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

NTPC announced the commissioning of the last part capacity of 35 MW out of 92 MW Kayamkulam Floating Solar photovoltaic project in Kerala. The last two parts, 35 MW and 22 MW, were commissioned in May and March this year. NTPC’s standalone installed and commercial capacity now stands at 54.75 GW, and the group’s installed and commercial capacity is at 69.11 GW.

The Flipkart Group committed to setting a net-zero target to decarbonize its operations by 2030 and the larger value chain by 2040. As part of this commitment, Flipkart will take measures to reduce 100% of emissions by 2030 by increasing energy efficiency at its corporate office and supply chain facilities and powering its energy requirements through renewable sources such as solar. The company recognizes that much of the climate impact comes from its extended value chain of suppliers, waste in operations, transportation and logistics, and product end-of-life. It will also work with its sellers, consumers, and partners to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

Uniper, a Germany-based energy company, and direct marketer, Sunnic Lighthouse, a subsidiary of ENERPARC, concluded a framework agreement to purchase electricity from solar power plants. The deal allows Uniper to purchase approximately 208 GWh annually from 53 solar parks distributed throughout Germany with an installed capacity of around 198 MW. Deliveries of green power by Sunnic Lighthouse to Uniper will start in July 2022 and run until the end of 2027.

Air Liquide signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Vattenfall for 115 MW or around 500 GWh per year of renewable electricity from the offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust Zuid. This PPA comes in addition to a 100 GWh-PPA with Air Liquide announced in March 2021, expanding the long-term partnership. The 15-year PPA starting in 2025 enables Air Liquide to supply its existing industrial and medical gas production assets in the Netherlands. Hollandse Kust Zuid is located in the North Sea, about 18-35 kilometers off the Dutch coast between The Hague and Zandvoort. The offshore wind project, consisting of 140 wind turbines with a capacity of 1.5 GW, is scheduled to be fully operational in 2023. Hollandse Kust Zuid is owned by Vattenfall, BASF and Allianz.

BASF announced that it would build a commercial-scale battery recycling black mass plant in Schwarzheide, Germany, to strengthen BASF’s cathode active materials (CAM) production and recycling hub in the region. The site is considered an ideal location for building battery recycling activities, given the presence of many EV car manufacturers and cell producers in Central Europe. The investment is expected to create about 30 new production jobs, with an operation date planned for early 2024. Black mass production is the first step in the battery recycling process and is based on the mechanical treatment of the batteries. The black mass contains high amounts of the critical metals used to produce CAM: lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. It is expected to be the feedstock for the commercial hydrometallurgical refinery for battery recycling that BASF plans to build in the middle of this decade. The annual processing capacity of the plant would be 15,000 tons of EV batteries and production scrap.

Redwood Materials, a U.S.-based battery manufacturing and recycling company announced it would work with Toyota Motor North America to create a battery ecosystem across Toyota’s line-up of electrified vehicles that encompasses all steps for full circularity. Toyota and Redwood will create a truly closed-loop solution for batteries. Initially, they would focus on testing and recycling Toyota batteries, creating end-of-life pathways for the original hybrid electric vehicles. They also aim to expand into other areas, including battery health screening and data management, remanufacturing, and battery material supply throughout North America.