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

Kia, a South Korea-based automaker, and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have partnered to increase the usable life of batteries used in electric mobility. The lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles will be reused to create efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems for green electricity. These second-life battery energy storage solutions are modular and can be used in various applications. encore, a corporate start-up of DB Bahnbau Gruppe GmbH, handles the process, from procurement of the used batteries to production. encore will begin series production and distribution of several hundred battery energy storage systems in 2023. The first pilot project was implemented at the Berlin EUREF campus in July 2022. Additional battery energy storage systems are being installed at various DB locations, including the ICE maintenance depot in Leipzig, the digital test center in the Saxon town of Scheibenberg, and the Zorneding station in Bavaria.

Osprey Charging, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) charging network company, was selected by British Garden Centres, a UK-based garden center group, to provide rapid EV charging at its UK stores. Osprey’s rapid chargers can add 100 miles in range to an EV in 20-30 minutes. The British Garden Centre in Carmarthen, Wales, will be the first to offer an Osprey rapid charge to its customers at a hub with eight ultra-rapid (150kW) chargers. The Carmarthen hub will be followed by high-power hubs planned in Wimborne (Dorset), Carr Gate (Yorkshire), Braintree (Essex), and Harrow (London). A total of 11 more sites are confirmed with a mix of these larger hubs and some smaller installations, depending on the size of the site and availability of power.

Maersk Supply Service and Stiesdal Offshore entered into a strategic partnership to offer combined solutions to this fast-growing sector within offshore wind. The two Danish companies intend to combine their respective strengths to create comprehensive and integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and installation solutions for foundations and moorings. This integrated approach will streamline the value chain, facilitating fast-track installations and ultimately bringing down the levelized costs of floating wind.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced its support for the green economy in Egypt with a $100 million loan to Banque Misr, an Egyptian bank, for on-lending to local small and medium-sized enterprises. The loan follows the success of the Green Economy Financing Facility in Egypt. It will support an expansion of green lending in Egypt to under-served regions for investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies and services. A technical assistance program of €2.3 million (~$2.33 million) funded by the Bank and the Netherlands through the High Impact Partnership on Climate Action will also be provided to Banque Misr and as sub-borrowers to support the implementation of the program, as well as enhance awareness of green financing, particularly among female entrepreneurs.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) founder and Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest to discuss the development of green energy projects in the region. The meeting discussed the potential development of a green hydrogen production project with a 9.2 GW installed capacity. FFI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of global green energy and resources company Fortescue Metals Group. The company had previously signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct studies to develop green hydrogen production in Egypt.