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Beijing, <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> will build a <keyword id="10353766" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="major-hydropower-project">major hydropower project</keyword> on Brahmaputra river in Tibet and a proposal for this has been clearly put forward in the 14th Five-Year Plan to be implemented from next year, the official media on Sunday quoted the head of a Chinese company tasked to build the dam as saying. <keyword id="10352993" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="yan-zhiyong">Yan Zhiyong</keyword>, chairman of <keyword id="10353764" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-power-construction-corp-of-china">the Power Construction Corp of China</keyword>, said China will "implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of <keyword id="10353765" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-yarlung-zangbo-river">the Yarlung Zangbo River</keyword> (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) and the project could serve to maintain water resources and domestic security, the Global Times reported. Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Yan said the project was clearly put forward in the proposals for formulating the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and its long-term goals through 2035 made by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), it quoted an article on the WeChat account of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China on Sunday. "There is no parallel in history it will be a historic opportunity for the Chinese hydropower industry," Yan told the conference organised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the China Society for Hydropower Engineering. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 were adopted by Plenum - a key policy body of the CPC - last month. Details of the plan were expected to be released after the formal ratification by National People's Congress (NPC) early next year. Proposals for dams on the Brahmaputra have evoked concerns in India and Bangladesh, the riparian states, and China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind. As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Indian government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. China has already operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015. About the new dam, the Global Times report said that speculation about China planning to build a "super hydropower station" in Medog county, where the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is located, have circulated for years. Medog is the last county in Tibet which borders Arunachal Pradesh. In his address, Yan said that the hydropower exploitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River downstream is more than a hydropower project. It is also meaningful for the environment, national security, living standards, energy and international cooperation. According to the report, the mainstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River has the richest water resources in Tibet Autonomous Region, about 80 million kilowatt hours (kWh), while the 50-kilometer section of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has 70 million kWh that could be developed with a 2,000-meter drop, which equals more than three Three Gorges power stations in Hubei province. Tibet has about 200 million kWh of water resources, accounting for 30 per cent of the total in China. The 60 million kWh hydropower exploitation at the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River could provide 300 billion kWh of clean, renewable and zero-carbon electricity annually. The project will play a significant role in realising China's goal of reaching a carbon emissions peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060, he said. "It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that the project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia. The hydropower station could generate income of 20 billion yuan (USD three billion) annually for the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said. India and China established Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides hydrological information of Brahmaputra River and Sutlej River to India during the flood seasons. Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year. SEE ALSO - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rajasthan-government-imposes-night-curfew-from-8-pm-to-6-am-these-are-the-districts-under-restriction/articleshow/79484267.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rajasthan-government-imposes-night-curfew-from-8-pm-to-6-am-these-are-the-districts-under-restriction/articleshow/79484267.cms</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/from-whitehat-jr-big-basket-and-unacademy-to-dunzo-these-are-the-indian-startups-that-reported-data-leaks-over-the-past-few-months/slidelist/79467618.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/from-whitehat-jr-big-basket-and-unacademy-to-dunzo-these-are-the-indian-startups-that-reported-data-leaks-over-the-past-few-months/slidelist/79467618.cms</a>

China to build a major dam on Brahmaputra river: Official

Forget about defining the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Line+of+Actual+Control+">Line of Actual Control</a> and addressing the issue of Chinese intrusion into Indian territories as <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> has now given birth to a new issue which could further widen gaps between the two countries. 
 It has now operationalised the $1.5 billion Zam <keyword id="2398983" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hydropower-station">Hydropower Station</keyword>, which has raised concerns in India over the likelihood of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=disrupting+water+supplies">disrupting water supplies</a>. 
 The dam, the largest in <keyword id="6364076" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tibet">Tibet</keyword>, built on the Brahmaputra river, also raised concerns in India over <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=China">China's ability to release water in times of conflict</a> which could pose serious risk of flooding. 
 
The China Gezhouba Group, a major hydropower contractor based in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province said on Tuesday that all six of the stations’ units were incorporated into the power grid. 
 
Located in the Gyaca County, Shannan Prefecture, the Zam Hydropower Station also known as Zangmu Hydropower Station, harnesses the rich water resources of Brahmaputra known in Tibet as Yarlung Zangbo River, a major river which flows through Tibet into India and later into Bangladesh. 
 
The dam considered to be the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hydropower+station+">world's highest-altitude hydropower station</a> and the largest of its kind will produce produces 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. 
 
According to the company, it would alleviate the electricity shortage in central Tibet and empower the development of the electricity-strapped region. It is also an important energy base in central Tibet. 
 
Investment of the hydropower station, about 140 kms from Tibetan capital Lhasa, totaled 9.6 billion yuan (about $1.5 billion). 
 
The first unit began operations last November. 
 
The problem for India does not end here as China is reportedly building few more dams. The country seeks to allay Indian fears saying that they are the run-of-the-river projects which were not designed to hold water. 
 
An Indian Inter-Ministerial Expert Group (IMEG) on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hydropower+station+">Brahmaputra</a> in 2013 said the dams were being built on the upper reaches and called for further monitoring considering their impact on the flow of waters to the lower reaches. 
 
The IMEG noted that the three dams, Jiexu, Zangmu and Jiacha are within 25 kms of each other and are 550 kms from the Indian border. 
 
India has been taking up the issue with China for the past few years the two countries reached an understanding in 2013. Chinese side agreed to provide more flood data of Brahmaputra from May to October instead of June to October in the previous agreements river water agreements in 2008 and 2010. 
 India is concerned that if the waters are diverted, then projects on the Brahmaputra, particularly the <keyword id="743602" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Upper-Siang">Upper Siang</keyword> and Lower Suhansri projects in <keyword id="46408" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arunachal-Pradesh">Arunachal Pradesh</keyword>, may get affected. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

A reason to worry for! China operationalises biggest dam on Brahmaputra in Tibet

A fire broke out in a parking lot in <keyword id="19900881" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi" source="keywords">Delhi</keyword>’s Mandawali area, fire department officials revealed on Wednesday. As many as 17 cars were reportedly gutted by the flames, but the cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Anyhow, the blazing seems to be representational of the general condition in the national capital. Scorching temperatures continue to grip northern and central <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>, with parts of Delhi recording highs close to 50°C on Wednesday morning. While the Safdarjung observatory recorded daytime temperatures of 45.8°C on , the areas in the outskirts, like Mungeshpur (49.9°C), Najafgarh (49.8°C), and Pitampura (48.5°C) were among the Delhi areas feeling the brunt of the <keyword id="19933152" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heatwave" source="keywords">heatwave</keyword>. The situation is even more severe in <keyword id="19898913" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajasthan" source="keywords">Rajasthan</keyword> and Haryana, where Churu and Sirsa saw their thermometers explode past 50°C, reaching a scorching 50.5°C and 50.3°C respectively, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD issues heatwave alerts if the maximum <keyword id="19929810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="temperature" source="keywords">temperature</keyword> of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for plains for two or more days, whereas a severe <keyword id="20047092" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heat" source="keywords">heat</keyword>wave is declared when mercury breaches the 45°C mark. Consequently, heatwave to severe heat wave conditions have been forecast in most parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for today. These sweltering heat is expected to dissipate gradually over Northwest India starting tomorrow (May 30). However, the damage is already being done. This brutal heatwave is straining power grids as people crank up <keyword id="20054826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-conditioners" source="keywords">air conditioners</keyword> and coolers to try and beat the heat. <keyword id="21211051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-shortages" source="keywords">Water shortages</keyword> are also becoming a major concern. The Central Water Commission reports that water levels in 150 major reservoirs across India have plunged to a critical 24% of capacity. This worsens water shortages in many states and significantly impacts hydropower generation. The relentless heat has also pushed India's power demand to a record high for this season, reaching 239.96 gigawatts. With homes and offices running air conditioners and coolers non-stop, it's no surprise that the demand for <keyword id="20028294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electricity" source="keywords">electricity</keyword> has skyrocketed. While the heatwave shows no signs of immediate abating, there's a glimmer of hope – the IMD predicts some relief might arrive after Thursday (May 30). A fresh western disturbance will begin to affect Northwest India starting tomorrow, brining up to scattered rainfall activity in the region until Sunday (June 2).

Delhi heatwaves are likely to abate after May 30, but the power sector is already suffering

Climate Action 15: 2024's top global innovators powering green solutions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The UK government is planning for a worst-case scenario this winter that could involve planned blackouts, Bloomberg reported.</li><li>Cold weather could combine with natural gas shortages as the European energy crisis intensifies.</li></ul>The UK is the latest country preparing to implement emergency measures this winter as soaring gas and electricity prices fuel an energy crisis in Europe.The British government is prepared to trigger emergency measures in January to conserve gas as electricity imports fall, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-09/uk-braces-for-blackouts-gas-cuts-in-january-in-emergency-plan#xj4y7vzkg">Bloomberg</a>. A number of countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have drawn up plans to deal with energy shortages over the winter, including switching to coal-fired power and even forms of rationing.UK measures could include organized power cuts affecting both businesses and households to avoid potential gas shortfalls, Bloomberg said.<a href="https://uk.investing.com/commodities/natural-gas-streaming-chart">UK natural gas prices</a> have surged 130% this year, compared with a rise of 200% in benchmark European prices so. Benchmark power prices on the continent have hit record highs, rising by almost 300% since the start of 2022."Rationing can't be ruled out in the colder months. This will impact everyone, but especially energy intensive industries like car makers, chemical companies and cryptocurrency mining," Simon Tucker, global head of energy, utilities and resources at Infosys Consulting, said."Fundamentally, there is huge demand for natural gas and especially liquid natural gas (LNG) in Europe. Even with a large increase in shipments of LNG from the Middle East and North America, supply is still limited and particularly cold spells in winter pose a serious risk," he added.Gas and power costs are contributing to a cost-of-living crisis across Europe, with key benchmark prices soaring since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Red-hot inflation is forcing central banks to raise interest rates, delivering an additional blow to cash-strapped households everywhere.Part of the increase is down to a drop in flows of energy from Russia, which has traditionally been Europe's go-to provider, supplying 40% of the region's natural gas. EU sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine have resulted in Russian exports of gas slowing to a trickle through at least one major pipeline. Britain produces natural gas itself and gets additional supply in the form of super-cooled fuel that arrives on tankers. It often has a glut of unused gas because of a shortage of storage options, but its capacity to export any excess to the rest of Europe is constrained by the size of the pipelines that connect it to the mainland. Even so, it still imports much of its electricity from its neighbours in Norway and France. The entire continent is now scrambling to deal with an unprecedented rupture in energy security.Norway, a major exporter of electricity and natural gas, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/norway-electricity-export-cut-europe-energy-crisis-power-prices-russia-2022-8">has warned it may ration power exports to the rest of the continent</a> as it grapples with a lack of rainfall that has depleted the reservoirs it relies on for hydropower. Adding to the squeeze on available supplies is France - ordinarily a net exporter of power thanks to its fleet of nuclear power stations. But ageing infrastructure and overdue maintenance mean Europe's second largest economy is now having to vie for electricity on the open market, as a large proportion of its nuclear facilities are offline.Even power stations in Europe's manufacturing heartland of Germany are struggling to source enough fuel. A heatwave and record low rainfall across the region <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/european-natural-gas-prices-russia-supply-cuts-rhine-water-levels-2022-8">have driven water levels on the river Rhine to historic lows</a>, which means the barges that would normally carry anything from coal to refined petroleum products are unable to pass through with anything close to full loads.Read more: <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/european-energy-crisis-where-the-eu-gets-its-natural-gas-2022-8">This map shows where Europe gets its natural gas - and why economic disaster is looming if Russia cuts off its fuel supply</a>

The UK is the latest country to ready for blackouts and power shortages this winter, as Europe's energy crisis intensifies, according to a report

One of the prominent challenges of the 21st century is how to make aviation sustainability a reality in the face of the industrys high global footprints. In this modern world, transportation by air has become a necessary evil as more and more people and industries rely on it, creating a dilemma between economy and environment. The aviation sector, if it were a country, would be one of the top 10 carbon polluting nations in the world. To put that in perspective, the top 10 countries together emit more than two-thirds of all carbon emitted each year. It is also one of the highest and fastest growing sources of individual emissions. A single international trip taken by one person emits more carbon than someone living in <keyword id="100686" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="paraguay" source="Orion">Paraguay</keyword> for a year. Ground operations, mainly performed at the airport form a major aspect of the sector. Airports act as the interface between landside access to airspace and the airside access to the ground. Further, airports are not just transport hubs anymore, they are full-fledged industrial hubs, becoming bustling centres of businesses, hotels and other transport connectivity. It is no surprise that areas in and around airports are fast developing and expanding, now being referred to as 'airport metropolises'. This is fast becoming a problem as the amount of emissions from ground operations is researched to be as deadly, if not more as it tends to have an added and more direct impact on the local air quality. Creating sustainable airports, therefore, becomes essential to creating a more sustainable aviation sector. A big contribution in this direction comes from <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. The <keyword id="750722" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cochin-international-airport" source="Orion">Cochin International Airport</keyword> became the first 'green airport' in the world, for which it was awarded the Champions of Earth award 2018, United Nations' highest environmental honour. The airport fully operates on solar power, which meets all its electricity requirements. This is no small feat as the <keyword id="6412822" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cochin" source="Orion">Cochin</keyword> airport stands to be one of the most important airports for not just India but the rest of the world. It is the largest airport in the state of Kerala and the seventh largest in India in terms of passenger traffic. It has one of the longest runways, measuring up to 3.4 km, equipped to handle the largest of aircrafts. It is also the first ever airport in India to be developed under Public-Private Partnership. Installing the first solar photovoltaic power station plant on the rooftop of the Arrival Terminal Block way back in 2013 turned out to be trendsetter. Since then, it has not looked back, adding several more solar power units to maximise energy production and produce enough for all its needs. A sum total of Rs 7 crore was spent on the solar power units, which might already have been recovered from the massive saving of Rs 7-8 lakh per month on electricity bills. In fact, most recent news on the Cochin International Airport Ltd (<keyword id="6379525" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cial" source="Orion">CIAL</keyword>) confirmed that it has become power surplus, having achieved power neutrality way back in 2015. This means, CIAL now has a negative carbon footprint. Rather than adding to the global carbon emission, it is making a significant contribution in off-setting emissions done elsewhere. It is also now the second-largest energy producer in the Indian state of Kerala after the State Electricity Board (KSEB). CIAL has a culture of cost-effectiveness. The entire construction of Cochin airport can be considered a marvel given the low-cost of mere Rs 303 crore at which it was constructed. This sense of cost consciousness is probably what motivated the sustainability drive. Becoming energy positive might be the most important of its achievements but it by no means is the only. The airport is also engaged in scalable agro-photovoltaic activities, putting to efficient utilisation the vacant spaces between the solar panels within the CIAL solar plant, which has by far produced close to 90 metric tons of pesticide-free vegetables. This is largely in line with the Indian government's general push in the direction of organic and zero budget natural farming. The solar project pioneered by managing director <keyword id="14842718" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vattavayalil-joseph-kurian" source="Orion">Vattavayalil Joseph Kurian</keyword> has motivated CIAL to take up several more solar and hydropower projects in the rest of the state. Since the success of the Cochin International Airport, the government of India has every airport in the country to produce at least 2 MW of solar energy. Despite having a large population leading to a low per capita GDP when compared to the global powers, India has engaged itself proactively in global environmental initiatives, being on track with its international commitments, and coming up with several great initiatives of its own, the International Solar Alliance being one of its major initiatives. In a world where the global climate action is witnessing a stagnation, India's environmental leadership is inducing hope for a better and sustainable future. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/byd-auto-pips-tesla-to-become-top-selling-ev-brand-globally/articleshow/93857196.cms">BYD Auto pips Tesla to become top-selling EV brand globally</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-new-cars-and-suv-in-india-in-september-2022/slidelist/93856836.cms">Upcoming cars launching in India in September 2022</a>

Cochin International Airport: India's champion in sustainable energy

New Delhi, Nov 24 () State-run power giant NTPC is likely to raise around Rs 10,000 crore through green bonds for acquisition of the government's stake in THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), a source said.
 Proceeds from green bonds are used to finance clean and green and environment-friendly infrastructure. Since THDCIL and NEEPCO are hydro-power generators, any investment in these two firms would fall in the category of green bonds.
 "The company is most likely to raise over Rs 10,000 crore via green bonds to acquire government stake in THDCIL and NEEPCO. The acquisition is likely to be before the end of this fiscal as the government intends to achieve its disinvestment target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore," the source told .
 "The company has not started the process to appoint a valuer to fix the value of the central government stake in THDCIL and NEEPCO," the source added.
 Earlier this week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a proposal of the finance ministry for divestment of central government stake in THDCIL and NEEPCO.
 Government of India's shareholding of 74.23 per cent in THDCIL will be divested along with transfer of management control to NTPC.
 Similarly, the government's shareholding of 100 per cent in NEEPCO will be divested along with transfer of management control to NTPC.
 According to the company's annual report, NEEPCO's net worth as on March 31, 2019 was Rs 6,301.29 crore.
 The net worth of THDCIL was Rs 9,280.78 crore as on March 31, 2019.
 The source said the size of the deal for acquisition of government share in THDCIL and NEEPCO has been worked out to be around Rs 10,000 crore after necessary adjustments like debt and other charges.
 The acquisition will be in line with NTPC's objective of having 30 per cent renewables out of 130 GW of total envisaged power generation capacity by 2030. At present, the NTPC Group has around 57 GW of power generation capacity.
 According to NEEPCO's website, the company operates seven hydro, one solar and three thermal power stations with a combined installed capacity of 1,457 MW.
 NEEPCO also has one 600 MW hydro power project under development. It is scheduled for commissioning in 2019-20 fiscal.
 THDCIL's total installed power generation capacity is 1,513 MW. It has two hydro power generating stations -- Tehri (4X250 MW) and Koteshwar (4X100 MW) and two operational wind power plants in Gujarat -- one at Patan (25X2 MW) and another at Devbhumi Dwarka (30X2.1 MW). KKS ABM

NTPC likely to issue green bonds to raise funds for THDCIL, NEEPCO acquisition

New Delhi, Dec 2 () The ongoing mega Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by December 2021 as per the revised tender floated by the state government, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Rajya Sabha.
 Responding to queries during Question Hour, the minister, however, said the completion of this project will depend on how fast the state government settle the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&amp;R).
 The proposed Polavaram Irrigation project aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra Pradesh.
 "...this project is being constructed by the state government. The revised tender floated a couple of weeks ago by the state government. As per the new revised tender agreement, they have given the date of completion of the project as December, 2021. So, I hope, by December, 2021, this project will be completed," Shekhawat said in the Upper House.
 Treating it as a national project, the minister said the Centre had agreed to bear the cost of the project based on the 2014 expense estimate. However, a Revised Cost Committee (RCC) was set up to look into the cost escalation issue of the project.
 So far, two meetings have been held. In its second meeting held in October 2019, the RCC has sought details from the Andhra Pradesh government, he said.
 The information sought has been with regard to types of land identified for acquisition along with their quantities or cost as per the first and second RCC and also details of land acquisition and corresponding project displaced families as on March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2018, he added.
 "The state has submitted partial information in this regard. Findings or recommendations of the RCC is dependent upon satisfactory compliances by the state government on its observation," the minister noted.
 Responding to a supplementary on who will bear the escalated cost of the proposed project, including land acquisition, the minister said, "The difference is because of cost of the land acquisition and the issue related to R&amp;R. We have sought information. We will take a call after receiving the full information from the state."
 On displacement of tribals in Odisha due to large-scale submergence of Polavaram project, the minister said the concerns of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana governments are all pending in the Supreme Court.
 Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said "Polavaram is the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and everything needs to be done."
 The cost of the Polavaram project is pegged at Rs 55,548.87 crore as per the second revised cost estimate done at 2017-18 price level, which has been accepted by the Jal Shakti Ministry.
 YS Jaganmohan Reddy-ruled Andhra Pradesh government had cancelled the contracts and gone to reverse tendering for Polavaram headworks and hydropower station. Infrastructure major Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) bagged the order. MJH LUX LUX SHW
SHW

Polavaram project completion expected by Dec 2021 but depends on R&R settlement: Centre

Getty ImagesA worker cleans solar panels at a solar photovoltaic power station which is currently under construction on November 3, 2008 in Xining of Qinghai Province, China.From <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pittsburgh-paris-agreement-trump-renewable-energy-2017-6">Pittsburgh</a> to <a href="http://www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/publi_100pourcent_final-web_en.pdf">Frankfurt</a>, cities around the world are pledging to stop burning fossil fuels for electricity by 2050 or sooner.But the Chinese province of Qinghai has already reached that goal, according to news outlet <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/25/c_136393766.htm">Xinhua</a>. For seven days - from June 17 to 23 - the region ran on 100% renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydropower.The week was part of a trial conducted by the State Grid Corporation of China, which aims to test the viability of relying on renewables long-term. During that time, the Qinghai province generated 1.1 billion kilowatt hours of energy for over 5.6 million residents. That's equal to burning 535,000 tons of coal.Hydropower contributed to approximately 72% of the electricity generated during the seven days, Xinhua News <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/25/c_136393766.htm">said</a>. As of May 2017, Qinghai's power grid had a total installed capacity of 23.4 million kilowatts, with around 82% of that capacity made up of solar, wind, and hydro sources. By 2020, the province plans to expand its clean energy capacity to 35 million kilowatts, which could supply 110 billion kWh of renewable energy annually. Nationwide, China hopes to produce 20% of its electricity from clean sources by 2030. Despite the recent <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/solar-power-chart-projections-2017-6">rapid growth</a> of clean energy, wind power accounted for just 4% and solar for about 1% of China's electricity in 2016, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/19/china-builds-worlds-biggest-solar-farm-in-journey-to-become-green-superpower">according to</a> The Guardian.Qinghai is not the first place to run on 100% renewable power. Tokelau, a set of three tiny islands between Hawaii and New Zealand, <a href="http://www.go100percent.org/cms/index.php?id=91&amp;id=92&amp;tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=180&amp;tx_locator_pi1%5BstartLat%5D=-14.87670135&amp;tx_locator_pi1%5BstartLon%5D=3.70347235&amp;cHash=784f71c6824a0cf05b6475d6b023b22e">replaced</a> its diesel energy system with one that uses solar in 2012. And Costa Rica <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/costa-rica-energy-100-percent-renewable-electricity-2016-9">ran on 100% clean energy</a> for 285 days in 2015, and <a href="http://mashable.com/2017/01/01/costa-rica-renewable-energy-2016/#XTrbG1XJbOq8">on 98% renewables</a> for 250 days in 2016. Austria's largest state also currently gets <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/06/all-electricity-in-austrias-largest-state-now-produced-from-renewables">all of its energy needs </a>from solar, wind, and hydropower.These efforts signal that a power grid that doesn't rely on fossil fuels is possible for other cities, too. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tesla-solar-roof-2017-3">Tesla will begin selling its Solar Roof this year - here's everything you need to know</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

An entire region of China just ran on 100% renewable energy for 7 days

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">SungrowThe floating solar power station in Anhui province, China.</div></div></div><ul><li>The Chinese province of Anhui built a massive floating solar farm on top of an abandoned coal mine. An even larger floating solar plant will come online by May 2018.</li><li>Due to rising concerns surrounding air pollution-related deaths, China is trying to invest more heavily in renewable energy projects.</li><li>The new solar farms are part of the global shift away from energy generated from fossil fuels.</li></ul> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/china">China</a> has some of the worst air pollution in the world. In several cities, thick layers of smog are common, resulting in <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-pollution-health/china-india-account-for-half-worlds-pollution-deaths-in-2015-study-idUSKBN15T0EO">thousands of deaths</a> every year.According to <a href="http://pubs.healtheffects.org/view.php?id=455">a 2016 study</a>, the top contributor of air pollution-related deaths in China is the burning of coal. The team of Chinese and American researchers behind the study said that pollution from coal caused 366,000 premature deaths in 2013.To improve the country's air quality, the Chinese government vows to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/world/asia/china-renewable-energy-investment.html">spend at least $360 billion on clean energy projects</a> and create 13 million new renewable energy jobs by 2020. China is already one of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/06/china-cementing-global-dominance-of-renewable-energy-and-technology">the world's biggest investor in alternative energy sources </a>like solar, wind, and hydropower.China's latest energy megaproject - a giant floating solar farm on top of a former coal mine in Anhui - may get the country closer to that goal. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesWorkers prepare panels on the Chinese solar farm.</div></div></div>In 2017, workers <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2096667/china-flips-switch-worlds-biggest-floating-solar-farm">turned on the 166,000-panel array</a>, which can generate 150 megawatts of power - enough to accommodate 15,000 homes, according to the South China Morning Post. It's currently the world's largest floating solar project and will operate for up to 25 years.Local energy company Sungrow Power Supply developed the farm on a lake that was once the site of extensive coal mining. After an explosion caused the mine to collapse, a lake formed and flooded it. As The Guardian notes, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/29/worlds-biggest-floating-solar-farm-power-up-outside-london">building solar plants on top of lakes</a> and reservoirs can protect agricultural land and wildlife on the ground. The water also cools the solar panels, helping them work more efficiently.In December, a unit of China Three Gorges Corp. started building an even larger floating solar farm, which is expected to come online by <a href="http://www.ctgne.com/newsxxny/_641992/_641996/703332/index.html">May 2018</a>. Also in Anhui, this $151 million plant will produce up to 150 megawatts of power for approximately 94,000 homes.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesA worker carries a flotation device that keep the solar panels above water.</div></div></div>Choosing to develop the Sungrow farm on an abandoned coal mine signals <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/coal-fired-power-is-dying-solar-wind-renewable-energy-future-projections-2017-6">the slow decline of fossil fuels</a> like coal in China and other countries around the world.In 2015, Sweden started to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-phases-out-fossil-fuels-in-attempt-to-run-completely-off-renewable-energy-a7047306.html">phase out its fossil fuel usage</a> and bolster investment in solar, wind, smart grids, and cleaner transport. That same year, Nicaragua pledged to <a href="https://renewablesnow.com/news/nicaragua-extends-incentives-for-renewables-to-2018-479241/">increase its share of renewable energy</a> from 53% to 90% by 2020 as well. China is one of the biggest countries to make a significant move away from coal. Last year, the country <a href="http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2017/01/18/china-climate-leader-coal-davos-xi-jinping/">cancelled 104 new coal plants</a> that were in development across 13 provinces.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesStreet vendors and customers gather at a market near the coal plant and solar project in Anhui province, China.</div></div></div>Although the US relies less on fossil fuels in 2018 than it did a decade ago, President Donald Trump has promised to boost <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/regulators-reject-the-trumps-plan-to-boost-coal-fired-power-plants-2018-1">the country's struggling coal industry</a>. In mid-January, Trump announced that the US will administer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-trump-administration-slaps-30-tariff-on-imported-solar-panels-2018-1?r=UK&amp;IR=T">a 30% tariff on imported solar panels</a>, which will fall to about 15% over a period of four years. Part of his "America First" platform, the tariff <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-solar-tariffs-solar-panels-thousands-of-job-losses-2018-1">could hurt the solar industry in the US</a>.Today, coal still accounts for <a href="https://www.iea.org/topics/coal/">over 40%</a> of the world's electricity production; but within 10 years, energy experts forecast that <a href="https://about.bnef.com/new-energy-outlook/">coal will peak and then fall</a>. At the same time, cleaner sources, like solar and wind, will become cheap enough to surpass it. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ohio-congressman-tim-ryan-on-the-benefits-of-practicing-mindfulness-2018-1">How mindfulness helps this top congressman stay calm in DC</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

China's latest energy megaproject shows that coal really is on the way out

Rapidly increasing carbon dioxide emissions and growing concerns over depleting <keyword id="560717" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fossil-fuel">fossil fuel</keyword> reserves have forced the mankind take a hard look at itself and the blatant greed humans had displayed over the past century. Now let us add India to that equation and see where we stand. It is the second most populous nation and has what the marketers like to call a ‘thick layer’ of fast-earning, middle-class consumers. 
 
It means our people are now moving up the income and the location ladders. Most of them are earning more than their predecessors and most of this new money is coming from location shift as people move from rural areas and smaller towns to big cities. There was a time when the Indian dream evolved around ‘Roti, kapda aur makaan’ (food, clothes and shelter). But with the markets opening up in the 90s, the rapid inflow of modern consumer goods took place and ‘owning a car’ became a part the modern Indian dream. However, a huge number of personal vehicles running on petrol or diesel would surely undermine India’s role in reducing carbon emission. Does it mean Indian consumers must give up on their dream? Or is it possible to tweak it a little and pave the way for eco friendly electric cars? 
 
Yes, India needs electric cars. But will they flourish here? According to Deepak Ahuja, chief financial officer of Tesla Motors, “India is a huge potential market where we need to be. I think sometime in 2015 seems to make sense to enter India, but it’s difficult to make an official announcement.” 
 But the reason why the global leader in <keyword id="46640" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="electric-car">electric car</keyword> manufacturing space cannot pin a specific date for launching in India is quite obvious – there are many gaping holes in infrastructure that need to be plugged before electric cars can become a wide reality in the country. 
 
Major challenges 
The most crucial challenge faced by the electric car industry in India lies in the way India produces electricity. Around 70% of the country’s electricity is generated from coal, which itself is a limited resource. This defeats the entire purpose of shifting power vehicles to electricity because at the end of the day, Indians will be still burning up natural resources and the reduced emission from electric cars will negated by the huge coal usage, required for additional power generation for charging stations. Unless India starts producing most of its electricity from renewable energy sources like solar or hydropower or from nuclear plants, the whole concept of electric cars would be moot. 
 
The next challenge for electric car owners in India is a serious lack of charging stations in the country and this includes the metros as well. Electric cars are expensive and when an Indian consumer sees that his expensive car cannot be used for a long trip as there are too few charging stations, he is less likely to say a good word about such cars. In contrast, this is where the CNG-enabled (compressed natural gas) vehicles steal the show in India. They are cheap, cleaner and most cities and towns in India have CNG stations for refilling. 
 
Government’s role 
On the bright side, the Indian government is actively working its way towards ensuring that 5-7 million electric cars should be running throughout the country by 2020. Keeping that in view, the Finance Ministry is set to offer subsidies worth Rs 14,000 crore to auto companies that are building electric cars. Mahindra Motors already produces the Reva, a small electric car, and runs a factory that produces 40,000 units annually. Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki are also set to benefit from this huge subsidy once they start producing electric cars in the country. Delhi government will also announce a subsidy for car owners who want to shift from fuel to electric by adding a special conversion kit. But the big question remains – when will India start producing most of its electricity from renewable sources? 
 
Electric car market in India As we mentioned earlier, Tesla does have plans to launch operations in India in the near future. It is most likely that the company will start with the Model S Sedan or the Model X SUV, which is already running in China. In the list of available options for electric cars in India, the key name is <keyword id="160726" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahindra-Reva">Mahindra Reva</keyword> NXR. Soon-to-be-launched cars include the hatchback called Tata Megapixel (expected price – Rs 5-7 lakh) and the luxury hatchback Nissan LEAF (Rs 24-28 lakh). 
 
Pricing of these cars is going to be a crucial factor in India. Also, cars like the BMW i8, which are launched as CBUs (completely built units) and hence priced at Rs 1.35 crore, will be a distant dream for the middle class. Unless major car brands start building the electric variants within the country, the electric car industry cannot really take off. As car lovers and environmentalists, we can only keep our fingers crossed. 
Image: Thinkstock

Bureaucracy, Infrastructure May Hinder Electric Car Industry In India

The recent deal signed between Australia and India that ensured sale of uranium to India and supply of conventional fuel, including coal, to help India ride over acute energy shortage, has revived debates. People are questioning in which direction India’s <keyword id="53710" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nuclear-energy">nuclear energy</keyword> policy is headed and the safety and feasibility of depending on <keyword id="43462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nuclear-power">nuclear power</keyword> for the country’s power requirement. 
 
First, the deal signals improved thaw in the relationship between two countries that share trade worth AUD15 billion annually. It may be noted that India is the first country to buy Australian uranium without being a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Australia seems to be convinced that India will use nuclear fuel only for non-military and peaceful purposes. 
 
The pact with Australia assume special significance after India’s attempt to forge a similar tie-up with Japan failed. Though Japanese companies produce vital reactor components and are keen to supply them to India, India’s status as a non-signatory to the non-proliferation treaty has prevented positive developments in this direction. Civil nuclear energy talks were also hit after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. 
 Secondly, the pact—which marked the culmination of talks started two years ago after Australia lifted a long-standing ban on selling uranium to power-starved India—means that India is one step closer to gaining global acceptability for its nuclear programme despite its refusal to ratify the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The country virtually became an ‘untouchable’ when it came to global initiatives to control use of nuclear power for hostile purposes and exchange of nuclear technology after it conducted its second nuclear test in Pokhran in May 1988 (the first, code-named <keyword id="858028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Smiling-Buddha">Smiling Buddha</keyword>, being conducted in May 1974). However, the restrictions virtually fizzled out following a US deal signed in 2008 that underlined India’s burgeoning economic weight. 
 
Critics say with two-thirds of the country’s power stations being fired by coal and more than half of them are about to run out of stock, the government should have given preference to tapping into Australia's coal reserves. Nuclear power accounts for just 3 per cent of the country’s every output, compared to 3.7 percent three years ago. In fact, nuclear energy is the fourth-leading source of energy in the country behind coal (68 per cent), gas (15 percent) and hydro (12 percent). 
 
However, with 25 percent of the country’s total population having little (or no) access to electricity, the government feels that it has to increasingly rely on nuclear power as dependence on fossil sources for energy is not sustainable as reserves get depleted at a faster pace. 
 
Nuclear energy is underpenetrated, which is amply reflected by the fact that the 20 reactors that the country operates now has a combined capacity of 4,780 MW against the target of 63,000 MW by 2032 by adding nearly 30 reactors at an estimated cost of $85 billion. In line with this target, the country has signed nuclear energy agreements with 11 countries including France, Russia and Kazakhstan from where it imports uranium. 
 
However, protest from civilian groups pose the biggest threat to government’s ambitious nuclear energy targets. Both Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu and the 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear power plant to be executed by French firm Areva are stuck due to local protests. A string of hydro-power projects are also stalled due to local opposition on the basis of environmental concerns. 
 
However, with India’s status as the second-large populous nation with more than 1.2 billion people, with enormous needs—it is already the world’s fourth-largest energy consumer, behind only the US, China and Russia—the country has no option but to try and forge similar nuclear pact with other nations or face the perilous consequence of being left out in its race for being an energy-dependant country.

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