Tiny windmills may one day power cell phones:

Indian origin scientist Smitha Rao at the University of Texas has come up with world's smallest wind turbine that could one day power portable electronics and recharge smartphone batteries. The micro-windmill is so small that 10 such windmills could be mounted on a single grain of rice. The device is about 1.8 mm at its widest point. Rao, along with J.C. Chiao, a professor of electrical engineering at UT, developed the technology based on recent advances in micro-robotic devices. "Hundreds of the windmills could be embedded in a sleeve for a cell phone," the researcher claimed. "Wind, created by waving the cell phone in air or holding it up to an open window on a windy day, would generate the electricity that could be collected by the cell phone's battery.

Assam Chief Minister promotes green building concept

The state government and The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) have entered into an agreement to promote green building concept in Assam under Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) through the use of sustainable building materials.

Addressing the three-day Griha Summit 2014 in New Delhi on Thursday, chief minister Tarun Gogoi emphasized the need for ensuring easy availability of cost-effective materials to replace the conventional ones. Gogoi inaugurated the summit.

"We have to find eco-friendly and cost-effective materials for construction of buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Knowledge is the key to invention of new technologies that are cost-effective and environment-friendly to mitigate the impacts of climate change," Gogoi said.

TERI director general RK Pachauri said an estimated 10 million square metres of GRIHA 5-Star certified projects could save enough electricity to power about 100,000 urban homes, enough water to meet the requirements of 22,000 urban families and facilitate installation of 6 Mega Watts of renewable energy. The GRIHA concept has been evolved by TERI and Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitats.

"We have to promote habitats which make use of resources efficiently and at the same time ensure comfort for the occupants at all times," Pachauri said. He added, "Wind, solar and bio-mass that are eco-friendly energy sources needed to be harnessed and made use of in a viable manner." The CM said impacts of climate change is being felt in the state too with vast swathes already been eroded due to floods and erosions.

Class II student's solar powered light wins science prize

A second class student from the city had seen LED lights getting energy from the Sun during Navratri. Curiosity and the will to learn led him to earn accolades for making a project on non-conventional sources of energy. The project is of converting solar energy to electrical energy.

Seven-year-old Mihir Lanjewar's project made with the help of his father Khemraj won second prize in his category at the BrainCafe Budding Scientist Contest 2014 held in the city recently. He will be presenting the same model for the national level competition to be held in Mumbai soon. Teachers of Vimaltai Tidke Convent, Pratap Nagar, where he studies, are now helping him prepare for the presentation.

"He watches live telecast of satellite launches and keeps asking questions. So when his teachers informed him about a budding science contest, he decided to participate. Since Navratri festival had taken place recently where he had seen the LED light display, he was excited about the idea. So I went along and helped him develop something on similar lines," informed Khemraj, a BPO employee.

With this achievement of his son, Khemraj thinks history is repeating itself. "As a Class XII student in Chakoli in 1989, I had made a musical instrument working on hydroelectricity for the science exhibition that had received appreciation from chief guest Atal Behari Vajpayee, who later became PM," he said.

Made from materials like plywood, PVC pipe, a solar panel, a two-way switch, LED (10 mm), DVD motor, fan blades, flexible wire, the only expensive part of the model was a silicon chip that Khemraj got from a teacher friend. Narrating how he explained the little boy about electricity and how it works, the proud father said, "I used domestic situations to give him examples about the role of photons, neutrons and electron such that he started calling his mother, himself and me by these names."

For Mihir, learning something new and building an entire project was much more interesting than the prize. He said he would want to be an engineer and make more projects, bigger ones that would help improve people's lives without harming the environment. Teacher Pranita Tembhare, who is helping Mihir with the project, said Mihir had always been a curious student. "The project became even more special for us because the theme of our school for this year is 'save', that encourages children to learn about renewable energy sources," said principal Surekha Kothe.

Delhi govt to install solar lighting on signature bridge

The Delhi government is looking into the possibility of installing solar lighting on Signature Bridge. The project is already a decade in the making and likely to be completed by the year-end and now the effort is to make it energy-efficient.

"I have requested Delhi Tourism to examine if we can use solar energy to light the bridge up and the ramps leading up to the structure," tourism minister Somnath Bharti, who has been monitoring construction work, said.

Under the bridge an impressive tourist destination is being planned, complete with water sports facilities. "The idea is to use solar energy in these areas as well," Bharti said. But these facilities will be developed under the project's second phase. Running late by three years largely because of delays in getting environment clearance, the minister said, he hoped it would meet the year-end completion deadline. "The western approach is open to traffic and the eastern approach will be inaugurated next month," an official said.

Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) is building the bridge and looking into the feasibility of the proposal. A senior tourism official said: "CPWD has done two projects like this, Paryavaran Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan. The idea is to produce electricity in the day and supply it to the grid. When we need power at night, we draw from the grid. We will pay for only what we consume minus what we supply to the grid."

DTTDC has executed a pilot project in Dilli Haat, making it solar powered. "The Dilli Haat project is done and a couple more are becoming solar powered," added the %official.

The Signature Bridge will provide an essential link between North and East Delhi. Once constructed, it will replace the bridge at Wazirabad. "The cable-stayed structure will link NH-1 near the T-point at Wazirabad on the Western bank with Marginal Band Road at Khajuri Khas on the Eastern bank of Yamuna connecting North Delhi to East Delhi," an official said.

BEE plans to revise energy rating norms at longer intervals for electronic goods

 Little did Chennai-based engineer Priyanka Sachdev realise that after spending a shade below 25,000 for a five-star rated refrigerator - the most energy efficient - last Diwali, it would turn out to be a not-so-energy efficient model this year. She was not told by the salesman that energy efficiency rating norms would be revised from 2014, turning a five-star refrigerator into a three-star one from January.

Sachdev is among millions of consumers who suffer a notional loss after paying a premium to buy an energy-efficient appliance, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) upgrading the standards every two years. BEE is the nodal body under the Union power ministry that implements energy rating norms.

This increases the obsolescence rate and drives prices up by 10-15%, companies said. For instance, Sachdev's refrigerator became obsolete in three months. In effect, it has become an unending chase for consumers to save more on power consumption by purchasing energy-efficient models.

This may soon change with India's appliance and consumer electronic energy rating system set to become more consumer-friendly. BEE plans to replace the present system of biennial changes in rating standards with one that lasts longer to reduce the rate of obsolescence for an energy-efficient model.

The agency also plans to include televisions and geysers from this year under mandatory energy ratings, which now includes only frost-free refrigerators, air-conditioners and tube lights.

Attero organizes E-waste collection drive in Delhi and Noida

Attero, India’s largest electronic asset management company in an effort to address the ever growing e-waste problem organized an e-waste collection drive in the Delhi-NCR region, in December. The e-waste collection drive which was held in the first week of December was organized at various societies including Vasant Apartment, Usma Urja Apartment (Sector 62, Noida), Swarnim Vihar, Green View Apartment, and Vivek Vihar (Sector 82, Noida). In Delhi too, the collection drive was conducted in the Arya Nagar Apartments, Sita Ram Apartment, Bharat Apartment, Himvarsha Apartment, Balco Market area in IP Extension and several other housing societies. An overwhelming number of people participated in the collection drive with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm.

This unique initiative to keep cities free from the menace E-waste is a part of the ‘Clean-e-India’ campaign, a joint effort by Attero and the International Finance Corporation to curb unregulated and improper disposal of old electronics. Since there has been a massive increase in the usage of electronic consumer durables in India the problem of disposing off old unwanted gadgets and appliances has become a grave concern for the general masses as well as for the environment. 

Luminous Power launches energy-efficient fans in Kerala

Luminous Power Technologies, a leading power backup solution provider, has launched a wide range of energy-efficient fans in the Kerala market. The launch is part of company’s plan to expand its retail product outreach in the State’s electrical retail market. Aravind Khanna, Senior Vice-President, Electrical Division, said the company would leverage the innovation and manufacturing supremacy of Schneider Electric synchronised with the brand leadership of Luminous.

St Sebastian’s Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam, to tap solar power

Aiming to slash power bills, the St Sebastian’s Higher Secondary School, Anicadu, near Muvattupuzha, is all set to go solar way. The school, which is already famous for its eco-friendly initiatives, will soon become a totally solar-powered school in the district. 

School principal Sr Basiya said the plan was to set up a total solar electric system. The project is being planned by the alumni association of the school as part of its golden jubilee celebrations. The project will be implemented in a phased manner and it is expected that after completion of the project, the school will only have to depend on solar energy for its energy needs. In the first phase, the science block, that includes 13 class rooms, two computer labs and a science lab, will be solar powered. “As per plans, 10,000 units will be generated by the solar system in the first phase. The estimated cost for the first phase is `10 lakh,” she added. 

Pennar Industries bags order for setting up 50 MW solar plant for NTPC

Pennar Enviro Ltd and Pennar Engineered Building Systems, subsidiaries of Pennar Industries, have bagged new projects worth Rs 70 crore from various companies including construction of a 50-MW solar power plant for National Thermal Power Corporation. The company has bagged an order for setting up a 50-MW solar power plant for NTPC in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, Pennar Enviro said in a BSE filing. 

Government to push discoms to purchase hydropower

The government, which plans to make it mandatory for electricity distribution companies to buy hydropower, is also considering launching tradable certificates for the states that do not have potential to meet the proposed obligation. It will shortly kick off the consultation process to amend Electricity Act to promote investments and hydropower. Hydro energy certificates will enable northern and northeastern states to attract more investments besides ensuring viability for the projects. "India can tap higher hydropower potential by making it mandatory for distribution companies to promote the same on the lines of solar and wind power. For the states that have geographical limitations to put up hydro power projects, we are considering to create a tradable instrument like renewable energy certificates (REC), which one can buy to meet the hydropower purchase obligation," said a power ministry official.

Environmental panel clears Simang I and II hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh

A key environmental panel has recommended clearance for two hydel power projects in the Siang river valley in Arunachal Pradesh.

The two projects—Simang I and II totalling 133 MW—are located on the Simang, the right bank tributary of the Siang River. Projects in the Siang river basin are viewed as strategically important on account of the border with China. Adishankar Power Pvt Ltd is the project developer.

The Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydroelectric Power Projects decided to recommend to the environment ministry that the two projects be cleared subject to requisite clearances from the National Wildlife Board, since Simang II is 6.4 km away from the Mouling National Park.

The panel has asked the developer to revise the cost estimate of implementing the environmental management plan, as it found the figures submitted by it to be on the lower side. It has also suggested that environmental flows of the river should be in line with the recommendations of the Siang Basin study report for winter or lean, monsoon and non-lean and non-monsoon seasons. As of now, the Simang I and II hydro-power projects are the only projects on this river.

The total land requirement for Simang I is 54.58 hectare, of which 32.74 hectare is forestland. The 18-metre barrage will result in a submergence of 15.5 hectare.

Simang II, on the other hand, requires about 46.14 hectare of land, of which 26.75 hectare is forestland. The 18-metre barrage will result in a submergence of 10.57 hectare of land.

Projects in the Siang river basin are seen as strategically important. The Yarlung Tsangpo is known as the Siang after it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. This is what gives the Siang basin its strategic significance from an international point of view.

The government considers developing the Siang basin important as it will not only help India counter Chinese build-up in the area but also strengthen its negotiating position with China.

India and China have no water agreements. As a result, there is no structured international convention under which India can appeal should its lower riparian rights be affected by the power projects on the Tsangpo.

In this context, developing the Siang basin provides India the best safeguard. As early as August 2010, the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the environment ministry would ensure expeditious forest and environment clearances for all projects on river Siang without ignoring ecological concerns.