would soon visit Sudan to discuss a framework for further cooperation between the two countries.
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=28
Low carbon development pathways for a sustainable India
India can achieve a low-carbon development pathway, with appropriate policies being implemented, without significantly decreasing development ambitions, according to a report released by a consortium of partners that included WWF-India, CEE, Laya, CASA and Welthungerhilfe. This is a first of its kind study to integrate development concerns in a climate modeling framework. The study provides important insights for the Indian low-carbon development policy debate.
Economic Times India reports on Climate Smart Cities launch in Kolkata
Backed by the British Deputy High Commission, the study ‘The Economis of a Low Carbon Kolkata as part of the 10 Climate Smart Cities’ would be conducted in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and would help identify relevant policies to attract investment.
The KMA was chosen for the study because it is one of the 10 largest cities in the world and is growing at a rapid rate.
Jadavpur University Professor Joyashree Roy said the programme would create a global network of cities representing different climates and states of development and reflecting varied approaches to green growth and concerns relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“We will identify the projects for reducing carbon emissions and green growth. We will also suggest cost effective ways for implementation of those projects,” Roy said.
“Even transport, we need more of elevated and underground metros to stop too much dependency on fuel-based transport,” he said
He added that even housing projects needed to be designed in a way that lights and other electricity-based connections are wisely used.
Workshop on Methodology for Local (Low Carbon) Accessibility Plans for Indian Cities held at Ahmedabad
The Centre for Urban Equity at CEPT University organized a workshop on ‘Methodology for Local (Low Carbon) Accessibility Plans for Indian Cities’ on March 29th, 2014 at GIDC Bhavan, CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
The idea of local accessibility plans is based on area (ward) level planning mechanism that is participatory, dynamic, bottom-up and linked with municipal budget.
A local level plan is also helpful as short-term plan to implement or to give feedbacks to the city level long-term plan in form of the development plan. As part of this workshop, we are inviting city government officials, elected representatives, planning consultants and academicians to contribute to the idea of local accessibility plan. “
http://cept.ac.in/events/109/methodology-for-local-low-carbon-accessibility-plans-for-indian-cities
Surajbari Wind to invest $194 mn in Madhya Pradesh
Surajbari Windfarm Development Pvt Ltd (SWDPL) plans to invest around $194 million for setting up new wind farms in Madhya Pradesh. The proposed investment will be backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will lend loan and possible syndication.
SWDPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Continuum Wind Energy Pte Ltd (CWEPL), which is promoted by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Continuum Energy Pte Ltd. According to the project document, the company plans to set up two wind farms with a combined capacity of 170-Mw in Madhya Pradesh, through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries– DJ Energy Private Limited (DJEPL) and Uttar Urja Projects Private Limited.
The off taker for the project will be Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Ltd, a state-owned utility. The project cost is estimated to be about $194 million and the IFC’s proposed investment would be $48 million and a possible syndication of up to $96 million