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					</table>Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:
Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation V K Singh informed the Rajya Sabha <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1844621" target="_blank" rel="noopener">informed</a> that airports around the country have taken various measures to reduce their carbon footprint. These measures include replacing non-renewable energy with renewable energy sources like hydro, solar panels, and wind, rationalizing operating times/procedures, and using alternative fuels in ground handling vehicles. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised the operators of all brownfield airports with scheduled operations and developers of the upcoming greenfield airports to work towards achieving carbon neutrality to get accredited by the Airports Council International. Airports Authority of India has also taken the initiative to publish energy intensity data to reduce energy intensity for existing and upcoming airport projects.
Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1844633" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> information on the Geological Survey of India’s (GSI’s) lithium exploration in the country. GSI has carried out 20 projects on lithium and associated elements in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, in the last five years. During the present Field Season Program 2022-23, GSI has taken up 18 projects on lithium in Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Rajasthan. GSI has not yet augmented the resource of lithium. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) is exploring lithium in parts of Mandya and Yadgir districts, Karnataka.
PGE Group <a href="https://www.gkpge.pl/en/pge-group/press-center/press-releases/corporate/pge-group-will-build-the-largest-energy-storage-project-in-europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that it is working on the largest energy storage facility in Europe, and the project obtained the first license promise in Poland for electricity storage. The group&#8217;s strategic goal in energy storage is to have 800 MW of new energy storage in Poland by 2030. The project of a large-scale commercial hybrid energy storage at Żarnowiec Pumped-storage Power Plant with a capacity of no less than 200 MW and power output of more than 820 MWh is one of the largest projects of this kind in Europe. The energy stored would ensure safe system integration of new renewable energy sources, contribute to the stabilization of the power system, and improve the country&#8217;s energy security. This project will integrate the existing 716 MW pumped-storage plant with BESS, resulting in an innovative hybrid installation with a power of at least 921 MW and a capacity of over 4.6 GWh.
First Solar <a href="https://investor.firstsolar.com/news/press-release-details/2022/First-Solar-Akuo-in-500MW-Global-Supply-Agreement-for-Advanced-Thin-Film-Modules/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that Akuo, a Paris-headquartered independent global renewable energy producer and developer, placed an order for 500 MW of thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. First Solar will supply 200 MWDC for a utility-scale project developed by Akuo in the United States, with delivery scheduled for the first half of 2024. The remaining modules are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, potentially powering projects in Europe or other regions where Akuo is present. The deal, which leverages First Solar’s agile contracting approach, is expected to allow Akuo to benefit from the evolution of First Solar’s advanced Cadmium Telluride (CadTel) thin film module technology platform for the agreement.
Germany would <a href="https://www.kfw.de/%C3%9Cber-die-KfW/Newsroom/Aktuelles/Pressemitteilungen-Details_719360.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">require</a> significant investments of €500 billion (~$506.57 billion) from the federal, state, and local governments, according to the calculations by KfW Research based on a study by Prognos, to achieve the climate targets by 2045. This corresponds to around €20 billion (~$20.26 billion) per year. The need for investment will arise primarily in the energy and transport sectors and roughly correspond to the interest expenditure on government debt. At €297 billion (~$300.91 billion), the most significant public climate protection investment requirements are in the energy sector, of which the vast majority at €249 billion (~$252.28 billion) is in renewable energy systems.

Daily News Wrap-Up: Indian Airports Taking Steps to Reduce Carbon Footprint

The first biofuel-based flight in India successfully completed its journey from Dehradun to Delhi. India-based flight operator SpiceJet operated the test flight powered by biojet fuel, marking a new chapter in the fast-growing domestic aviation sector.
This is a welcome news for India’s beleaguered aviation sector in which domestic airlines are facing an existential crisis in face of increasing fuel prices. This is the first successful test, and it will take many more to mark a shift in the prevalent fuel trends.
Per a report by Press Trust of India (PTI) which quoted a Spicejet official, the nearly 45-minute flight from Dehradun to the national capital was operated with a Bombardier Q400 aircraft, partially powered by biojet fuel made from Jatropha plant. With the test flight, India has become one of the few countries and probably the first among the developing nations to use biofuel for flying planes.
According to PTI, the test flight carried 28 people, including five crew members. Among others, officials from aviation regulator DGCA, SpiceJet and the IIP were in the test flight, which was flagged off by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at Dehradun.
The aircraft&#8217;s right engine was filled with 75 percent aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and 25 percent of biojet fuel. The fuel was prepared by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun. The institute&#8217;s Director Anjan Ray said around 330 kg of biojet fuel was made for the little over 40-minute flight, per the PTI report.
Biojet fuel is low cost and helps in significantly reducing carbon emissions. &#8220;It has the potential to reduce our dependence on traditional aviation fuel by up to 50 percent on every flight and bring down fares,&#8221; Ajay Singh said.
The biojet fuel has been recognized by American Standard Testing Method (ASTM) and meets the specification standards of Pratt &amp; Whitney and Bombardier for commercial application in aircraft.
Noting that it was a &#8220;historic occasion&#8221; to operate the test flight, SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said India is the first among developing countries to fly flight powered by biojet fuel.
Per SpiceJet, the advantage of using biojet fuel as compared to ATF is that it reduces carbon emissions and enhances fuel efficiency. At a function to mark the successful operation of the test flight, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said efforts are on to have a consumer-friendly, affordable and environment-friendly aviation sector.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari added that the government plans to come out with a &#8220;special policy&#8221; for use of biofuel in the aviation sector.
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan also commented on this feat saying that biojet fuel is carbon neutral and that only &#8220;three to four nations are using biojet fuel&#8221;. He also emphasized that ways should be explored to scale up production of such fuels.
All the ministers opined that increased use of biofuels would also benefit farmers and also help in reducing oil import bill.
Mercom Analysis
In a country like India, where the overall economic growth is fueled by its agrarian sector, biofuels assume great significance in light of the country’s ambitious goals of doubling farmers’ income, import reduction, employment generation, and waste-to-wealth creation. Acknowledging the importance of abundant resources for biofuel in the country,  the union cabinet recently approved the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/cabinet-approves-national-policy-biofuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Policy on Biofuels 2018</a>.
Aviation industry could generate demand of biofuels and encourage Indian farmers to indulge in cultivation of crops such as Jatropha. In an <a href="https://mercomindia.com/interview-biofuel-sector-growth-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Mercom</a>, Charmaine Fernandes Sharma, the co-founder of <a href="http://www.observingi.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Observing I</a> had said, “It is not always incentives, but just the creation of a well-defined value chain that will attract entrepreneurial activity and investment in this sector.”

India Successfully Tests its First Biofuel-Based Flight from Dehradun to Delhi

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