The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has released the list of empaneled engineering, procurement, and construction contractors for 50 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems on government buildings across various states under the renewable energy service company model. SECI allotted 16.48 MW out of the total capacity of 50 MW.

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has clarified various rules in the state’s Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access Regulations 2022. The clarifications were issued in response to the requests from the stakeholders who sought the Commission to simplify specific regulations, including time of day settlement and open access charges.

82Volt, an electric vehicle charging tech start-up, has recently concluded its seed funding round, raising an amount of ₹50 million (~$606,908) from angel investors. With the infusion of fresh capital from the seed funding round, the start-up aims to rapidly expand its installation capacity to 100 chargers within the next two months through its channel partners. Simultaneously, the company plans to grow its team and extend its market reach.

KORE Power, a battery cell developer, has secured a conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office for an $850 million loan under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The loan will fund the company’s advanced battery manufacturing facility with a 6 GWh annual capacity in Buckeye, Arizona, catering to the e-mobility and energy storage sectors.

Renewable energy company Brookfield Renewable is set to acquire Duke Energy’s unregulated utility-scale commercial renewables business in the U.S. for approximately $2.8 billion. The amount includes the assumption of debt and non-controlling tax equity interests. The sale agreement for the Commercial Renewables business platform includes more than 3.4 GW of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage across the U.S., net of joint venture partners’ ownership, operations, new project development, and current projects under construction.

Spain-based independent power producer Iberdrola and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed a loan agreement worth €1 billion (~$1.07 billion) to bolster the energy transition in Europe by building 22 renewable energy projects with an installed capacity of 2.2 GW. The loan will help co-finance the construction of 19 solar power projects and three onshore wind farms in Spain, Portugal, and Germany.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have conducted a study revealing the mechanisms that cause failures in lithium metal solid-state batteries. The findings offer a path to overcome these challenges and potentially lead to a transformative improvement in EV battery range, safety, and performance. The team said their research could also have far-reaching implications for electric aviation, propelling the development of electrically powered aircraft.