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

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) entered into a long-term purchase agreement for upcoming dedicated ethanol plants across India. Oil companies, project proponents, and banks signed the first set of Tripartite-cum-Escrow Agreements (TPA). State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, and Indian Bank are part of the tripartite agreement with oil companies and project proponents. The agreement is designed to ensure that payment received by ethanol plants is utilized to service the debt extended by these banks. Ethanol produced by these plants will be sold to oil companies for blending with petrol as per the government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program.

Gensol Engineering secured purchase orders to develop a grid-connected ground-mount and rooftop solar system of 15 MW capacity. The cumulative order value of these projects is pegged at over ₹4.85 billion. All these projects are for the captive use of the clients. They will help the clients cut down their dependence on the grid and reduce emissions by 21,903 metric tons of CO2 annually. The projects are slated for commissioning in Goa, Gujarat, and Punjab during the next six months.

Green hydrogen solutions provider Hygenco has installed an off-grid solar-based green hydrogen pilot plant in Madhya Pradesh. Located in Ujjain District, the pilot plant commenced trial operations on March 31, 2022, and was fully commissioned by April 15, 2022. Hygenco is harnessing the renewable power-rich location for solar and wind-based power generation. An advanced energy management and control system (ECMS) controls the green hydrogen pilot plant. The EMCS monitors hundreds of parameters such as solar generation, state of charge, hydrogen generation, pressure, and temperature and makes autonomous real-time decisions to achieve high efficiencies. The technology will enable Hygenco to augment the hydrogen yield and deliver cost-competitive hydrogen to the end clients.

Independent energy expert and assurance provider DNV introduced two joint industry projects to create an anchoring and mooring design standard and a floats design, testing, and qualification standard. DNV said standards applicable to floating solar projects are still largely lacking, potentially leading to project delays and obstacles in permitting and authorization, which can be an issue for the utility-scale renewables industry. DNV has spearheaded a joint industry project involving 24 of the sector’s leaders to develop the world’s first recommended practice on the design, development, and operation of floating solar systems to provide comprehensive guidance to floating solar photovoltaic project operators.