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

RenewSys India Private Limited announced that it had increased its manufacturing capacity of encapsulant (EVA& POE) lines to 3 GW from its current 1.65 GW capacity. The company also expanded the backsheet capacity to 4 GW from the existing 3 GW capacity. The company made investments based on the government’s policies to promote local manufacturing through various initiatives under the Aatmanirbhar Bharath Abhiyaan.

The Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, has pledged that every home in the United Kingdom will be powered with offshore wind energy within the decade. The Prime Minister said that the country would become the world leader in low-cost clean energy generation. He added that the government would invest £160 million (~$ 205.80 million) in manufacturing the next generation of turbines, including floating windmills capable of delivering 1 GW of energy by 2030.

Husk Power Systems, a renewable utility company, said that the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO invested $5 million in the company. The company said that the investment would be utilized to achieve its mini-grid roll-out plan. The $5 million investment from FMO, which was deployed from its Infrastructure Development Fund, followed a $20 million investment in 2018 by Shell, Swedfund, and ENGIE Rassembleurs D’Energies.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it is investing €75 million (~$ 88.04 million) in the Eurobond tap issuance by Hellenic Petroleum. The total funds of €100 million (~$ 117.43 million) will help Hellenic Petroleum to finance the construction of 18 solar photovoltaic projects with a total installed capacity of 204 MW in Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece’s most coal-dependent region. The solar projects will be built close to existing coal-fired power projects that are being phased out and expected to reduce 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Vestas, a Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer, has introduced a new wind turbine suited for low and ultra-low wind condition projects in India and the United States. The turbine will be manufactured and sourced in India. The prototype installation is planned for the third quarter of 2021, while serial production is expected by the first quarter of 2022. Vestas will also increase its manufacturing footprint in the country by establishing a new converter facility in Chennai and expanding its current blade facility in Ahmedabad. The production ramp-up will add around 1,000 new jobs within the next year.

Inmotive, a Canada-based automotive supplier, has launched its patented Ingear two-speed transmission for electric vehicles. The Ingear two-speed transmission has a durable design, enabling a more efficient powertrain at a lower cost. It recently finished the pre-production testing of the technology. Inmotive said that EVs equipped with an Ingear would enhance its acceleration times, top-speed, highway passing capabilities, and gradeability. It would also reduce the cost of electric vehicles. Original Equipment Manufacturers can save over $1,500 per passenger vehicle by integrating a two-speed transmission into high-volume integrated drive units.

PVH Europe, the global headquarters of Tommy Hilfiger and the European offices of Calvin Klein, both owned by PVH Corporation, claimed that it installed the world’s most powerful operational solar roof at its warehouse and logistic center in Venlo, Netherlands. The solar roof with 48,000 solar panels generates enough energy to cover the Center’s electricity footprint. It also indirectly provide 100% of clean energy for PVH Europe’s warehouses, offices, and stores in the Netherlands through the Dutch public power network.

Actis, a U.K.-based market investment company, has unveiled its plans to secure $4 to $4.5 billion funding to launch its new international fund Actis 5. The new fund aims to invest in renewable energy and infrastructure projects, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa. The Actis 5 is being prepared to be fully operational before the end of 2020. The company has plans to invest in Egypt’s wind projects under a build-own-operate system and solar projects.

Dividend Finance Corporation has launched a new technology platform. The new technology platform offers a faster credit application process, the ability for users to update and resend documents, automated change orders, and customizable pipeline functionality to better enable users to manage projects from start to finish. In addition to a new technology platform, the company also offers its solar contractors an array of new products, including Dividend Lite – a new single-page URL application which makes qualifying and signing a customer faster and easier.

Blue Bird  Corporation, a school bus manufacturer, said that it had seen a surge in demand for their all-electric school buses. While a majority of buses are sold in California, the interest in e-bus is nation-wide, with buses being deployed all over the country. School bus fleets in many states are transitioning their fleets to alternative power solutions such as propane and electric, to benefit their communities with cleaner air. Blue Bird’s electric buses are equipped with the vehicle to grid capability, allowing communities to use the electric buses as back-up power sources in emergencies.

California Independent System Operator has reported that average solar-powered electricity generation in California declined nearly 30% in the first two weeks of September 2020 from the July 2020 average as wildfires burned across the state.  In July 2020, daily solar-powered electricity generation from solar photovoltaic and solar thermal electric generators ranged from 104 GWh to 119 GWh, averaging 113 GWh for the entire month. Daily solar-powered generation began declining as large wildfire broke out in mid-August.

Here is our previous daily news wrap-up.

Image credit: Kuebi = Armin Kübelbeck / CC BY-SA

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

More articles from Harsh Shukla.