The Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam has floated seven tenders for installing and commissioning 452 MW of grid-connected solar power projects in various subdivisions of Barmer Circle under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program. The successful bidder must undertake the projects’ operation and maintenance for 25 years from the commercial operation date.

Punjab Energy Development Agency has invited bids to commission 7 MW of grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects for government buildings in Punjab, including Chandigarh. The developer must also provide comprehensive operational and maintenance services for five years. The last day to submit the bids is May 31, 2023. The bids will be opened on June 02, 2023.

The European Commission has developed a methodology to quantify the carbon footprint of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules used and manufactured in the EU region, to be implemented as a regulation termed as Ecodesign Directive. The Ecodesign Directive will ensure that the PV modules and related materials have been sourced, manufactured, used, and disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner.

Electric vehicle maker Tesla has begun constructing a 50 GWh in-house lithium refinery in the greater Corpus Christi region of Texas, representing an investment of over $1 billion. CEO Elon Musk said the refinery will produce enough battery-grade lithium for 1 million electric vehicles by 2025, making Tesla the largest lithium processor in North America.

Infrastructure investor Actis has launched Nozomi Energy, a new renewable energy platform, targeting 1.1 GW of onshore wind and solar power generation by 2027 in Japan with an investment of $500 million. The financing would come from Actis’ fifth and latest energy infrastructure fund, representing $6 billion of investable capital. Actis has investments in 12 GW of renewable energy capacity globally.

Norwegian independent power producer Scatec’s total revenue rose 21% year-over-year to NOK919 million (~$87 million) for the first quarter of the financial year 2023, primarily driven by higher hydropower production in the Philippines. The company said quarterly revenue was further boosted by the high payment level in Ukraine, higher irradiation in South Africa, and foreign currency effects.

Italy has approved the construction of 13 agrivoltaic parks with a combined capacity of 593.7 MW, mainly in the southern region of Puglia, which will combine power generation with agricultural activities and are expected to help Italy reach its renewable energy targets. The projects were approved by the country’s Council of Ministers, who announced that these projects would not require further environmental clearance as the resolution of ecological compatibility replaced the necessary environmental impact assessments.

The Federal Government of Canada and the provincial government of Quebec have jointly announced investments to the tune of $780 million and $1.1 billion, respectively, to procure 1,229 electric buses for improving Quebec’s public transit network. Nova Bus, a company based in Saint-Eustache, was awarded the contract to manufacture these buses following a public tender released in April 2022. The Quebec government said the buses will be delivered by 2027 and will be acquired by various transportation organizations.

Greece will provide €238 million (~$260.6 million) in subsidies to households and farmers for installing solar systems combined with a storage battery. The program will remain open until the end of June 2024 or until the available resources are exhausted. The maximum installed capacity eligible for subsidy is set at 10.8 kW. Subsidy for the battery will be up to a capacity of 10.8 kWh.

Telecommunications company Verizon Communications has announced its fifth green bond offering for $1 billion, with the net proceeds directed toward renewable energy investments. The proceeds from Verizon’s fourth tranche of green bonds were directed fully to virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs).