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<ul><li>The cross-check programme exempts high-profile users from the automated moderation system.</li><li>The <keyword id="5482723" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="oversight-board" source="Orion">Oversight Board</keyword> said it will continue to react to <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="meta" source="Orion">Meta</keyword>'s specific responses in the days and weeks to come.</li></ul> Meta (formerly Facebook) has agreed to modify Facebook and <keyword id="819905" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="instagram" source="Orion">Instagram</keyword>'s cross-check programme to make it more transparent through regular reporting. The cross-check programme exempts high-profile users from the automated moderation system. Responding to 32 recommendations the independent Oversight Board made on its cross-check system, Meta said it is fully implementing 11, partially implementing 15, still assessing the feasibility of one and taking no further action on five. "This will result in substantial changes to how we operate this system in response to the feedback we've received from the board and other stakeholders we've engaged with over several years," said the social network. In particular, Meta will make cross-check more transparent through regular reporting and fine-tune its criteria for inclusion to the list to better account for human rights interests and equity. "We will also change cross-check's operational systems to help reduce the backlog of review requests and decrease the time it takes to review cases," said Meta. The Oversight Board said that several aspects of Meta's response haven't gone as far as "we recommended to achieve a more transparent and equitable system". "Meta declined the Board's suggestion that deserving users be able to apply for the protections afforded by cross-check," it tweeted. As part of the Board's unique role, "we, and the public at large, gained knowledge about Meta's systems and policies. We plan to use that information to shape future recommendations and initiatives," it added. The Oversight Board said it will continue to react to Meta's specific responses in the days and weeks to come. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/explained-apples-clean-energy-charging-for-iphone-that-sets-a-new-standard-for-sustainability/articleshow/98331359.cms">Explained: Apple's Clean Energy Charging for iPhone that sets a new standard for sustainability</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/vr-app-allows-users-to-revisit-memories-previously-recorded-on-their-smartphones/articleshow/98275527.cms">This app is straight out of Black Mirror — it lets you capture and revisit memories in virtual reality</a>

Meta to modify its controversial cross-check programme on FB, Insta

Tech giant <keyword id="6354427" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword> on Tuesday called on its global supply chain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use a holistic approach to decarbonisation. Apple also announced new initiatives and investments aimed at promoting climate solutions for communities and decarbonising the global economy. "Fighting <keyword id="6361617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="Orion">climate change</keyword> remains one of Apple's most urgent priorities and moments like this put action to those words," said Apple CEO <keyword id="191843" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tim-cook" source="Orion">Tim Cook</keyword>. "We're looking forward to continued partnership with our suppliers to make Apple's supply chain carbon neutral by 2030. Climate action at Apple doesn't stop at our doors, and in this work, we're determined to be a ripple in the pond that creates a bigger change," he added. According to Apple, its worldwide corporate operations have been carbon neutral since 2020, and the company is laser-focused on achieving its ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral throughout its entire global supply chain and the life cycle of every product. As part of Apple's supplier engagement, the company is partnering with its worldwide supply chain to urge accelerated action to achieve carbon neutrality for their Apple-related corporate operations, it added. Additionally, the company encourages suppliers to address greenhouse gas emissions beyond Apple production. The company is also offering a suite of free e-learning resources and live training through its "<keyword id="1167867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Clean-Energy-Programme" source="Orion">Clean Energy Programme</keyword>" that will help suppliers meet their commitments and go even further. This will also allow work closely with its suppliers and local partners to identify effective solutions for renewable energy and carbon removal. Moreover, customers in the US can now play a role in decreasing the carbon footprint of <keyword id="15347316" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="iphones-with-clean-energy-charging" source="Orion">iPhones with Clean Energy Charging</keyword>. Starting this month, the feature is available in the US through iOS 16 that will look at the source of electricity during expected charge times in order to optimise for cleaner energy sources such as solar or wind, according to a report. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/play-store-policies-cci-slaps-rs-936-44-crore-penalty-on-google-for-unfair-biz-ways/articleshow/95081184.cms">Play Store policies: CCI slaps Rs 936.44 crore penalty on Google for unfair biz ways</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability/news/hack-the-agenda-campaign-to-force-worlds-biggest-polluters-to-fund-a-global-central-damage-fund-for-climate-change-victims/articleshow/95081779.cms">"Hack the Agenda" campaign to force world's biggest polluters to fund a global central damage fund for climate change victims</a>

Tim Cook calls on Apple suppliers to decarbonise by 2030

New Delhi, India on Saturday announced the launch of the <keyword id="16473623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-Biofuel-Alliance" source="Orion">Global Biofuel Alliance</keyword> and urged G20 nations to join the initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 per cent. Speaking at the G20 Summit session on 'One Earth', Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> also proposed launching the 'G20 Satellite Mission for Environment and Climate Observation' and urged leaders to commence work on the 'Green Credit Initiative'. "Today, the need of the hour is that all countries should work together in the field of fuel blending. Our proposal is to take an initiative at a global-level to take ethanol blending in petrol up to 20 per cent," he said. "Or alternatively, we could work on developing another blending mix for the greater global good, one that ensures a stable energy supply while also contributing to climate security," Modi said at the session attended by US President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak among others. The prime minister said energy transition is a significant need of the 21st century world considering the challenge of climate change. He said trillions of dollars are required for an inclusive energy transition and that the developed countries play a very crucial role in this. "Along with India, all the countries of the Global South are pleased that developed countries have taken a positive initiative this year, in 2023. Developed countries have expressed their willingness to fulfil their commitment of USD 100 billion for climate finance for the first time," he said. At the Copenhagen UN climate talks in 2009, developed countries had committed to providing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to support developing countries in combating climate change. However, the wealthier nations failed repeatedly to fulfil this commitment. The Global Biofuels Alliance, which the world's third biggest oil consumer wants to push during its G20 presidency, mirrors the <keyword id="3155010" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="international-solar-alliance" source="Orion">International Solar Alliance</keyword> (ISA) piloted by New Delhi and Paris in 2015 to bring clean and affordable solar energy within the reach of all. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an exclusive interview told PTI that India's proposal for a global alliance on biofuels among members of the Group of 20 major economies would help accelerate sustainable biofuels deployment in support of the global energy transition. "Such alliances are aimed at creating options for developing countries to advance their energy transitions," he had said. "Biofuels are also important from the perspective of a circular economy. Markets, trade, technology, and policy all aspects of international cooperation are crucial in creating such opportunities," Modi had said. <keyword id="53632" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="biofuel" source="Orion">Biofuel</keyword> is a renewable source of energy which is derived from biomass. India, which imports over 85 per cent of its crude oil needs, is gradually building capacity to produce fuel from such items as crop stubble, plant waste, and municipal solid waste. While India is on schedule to double the mixing of ethanol extracted from sugarcane and agriculture waste to 20 per cent with petrol by 2025, it is also setting up dozens of compressed biogas (CBG) plants. The Global Biofuels Alliance is aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels across sectors, including transportation. Its focus is primarily on strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuel trade, developing concrete policy lesson-sharing and providing technical support for national biofuel programmes worldwide. Such an initiative is also aimed at helping India's transition to alternative fuels and cutting its import bill, as it seeks to achieve its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2070. On the other hand, the ISA aims to mobilise more than USD 1,000 billion of investment needed by 2030 for the massive deployment of solar energy. The <keyword id="69313" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="international-energy-agency" source="Orion">International Energy Agency</keyword> (IEA) estimates that global sustainable biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put the world's energy system on track towards net zero emissions by 2050. Liquid biofuels provided more than 4 per cent of the total transport energy supply in 2022.

G20 Summit: PM Modi announces launch of Global Biofuel Alliance

At a time when growing US-China tensions on trade-related issues have created complications for scientific research, teams of physicists from the two countries are putting such rivalries aside to develop the clean energy of the future. Whereas some Chinese scientists are experiencing greater difficulty in getting a US visa and Washington is banning the transfer of many technologies to China, fusion - a power source often referred to as man-made sun - has brought the two sides together. Teams from both countries are working together to make significant progress in controlling fusion's considerable power, as well as playing soccer together, according to scientists involved. The world's two largest economies are major contributors of knowledge and finance for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the world's first fusion reactor, which is under construction in Europe. Both countries are considering building industrial-scale prototype reactors to test the applications of fusion - power generated by blending hydrogen atoms in plasma, an extremely hot gas, in a chamber 10 times hotter than the core of the sun. And now, for the first time, Chinese and American physicists have managed to confine plasma in a powerful magnetic field and prevent it escaping, according to a paper they published in the latest issue of journal Physical Review Letters. This could solve a major problem in the construction of fusion reactors, which could use the technology to produce an endless supply of clean energy. Occasionally the hot gas can erupt and break free from its magnetic prison, which would cause severe damage to a reactor. At the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) facility in Hefei, in the southeastern Chinese province of Anhui, the joint research team came up with a new technology to reduce the energy intensity of the heat pulses to a fraction of what they had been. This meant the pulses would occur more frequently but not reach far enough to risk burning the reactor wall. The scientists have dubbed this controlled state "grassy mode". The unprecedented experiment in Hefei was carried out by the Institute of Plasma Physics, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with three fusion research entities from the US: the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, General Atomics and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. A lead scientist in the study, Professor Xu Guosheng - director of the tokamak physics division at the Institute of Plasma Physics - said the achievement was a result of long-term collaboration backed by the world's two most powerful governments. "We have been working very closely for decades. [The US team] just came over and played soccer with us," Xu said. In May, China and the US marked the 30th anniversary of fusion research collaboration in Hefei, and the celebration events included soccer matches. The <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/us-china-trade-war" target="_self">trade war</a> "has not affected us at all", he added. Next month, a team of Chinese fusion experts will go to San Diego, where part of their mission will be to replicate the experiment on the DIII-D, the largest magnetic fusion research facility in the United States. If that is successful, the "grassy mode" may become a standard protocol of operation for all fusion reactors in the future. General Atomics, a contractor operating the DIII-D facility for the US departments of energy and defence, confirmed the collaboration. "The research teams on EAST and DIII-D actively collaborate on fusion research topics," the company said in a statement on Thursday. "These collaborations have benefited the fusion energy communities in both countries, with DIII-D receiving new hardware built by the Chinese, EAST researchers receiving dedicated experimental time on DIII-D to carry out targeted research, and both teams working together on experiments on DIII-D and EAST," the company said. It is highly unusual for a major US defence contractor to hail a Chinese-American collaboration. General Atomics develops and produces a large number of cutting-edge weapons, such as railguns, laser weapons and some of the world's deadliest drones, including the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. The company said the China-US collaboration was part of a much larger global fusion research programme involving more than 40 nations, to develop the physics basis for fusion as an energy source. This global partnership has been active for over 60 years since the declassification of magnetic fusion research in 1958. "Within this global endeavour, the EAST/DIII-D collaboration continues to be highly productive in delivering important results and numerous scientific publications," the company added. Broader developments between the two countries had threatened some of their scientific collaborations. While their Chinese counterparts working in the US have been encountering <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3010404/basic-self-defence-us-lawmakers-want-bar-chinese-military-scientists" target="_self">visa complications</a>, some American scientists with ties in China have <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3017013/fear-mounts-chinese-american-scientists-are-being-targeted" target="_self">faced investigation</a> in the US, with some losing their jobs at unusually short notice. Last August, the White House initiated a strict ban on the transfer of nuclear-related technology to China, and some joint ventures - including Bill Gates' plan to build a new type of nuclear reactor in Tianjin, in northern China - were put on hold. Professor Chen Yiping, another fusion scientist with the Institute of Plasma Physics in Hefei, said the achievement of "grassy mode" was an important step, but there were many other challenges ahead. The EAST facility, for instance, holds the world record for the longest plasma burning, at 100 seconds. The DIII-D facility can maintain burning for only 10 seconds. A commercial fusion reactor, though, would require continuous operation for years or even decades, according to Chen. "Fusion is an uphill battle. The only chance to win is to unite as many talents and resources as possible," he said. Professor Xu said China and the US would "certainly" compete on fusion energy in the future, when the technology becomes ready for commercial applications. "But that may be decades away," he said. "Until then, we will remain partners." This article originally appeared on the <a href="http://www.scmp.com">South China Morning Post (SCMP)</a>, the leading news media reporting on China and Asia. For more stories, please download our <a href="https://go.onelink.me/3586748601?pid=3rdpartycontentexchange">mobile app</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/scmpnews">Twitter</a>, and like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scmp">Facebook</a>. Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

What trade war? How China and US bonded over soccer and nuclear energy's 'grassy mode'

Front-loading <keyword id="87019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="washing-machine" source="Orion">washing machine</keyword>s are generally more water and energy efficient than top loading washing machines. Apart from this, they are durable and also tend to offer better washing performance. To help you buy an energy-efficient front loading washing machine, here are the best options available on Amazon. <bulletContentEmbed name="B09DD3KL94" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B09DD3KL94_head"><div type="image" title="Editor’s Choice" msid="88530905" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B09DD3KL94</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B09DD3KL94_body"><bulletContentRow name="B09DD3KL94_5502292675875511"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">LG 8kg Front Loading Washing Machine</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The LG washing machine delivers six motions of wash that should ensure gentle handling of clothes and clean them efficiently. The motor attached to the drum reduces the noise and vibration. It is equipped with a heater that can heat water up to 60-degree Celsius to remove tough stains. It features a waterproof LED control panel making it more convenient for use.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B09DD3KL94_0385170374178021"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The LG front loading washing machine has an 8kg capacity and can be a suitable choice for efficiently cleaning your laundry at home.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B086VWH589" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B086VWH589_head"><div type="image" title="Recommended" msid="88530918" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B086VWH589</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B086VWH589_body"><bulletContentRow name="B086VWH589_9908708628034162"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Samsung 6.5kg Front Loading Washing Machine</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Samsung front loading washing machine features a diamond drum that claims to prevent damage to your clothes with efficient washing. It has a ceramic heater that prevents water scale deposits to build-up in the machine. It features wash modes for cotton, wool and delicate fabrics. The quick wash option helps you save time while giving you clean laundry. It is said to offer quiet but powerful performance with its inverter technology.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B086VWH589_8272734173434426"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Samsung <keyword id="6752168" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="front-load-washing-machine" source="Orion">Front Load Washing machine</keyword> claims to deliver efficient washes while saving water and energy.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08KRZ69XY" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08KRZ69XY_head"><div type="image" title="Value for money" msid="88530945" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08KRZ69XY</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08KRZ69XY_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08KRZ69XY_0328667686574607"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Bosch 8kg Front Load Washing Machine (WAJ2846SIN)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Bosch washing machine has an anti-wrinkle feature that washes gently while making your clothes easy to iron. The EcoSilence Drive motor it features claims to reduce the heat and wear while delivering long-lasting performance. It comes with an anti-bacteria programme that can give you fresh hygienic clothes.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08KRZ69XY_1886521453737227"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Bosch washing machine is loaded with features that can deliver efficient cleaning.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B071G3B81W" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B071G3B81W_head"><div type="image" title="Pocket-Friendly" msid="88530982" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B071G3B81W</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B071G3B81W_body"><bulletContentRow name="B071G3B81W_4957180940654702"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">IFB 6KG Front Loading Washing Machine</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The IFB front loading washing machine is said to deliver cleaner laundry with its Aqua Energie feature that dissolves detergents better. It is equipped with 15 wash programs and has an express wash option to clean lightly soiled clothes in a quick time. It claims to remove allergens and give you fresher clothes, making it ideal for homes with kids. It comes with the option of adding laundry during the wash cycle.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B071G3B81W_3322500386529742"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The IFB fully automatic washing machine promises to be highly efficient and is a suitable choice for home.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08CY1PMC9" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08CY1PMC9_head"><div type="image" title="Alternative One" msid="88530999" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08CY1PMC9</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08CY1PMC9_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08CY1PMC9_2629194071585263"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">IFB 7 Kg Front Loading Washing Machine</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The IFB washing machine is said to feature a dynamic wash system that can soak clothes thoroughly and clean them better. It has an express wash feature that is ideal for washing lightly soiled clothes. The floating ball valve helps drain out while saving the detergent for the next wash. It is said to monitor the voltage fluctuations and prevent damage from high-voltage.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08CY1PMC9_9160566478424258"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The IFB washing machine features 11 wash programs and you can save them for future use.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08ZJY91N8" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08ZJY91N8_head"><div type="image" title="Alternative Two" msid="88531030" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08ZJY91N8</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08ZJY91N8_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08ZJY91N8_2296233284074498"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Samsung 7 Kg Front Loading Washing Machine</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Samsung washing machine features a digital inverter motor that is said to last long. The Hygiene Steam it features is said to improve the cleaning quality of the wash. It features a Diamond Drum that is gentle on clothes. It comes with a Quick Wash feature that can give you cleaner laundry in 15 minutes.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08ZJY91N8_4291682856029381"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Samsung washing machine provides silent operations and comes with a child lock feature.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Best energy-efficient front load washing machines

New Delhi, Jan 31 () India has embarked on an ambitious target of having 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and also provide 17 lakh solar pumps to farmers under Pradhan Mantri-Kusum Yojana in coming days to capitalise on this clean resource, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday. 
 The country is already working on the target of having 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind energy.
 As of December 2019, 86 GW of renewable energy capacity has already been achieved. This includes 34 GW of solar and 38 GW of wind energy. Besides, around 36 GW of clean energy is under installation and about 35 GW is under bidding stage.
 Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said: "Keeping environment conservation in mind, my Government has enhanced the target for producing renewable energy to 450 gigawatts (GW). Under the Pradhan Mantri-Kusum Yojana, it has been targeted to provide more than 17 lakh solar pumps to farmers across the country." 
 He noted that under the second phase of the solar roof top programme, the target is to generate 38 GW of electricity.
In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced doubling India's non-fossil fuel target to 450 GW at Climate Action Summit at UN headquarters. 
 Kovind also told the members that after International Solar Alliance (ISA), India has been at the forefront of a global partnership.
The ISA was set up under the aegis of India. It was created to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource rich countries.
 As many as 85 countries have signed the ISA framework agreement. A total 64 nations have ratified it. KKS KKS ANU
ANU

India to have 450 GW renewable energy by 2030: President

New Delhi, Feb 1 () Experts from the energy industry lauded the governments' decision on expanding the PM-KUSUM scheme and a proposal to allocate about Rs 22,000 crore to power and renewable energy sector in 2020-21, saying the step will help generate employment opportunities and give a boost to the agriculture sector.
While presenting the budget for 2020-21, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced expansion of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme under which 20 lakh farmers would be provided funds to set up standalone solar pumps.
While presenting the budget for 2020-21, the minister said that farmers would be provided funds to set up grid-connected 15 lakh solar pumps.
In her budget speech, she also proposed an outlay of Rs 22,000 crore for power and renewable energy sector for 2020-21.
Imaan Javan, the director of operations at Suntuity Renewable Energy India, "We welcome the decision which reflects the union government's commitment and concern for renewable energy generation. One of the heartening features of the Union budget is its provision for the use of renewable energy sector of Rs 22,000 crore." 
 Sitharaman deserves praise for this innovative measure which will widen the scope of the PM-KUSUM scheme and enable farmers to set up grid-connected solar power generation capacity on barren land and renewable energy sector as a way to address pollution and climate change, poverty and give the farmers their livelihood."
The industry hope the measures will give boost to the agriculture sector, and help generate employment as well in rural India, he said. 
Nikunj Ghodawat, Chief Financial Officer, CleanMax opines for the renewable energy sector, the extension of the 15 per cent and 22 per cent tax rate to the new and existing power generation companies, which was earlier only earmarked for the manufacturing sector, is a welcome move.
 The new personal income tax structure should help to increase liquidity at the hands of the individuals, which will have a trickle-down effect to boost demand and consumption across multiple sectors, he said.
Anas Rahman, Programme Associate, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), said the announcement of the expansion of the PM-KUSUM scheme is a very positive move as it can significantly benefit the Indian farmer.
 "However, the government must address certain concerns before scaling up the scheme. The current demand-based allocation of off-grid pumps among the states does not incentivise states to better target and address the inequity in irrigation access for small and marginal land farmers," Rahman said.
Anil Chaudhry, Zone President and Managing Director, Schneider Electric India, said the Budget has affirmed its commitment to clean energy with a proposal to allocate Rs 22,000 crore for the renewable sector.
The plan to provide standalone solar powered pumps to 20 lakh farmers, allows farmers to generate solar power and set up large solar power capacity along the rail tracks will encourage the use of clean and renewable energy.
"Further, the decision to extend concessional corporate tax rate of 15 per cent to new power generating companies engaged will give a major boost to the renewable sector," Chaudhry said.
Additionally, the focus on ensuring smart metering replacing conventional energy meters by prepaid smart meters in the states and UTs over the next 3 years will prove to be a positive step in addressing the financial stress of DISCOMs, he added. 
Anish De, Partner and leader for Energy and Natural Resources practice at KPMG India, said, "Big push for solar power for farming and for fallow lands by extending the Kusum scheme. This could potentially result in 10-15 GW of new capacity creation if it materializes. This will be a big push for framer's income, but will in turn require lesser demand for grid scale power, targets for which then should be adjusted downwards."
Somesh Kumar, National Leader, Power and Utilities, EY India, said, "The budget for power sector is quite progressive. The overall outlay of 22,000 crores as well mass measures like replacement of meters with prepaid meters and freedom to choose suppliers, could bring in much needed reforms in the distribution sector reducing losses and improving customer satisfaction. Further, closure of polluting plants can go a long away in reducing carbon footprint. The success will lie in the implementation of these measures which should be taken up the in the right earnest by the States." ABI MKJ

PM-KUSUM scheme expansion a boost for agri sector, job prospects: Renewable energy players

<ul><li>The Ministry of Power’s Bureau of <keyword id="6357014" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy">Energy</keyword> <keyword id="18260" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="efficiency">Efficiency</keyword> (BEE) and Niti Aayog have released the first energy efficiency index for Indian states. </li><li><keyword id="28504" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> and Rajasthan achieved “front-runner” category on the index, along with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. </li><li>The ultimate goal of the index is to track the amount of energy each state is saving as part of the central <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword>’s larger <keyword id="6361617" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change">climate change</keyword> targets. </li></ul>On 1 August, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a sub-agency of the Ministry of Power, released the country’s <a href="http://www.aeee.in/state-ee-index/">first energy efficiency index</a> for Indian states. The ‘State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index’ was prepared by the body in conjunction with Niti Aayog, India’s policy incubator. The index assesses states on their progress in implementing clean energy projects and achieving energy efficiency targets. It includes 63 indicators along six lines - construction, industry, transport, agriculture, electricity generation and distribution and municipality. Kerala and Rajasthan achieved “front-runner” category on the index, along with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. The index breaks down each state’s level of achievement in a specific sector. Kerala, for example, had a high rating in construction because of the effective implementation of energy conservation building codes, the number of certified green buildings and mandatory energy reporting and saving policies. Just like the top bracket, the other three other categories have slightly ambiguous titles. They are, in descending order, ‘Achiever’ (Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Haryana), Contender, (Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Odisha) and Aspirant (J&amp;K, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chattisgarh and all the Northeastern states). The data compiled for the index mostly relates to state policies, the functioning of institutions, the amount of energy consumed and the potential to save energy. It was sourced from central government departments such as Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Ministry of New and <keyword id="91910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Renewable">Renewable</keyword> Energy (MNRE) as well as each of the states’ power ministries and agencies nominated by the BEE. The ultimate goal of the index is to track the amount of energy savings of each state, and encourage them to compete against each other in terms of energy efficiency and programme implementation. As part of an agreement signed in Paris in late 2015, India has pledged to reduce its carbon consumption by a third from its 2005 levels by 2030. The current BJP administration also plans to install 175 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2022, a target it looks set to achieve.

Kerala, Rajasthan top India’s first state index for energy efficiency

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersThe cost of solar power is declining.</div></div></div><ul><li>The cost of producing <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/solar">solar power</a> is rapidly declining: it now costs $50 to produce one megawatt-hour of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-growth-outpaces-coal-oil-fossil-fuels-2018-4">solar power</a>, according to a new analysis.</li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/coal">Coal</a>, on the other hand, costs $102 per megawatt-hour to produce. </li><li>This recent change could be a sign that the world is on the verge of an energy revolution.</li></ul>The cost of solar power is decreasing so rapidly, it's now cheaper than coal, based on a new analysis. A <a href="https://www.lazard.com/perspective/levelized-cost-of-energy-2017/">recent report from Lazard</a> shows how the costs of producing electricity from various sources are changing. Energy from utility-scale solar plants - plants that produce electricity that feeds into the grid - has seen the biggest price drop: an 86% decrease since 2009. The cost of producing one megawatt-hour of electricity - a standard way to measure electricity production - is now around $50 for solar power, according to Lazard's math. The cost of producing one megawatt-hour of electricity from coal, by comparison, is $102 - more than double the cost of solar.The dramatic change is clear in this chart:<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Shayanne Gal/ Business Insider</div></div></div>Lazard's analysis is based on a measurement known as the levelized cost of energy analysis (LCOE), which is a way of calculating the total production cost of building and operating an electricity-generating plant.The rapidly declining cost of solar is a sign that the world may be on the verge of a dramatic change in how we power our buildings and vehicles. The price drop is likely to spur a shift toward renewable power sources like wind and solar and away from fossil fuels like oil and coal.Changing our energy system to emphasize those clean sources is the only way to slow the process of climate change, since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/carbon-dioxide-record-human-health-effects-2018-5">emissions from fossil fuels</a> cause more heat to get trapped on the planet. But analysts have long pointed out the the transition will only realistically ramp up once renewable energy sources become cheaper than traditional fuels - which now seems to be happening.The rise of renewables is apparent when you look at which types of new energy generation capacity are getting added around the world. In 2017, there was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-growth-outpaces-coal-oil-fossil-fuels-2018-4">m</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-growth-outpaces-coal-oil-fossil-fuels-2018-4">ore new solar power capacity created than any other type of energy</a>, according to <a href="http://fs-unep-centre.org/sites/default/files/publications/gtr2018v2.pdf">a report</a> from the United Nations Environment Programme.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Shayanne Gal/ Business Insider</div></div></div>Renewable energy, including wind, hydro, and solar, supplied a record 12% of the world's energy needs last year. In 2017 alone, the solar sector attracted $160.8 billion in investment, an 18% increase over 2016, according to the UNEP report.While solar is getting much cheaper, Lazard notes that these sources of electricity are not a panacea. LCOE as a measurement does not take into account some external costs, like storing solar power for cloudy days, which is one of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/renewable-power-germany-negative-electricity-cost-2017-12">lingering obstacles preventing</a> the widespread adoption of solar. (Other sources of electricity like coal or natural gas don't have the same problem, of course.)That storage problem also makes it hard for developing economies to adopt energy systems that are fully renewable. Until battery and storage capabilities improve, the report says, countries will likely need to use a mix of traditional energy sources along with renewables. In the US, solar still only provides 2% of the country's total electricity needs, according to the <a href="https://www.seia.org/solar-industry-research-data">Solar Energy Industries Association</a>. But California is trying to change that: The state is seeking to mandate that most new homes be outfitted with solar panels. State lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the proposal on Wednesday. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-survive-alligator-attack-2018-4">How to survive an alligator attack</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

One simple chart shows why an energy revolution is coming - and who is likely to come out on top

India as a civilisation has revered nature for its life-giving properties and has been powered by renewable sources since ancient times. Modern India generates almost a third of its power using renewables sources – water, wind and a small part from the sun (&lt;1%) while the rest comes largely from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas). These fuels have been the mainstays of power generation for the past few decades and would have continued to do so but for their escalating prices. Also, an ongoing lack of consistent fuel supply to meet even the current demand, along with the clamour against global warming, has put the energy industry under increased pressure and the focus is now on renewable sources of power like the sun, water, geothermal, biomass and wind. 
 
Large hydro projects, comprising almost a third of the current power generation sources, have hit numerous roadblocks due to people displacement, global warming, habitat destruction and land submergence. Biomass initially started off well but due to unplanned supply chain issues, has resulted in almost 75% of the 2 GW installed capacity coming to a standstill. Tidal and geothermal are almost non-existent in India while wind has played a significant role in increasing the acceptability of renewables, but hasn’t really contributed to a scalable solution. Biomass has been an abject failure due to fuel price rise, with 75% of the installed 2 GW capacity currently without adequate biomass supply. Wind turbines generate unscheduled power for just a few months, making them unsuitable for mainstream power generation, especially in the Indian context, and were only successful due to huge corporate tax benefits. 
 That just leaves us with the sun which delivers more than enough <keyword id="6357019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="solar-energy">solar energy</keyword> every hour to our planet to power the entire world’s energy needs for a year. However, the major drawback is its periodic nature and capturing this energy for round-the-clock delivery at cost-effective pricing is the next paradigm of energy that is now receiving attention and interest. 
 Clean and <keyword id="60895" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Green-energy">green energy</keyword> is a basic theory of modern life although the governmental focus is more on grid power, which is a polluting, inefficient and unreliable source of power. AT&amp;C losses account for close to 40% of the total power generation, amounting to a total of Rs 75 thousand crore and more every year that could wipe out energy poverty across the country. Smart grids and infrastructure updates are the need of the hour. But the government is still focused on spending Rs 2 lakh crore to bail out bankrupt Discoms whereas that amount could have been used to deliver distributed energy and reduce dependence on Discoms for a large part of the country. 
 The <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> recognised this potential and the MNRE (Ministry of New and <keyword id="34553" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="renewable-energy">Renewable Energy</keyword>) launched an ambitious programme in 2010 called JNNSM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission) to deploy 22,000 MW of grid-connected <keyword id="70990" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Solar-power">solar power</keyword> by 2020. The programme has seen limited success with phase I meeting its PV targets and phase 2 on the way in the form of 750 MW via the Viability Gap <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="Funding">Funding</keyword> (VGF) programme. 
 
In the initial programme, CSP (Concentrated Solar Power), aka GemaSolar, but without storage, was touted as a replacement to thermal plants and received majority of the allocation but failed to take off significantly, with deadline extensions and penalty waivers being the norm. There are talks to revive this programme and its success will decide whether solar power can be considered as a base load alternative. 
 
Thermal-concentrated sources of energy are optimal for urban and semi-urban areas. However, towns need to reduce dependence on the grid and adopt the German model, which enables local, as well as distributed power, using net-metering. 
 
The MNRE programmes have barely managed to dent the potential of distributed RE, requiring focused attention and financial muscle to enable the nation on its path towards renewable energy. But MNRE has not paid out a large part of the residential subsidies of 30% of capital costs over the past year due to lack of funds, a serious damper, especially for solar on rooftops. The current VGF programme is scheduled to cost the MNRE Rs 2,500 crore and push solar procurement costs down to below Rs 5.5 per KWh, enabling it to compete with conventional energy. 
 
The essence of solar success lies in empowering the distributed 400 million poor who are currently consuming fossil fuel not touched by the power grid and thus reduce India’s CAD (current account deficit), environmental pollution and health concerns. But there lies the irony. The rural/tribal populace pays nearly twice or thrice the rate of power than those living in cities, but has received minimal attention although the impact is the highest to those using fossil fuel and government subsidies in daily life. 
 
Every unit of power generated has the ability to multiply economic growth, especially in rural areas that suffer from energy paucity due to unreliable connections or load shedding. State governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and a few other states have already initiated proactive steps by increasing the state subsidies, in addition to subsidies from the central government, and are also looking at replacing grid-connected agricultural equipment with solar-enabled ones. 
 
Solar has the potential to reduce the current energy peak deficit significantly and improve delivery due to its distributed nature, provided it can get the appropriate financial support from the Centre, as well as all the states. The central government continues to think that grid power, with its huge losses, is the solution. But in reality, distributed energy, delivered to every home and the excess pumped into the grid, would result into least amount of losses while reducing energy generation needs. 
 
Over the next few years, solar power will come into its own, both from financial viability and availability perspectives, with exponential growth in distributed solar, coupled with storage, transforming the entire energy spectrum in India. The future of Indian energy segment is here and it is the Sun that will continue to power our economic and energy growth into the next millennium. 
 
About the author: Ritesh Pothan manages two India-focused renewable energy groups on LinkedIn. He is also a founding member of <keyword id="2036013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Natural-Group">Natural Group</keyword>, a solar and renewable energy-focused advisory/consulting organisation, and helps drive significant value into renewable energy projects.

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