At a UN desertification conference in Mongolia, experts discussed how renewable energy expansion can co-exist with land protection and restoration, showcasing examples such as repurposing degraded mining land in South Africa and combining solar panels with vegetation in China. Renewable energy projects like solar irrigation in India are proving to generate electricity while benefiting agriculture and restoring land. The UN is calling for case studies on successful projects that integrate renewable energy with land, water, biodiversity, and communities to break dependence on fossil fuels while protecting and restoring nature globally. Planning for impactful renewables should consider wider landscape context, biodiversity, and input from local communities to minimize environmental impacts. Discussions are ongoing on how to pursue these goals simultaneously on the same land.
Tag: India
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India’s model solar villages
Distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems are gaining popularity in India for generating electricity locally, driving rural development, empowering communities, and building economic resilience. India is actively implementing DREs in villages and rural areas to address climate change and promote sustainable energy solutions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/19/indias-model-solar-villages/
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The Hydrogen Stream: Commissioning begins for 2.2 GW Neom H2 project in Saudi Arabia
Neom Green Hydrogen Company has started commissioning a 2.2 GW green hydrogen and ammonia project in Saudi Arabia, while a 2.1 GW electrolyzer project in Germany has been canceled. Power to Hydrogen has installed a 500 kW AEM electrolyzer in Belgium, and Norway's Hystar and India's BHEL have signed an agreement for local manufacturing of PEM electrolyzers in India. The Italian government has announced incentives for renewable hydrogen production, with a spending limit of €400 million annually. This initiative aims to promote low-cost hydrogen production as a climate solution.
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India’s rooftop solar scheme surpasses 5 million households
India's rooftop solar program, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, has rapidly expanded to support over 5 million households with a cumulative capacity of 14.8 GW in just over two years. With $8.6 billion in funding, the program is adding around 100,000 households every six days, leading to nearly 1.9 million households reporting zero electricity bills and over 1.2 million households earning income from selling surplus electricity. The highest monthly rooftop solar deployment was recorded in July 2026, showcasing the significant pace of installations. Furthermore, the program has fostered the growth of a nationwide rooftop solar ecosystem, with over 34,000 registered vendors and more than 232,000 people trained in the rooftop solar value chain.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Beyond2020 Initiative Strengthens Healthcare Resilience for Over 200,000 People in India
The Beyond2020 initiative, led by the SELCO Foundation, has deployed six solar-powered health facilities in Karnataka, India, to improve healthcare access for over 200,000 people in remote areas with unreliable energy sources. These facilities are equipped with solar photovoltaic systems, off-grid solutions, lithium-ion battery banks, and energy-efficient medical technologies to provide quality care closer to home. In collaboration with partners like Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and BNP Paribas, Beyond2020 has implemented 19 deployments across energy, health, water, and food-related solutions, benefiting over 429,800 people globally. Recognized by the Zayed Sustainability Prize, Beyond2020 focuses on providing innovative, life-changing solutions in health, food, energy, water, and climate action to positively impact over 400 million lives worldwide through technology for inclusive and sustainable development.
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The geopolitics of solar manufacturing and how India can build a China-alternative supply chain
AXITEC Energy India is a solar panel manufacturer committed to contributing to India's renewable energy goals by offering high-quality solar panels with efficient energy production capabilities. Emphasizing sustainability and reducing carbon emissions through the use of solar energy, the company aims to provide reliable and cost-effective solutions for clean energy production in India. By focusing on expanding wafer and ingot manufacturing, investing in polysilicon production, and adopting high-efficiency technologies, India has the potential to emerge as a significant alternative manufacturing hub for clean energy products, reshaping global clean-energy supply chains and influencing the geopolitics of the low-carbon economy. Strategic partnerships with other countries and technology providers will be essential for accelerating technology transfer and research collaboration in building a fully integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem.
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What We’re Reading: Saving One Centuries-Old Tree at a Time
Arborists in Japan are utilizing nemawashi to relocate ancient trees, showcasing the country's reverence for nature and heritage. Meanwhile, three Indian teens have developed Plas-Stick, a cost-effective method using biodegradable magnetic tamarind powder to remove microplastics from water. This solution, which requires no electricity or complex machinery, offers a straightforward and scalable approach to combatting microplastic pollution in rivers and oceans.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-saving-trees-japan/
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In southern India, beekeeping helps Indigenous women earn more
The Women for Bees project in India's Western Ghats, launched by UNESCO in partnership with the Keystone Foundation, empowers Indigenous women through managed beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee. This initiative provides a safer and more predictable alternative to traditional wild honey hunting, leading to immediate economic impacts such as financial independence and improved livelihoods for participants. Studies have shown that pollination by Asian honey bees can enhance crop yields, while ecological benefits like improved flowering in surrounding fruit farms have been observed. The project has fostered community support and knowledge sharing among participants, with plans to expand to other biosphere reserves in the future.
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Scientific & traditional knowledge are key for effective & community-centered conservation (commentary)
Women from the Indigenous community of Kibber in Spiti Valley, India, and a village in the Himalayas have played key roles in monitoring and protecting snow leopards, combining traditional knowledge with scientific skills. These community-led conservation efforts have led to the end of retaliatory killings of snow leopards and wolves, and the establishment of livestock-free reserves to increase prey populations. Scientific research has influenced conservation policy, placing communities at the center of national strategies and leading to the establishment of community-managed reserves like the Tost Nature Reserve in Mongolia. The success of these efforts highlights the importance of integrating scientific and traditional knowledge, community engagement, and collaboration between communities, scientists, and conservation practitioners in effective and sustainable nature conservation.
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New Delhi Air Pollution Index Further Pushes for EV Adoption in India
India's latest push towards electric vehicles is driven by air pollution concerns in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities. The city's winter smog crisis is exacerbated by crop-residue burning, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust. The National Clean Air Programme tracks air quality trends and implements clean-air action plans in non-attainment cities like Delhi. The Delhi EV Policy 2026 aims to allocate funds to accelerate electrification, ban gasoline-powered two-wheelers, and increase public charging points to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality. Delhi's policy aims to drastically reduce vehicular air pollution and position the city as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The phaseout of gasoline-powered two- and three-wheelers is seen as transformative by experts, as these vehicles contribute significantly to urban emissions. Success will depend on the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and the affordability of EVs for lower-income drivers. The national government's PM E-DRIVE Scheme complements Delhi's efforts by addressing the affordability barrier to EV adoption nationwide. This coordinated approach highlights India's strategy of framing cleaner transportation as essential to public health and urban air-quality goals.