Environmentalist Stewart Brand About the Future of Nuclear Power

nhabitat chatted with Stewart Brand—the founder of the Whole Earth Catalog and Author of the Whole Earth Discipline—about why he thinks nuclear power is our best bet to stop global warming.

Story of cleantech in India is about clean energy : Raja Parthasarathy.

In April 2008, IDFC Private Equity, one of the largest private equity firms in the country, floated a separate renewable energy company, Green Infra Limited, with a vision to become the largest and the most valuable independent power producer in the country. The company has, till now, developed an operating wind capacity of 144 MW and has a pipeline in excess of 300 MW to be built over the coming years. One of the largest investor in the renewable energy space in India feels that clean technology investing in India for the foreseeable future would centre around clean energy. In an interview, Raja Parthasarathy, Managing Director, IDFC PE, talks about the rationale behind floating an SPV for Green Infra business, opportunity landscape, expansion plans and exit landscape.

MIT Cleantech Scaling For Growth

The emerging cleantech ventures pilot has been supported by government grants now it is time to scale. Cleantech requires significant funding, often larger than traditional vcs are structured to support. How does a cleantech venture scale to grow? Hear from national project developer Constellation Energy on the emerging technologies they seek for internal deployment and the corporate milestones they look for emerging ventures to demonstrate, hear from both the CEO and VC of NY based Primet Materials (battery applications) on their path to Series C greater than$10M. Network with investors and other entrepreneurs growing their firms.

Mr. Azim Premji at a conference orgainsed by Greenpeace and CIOL

The CEO Roundtable entitled Decarbonised Economy: Opportunities and Responsibilities of the ICT Sector in a Changing Climate, initiated by Greenpeace and organized by CIOL, is an attempt to engage the ICT sector to take on a more active and responsive role in the Climate debate and influencing it.

Of the several challenges that humanity faces today, climate change is perhaps the most complex. Much as one may wish, the solution to the climate crisis is not through one silver bullet. It requires coming together of significant changes, in technology, in policy, in governance, and in the mindset of people. For India, the climate change crisis poses both a challenge and an opportunity. Already among the five largest economies of the world, India is poised for a phase of years of high growth. But we have to ensure that this growth is socially inclusive and ecologically responsible. To fulfill this dual responsibility of lifting millions out of poverty and being ecologically sustainable, it is imperative that India adopts a low carbon model of economic development. It is my firm belief that this presents an unprecedented opportunity for India to take leadership and for being a role model for the rest of the world. With 80% of Indias infrastructure yet to be built, it would be a golden chance lost if we do not build our economy on the basis of clean energy, environmental friendly materials and resources. Im happy that the Indian government has shown clear commitment and responsibility on the issues of climate change, both within the country and in the international arena.

BIOTECH, India, Turning food waste into biogas

BIOTECH has succeeded in tackling the problem of the dumping of food waste in the streets of Kerala through the installation of biogas plants that use the food waste to produce gas for cooking and, in some cases, electricity for lighting; the residue serves as a fertiliser. To date BIOTECH has built and installed an impressive 12,000 domestic plants (160 of which also use human waste from latrines to avoid contamination of ground water), 220 institutional plants and 17 municipal plants that use waste from markets to power generators. The disposal of food waste and the production of clean energy are not the only benefits of BIOTECHs scheme. The plants also replace the equivalent of about 3.7 tonnes/day of LPG and diesel which in turn results in the saving of about 3,700 tonnes/year of CO2, with further savings from the reduction in methane production as a result of the uncontrolled decomposition of waste, and from the transport of LPG.

TIDE, biomass stoves for Indian businesses

Many small businesses in India rely on wood and other biomass as their primary source of energy. TIDE has developed and adapted energy-efficient woodstoves and kilns for specific industries, including areca nut processing, silk reeling, textile dyeing, ayurvedic medicine production and food preparation. Over 10,500 stoves have been sold by TIDE and the entrepreneurs it has trained: these stoves save about 43,000 tonnes/year biomass, provide a cleaner, cooler environment for users, and often lead to significant time savings. TIDE is developing a range of stoves for large-scale cooking, and working with larger production centres in order to bring the stoves to more customers.

India Hots Up - India

Developing countries like India are officially exempt from emissions agreements. Yet the richer nations continue to point the finger of blame. Will an aggrieved India be up for compromise in Copenhagen?
This place keeps on changing, says Pradip, surveying the shifting landscape of the Sunderbans delta. The islanders on Ghoramara island havent contributed to global warming. There are no roads here and theres no electricity. Yet their home is rapidly disappearing before their eyes. Were nervous living here, says one woman, whose house was swept away a few weeks ago, if the erosion continues, there will be no island in 10 to 20 years. Whilst India suffers from global warming, its also - increasingly - making the problem worse. Across India, the trappings of middle class life - and the power to pollute - are finally within reach. Once, a car was a dream for farmers and workers, says a Maruti salesman, now its an essential purchase. Increasingly the US and Australia are pushing for a commitment from India and Indian officials are outraged at what they see as finger-pointing. We will not have a deal in Copenhagen just to appease the polluting nations of the world, says activist Sunita. India says global warming is high on the agenda, and many renewable energy schemes are planned. Yet there are powerful voices in India who now say no deal would be better than a bad deal brought about by the bullies of the world.

Off-Grid Living with Renewable Energy

Life off the electricity grid, using renewable energy, with best selling author William Bill Kemp and his wife, living the good life with a low impact on the planet.

Bamboo and renewable energy

The National Mission on Bamboo Applications under the Ministry of Science & Technology has managed to carve a niche in the field of save wood save earth Campaign.The mission is dedicated in Research,Technology dissemination, Housing,Innovative Product designing, Marketing, workshops for semi skilled and skilled artisens, common Facility centres etc.

Can India Go Green?

Are there ways in which renewable energy can become a significant component in Indias energy mix? Is this already being done in some parts of the country? How real are green buildings and green offices in India? Is the concept simply a novel idea, or can it become an operational reality capable of cutting energy costs and minimizing our energy addiction?