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

NTPC announced that the last 20 MW capacity out of the 100 MW Ramagundam floating solar project had been commissioned. With this, the standalone installed and commercial capacity of NTPC has grown to 54.77 GW. The NTPC group’s installed and commercial capacity is now 69.13 GW.

ReNew Power, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA), launched a transformative initiative named ‘Project Surya’ to train low-income women salt pan workers to work in the renewable industry. Under the program, women salt pan workers, who work in the physically challenging and extreme temperatures of the remote Rann of Kutch marshes in Gujarat, will be trained as solar panel and solar pump technicians. This unique and inclusive project will address multiple sustainable development goals under one umbrella, including no poverty, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, decent work, economic growth, and climate action.

Impact Clean Power Technology has started the construction of a modern battery systems factory – GigafactoryX – for the public transport, railroad sector, and stationary energy storage for both the energy sector and individual users. The investment will multiply the company’s production capacity up to 5 GWh per year. The GigafactoryX project assumes the construction of a giant battery factory for electric vehicles. The start of production has been planned for 2024 and will guarantee the security of the supply of battery systems for the world’s largest brands. The new production lines will be highly automated, affecting not only production efficiency and the quality of produced batteries but also reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten announced plans for the construction of a national transport network for hydrogen. Gasunie will develop the hydrogen network in the Netherlands in the coming years, after which it will assume the role of a transmission system operator. Gasunie will also play an important role in the storage and import of hydrogen. Due to the expected growth in offshore hydrogen production in the North Sea, the minister will investigate whether Gasunie can also fulfill the role of grid operator at sea.

Voltalia, an international player in renewable energies, has launched the construction of the Karavasta site, a 140 MW photovoltaic project. The 140 MW project was awarded to Voltalia by the Albanian Council of Ministers in 2020, following the competitive bidding process launched by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. According to the terms of the tender, Karavasta will sell 50% of the electricity through a 15-year sales contract to the Albanian public operator, while the remaining will be sold through long-term contracts to private operators. The project is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2023.