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

Azure Power, an independent solar power producer, announced the full commissioning of its 300 MW Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) connected solar project, located in Bhadla, Rajasthan. The project was a part of Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) 1.2 GW solar projects under ISTS Tranche III. The power generated from the project is supplied to SECI at a tariff of ₹2.58 (~$0.37)/kWh for 25 years. Azure Power has now operationalized 2,683 MW of renewable energy assets in India with the new addition.

NTPC, as a part of its international project development, announced that it would be set up solar and LNG-based power projects in Sri Lanka. A 50:50 joint venture between NTPC and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) called Trincomalee Power Company Limited (TPCL) was incorporated in Sri Lanka to develop this power project. The government of Sri Lanka issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to NTPC for setting up a 500 MW LNG power plant at Kerawalapitiya and a 50 MW solar power project at Sampur. Various activities such as land clearance, project agreement finalization, etc., are in progress to implement these projects.

In a recent memorandum, the Ministry of Power (MoP) announced the setting up of the Power Foundation to act as a policy advocacy body and engage in national dialogues related to power and allied sectors. The foundation will help provide authoritative analysis, data policy recommendations, and solutions to help states provide sustainable energy for all. It will also help promote independent and evidence-based research studies and create awareness amongst stakeholders.

Nanded Waghala City Municipal Corporation invited bids to provide consultancy services to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for installing solar power projects under net metering and sale to utility in Nanded Waghala City Municipal Corporation area. The last date to submit the bid is March 19, 2022, and the bids will be opened on March 22. The bidders will have to submit an earnest money deposit amount of ₹5,000 (~$65.34). The duration of the project is three months. The bidders must have in the past consulted at least one city municipal corporation or a public sector undertaking, or a state/central government department. To participate in the bid, the bidders must have completed similar projects within the last three years and a cumulative experience of 50 MW and a single project of 20 MW for DPR preparation.

Ayana Renewable Power and Maxeon Solar Technologies announced the completion and commercial operation of the 192 MW Bikaner 1 Solar Farm, a utility-scale power plant in Rajasthan, India. The solar power plant utilizes nearly 398,000 Performance 3 UPP solar panels from Maxeon Solar Technologies. The Bikaner 1 project is the largest Indian power plant to utilize Maxeon’s Performance line panels. The project was built and commissioned last year.

AMPYR Solar Europe (ASE), a European solar developer, and Edinburgh Airport announced a deal to develop an integrated solar power project with battery technology and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the Scotland airport. Under the agreement, ASE and its local construction partner, Absolute Solar & Wind, will build a solar project of approximately 9 MW capacity, battery storage of 1.5 MWh, and 40 EV charging points. The large ground-mounted solar power project and battery will be situated next to the runway on a 16-acre plot connected to the airport via a high voltage private wire network. The projects align with Edinburgh Airport’s goal to achieve net-zero by 2040 by generating clean, renewable energy that will cover about 30% of the airport’s total consumption.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) to provide its techno-financial expertise for the solarization of CIPET campuses. Under the MoU, IREDA will help CIPET solarize its numerous academic campuses by installing large-scale solar or rooftop solar projects. The project will likely begin at CIPET’s Varanasi, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), and Bidar (Karnataka) campuses.