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

The government of Karnataka has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ACME Cleantech Solutions for an investment of ₹520 billion (~$6.6 billion) to set up hydrogen and ammonia units and an allied solar power project in Mangaluru. ACME intends to set up a 1.2 mtpa (million tons per annum) green hydrogen & green ammonia plant associated with a captive solar power unit. The project would generate over 2,000 employment opportunities after completion of the plant and is planned for between 2022 and 2027. The government of Karnataka would facilitate ACME in obtaining necessary registrations, approvals, and clearances and provide incentives, among others.

Masdar signed agreements with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy to develop 4 GW of clean and renewable energy projects in the country. Masdar will also have the right to develop an additional 6 GW as a second phase, bringing the total production capacity of these projects to 10 GW. Masdar signed two implementation agreements, one relating to the development of onshore wind projects with a capacity of 1 GW and 1 GW of solar projects. The second agreement covers integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects with a capacity of 2 GW. The agreement for onshore wind and solar projects includes measures to study, strengthen the network, and implement processes to export electricity. The second agreement includes measures to create wind power for production and export purposes, decarbonization, hydrogen production, and export.

Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Bhagwant Khuba launched the Pan-India Rooftop Solar Awareness Campaign at an event in Bidar, Karnataka. The three-year campaign aims to increase awareness of rooftop solar in 100 Indian towns and cities, especially Tier Two and Tier Three cities. The campaign will be conducted by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), with the support of the German Solar Association and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. The minister said that rooftop solar would play a significant role, and Tier Two and Tier Three cities offer maximum potential in achieving this target. He said that Karnataka alone has the potential of 1 GW of rooftop solar. The minister highlighted that MNRE provides a 40% subsidy to households to install solar.

India has achieved the target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol ahead of schedule. The ‘Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25,’ released by the Prime Minister in June, laid out a  pathway for achieving 20% ethanol blending. This roadmap mentioned an intermediate milestone of 10% blending to be achieved by November 2022. However, due to the coordinated efforts of public sector oil marketing companies, the targeted blending was achieved ahead of the timeline. On top of augmenting India’s energy security, this achievement paved the way for a forex impact of over ₹415 billion (~$5.34 billion), reduced 2.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and led to the payment of over ₹406 billion (~$5.22 billion) to farmers.

Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO) inked an agreement with India Meteorological Department (IMD) to use the weather information provided by IMD for better management of the Indian power system and analysis. IMD will make available current weather information every hour or at lesser intervals. It will also provide weather forecasts of temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall up to the next 36 hours for the identified stations. The agreement also states that IMD will provide the snowfall forecast of hilly states and along the route of important transmission lines passing through hilly terrains. It will provide weather parameters forecast at renewable energy project locations.

Tata Motors signed an agreement with BluSmart Electric Mobility to deliver 10,000 XPRES T electric vehicles to the company. With deliveries starting soon, these vehicles are an addition to the 3,500 XPRES T EV order, which was signed by both the companies last October and will be used across the country by BluSmart’s commuters. In July 2021, Tata Motors launched the XPRES brand exclusively for fleet customers, and the XPRES-T EV is the first vehicle under this brand. The XPRES-T electric sedan has two range options – 213 km and 165 km. It packs a battery of 21.5 kWh and 16.5 kWh and can be charged from 0- 80% in 90 mins and 110 mins, respectively.