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

AC Energy, an energy arm of Ayala Corporation, has revealed its plan to expand its renewable energy business in India by developing a 70 MW solar project in Amreli, Gujarat. The project will be developed through UPC-AC Energy Solar, a joint venture of AC Energy and UPC Solar Asia Pacific. The 70 MW solar project, with an estimated cost of $36 million, is expected to begin power generation in the first half of 2021 and will supply energy to Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited. UPC-AC Energy Solar won the power supply agreement for the project at ₹2.55 (~$ 0.035)/kWh.

Hanwha Q Cells GmbH said that it has taken appropriate legal measures against Jinko following its violation of the injunction ordered by the Regional Court Düsseldorf against Jinko’s solar products in Germany that infringed the EP’ 689 patent. The company filed a request to determine an administrative fine in response to Jinko’s failure to comply with the terms of the court injunction. The court injunction encompasses prohibitions on the manufacture, sale, import, and distribution of the products infringing on Q CELLS’ EP’ 689 patent.

Kehua Tech, a China-based power solution provider, has launched a 4.167 MW outdoor central inverter system. The latest 4.167 MW central inverter is compatible with modules with a power supply of over 660W and matches the large sub-array development trend. This inverter can enhance system efficiency by over 1% and reduce the balance of system cost by around 5%.

Capital Power Corporation has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas for three solar development projects. The projects with a cumulative capacity of 160 MW are located in North Carolina. The construction of the projects is expected to start in late 2021 or early 2022. The projects will begin its commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2022. The company expects to finance projects using debt and tax equity.

IBC SOLAR Energy has completed the 43 MW MET Kabai solar project in Hungary. The 43 MW solar project was connected to the Hungarian public grid in September 2020. The project is owned by MET Asset Management AG, which commissioned IBC SOLAR Energy with planning, procurement, and construction in December last year. The solar project will supply power to over 23,000 Hungarian households with an estimated yield of 52 GWh annually.

EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Geenex Solar announced the closing of an agreement for a 4.5 GW pipeline of solar assets spread across PJM. PJM is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia. The portfolio of solar project assets in the transaction exceeds 20 solar projects in various stages of development. The first project is expected to start its commercial operation in 2023. The transaction will accelerate EDFR’s growth in the PJM wholesale electricity market to meet corporate and utility consumers’ demands.

Canadian Solar has closed a supply contract and a long-term service agreement with Goldman Sachs Renewable Power to deliver and integrate a 75 MW/300 MWh lithium-ion battery storage solution into the 100 MW Mustang solar project in California. The construction of the project’s energy storage component is expected to begin in early 2021, and it will be operational by the second half of 2021.

Huawei announced that Bangladesh’s largest solar project in Mymensingh has been fully installed with Huawei photovoltaic solution and connected to the national grid since the beginning of October 2020. The 73 MW solar project would help achieve the government’s target of generating 10% of the country’s total electricity utilizing renewable energy by 2021. The government also set a target to install 3.168 GW of renewable energy projects in its Vision 2021.

Maxwell Technologies, a U.S.-based energy storage manufacturer, has developed a solventless dry battery electrode coating technology that can be scalable for advanced battery chemistry. The technology produces a thick electrode that allows for high energy density cells without compromising physical properties and electrochemical performance. The technology can reduce the manufacturing cost and curb carbon dioxide pollution in the battery electrode manufacturing process.

Orlando Utilities Commission revealed its plan to reduce its coal-fired generation in the next five years and remove it completely by 2027. The Florida-based municipal electricity provider also proclaimed a plan to achieve 100% renewable generation by 2050 and net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. It is expected to convert its two coal-fired facilities to gas-fired generation, which are planned to be retired no later than 2040.

Here is our previous daily news wrap-up.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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