Here are some noteworthy renewable energy news from around the world:

Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services, has unveiled the GRAM UJALA program. Under the program, CESL would distribute high-quality light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs at the cost of ₹10 (~$0.14) per bulb in rural areas. In the first phase, 15 million LED bulbs will be distributed across several states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

The African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has launched a $1.2 million Innovation Fund to unlock renewable energy potential to create new businesses in Africa. The fund is aimed to strengthen the market readiness of emerging innovations and secure financial, technical, and networking support for taking existing prototypes to scale. AECF said businesses and entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe could apply for funding.

Vikram Solar, a solar module manufacturer and EPC solutions provider, has partnered with GreenEnco and installed a zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) charging station with high-efficiency solar modules. The off-grid system is comprised of solar modules, a hybrid inverter, battery storage, and an EV charger. GreenEnco designed and implemented the zero-emission EV charging station under the Innovating for Clean Air program by Energy System Catapult, United Kingdom. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, facilitated the implementation of the initiative under an India- U.K. collaboration to battle against climate change.

The United States has generated 774 million MWh of coal-fired electricity in 2020, less than 1.6 billion MWh of natural gas-fired power, and 790 million MWh of nuclear-powered electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coal-fired electricity generation in the U.S. continued to decrease as coal-fired generating units have been retired or converted to use other fuels. The coal-powered electricity generation facilities’ operating capacity declined to 223 GW in 2020 from 313 GW in 2008.

Vestas has secured a 56 MW order from Energix for the Banie IV wind project, located in Western Pomerania, Poland. The contract included supply, installation, and commissioning of 16 V126 -3.54 MW wind turbines with a 20-year active output management service agreement. The company is expected to start the delivery of turbines and commissioning in the first quarter of 2022.

Here is our previous daily news wrap-up.