renewable energy

internaional news

Teen from India calls for clean energy at COP26 meet

New Delhi, Nov 12: A 15-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu had exhorted the world to move towards clean energy during the recently concluded 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at Glasgow, Scotland. “I am not here to speak about the future, I am the future,” she said, encouraging the world to move towards renewable energy. The leaders who had come from across the world to attend the global meet heard her with rapt attention not without a reason: she has been recognised as the Earthday Network Rising Star by Earthday Network, an international environment campaign, for 2021, for her innovation of a solar ironing cart. A class 10 student from Tiruvannamalai district of the southern State, Vinisha Umashankar, is also a recipient of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards instituted by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. She won the prestigious award for her mobile ironing cart, which uses solar panels to power a steam iron box.  She is now an inspiration for the world for her speech at the international conference. A key benefit of the solar ironing cart is that it eliminates the need for coal for ironing bringing about a shift towards clean energy. The mobile `istriwalae’ (laundry persons) can now offer their services at the doorstep of their customers without adding the dreaded carbon dioxide greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. The ironing cart can also be fitted with USB charging and mobile recharging points which can fetch extra income for them. It is an ingenious solar-powered alternative for the millions of charcoal-burning ironing carts for pressing clothes and can benefit the workers and their families. The device can also be powered by pre-charged batteries, electricity, or diesel-powered generators in the absence of sunlight. Vinisha’s efforts have made India stand out as a country that brings innovative solutions for the climate change problem.  Prominent world leaders like the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi; Prime Minister of Britain Mr Boris Johnson; President of the USA…


UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 28, 2018 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to reporters during a press encounter at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 28, 2018. Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for strong leadership in the global fight against climate change. (Xinhua/Li Muzi/IANS)

Solar and wind are the stars of our energy system: UN Secretary-General

Clean, Renewable Energy Is ‘the Difference between Life and Death’, Will Prevent Climate Catastrophe, Secretary-General Tells High-Level Dialogue New Delhi, 25th September 2021. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ has said that We cannot wait another 40 years.  The age of renewable, affordable energy access for all must start today. He was addressing High‑level Dialogue on Energy yesterday. The Secretary-General told the High‑level Dialogue on Energy that the double imperative of ending energy poverty and limiting climate change could be accomplished by investing in clean, affordable and sustainable energy for all, and by shifting to decarbonizing energy systems and mobilizing finance, to name a few. He said that we have a double imperative – to end energy poverty and to limit climate change – and he added that we can do that by investing in clean, affordable and sustainable energy for all.  He outlined four priorities for a sustainable energy future:  closing the energy gap, shifting to decarbonized energy systems, mobilizing finance and promoting technology transfer to the developing world, and ensuring that no one is left behind. More than 150 voluntary commitments in the form of Energy Compacts have been submitted to the Dialogue, including more than $400 billion in new finance and investments from governments and the private sector to increase electricity and clean cooking for hundreds of millions of people, and significantly expand renewables and energy efficiency. Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the High‑level Dialogue on Energy, held yesterday: Welcome to the High‑level Dialogue on Energy.  This event is long overdue.  It has been 40 years since we last discussed energy at the highest level. Today, we face a moment of truth.  Close to 760 million people still lack access to electricity.  Some 2.6 billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions.  And how we produce and use energy is the main cause of the climate crisis.  Emissions from energy account for about 75 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.  So, we have a double imperative – to end energy poverty and to limit climate change. And we have an answer that will fulfil both…


World news hastakshep

Coal developers risk $600 billion as renewables outcompete worldwide

New wind or solar already cheaper than 60% of operating coal plants New investments in renewables are cheaper than new investments coal in all major markets today. Over half of coal plants operating today cost more to run than building new renewables. It could be cheaper to build renewables than run coal in all major markets by 2030. Governments and investors should cancel coal power projects or will waste $600 bn in capital costs. LONDON/NEW YORK, March 12 – Coal developers risk wasting more than $600 billion because it is already cheaper to generate electricity from new renewables than from new coal plants in all major markets, the financial think tank Carbon Tracker warns in a report today. The report also finds that over 60% of global coal power plants are generating electricity at higher cost than it could be produced by building new renewables. By 2030 at the latest it will be cheaper to build new wind or solar capacity than continue operating coal in all markets. Matt Gray, Carbon Tracker co-head of power and utilities and co-author of the report, said: “Renewables are outcompeting coal around the world and proposed coal investments risk becoming stranded assets which could lock in high-cost coal power for decades. The market is driving the low-carbon energy transition but governments aren’t listening. It makes economic sense for governments to cancel new coal projects immediately and progressively phase out existing plants.” Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require global coal use in electricity generation to fall by 80% from 2010 to 2030. This means one coal plant needs to retire every day until 2040. Worldwide, 499GW of new coal power is planned or already under construction at a cost of $638 billion, but Carbon Tracker warns that governments and investors may never recoup their investment because coal plants typically take 15 to 20 years to cover their costs. The report finds that falling costs of wind and solar power and the investment needed to comply with existing carbon and air pollution regulations mean that coal is no longer the cheapest form of power in any…