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

UPC-AC Energy Solar, the joint venture company of UPC Solar Asia Pacific and AC Energy and Infrastructure Corporation, commenced the commercial operations of its two solar projects in India. The 140 MW Sitara Solar is located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and will supply energy to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The 70 MW Paryapt Solar is is located in Amreli, Gujarat. The solar projects were developed at an investment of $100 million. With an aggregate capacity of 150 MWac, the solar farms comprise more than 466,000 solar panels, capable of producing around 358 GWh annually and offsetting 323,990 tons of CO2. UPC-AC Energy Solar won the bid to develop the Sitara Solar project from SECI at ₹ 2.48 (~$ 0.033)/kWh, and the Paryapt Solar from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam at ₹ 2.55 (~$ 0.034)/kWh. The power purchase agreement is for 25 years.

Cleantech Solar, a Singapore-based commercial and industrial (C&I) focused solar developer, has commissioned a 30 MW open access solar project in Beed, Maharashtra. The solar project will supply power to corporate customers under a captive structure. The plant is expected to generate approximately 1,016 GW of clean energy during its lifetime, offsetting 935,088 tons of CO2. Cleantech Solar has over 500 MW of solar projects in India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Minister of state for heavy industries, Krishan Pal Gurjar, replying to a question at the Rajya Sabha, stated that 1,590 electric vehicles (EVs) had been deployed in 160 central and state ministries and departments across 49 cities. Convergence Energy Services (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services (EESL), is also developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and has signed MoUs with multiple stakeholders for location assessment study and setting up charging infrastructure in their jurisdiction location.  CESL has installed 301 EV charge stations across India. Thirteen states, including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh, have approved or notified dedicated EV policies to promote EV adoption. Under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme, ₹10 billion (~ $134.5 million)  is allocated to develop charging stations.

Amsterdam-based renewable energy company Photon Energy has commissioned two utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects with a combined capacity of 14.6 MW in Leeton, Australia. The grid-connected solar projects are using bifacial PV modules mounted on single-axis trackers. They are expected to produce around 27.8 GW of clean electricity per year. The electricity will be sold on the National Electricity Market on a merchant basis. The two projects expand Photon Energy’s total portfolio of PV projects to 89.3 MW.