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

Distribution utility Tata Power has installed more than 7,000 smart meters for its customers in Mumbai so far. The company is reportedly the first power utility provider to initiate smart metering for its Mumbai consumers. With the installation of smart meters, Tata Power has also enabled its customers with data analytics tools. The firm’s customers can now view and optimize their electricity consumption in real-time through the customer portal and mobile app.

Enel Green Power has started commercial operations of the 716 MW wind farm in Brazil. The Lagoa dos Ventos wind farm is the largest wind facility currently in operation in South America and involves around BRL 3 billion investment. The fully operational facility comprises 230 wind turbines and will be able to generate over 3.3 TWh per year and cut the emission of over 1.9 million tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Out of the wind farm’s total installed capacity, 510 MW were awarded to Enel Green Power in Brazil’s A-6 public tender in December 2017 to supply power for 20 years with a pool of distribution companies operating in the country’s regulated market, while the output from the remaining 206 MW will be delivered to the free market for sale to retail customers.

North America-based developer of renewable projects Hecate Energy has filed an application with the New York State Office of Renewable Energy, Siting to construct a 500 MW solar farm in the Western New York towns of Elba and Oakfield. This represents the first new application to be submitted under the state’s new permitting process for large-scale renewable projects. If approved and constructed, the Cider Solar Farm would be the largest solar project ever built in New York State. The over $500 million private infrastructure investment is expected to create over 500 construction jobs and supply 920,000 MWh of renewable electricity per year – enough to power over 120,000 average New York households.

German photovoltaic firm Solarwatt has developed a new battery storage system – SOLARWATT Battery flex – in co-operation with carmaker BMW. As part of the deal, BMW will supply battery components used in its electric vehicles for Solarwatt, which will develop and assemble photovoltaic storage products in Germany to complement rooftop solar installations. The Battery flex home storage system has a capacity range from 4.8k Wh up to a size of more than 240 kWh.

Houston-based Orbital Energy Group has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Orbital Solar Services (OSS), has been awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to develop a 137 MW solar farm in Arkansas by a North American Fortune 100 energy company. The estimated total value of the project is over $64.0 million. The contract calls for OSS to design, engineer, and produce a utility-scale solar array to be delivered in early 2022. In addition, under the pact, OSS will provide full utility-scale EPC services, including substation construction.

ABB and Swiss utility Axpo have joined forces to develop modular green hydrogen production plants in Italy. The project aims to create an optimum operating model to produce affordable, green hydrogen. The two companies will apply their complementary skills to achieve their joint vision, with ABB harnessing its automation, electrification, and digital know-how in industrial operations and Axpo’s experience as an energy provider.