TAMILNADU

A new research by US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows Tamil Nadu in ninth place in the world in terms of its share in wind and solar generation.

The report, “power-industry transition, here and now”, includes case studies of markets – ranked by relative share of reliance on variable renewables – that include Denmark, South Australia, Uruguay, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Texas, California, and Tamil Nadu.

While Denmark had a share of 52.8% of the total wind and solar generation in 2017, Tamil Nadu’s share was 14.3% and stood at ninth place. “We show how nine leading countries and regions have adapted to high market shares of wind and solar power using existing integration technologies and policy measures to improve their diversity of domestic generation without compromising reliability or undercutting supply,” said the study.

Tamil Nadu leads India in variable renewables’ market share. Tamil Nadu also leads India in installed renewable energy capacity. Of the total 30GW of installed capacity across the state as of March 2017, variable wind and solar power accounted for 9.6GW or 32% of the total. Firm hydroelectricity added another 2.2GW or 7%, nuclear 8% and biomass and run-of-river 3%.

“As such, zero emissions capacity represents a leading 50% of Tamil Nadu’s total. With much of Tamil Nadu’s renewable energy coming from end-of-life wind farms installed 15-25 years ago, average utilisation rates are a low 18%, making the contribution of variable renewables to total generation even more impressive,” said the study. “A more diversified electricity generation mix will serve Tamil Nadu better. New low cost solar capital additions and a major re-powering of TN’s wind projects, a concerted improvement in energy efficiency plus reduced transmission and distribution losses, should deliver more than 80% of all electricity demand growth in the coming decade.

INTERNATIONAL

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Natural History Museum (NHM), UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of genetic/taxonomic studies, research and training, conservation in India, including species and habitat conservation assessments, etc.

NHM will help BSI in capacity building in areas of systematic botany and long-term conservation of plant genetic resources in India.

· Malacidins: Scientists discover new class of antibiotics from soil

Scientists from The Rockefeller University in New York have reported the discovery of a new class of antibiotics called maladies.
It produced by microorganisms living in soil and dirt and is capable of killing off several antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
The new family of antibiotics comes from molecules present in a large variety of soils. Scientists had analyzed more than 1000 unique soil samples across US to better understand how new class of antibiotics is produced and how it can be exploited for fighting bacteria.
They had used DNA information that encodes production of antibiotic in daptomycin to study it.
This discovery could be a useful weapon in the field of medicine.

· Indian Engineer Awarded Sci-Tech Oscar Award

Vikas Sathaye, a Pune-born person honored with the Scientific and Engineering Academy Award at the Oscars Scientific and Technical Awards 2018 at Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California.
Sathaye and his team received the award for his contribution towards conceptualization, designing, engineering, and the implementation of the ‘Shotover K1 Camera System’ during his stint at Shotover Camera Systems in Queenstown, New Zealand.

NATIONAL

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) is organizing a National Conference under the title of “Agriculture 2022 – Doubling Farmers’ Income” at National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC), Pusa, New Delhi.

The Conference is being organized on the advice of the Hon’ble Prime Minister with a view to identify various critical issues relating to agriculture and farmers’ welfare and finding appropriate solutions.

The main aim of the conference is to build a consensus around appropriate recommendations that will help in shaping and sharpening the vision of the Government on Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022 into actionable points.

In a first in the country, Maharashtra government will be setting up an institute for artificial intelligence (AI) in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will unveil the plan for the institute during the Magnetic Maharashtra Summit.

The Magnetic Maharashtra Summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18.

Milkbasket, India’s first and largest micro-delivery platform has been recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017 at the 7th Small Business Awards.

The Startup of the Year award is dedicated to young SMEs, aged 7 years or less, with great potential to become big in local/international markets.

Launched in early 2015, Milkbasket is India’s first and largest daily micro-delivery service.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch Chandrayan-2 Mission around April this year.

He was addressing a press conference on the achievements of Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy.

Chandraayan-2 is a challenging mission as for the first time we will carry an orbiter, a lander and a rover to the moon.