Feature Article

Wind energy continues to be the dominant source of renewable power in India. About 8000 MW of wind power capacity has been installed in the country so far. As against this, the share of solar power is abysmally low mainly due to its high initial capital cost and thus, a higher cost of per unit power generation.

For a country like India, which already depends on the imports of
vegetable oil, we have to see another viable a novel alternative for bio-diesel production. This scenario changes dramatically if microalgae are used to produce bio-diesel.

Many nations have proposed targets for renewable energy production that can only be described as ambitious, given the current levels and the short time frames involved. Proposals in the United States aim to increase renewable electricity production to 15 percent by 2020, a significant amount, given that hydropower capacity is extremely unlikely to expand.

If you mention Zara Solar around northern Tanzania, you

Bangladesh is one of the most electricity deprived nations in the world. Despite large potential for renewable energy sources in Bangladesh, currently their contribution to the electricity supply remains insignificant. Use of renewable energy is considered an indispensable component of sustainable energy systems, as renewables emit less greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel energy systems. However, to advance such sustainable energy systems, appropriate strategies and institutional settings need to be put in place for all nations.

San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) agreed last week to purchase power from two solar-panel manufacturers in the state. OptiSolar, based in Hayward, will build a 550-megawatt plant, to be accompanied by a 250-megawatt plant from SunPower of San Jose.

The airline industry's insatiable demand for fuel is bad news for the environment. But can biofuels provide the solution, asks David Strahan.

Wind above other renewables? Maharashtra has promoted the Urjankur Nidhi Trust with Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL & FS), a Mumbai-based consultancy firm, to promote non-conventional energy projects in the state. The objective is to raise equity in renewable projects that include bagasse co-generation, mini hydro, waste-to-energy, solar and wind. The fund has a corpus of Rs

Progressive Maharashtra has rushed to install wind energy plants. But, ask nidhi jamwal and shikha lakhanpal, reporting from Mumbai and Dhule, why so little electricity is actually generated? Is there an other purpose to private interest in wind?

On the face of it, the Indian wind energy sector is booming. Installed wind power capacity has increased six-fold in the last seven years