Tamil Nadu is facing an acute power crisis today and this is an opportunity for rural people to turn to solar energy to tide over the crisis, said Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Chairperson, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Addressing an award function organised by the Rotary Club of Madras East (R I District 3230) here on Wednesday, he said, “When global warming is a major concern these days, it is important to shift our views on renewable energy resources.”

The corporation has decided to call for tenders to this effect

In spite of not being able to resolve the tangle over the termination of contract for its energy saving plan for streetlights, GVMC is now toying with the idea of turning to LED lighting or solar lighting. For nearly one-and-a-half years now the company that has been given the contract in public private partnership on an energy saving basis has not come forward to implement it.

BANGALORE: Harish Hande is in the business of spreading sunshine. When he set up his company in 1995, he wanted to dispel the myth that the poor cannot afford sustainable technologies and that social ventures cannot be run as commercial entities.

Selco Solar shows it can be done. For 17 years, this for-profit social enterprise has been lighting up low-income homes, providing sustainable energy solutions and financial services. It has sold, serviced and financed solar products to 1.5lakh homes in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar and Bengal. It offers guarantee mechanisms so the poor have access to loans, and rental models for hawkers and slum-dwellers.

The Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy envisaged the State to have 3,000 MW solar energy generation by 2015.

The policy has given a boost to the sector in the State, said Sudeep Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA). The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) has organised four-day exhibition Elektrotec 2013, an electrical and industrial electronic fair, jointly with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), and Renergy Coimbatore 2013, a renewable energy expo, jointly with the TEDA.

Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has proposed to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), to insert the energy conservation guidelines as a mandatory clause for adherence in its bylaws.

In the backdrop of power shortage, which makes charging inverters a difficult task, the Solar Energy Exhibition being held at Thiagarajar College of Engineering sought to convey the purpose of innovative solar chargers and various means of solar power generation and utilisation.

As many as 14 leading solar energy product manufacturers and suppliers from all over India showcased their products in the exhibition. Solar powered toys, lighting products and domestic solar power supplying appliances were exhibited.

Taking the lead in tapping alternative sources of electricity, the Madurai city corporation has decided to power all the parks in the city with solar energy.

A British company has developed new ‘incredible’ light bulbs which are powered by gravity, for free distribution to communities in India and Africa who do not have reliable access to electricity.

Chennai Corporation’s new programme to improve lighting in the city will focus on replacement of around 60,000 old streetlights in eight added zones.

Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy at a meeting on Tuesday announced the commencement of the programme to improve streetlighting system in eight zones. The initiative of the civic body is likely to be a stepping stone for replacement of tubelights with energy-saving lights such as induction lamps, LED lights and compact fluorescent lamps in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur. All the new 60,000 streetlights will be LED lights as they last five times longer than sodium vapour lamps.

The Ambala divisional railway building has been declared as the "most energy-efficient government office building" for the year 2012.