Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:

EDF Renewables North America has been awarded three contracts for solar projects in New York. Awarded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority as part of the 2020 Renewable Energy Standard Solicitation, the projects total 303 MW of clean energy for the state. The projects are expected to achieve New York State’s target to achieve 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, on April 30, 2021, notified that the fees payable towards renewable energy certificates (RECs) would remain unchanged until further order. The current rates for one-time processing fees stand at ₹1,000 ($13.54), one-time registration charges remain ₹5,000 (~$67.70), annual charges are ₹1,000 ($13.54), revalidation charges at the end of five years are ₹5,000 (~$67.70), and fees for issuance of REC to the eligible entity are set at ₹2 (~$0.027)/REC.

Hamburg-based Blue Elephant Energy and Umweltgerechte Kraftanlagen have entered into a 500 MW solar development cooperation for projects in Germany. The portfolio includes 11 solar projects in an advanced development stage with capacities between 20 MW and 130 MW individually. After construction, the parks will remain part of Blue Elephant’s renewable asset portfolio. The gross revenues are expected to be secured via long-term power purchase agreements.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency, on behalf of the Australian Government, has conditionally approved $103.3 million towards three commercial-scale renewable hydrogen projects, as part of its Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round. To support these projects, the Agency has increased the funding envelope, originally $70 million, by $33.3 million. In total, these three projects have a combined project value of $161 million. At 10 MW, the electrolyzers in these hydrogen plants will be among the largest so far built in the world.

Srinwanti is a copy editor at Mercom India, where she writes and edits news stories across the clean energy spectrum. Prior to Mercom, she has worked in book publishing at Macmillan Publishing House and Integra and honed her editorial and writing skills in both online and print media such as Reuters, Times Group Books, The Times of India, and Pune Mirror, covering local to international stories. More articles from Srinwanti Das.