India Environmental News Compilation, December 26th, 2011 - January 1st, 2012
Posted January 10, 2012 in Curbing Pollution, Green Enterprise, Health and the Environment, Moving Beyond Oil, Solving Global Warming
Climate
India against binding pact on emission cuts: Jayanthi
“India will not accept any binding targets under a new post 2020 climate regime until the principle of differentiation based on equity is defined, Union environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Her statement came against questions of Rajya Sabha members, including the leader of opposition in the house, Arun Jaitley on the nature of decision called the Durban platform, taken in the recently concluded South Africa climate negotiations.”
(The Times of India, 12/28/11)
Energy
Bigger Tryst with Green Energy this Year
“If clean energy ever needed a pin-up poster, pristine Leh-Ladakh dotted with solar panels would be on it. Most of the region’s energy requirements today might be met with diesel, but there are plans to change that. Projects are afoot that aim to power the whole of Ladakh with solar power in the next five years. Leh-Ladakh is a small achievement in India's ambitious plans to add 8,000 mw of renewable energy in the next five years, even as it is already among the world’s top five clean energy producers, with almost 22,000 mw at present. And, considering that 2012 is the international year of sustainable energy, the plan seems perfectly timed.”
(Financial Express, 01/01/12)
India to Build 400 Megawatts of Solar, Two-Thirds Less Than Plan
“India will complete 400 megawatts of solar power connected to the grid this fiscal year, two-thirds less than previously forecast by state and central governments. India has so far built 180 megawatts during the year ending March 31, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in an e- mailed statement today.”
(Bloomberg News, 12/30/11)
In India, Solar Power Begins Living up To Its Own Ambitions
“Every five days or so, in a marriage of low and high tech, field hands with long-handled dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power. The site is one of the biggest examples of India’s ambitious plan to use solar energy to help modernize its notoriously underpowered national electricity grid, and reduce its dependence on coal-fired power plants. Azure Power has a contract to provide solar-generated electricity to a state-government electric utility. Inderpreet Wadhwa, Azure’s chief executive, predicted that within a few years solar power would be competitive in price with India’s conventionally generated electricity.”
(The New York Times, 12/28/11)
Havells forms equal joint venture in China for energy efficient lighting
“Havells India has formed an equal joint venture with Shanghai Yaming Lighting Co in China to sell energy-efficient lighting products in China as well as India, Europe and Latin America. The partners will together invest $50 million in Jiangsu Havells Sylvania Lighting Co, which will have a manufacturing plant at China's Jiangsu Province to make energy-efficient lamps, lighting fixtures and high intensity discharge lamps used in road and shop lighting.”
(The Economic Times, 12/27/11)
Health and Environment
Diesel generators, stone quarries, brick kilns adding to pollution level, says study
“A recent study has shown that brick kilns, stone quarries and diesel generators contribute to a city's pollution level in a major way. Even though kilns and quarries are located on the outskirts, the pollution travels towards the city. The study 'Urban air pollution and co-benefits analysis in India' was carried out in six cities, including Pune, in 2011. Conducted by New Delhi-based independent research group UrbanEmission.Info, the aim of the study was to better understand sources of air pollution. The study was initiated with support from the Climate Works Foundation (USA) and the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (New Delhi). The research group used the SIM-Air (Simple Interactive Models for Better Air Quality) family of tools for the study. The tools help establish a multi-pollutant emissions inventory and involve rapid assessment.”
(The Times of India, 12/29/11)
