Feature Article

Hardly a week goes by without the appearance of yet another press release or newspaper article on plans for a large-scale ground-mounted PV installation in India. With uncertainty hanging over the two biggest markets-Germany and Italy-solar interest has naturally been drawn toward other potential markets. The current flavor of the year is India.

The Marigowda Memorial Hall in Lalbagh, Bangalore witnessed a steady footfall of 100 to 200 people at any given time on the 13th, 14th
and 15th of April. The occasion being ‘The Millet Mela’ that introduced Bangaloreans to an incredible range of millets and their lip
smacking derivatives. Earth360, pioneered, promoted and founded by M N Dinesh Kumar promotes natural and ecological farming
practices in the areas around Kadiri in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s dream of India’s second green revolution taking off from Bihar seems to be coming closer to reality
thanks to his namesake, Nitish Kumar, a young farmer of Darveshpura village in Nalanda district who has set what is claimed
to be a world record in potato production through organic farming.

Biodiversity is a commonly used word to describe the variety of life on earth. It refers to the wide range of living organisms: microbes, plants, animals and their habitats. Biodiversity on organic farms accounts for efficient nutrient recycling and effective insect management. An organic farm is a balanced system where the problem of insects is well taken care of by their natural
predators. Therefore, most farms rich in biodiversity possess greater resilience and are able to recover more readily from stress such
as drought, pests, diseases, epidemics, etc.

India is the first nation in the world to officially recognise the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for organic certification. For this, the government of India must be warmly applauded.

Deforestation, evictions and high emissions - palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia have a dubious reputation. Only a few suppliers meet EU sustainability criteria.

Windmills have been turning for millennia, but they have only been producing electricity for 125 years. Scotsman James Blyth is regarded as the inventor of the technology, He could not celebrate his success, as electric power was seen as the work of the devil.

The US has reached a preliminary decision on punitive duties for Chinese solar manufacturers. An anti-dumping case is also now on the cards in the European Union. What are its chances of success?

Kenya is finally starting to systematically exploit its vast geothermal resources. It is counting on renewables to help it upgrade to an emerging economy.

A year on from Fukushima, Japan is only gradually setting a course for renewable energies. Strong resistance from the nuclear lobby, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of reforms in the energy market are hampering progress.