Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company has issued multiple tenders to develop solar projects of 615 MW in aggregate capacity split into four different regions of the state. The ground-mounted projects would be built on government-owned land. The tenders include projects with a capacity of 100 MW in Aurangabad-II, 76 MW, and 105 MW in Aurangabad-III, 143 MW in the Pune region, and another 191 MW in the Konkan region of the state. The last date for the submission of bids is May 8, 2023. Bids will be opened on the same day.

The International Centre for Automotive Technology, a division of the government-run National Automotive Board division, has invited bids for consultancy services to extend the existing 1.2 MW solar project in Manesar, Haryana. The scope of work includes a site survey and establishing liaisons with departments under state and central governments to prepare a detailed project report. The last date to submit the bids is April 27, 2023.

International Finance Corporation has signed an agreement with phosphate-based fertilizer producer OCP for a €100 million (~$110.5 million) green loan to build four solar projects of 202 MW in Morocco. The projects will be constructed in the mining towns of Benguerir and Khouribga, home to Morocco’s largest phosphate reserves. The project is part of OCP’s $13 billion Green Investment Program, which aims to increase its green fertilizer production and transition its operations to green energy by 2030.

The European Commission has approved the inauguration of a cross-border tender to promote renewable energy in the union. The tender is being carried out as part of the renewable energy financing mechanism and is a result of Luxembourg and Finland’s pledge to collaborate under this initiative. This call for proposals is the first-ever cross-border tender between EU member states. The Commission said this signifies a new era of collaboration in the field of renewable energy and accomplishing the goals of the European Green Deal and REPowerEU.

In what indicates a possible revival in Germany’s renewable sector, the country’s solar auction was oversubscribed with 347 bids totaling 2.87 GW submitted for a tendered quantity of 1.95 GW of ground-mounted and non-building solar systems, according to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). Of the submitted bids, 245 were accepted, while 25 were excluded due to formal errors.

A team of researchers from the University of Surrey, the National Physical Laboratory, and the University College London have developed a unique layer between the solid-state electrolyte and the lithium metal anode, preventing unwanted electrons from entering the electrolyte and causing issues like losing power or short-circuit. By altering the internal electron flow of the battery, the researchers addressed the issue of “lithium dendrite growth.” This problem arises when tiny pieces of lithium metal accumulate in the battery.