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Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt advances environmental cooperation in Africa at AMCEN summit
Egypt reaffirmed its leadership in shaping Africa's environmental agenda during the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), held in Nairobi from 14–18 July 2025. Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad headed Egypt's delegation, using the forum to strengthen bilateral partnerships and advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development across the continent. On the sidelines of the summit, Fouad met with Somalia's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, General Bashir Jama, to explore cooperation in climate change adaptation, combating desertification, and building institutional capacity. Fouad reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting Somalia and other African countries in addressing shared environmental challenges. Jama praised Egypt's leadership during COP27 and welcomed the proposal to sign a new memorandum of understanding aimed at launching joint projects and introducing sustainable technologies. In a separate high-level meeting, Fouad met with Ambassador Luis Vayas, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. She highlighted the urgent need to develop a binding international treaty to tackle plastic waste and pollution. Fouad pointed to Egypt's national progress, including the adoption of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic bags, and stressed the importance of establishing an intergovernmental process backed by independent financing mechanisms to secure treaty effectiveness. Fouad also held discussions with EU Commissioner for the Environment Jessica Roswall on topics including water and food security, as well as plastic pollution. She emphasised AMCEN's critical role in uniting African nations through collective dialogue and joint action to address environmental challenges. Reflecting on the history of AMCEN, founded in Cairo in 1985 by Mostafa Kamal Tolba, Fouad described it as one of Africa's most influential platforms for shaping environmental policy. In her official address to AMCEN, Fouad looked back on four decades of African resilience and progress in environmental protection. She underscored Egypt's own contributions, including updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), projects to protect natural resources, and promotion of the circular economy. Fouad called for fair and accessible international climate finance—particularly for adaptation—and urged greater alignment among the three Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification. She also voiced hope that the ongoing Geneva negotiations on a global plastic treaty would produce consensus that recognises different national contexts and socioeconomic realities. Egypt, she said, will send a multi-stakeholder delegation to the next negotiation round—including government representatives and private sector stakeholders—to reflect an inclusive, nationally driven approach to the treaty process. Looking ahead to her forthcoming role as Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Fouad underlined that deeper cooperation, innovation, and inclusive governance will be central to tackling desertification and securing a sustainable future for Africa. She concluded by thanking AMCEN's leadership and South Africa for hosting the summit, and reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing shared environmental priorities across the continent. The Egyptian delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy in Nairobi, all working together to position Egypt as a key driver of environmental cooperation and climate action in Africa.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Renewable energy push sees NTPC get nod to invest Rs 20,000 crore in green arms
Representative image NEW DELHI: In a big push for green energy, the Cabinet on Wednesday granted approval to state-run NTPC to invest up to Rs 20,000 crore in its green energy subsidiaries, a sharp rise from the earlier cap of Rs 7,500 crore. It also allowed NLC India Ltd to invest Rs 7,000 crore in NLC India Renewables Ltd, its wholly owned subsidiary. I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said work is in progress to increase NTPC's green energy capacity from 6GW at present to 26GW, with the target for 2032 being 60GW. Wednesday's decisions will "facilitate accelerated development of renewable projects in the country," he added. The relaxation in investment limit for NTPC will enable it to infuse capital into NTPC Green Energy Ltd, which, in turn, will support investments by NGEL in NTPC Renewable Energy and other JVs & subsidiaries for scaling up renewable energy capacity. On X, home minister Amit Shah said: "Increasing investment limits of NTPC & NGEL in the sector to Rs 20,000 crore will speed up our journey towards achieving the goal of producing 60GW green energy by 2032.... On the other hand, special exemption to NLC India Ltd will enable it to invest Rs 7,000 crore in green energy, standing out as our firm commitment to creating a greener Bharat and healthier planet." Vaishnaw said India has achieved a key milestone by ensuring that non-fossil fuel sources account for 50% of its installed electricity capacity, which was achieved five years ahead of its Nationally Determined Contributions target under Paris Agreement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo The target now is to increase non-fossil fuel generation capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2070. On the decision for NLCIL, the government said it would enable the government-owned entity to invest Rs 7,000 crore in NIRL and lead to NIRL investing in various projects directly or through formation of joint ventures, without the requirement of prior approval under the existing delegation of powers. The decision is expected to reinforce India's position as a green energy leader by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, lowering coal imports and enhancing reliability of 24x7 power supply across country. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Share of clean energy in India's electricity less than 30% despite 50% of installed capacity
India may have achieved an important milestone of sourcing 50% of its electric power capacity, or about 484 gigawatts, from non fossil-fuel sources, though publicly available data show that the share of clean energy in the electricity actually supplied is below 30%. 'India has achieved a landmark in its energy transition journey by reaching 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources — five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions [NDCs] to the Paris Agreement,' Pralhad Joshi, Minister for New and Renewable Energy, said earlier this week. 'This significant milestone underscores the country's steadfast commitment to climate action and sustainable development, and signals that India's clean energy transition is not only real but also accelerating under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.' In 2014, the share of renewable energy sources – solar, wind, biomass, hydropower (small and large) and nuclear power – constituted about 30% of India's installed electricity capacity. As on June 30, 2025 – as per the Centre – it rose to 50%. However, the share of electricity generated from these sources rose from 17% in 2014-15 to 28% in the May 2025-26 period. To be sure, the quantum of clean energy (non-fossil) produced annually has risen quite significantly from 190 billion units in 2014-15 to 460 billion units in 2024-25. Experts say that despite the rise in clean energy, the slower increase in utilising clean energy was due to the 'capacity utilisation factor' (CUF), a measure of how much available energy was usable. CUF values for clean energy have been lower than that of coal or nuclear sources. 'While solar and wind now make up a large share of installed capacity, their CUFs are much lower. Solar has CUF of approximately 20% and wind around 25-30%, compared to coal's 60% or nuclear's 80%. This means their contribution to actual generation remains limited despite high installed capacity,' said Arunendra kumar Tiwari, Fellow, The Energy Resources Institute. Base load demand, or power that is available through the day, is largely provided by coal, which makes up about 75% of India's energy mix. While there was a rise in solar energy utilisation and easing demand on coal during the daytime, particularly in summer, was unavailable in the evening. 'To improve utilisation of solar, we primarily need two things: flexibility in the grid and improved battery storage. Right now we pay the same (per unit) for electricity, whether night or day. Much like in the early days of telecom, when night calls were cheaper, we need to experiment with differential tarrifs for electricity during the day. This however will require smart grids and better management,' said Saurabh Kumar, vice-president, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and an expert on energy, 'We have several schemes that are being working on and in the next one or two years, I expect there will be significant improvement.' In the days ahead, an increase in 'hybrid' power projects that combine solar, wind, hydro and storage elements to meet India's growing peak and round-the-clock power needs are the way forward, says a policy note from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. 'When paired with battery storage, these hybrids can store surplus energy and release it during peak demand hours, particularly in the evening. However, deployment is currently limited by challenges such as land-aggregation issues, lack of coordinated transmission planning, and high cost of storage components.'
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Cabinet approves enhanced- investment autonomy for NTPC, NLCIL
NEW DELHI: In a move to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects in India, the government has granted enhanced financial autonomy to NTPC Limited and NLC India Limited (NLCIL), two major Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). The Cabinet has approved the relaxation of existing investment guidelines to allow NTPC Limited to increase its investment in NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary. This move raises the previous investment ceiling from ₹7,500 crore to ₹20,000 crore. The decision is aimed at facilitating NTPC's goal of achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. It is expected to expedite the development of renewable projects, reinforce the national power infrastructure, and help ensure reliable, round-the-clock electricity supply across the country. Similarly, NLCIL has received Cabinet approval to invest ₹7,000 crore in its wholly owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL). NIRL will use these funds to invest in renewable energy projects directly or through joint ventures, without requiring prior approval under existing guidelines. This investment is also exempt from the 30% net worth ceiling stipulated by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) for CPSE investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures, thereby providing NLCIL and NIRL with greater financial and operational flexibility. This initiative supports NLCIL's strategic vision of developing 10.11 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and scaling it up to 32 GW by 2047. It aligns with India's climate commitments announced at COP26, including the pledge to establish 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 under the 'Panchamrit' agenda and to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. NLCIL, a key Navratna CPSE, currently operates seven renewable energy assets with a total installed capacity of 2 GW. India has already reached a significant milestone in its energy transition by achieving 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources—five years ahead of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. NTPC, as the country's leading power utility and a Maharatna CPSE, is targeting the addition of 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032 to support the national goal of reaching 500 GW by 2030 and, ultimately, achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Green energy push: Cabinet nearly triples NTPC's investment cap for renewables to Rs 20,000 crore, to fast-track 60 GW clean power goal by 2032
The Cabinet has approved enhanced delegation of financial powers to NTPC Ltd, allowing the state-run power utility to invest up to Rs 20,000 crore in its green energy subsidiaries — a sharp rise from the earlier cap of Rs 7,500 crore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The relaxation will enable NTPC to infuse capital into NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and, in turn, support investments by NGEL in NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) and other joint ventures and subsidiaries for scaling up renewable energy capacity addition. The approval is aimed at fast-tracking India's push towards achieving 60 GW of renewable capacity under the NTPC Group by 2032. 'The enhanced delegation given to NTPC and NGEL will facilitate accelerated development of renewable projects in the country,' the government said in an official release. It also noted that the move would strengthen power infrastructure and ensure reliable, round-the-clock electricity access nationwide. India has already achieved a key milestone by reaching 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources—five years ahead of its Nationally Determined Contributions target under the Paris Agreement, the release stated. The country is now targeting 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2070. In addition to contributing to climate goals, the renewable energy expansion is expected to unlock major employment potential. 'RE projects will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities to the local people at construction stage as well as during O&M stage,' the government said. The initiative is also expected to give a fillip to local suppliers, MSMEs, and grassroots entrepreneurship. NGEL, the listed green energy arm of NTPC, is spearheading the group's renewable capacity addition through both organic and inorganic growth. Its wholly owned subsidiary, NREL, will be the primary vehicle for executing new projects. Together, NGEL and NREL currently have a renewable energy portfolio of around 32 GW — comprising approximately 6 GW operational, 17 GW contracted or awarded, and a pipeline of around 9 GW, according to the release.
