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Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy Advances Energy Innovation
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), through its Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST), has launched initiatives to support innovation in energy fields, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to transition toward a knowledge-based economy and build sustainable development. These efforts include transforming new ideas into practical solutions, developing prototypes of KAUST inventions and ensuring their reliability, and scaling up these prototypes through collaboration with local and international partners, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday. KAUST has leveraged the center's research to boost energy security, reduce environmental impact, create new job opportunities for youth, and continue advancing education, training, and workforce development. These steps aim to support and localize renewable energy research, boost academic and industrial collaboration, and position the center as a leading research hub and a preferred destination for students, researchers, and faculty members. CREST Chair Professor Husam Alshareef stressed that the center's research, focused on prototype development and technology scaling, enhances energy efficiency, reliability, storage, and sustainability. Many projects are based on innovative technologies developed at KAUST in cooperation with industrial partners. These include advanced photovoltaic cells and new battery chemistries that reduce cooling requirements and fire risks in harsh conditions, as well as lithium extraction and battery recycling to ensure a stable lithium supply and enhance the Kingdom's battery sector, he added. The center conducts research on sustainable cooling technologies aimed at improving the performance of electronic devices such as solar panels and LED lights, thereby extending their lifespan, he went on to say. Additional research includes storing energy in chemical fuels and generating electricity, testing and modeling energy storage technologies, and integrating them across disciplines within the university by merging research strategies involving experts in chemistry, engineering, and software development, he revealed.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Only 5% vehicles bought in Chandigarh in past 3 years are electric
Incentives ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹2 lakh, along with zero registration fees and no road tax — all sops under UT's ambitious Electric Vehicle Policy, rolled out in 2022 — have failed to spark buyers' interest. According to official data, 1,52,047 fuel-based vehicles were sold between September 2022 and July 31, 2025, including 78,809 four-wheelers and 73,229 two-wheelers. In contrast, just 7,915 EVs found takers, comprising 5,107 two-wheelers and 2,808 four-wheelers. (Shutterstock) Three years since the policy's launch, electric vehicles (EVs) make up just 5.2% of the nearly 1.60 lakh vehicles sold in Chandigarh. According to official data, 1,52,047 fuel-based vehicles were sold during this period, including 78,809 four-wheelers and 73,229 two-wheelers. In contrast, just 7,915 EVs found takers, comprising 5,107 two-wheelers and 2,808 four-wheelers. The UT administration had unveiled its five-year EV policy in September 2022, aiming to gradually stop registering fuel-based vehicles to discourage their use and reduce pollution. This was part of a larger plan to make Chandigarh a 'Model EV City' by achieving one of the highest penetrations of zero-emission vehicles by 2027. However, on November 23 last year, under pressure from various quarters, then UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit lifted the cap on registering non-electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers and commercial vehicles. A senior officer of the UT administration said, 'We are creating awareness among residents and are also in process to strengthen the public infrastructure. We are hopeful, we will achieve our aim in this financial year.' On reasons behind poor EV adoption, Ram Kumar Garg, finance secretary of the Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association, Chandigarh, explained, 'The maintenance cost of EVs, particularly batteries, is quite expensive. Also, people do not have confidence in EVs. Further, the administration has failed to operationalise most of its public charging stations, raising buyers' worries about where they will charge their vehicles.' Under its EV policy, UT had decided to install 100 public charging stations in various parts of the city. But the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the nodal agency responsible for promoting and implementing the policy, has operationalised only 35 in three years. A senior CREST officer assured more stations will be made available in the coming months. Incentives stuck in slow gear To promote eco-friendly vehicles, the administration is offering incentives ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹2 lakh for up to 42,000 vehicles of various categories, purchased between September 20, 2022, and September 19, 2027. The incentives are applicable for EVs, including e-cycles, e-bikes, e-cars, e-autos, e-carts and e-goods carriers, purchased anywhere in the country, but only permanent residents of Chandigarh are eligible. In May last year, the UT administration further exempted hybrid vehicles, along with electric vehicles, from paying road tax for the next five years. Further, UT has waived registration fees and road tax for five years for EVs. In contrast, owners of conventional fuel-based vehicles are required to pay both On August 1 this year, during the fourth review meeting of the EV policy, chaired by UT chief secretary Rajeev Verma, UT administration also decided to hike subsidies on electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers, with special focus on women buyers, who will be eligible to receive incentives up to ₹37,500. For electric two-wheelers, the subsidy has been hiked from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, while for electric bicycles, it has been raised from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000. In further push to encourage EV adoption, UT also decided to increase the allocated subsidy slots for electric cars purchased for personal use from 2,000 to 3,500. Earlier, in May this year, UT had announced discontinuation of the subsidy for electric cars after the allocated 2,000 slots ran out.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh's solar boom: Renewable energy capacity grows 18-fold in a decade
1 2 Chandigarh: Over the past decade, the city's installed renewable energy capacity has seen a nearly 18-fold increase, rising from 5 MW in 2014–15 to 90 MW by July 2025. However, this growth is largely due to government push rather than significant public participation. Solar power is the foundation of renewable generation in the city. As of July 2025, solar power generation plants have been installed on 10,988 buildings across the city. Between March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the number of government buildings with solar plants installed increased from 907 to 6,627, an addition of 25 MW in one year. At the same time, the number of private buildings with solar power plants on March 31, 2024, was 3,794. After a year, it marginally increased to 4,361, implying an addition of only 2.8 MW. The increase in renewable energy capacity is mainly due to solar power generation, achieved through the installation of rooftop solar plants on government buildings in the past year. The Chandigarh Renewal Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the nodal agency for solar power plant installation in the city, which accelerated the rooftop installation on government buildings. The administration's push for green energy continues with a major floating solar power plant of 4 MW capacity set to be established in Sector 39 waterworks, which will be the largest in north India. It is part of the UT plan to have 8 MWp projects in 2025-26. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 24 crore. "UT is first in the country in covering all the govt buildings, including residential and office, with rooftop solar power plants. These buildings now have a combined capacity of 58 MW. In its pursuit of self-reliance in renewable and clean energy, the administration has set the goal of making Chandigarh 100% renewable energy-powered by 2047. Also, it aims to make all government departments 'net zero' by 2030. RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTALLED CAPACITY | YEAR | INSTALLED CAPACITY (MW) | |----------|-------------------------| | 2014-15 | 5 | | 2015-16 | 7 | | 2016-17 | 18 | | 2017-18 | 26 | | 2018-19 | 35 | | 2020-21 | 41 | | 2021-22 | 46 | | 2022-23 | 55 | | 2023-24 | 59 | | 2024-25 | 65 | | 2025-26 (till July) | 89 | SOLAR POWER INSTALLATION Up to March 31, 2024 | Govt | Pvt | |-------|------| | Sites | 907 | 3,794 | | Solar PV | 32 MW | 29 MW | Up to March 31, 2025 | Govt | Pvt | |-------|------| | Sites | 6,627 | 4,361 | | Solar PV | 57 MW | 32 MW | PEAK POWER DEMAND Chandigarh summers are recording a consistent increase in the peak power demand. The peak demand increased by 27% between 2020 and 2025. Peak during the summer months (April-June) | Year | Peak Demand (MW) | |------|------------------| | 2020 | 363 | | 2021 | 379 | | 2022 | 407 | | 2023 | 377 | | 2024 | 449 | | 2025 | 460 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chandigarh administration plans to power EV charging stations with solar energy
The UT administration is planning to charge electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with power generated from solar power plants. In a pilot project, four public EV charging stations will be energised through solar power plants. "The aim is to promote sustainable charging solutions in the city. It will involve enhanced integration of solar energy in EV charging infrastructure for long-term sustainability," said a UT official. Locations have been identified where solar power will be used to power EV charging stations, such as one in the IT Park where rooftop solar plants have been installed in a public parking area. Both new and old EV charging stations will be part of the pilot project. There are currently 35 public EV charging stations, all of which are powered by the conventional electricity network. "The dependency on the conventional source of energy has to be decreased; that's the time of both the EVs and the solar power plants. Combining both these is a win-win situation for the environment. So, this initiative is being taken by the nodal agency CREST ," said the official. The integration of solar and EV charging stations will be one of the agenda items during the review meeting on the EV policy, which is slated for Thursday. Another major decision will be taken on the incentive framework and utilisation for promoting EVs in the city. The meeting, to be chaired by the UT chief secretary, will review the category-wise uptake of EV incentives and explore reallocation or enhancement of support where demand is higher. "The limit of the number of incentives for certain categories of EVs was exhausted recently. Consequently, a proposal for re-introducing and even enhancing the incentives will be taken up in the meeting. The administration is aiming to introduce major changes in the EV policy to accelerate EV adoption, targeting 18–20 per cent EV penetration in the current financial year, as part of Chandigarh 's vision to become a national leader in clean and sustainable mobility," said the official. The EV policy was introduced in 2022 and received a good response in the form of increased registration of EVs in the city. However, a drop has been seen since the incentives were stopped in some of the EV categories. The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has issued a notice to the firm that set up the air purification tower at the Transport Chowk to remove it. A time of three months has been given to the firm. The 24-metre-tall tower was launched in 2021 but failed to deliver on air pollution cleanup parameters.
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Shell plc Second Quarter 2025 Interim Dividend
London, July 31, 2025 − The Board of Shell plc (the 'Company') (XLON: SHEL, XNYS: SHEL, XAMS: SHELL) today announced an interim dividend in respect of the second quarter of 2025 of US$ 0.358 per ordinary share. Details relating to the second quarter 2025 interim dividend Shareholders will be able to elect to receive their dividends in US dollars, euros or pounds sterling. An alternative 'Electronic Election Entitlement' ('EEE') process is available in CREST for dividends with options elections. Absent any valid election to the contrary, persons holding their ordinary shares through Euroclear Nederland will receive their dividends in euros. Absent any valid election to the contrary, shareholders (both holding in certificated and uncertificated form (CREST members)) and persons holding their shares through the Shell Corporate Nominee will receive their dividends in pounds sterling. The pound sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments will be announced on September 8, 2025. Cash dividends on American Depositary Shares ('ADSs') will be paid, by default, in US dollars. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares. ADSs are evidenced by an American Depositary Receipt ('ADR') certificate. In many cases the terms ADR and ADS are used interchangeably. Dividend timetable for the second quarter 2025 interim dividend Note A different currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies. Taxation - cash dividends If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends you should consult your tax advisor. Dividend Reinvestment Programmes ('DRIP') The following organisations offer Dividend Reinvestment Plans ('DRIPs') which enable the Company's shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase the Company's shares: These DRIP offerors provide their DRIPs fully on their account and not on behalf of the Company. Interested parties should contact the relevant DRIP offeror directly. More information can be found at To be eligible to participate in the DRIPs for the next dividend, shareholders must make a valid dividend reinvestment election before the published date for the close of elections. Enquiries Media: International +44 (0) 207 934 5550; U.S. and Canada: Cautionary Note The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement 'Shell', 'Shell Group' and 'Group' are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words 'we', 'us' and 'our' are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', 'Shell subsidiaries' and 'Shell companies' as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms 'joint venture', 'joint operations', 'joint arrangements', and 'associates' may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term 'Shell interest' is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest. Forward-Looking statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as 'aim'; 'ambition'; ''anticipate''; 'aspire'; 'aspiration'; ''believe''; 'commit'; 'commitment'; ''could''; 'desire'; ''estimate''; ''expect''; ''goals''; ''intend''; ''may''; 'milestones'; ''objectives''; ''outlook''; ''plan''; ''probably''; ''project''; ''risks''; 'schedule'; ''seek''; ''should''; ''target''; 'vision'; ''will''; 'would' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks, including climate change; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including tariffs and regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East, and a significant cyber security, data privacy, or IT incident; (n) the pace of the energy transition; and (o) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc's Form 20-F and amendment thereto for the year ended December 31, 2024 (available at and ). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, July 31, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. Shell's net carbon intensity Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell's 'net carbon intensity' (NCI), which includes Shell's carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers' carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers' carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell's NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell's 'net carbon intensity' or NCI is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries. Shell's net-zero emissions target Shell's operating plan and outlook are forecasted for a three-year period and ten-year period, respectively, and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next three and ten years. Accordingly, the outlook reflects our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell's operating plan and outlook cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is outside our planning period. Such future operating plans and outlooks could include changes to our portfolio, efficiency improvements and the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon credits. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell's operating plans and outlooks to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target. Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as adjusted earnings and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc's consolidated financial statements. The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement. We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F and any amendment thereto, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website . LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70 Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of the United Kingdom
