PFCL Floats Empanelment Tender for Metering Infrastructure Service Providers

Solarium Green Energy Receives BSE Nod for Initial Public Offering

Power Transmission Company Kalpataru Projects Raises ₹10 Billion in QIP

Himachal Regulator Approves Tariff for 900 MW Hybrid Power Projects

Daily News Wrap-Up: HPERC Allows DISCOM To Procure 550 MW Solar Power

MES Invites Bids for Maintenance of 1.7 MW Solar Project

Exploring Solar Open Access Potential in Odisha and Haryana

Karnataka Floats EPC Tender for 1.2 MW Solar Project

Himachal Regulator Allows DISCOM to Procure 550 MW Solar Power from SECI

Agri-Solar Solutions Provider GK Energy Files Papers for ₹5.01 Billion IPO


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-approves-projects-to-evacuate-2-5-gw-solar-energy-in-madhya-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ministry of Power has approved transmission works to evacuate a cumulative 2,500 MW of renewable energy in Madhya Pradesh. On the recommendations of the 24th</a> meeting of the National Committee on Transmission, the Ministry announced a 1,000 MW and 1,500 MW transmission system to evacuate power from renewable energy projects in the Neemuch Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) (Phase II) and Rajgarh SEZ in Madhya Pradesh (Phase III) respectively. REC Power Development and Consultancy has been selected as the bid process coordinator (BPC) for Rajgarh SEZ in Madhya Pradesh (Phase III) and PFC Consulting has been chosen as the BPC for the Neemuch SEZ.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/additional-surcharge-nadu-increased-to-%E2%82%B90-54-kwh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order setting the additional surcharge for open access consumers at ₹0.54 (~$0.0063)/kWh, effective</a> from December 12, 2024, until March 31, 2025. The additional surcharge is applicable to open access power consumers purchasing power through third party sale and power exchanges. The additional surcharge applicable to such consumers from April 1, 2024, to August 7, 2024, was ₹0.34 (~$0.0039)/kWh and ₹0.29 (~$0.0033)/kWh between August 8, 2024, and September 30, 2024. The additional surcharge was exempted for all open access consumers from April 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gujarat-regulator-approves-tariffs-for-41-mw-solar-projects-under-pm-kusum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved tariffs for ten solar power projects of Uttar Gujarat Vij Company (UGVCL) with a total capacity of 41.10 MW under</a> the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) program’s Component C. The adopted tariffs range between ₹2.74 (~$0.032)/kWh and ₹3.04 (~$0.036)/kWh. The petitioner, UGVCL, had invited a request for selection in October 2023 for 6,000 solar irrigation pump sets. Letters of intent were issued to ten bidders. The petitioner contended that it had followed a transparent bidding process, adhering to all Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s guidelines.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/recpdcl-issues-epc-tender-for-1-mw-solar-project-in-haryana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REC Power Development and Consultancy has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a 1 MW grid-connected ground-</a>mounted solar photovoltaic project in Haryana. Bids must be submitted by January 3, 2025. Eligible bidders must submit a non-refundable tender processing fee of ₹5,000 (~$60.15). They must also submit an earnest money deposit of ₹ 510,000 (~$6,135.30) with a validity of 180 days from the bid opening date. A performance security deposit of 10% of the total contract value must also be furnished. The project involves acquiring approximately five acres of land on a leasehold basis for a minimum of 29 years and 11 months near the State Transmission Utility substation in Haryana.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtra-invites-bids-power-for-2025-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution has invited bids to procure 1,000 MW of round-the-clock power from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. The delivery point will be</a> at the Central Transmission Utility for power projects outside Maharashtra and at the State Transmission Utility for projects within the state. The last date for the submission of bids is January 16, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day. The tender is invited on a fixed-on-order basis under a medium-term arrangement with a lumpsum tariff structure. Bids must be placed for a minimum capacity of 100 MW.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/bccl-tenders-1-8-mw-solar-rooftop-project-in-belgaria-township" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bharat Coking Coal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coal India, has invited bids for the design, engineering, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of a cumulative 1.882</a> MW of rooftop solar systems under the net metering arrangement at Belgaria Township in Jharkhand. The successful bidder must also oversee the project’s operation and maintenance for five years. Bids must be submitted by December 31, 2024. Bids will be opened on January 2, 2025. Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹1.27 million (~$14,970.68). The estimated cost of work, including GST, is 101.53 million (~$1.20 million).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/g-r-infraprojects-transmission-system-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Construction and engineering company G R Infraprojects has been awarded a contract from PFC Consulting to establish an inter-state transmission system to integrate the</a> Bijapur Renewable Energy Zone in Karnataka. The quoted transmission cost is ₹1.08 billion (~$12.73 million)/annum. G R Infraprojects must set up the transmission project on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis within 24 months. The work involves establishing a 400/220 kV, five 500 MVA pooling station near Bijapur, the Bijapur PS – Raichur New 400 kV (Quad ACSR moose) D/c line, and two125MVAr 420 kV bus reactors at Bijapur PS. G R Infraprojects must also obtain the transmission license.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indus-towers-to-procure-solar-power-from-jsw-energys-130-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indus Towers, a Haryana-based mobile tower installation company, will procure 130 MW of solar energy from JSW Green Energy Eight, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of</a> JSW Energy. The two companies have signed a power purchase agreement for the power procurement in captive mode. Indus has also proposed to invest approximately ₹380.3 million (~$4.4 million) to acquire 26% equity shares in the SPV. The acquisition aligns with the company’s sustainability and net zero goals by 2050. Indus Towers provides coverage in all 22 telecom circles in India with 229,659 towers and 379, 236 co-locations as of September 2024.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/lithium-ion-battery-historic-low-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lithium-ion battery pack prices dropped 20% from 2023 to a record low of $115/kWh, the most significant annual decline since 2017, according to BloombergNEF</a>. The price reflects a global average that varies across geographies and application areas. The price decline is driven by factors such as overcapacity in cell manufacturing, economies of scale, lower metal and component costs, adoption of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, and slower growth in electric vehicle sales.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Projects to Evacuate 2.5 GW Power from Solar Energy Zones Approved


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					</table><p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-1-2-gw-ists-connected-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SJVN has invited bids from developers to set up 1.2 GW interstate transmission system-connected solar power projects anywhere in India</a> </strong>under tariff-based competitive bidding. The last day to submit the bids is June 17, 2024. Bids will be opened on June 21. The minimum project capacity that a bidder can offer is 50 MW, and the maximum is 600 MW. Bidders can offer projects at multiple locations, given each project has a minimum capacity of 50 MW. Bidders should also submit a tender fee of ₹29,500 (~$353). They must also remit a bid processing fee of ₹1.5 million (~$17,967)/ MW for each project.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/gujarat-tenders-solar-project-at-khavda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gujarat Industries Power Company (GIPCL) has invited bids for a balance of system package for a 500 MW solar power project at Great Rann of Kutch, Khavda,</a></strong> Gujarat. The last date for the submission of bids is June 13, 2024. GIPCL has been allotted land for a renewable energy park with a capacity of 2,375 MW in Khavda. A solar project with a 600 MW capacity is under development at the park.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/pointo-raises-62-million-lithium-battery-ecosystem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lithium battery startup PointO has secured ₹62 million (~$743,236) in seed funding, with Equirus InnovateX Fund leading the round</a> </strong>with an investment of <a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=62e885aae8384370JmltdHM9MTcxNDYwODAwMCZpZ3VpZD0yMTgwYTA5Mi1jYzVmLTZkYjAtMTcyZS1iNGNhY2RlZDZjYWYmaW5zaWQ9NTU0OA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=3&amp;fclid=2180a092-cc5f-6db0-172e-b4cacded6caf&amp;u=a1L3NlYXJjaD9xPUluZGlhbitydXBlZSZGT1JNPVNOQVBTVCZmaWx0ZXJzPXNpZDoiOWNiOWY4YWQtYjhmNS01OGRkLTE2MjAtZjgyZDY1MzZkNjg0Ig&amp;ntb=1">₹</a>50 million (~$599,364). The funds are expected to enable the company to build a full-stack lithium battery ecosystem, including manufacturing, financing, and servicing lithium batteries. Led by IIT-Guwahati alumni, PointO plans to expand its physical centers to more than ten cities in the next 12 months.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rec-q4-net-profit-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public infrastructure finance company REC Limited recorded a total income ₹127.07 billion (~$1.52 billion) for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2023-24</a>,</strong> a 24% year-over-year (YoY) increase. REC’s net profit for the quarter rose 33% YoY to <a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=62e885aae8384370JmltdHM9MTcxNDYwODAwMCZpZ3VpZD0yMTgwYTA5Mi1jYzVmLTZkYjAtMTcyZS1iNGNhY2RlZDZjYWYmaW5zaWQ9NTU0OA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=3&amp;fclid=2180a092-cc5f-6db0-172e-b4cacded6caf&amp;u=a1L3NlYXJjaD9xPUluZGlhbitydXBlZSZGT1JNPVNOQVBTVCZmaWx0ZXJzPXNpZDoiOWNiOWY4YWQtYjhmNS01OGRkLTE2MjAtZjgyZDY1MzZkNjg0Ig&amp;ntb=1">₹</a>40.79 billion (~$488.86 million). REC loan approvals for the quarter totaled <a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=62e885aae8384370JmltdHM9MTcxNDYwODAwMCZpZ3VpZD0yMTgwYTA5Mi1jYzVmLTZkYjAtMTcyZS1iNGNhY2RlZDZjYWYmaW5zaWQ9NTU0OA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=3&amp;fclid=2180a092-cc5f-6db0-172e-b4cacded6caf&amp;u=a1L3NlYXJjaD9xPUluZGlhbitydXBlZSZGT1JNPVNOQVBTVCZmaWx0ZXJzPXNpZDoiOWNiOWY4YWQtYjhmNS01OGRkLTE2MjAtZjgyZDY1MzZkNjg0Ig&amp;ntb=1">₹</a>328.75 billion (~$3.94 billion), a 57% YoY decrease. The disbursements grew 34% YoY to <a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=62e885aae8384370JmltdHM9MTcxNDYwODAwMCZpZ3VpZD0yMTgwYTA5Mi1jYzVmLTZkYjAtMTcyZS1iNGNhY2RlZDZjYWYmaW5zaWQ9NTU0OA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=3&amp;fclid=2180a092-cc5f-6db0-172e-b4cacded6caf&amp;u=a1L3NlYXJjaD9xPUluZGlhbitydXBlZSZGT1JNPVNOQVBTVCZmaWx0ZXJzPXNpZDoiOWNiOWY4YWQtYjhmNS01OGRkLTE2MjAtZjgyZDY1MzZkNjg0Ig&amp;ntb=1">₹</a>393.7 billion (~$4.71 billion).</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indian-oil-consultancy-tender-renewable-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Oil Corporation has invited bids from technical consultants for project management consultancy services to set up renewable energy projects</a> </strong>at various locations across India. The contract period will be for three years, with an estimated value of <a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=62e885aae8384370JmltdHM9MTcxNDYwODAwMCZpZ3VpZD0yMTgwYTA5Mi1jYzVmLTZkYjAtMTcyZS1iNGNhY2RlZDZjYWYmaW5zaWQ9NTU0OA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=3&amp;fclid=2180a092-cc5f-6db0-172e-b4cacded6caf&amp;u=a1L3NlYXJjaD9xPUluZGlhbitydXBlZSZGT1JNPVNOQVBTVCZmaWx0ZXJzPXNpZDoiOWNiOWY4YWQtYjhmNS01OGRkLTE2MjAtZjgyZDY1MzZkNjg0Ig&amp;ntb=1">₹</a>198.6 million (~$2.38 million). The last day to submit the bids is May 21, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cerc-approves-to-ntpc-due-to-change-in-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has recognized the Change in Law event and mandated compensation</a>, </strong>agreeing with NTPC and Telangana distribution companies that any impact should be recovered through usage charges for two solar projects. The Commission outlined a methodology for compensation payments, setting a normative interest rate and annuity term. It directed reconciling additional expenditure and carrying costs, subject to the Supreme Court’s orders in relevant matters.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/charge-zone-secures-19-million" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charge Zone, an India-based electric vehicle charging network firm, has secured a commitment of $19 million from British International Investment</a>,</strong> the United Kingdom’s development finance institution, to accelerate the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in India. The investment would enable Charge Zone to expedite the expansion of its high-speed charging network for electric cars, buses, and trucks across key cities and highways in India. The company also plans to roll out more than 1,500 super-charging stations over the next 18 months.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/avaada-secures-for-400-mw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avaada Energy, the renewable energy division of Avaada Group, has secured green financing of ₹11.9 billion (~$143 million) from the State Bank of India</a>, </strong>a public sector lender. The 20-year-old financing facility will facilitate the development of a 400 MW utility-scale solar power project located in the Surendra Nagar district of Gujarat. Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam, a government of Gujarat agency involved in bulk electricity procurement and distribution, will procure all the electricity generated by the project.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/hpcl-100-mw-solar-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) has invited bids on behalf of its subsidiary HPCL Renewable &amp; Green Energy for the engineering, procurement, and construction package</a></strong> of a 100 MW solar power project at Galiveedu, Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh. Approximately 500 acres at the Galiveedu Solar Park has been identified for the plant’s construction. The deadline to submit the bids is May 17, 2024. Bids will be opened the same day.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/eu-approves-net-zero-industry-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The European Parliament has approved the Net Zero Industry Act to enhance net-zero technology production within the European Union</a>.</strong> The Act targets Europe to produce 40% of its net-zero technology needs by 2030 and capture 15% of the global market for these technologies. The Act supports various technologies crucial for the EU’s climate and energy goals, including all renewable technologies, nuclear, industrial decarbonization, grid, energy storage technologies, and biotech.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/global-renewable-capacity-2028-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Under current policies and market conditions, the global renewable capacity is projected to hit 7,300 GW by 2028</a>.</strong> However, this trajectory falls short of the goal to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, as advocated by the International Energy Agency in alignment with its Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario. Governments must address existing challenges and expedite policy implementation to bridge this gap and surpass 11,000 GW by 2030. These challenges encompass policy uncertainties, insufficient investment in grid infrastructure, administrative hurdles, and financing constraints, with solutions tailored to each country’s context.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nrel-roadmap-tandem-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have proposed enhancing cell and module efficiency</a></strong> to record levels, scale manufacturing, address reliability and durability issues, and figure out the design of hybrid tandem solar modules to better commercialize them.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/first-solar-q1-profit-soars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S.-based First Solar’s net income for the first quarter of 2024 surged by 455% to $236.6 million from $42.6 million in the same quarter last year</a>, </strong>with the solar module manufacturer benefitting from the higher sales volume and gross margins. The company’s net sales in the same period rose by 45%, reaching $794.1 million, up from $548.3 million last year, primarily driven by increased demand for First Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic modules.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/scatecs-q1-net-loss-from-new-projects-increase" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norway-based independent power producer Scatec reported a net loss of NOK 26 million (~$2.3 million) during the first quarter of 2024</a>, </strong>marking an improvement of 73% on a YoY basis from a net loss of NOK 98 million (~$8.8 million). While the company got a tax benefit of NOK 12 million (~$1.08 million) during the quarter, the overall profit for the quarter was still negative.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: SJVN’s Tender for 1.2 GW Solar Projects Across India


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					</table><p>Lithium battery startup <a href="https://www.pointo.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PointO</a> has secured ₹62 million (~$743,236) in seed funding, with Equirus InnovateX Fund (<a href="https://www.equirus.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EIF</a>) leading the round with an investment of ₹50 million ($599,364).</p>
<p>The funds are expected to enable the company to build a full-stack lithium battery ecosystem, including manufacturing, financing, and servicing lithium batteries. Led by IIT-Guwahati alumni, PointO plans to expand its physical centers to more than ten cities in the next 12 months.</p>
<p>While the initial focus is on financing lithium batteries for e-rickshaw owners in Tier-II cities, PointO is tackling the low adoption problem in this segment due to operational and financial complexities.</p>
<p>“In the last decade, e-rickshaws have created opportunities for millions by doubling their livelihoods, replacing traditional rickshaws. At Pointo, we strive to replicate this impact with the introduction of lithium-ion batteries. By offering higher mileage and reducing the cost of capital, we aim to potentially triple or quadruple e-rickshaw drivers&#8217; take-home income,&#8221; said Riki Biswas, Founder and CEO of PointO.</p>
<p>According to PointO, India’s rapid transition to e-rickshaws, mainly for last-mile connectivity, has led to over 2.4 million e-rickshaws currently operating and replacing their traditional counterparts.</p>
<p>The market for e-rickshaws is projected to deliver a staggering 32% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 2021 and 2032, reaching a value of $27.5 billion. With lithium batteries comprising 60-70% of the total cost of ownership and sustainability concerns driving a shift from lead-acid to lithium batteries, PointO is strategically positioned to capture significant market share and drive industry-wide transformation, the release said.</p>
<p>&#8220;PointO&#8217;s innovative approach and strong execution capabilities align perfectly with EIF&#8217;s vision of supporting visionary founders and catalyzing innovation,&#8221; said Sunder Nookala, Early-Stage VC and Head of Tech and Digital at Equirus.</p>
<p>EVs have <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/energy-storage-must-expand-six-fold-enable-renewables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dominated</a> the use of lithium-ion batteries, driving 90% of the increase in demand from 2015 to 2023, the International Energy Agency said.</p>
<p>In a report released by NITI Ayog last August, the cumulative capacity of lithium-ion batteries in India across sectors is <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=battery+ecosystem+india+mercom+india&amp;sca_esv=245dc9e7f862aecc&amp;rlz=1C9BKJA_enIN1089IN1090&amp;hl=en-GB&amp;sxsrf=ACQVn091jGlPJPao7XSLxFHJZzO5jcjQpw:1714637901349&amp;ei=TUwzZqnRFKrVseMP7vWUuAs&amp;oq=battery+ecosystem+india+mercom+india&amp;gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIiRiYXR0ZXJ5IGVjb3N5c3RlbSBpbmRpYSBtZXJjb20gaW5kaWEyBRAhGKABSPIZUI4GWOQScAB4AJABAJgBswGgAagPqgEEMC4xNbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCDqACmg7CAgsQABiABBiwAxiiBMICCxAAGLADGKIEGIkFwgIFECEYnwXCAgcQIRigARgKmAMAiAYBkAYEkgcEMC4xNKAHoyU&amp;sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> to reach nearly 600 GWh by 2030.</p>
<p>According to Mercom Capital’s recently released <a href="https://mercomcapital.com/product/q1-2024-funding-ma-report-storage-grid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Q1 2024 Funding and M&amp;A Report for Storage and Grid</a>, the global energy storage sector witnessed a 432% increase year-over-year in corporate funding, totaling $11.7 billion across 29 transactions, from $2.2 billion in 27 deals.</p>


PointO Raises ₹62 Million to Build Full-Stack Lithium Battery Ecosystem in India


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					</table><p>Energy storage solutions company NSure Reliable Power Solutions (<a href="https://www.nsure.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSure</a>) is set to begin pilot production of lithium-ion cells at its 1 GWh plant located in Malur, near Bengaluru.</p>
<p>The venture involves an investment of ₹10.5 billion (~$126.9 million) and spans across an 80-acre facility.</p>
<p>The Malur facility, with an initial capacity of 1 GWh, will focus on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and envisages a capacity expansion of up to 5 GWh in subsequent phases.</p>
<p>The company said that at the heart of this endeavor lies the goal of establishing a full-fledged manufacturing unit capable of meeting the burgeoning demand for lithium-ion cells in India and beyond.</p>
<p>The project has secured approval from the Karnataka government’s State High-Level Clearance Committee.</p>
<p>Founder and CEO Chandrakanth Ramalingam said, &#8220;Nsure’s full-fledged li-ion cell manufacturing pilot unit will be ready soon, and we are planning to start operations by the end of October this year.&#8221;</p>
<p>NSure has forged a partnership with the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (<a href="https://www.arci.res.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARCI</a>) under the Department of Science and Technology (<a href="https://dst.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DST</a>). The agreement encompasses technical know-how transfer and training.</p>
<p>NSure has chosen the LFP chemistry, favoring it over other alternatives like nickel manganese cobalt (NMC). The company said its strategic choice is underpinned by LFP&#8217;s superior thermal stability, rendering battery packs safer and more durable, particularly in India&#8217;s tropical climatic conditions.</p>
<p>Moreover, LFP chemistry contributes to enhanced affordability, aligning with NSure&#8217;s endeavor to provide cost-effective and efficient energy storage solutions.</p>
<p>Ramalingam said that Nsure’s LFP technology does not involve rare earth metals such as nickel or cobalt, significantly reducing the risk of fire.</p>
<p>A latest Berkeley Lab study has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/lithium-find-energy-independence-by-2047" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that India’s edge in renewable generation and the recent discovery of vast lithium reserves, along with deep cost reductions in clean technology, can enable a pathway for cost-effective energy independence by 2047.</p>
<p>In February, the government <a href="https://mercomindia.com/india-lithium-reserves-in-jammu-kashmir/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the discovery of 5.9 million tons of lithium reserves for the first time in the country in the Reasi district of Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</p>


Energy Storage Firm NSure to Start Pilot Production of Lithium Ion Cells in Karnataka


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					</table><p>Toronto-based <a href="https://li-cycle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Li-Cycle Holdings Corporation</a>, a lithium-ion battery recycler, has entered into a conditional commitment for a $375 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (<a href="https://www.energy.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOE</a>) through its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) program.</p>
<p>Li-Cycle&#8217;s development of the first commercial hydrometallurgical resource recovery facility in North America, located near Rochester, New York, has received a significant endorsement through the conditional commitment. The commitment is the first of its kind from the DOE ATVM program for a sustainable pure-play battery materials recycling company.</p>
<p>The endorsement follows the DOE&#8217;s thorough technical, market, financial, and legal due diligence. It marks another important milestone for Li-Cycle and the lithium-ion battery recycling industry, which has the main support of the ATVM program.</p>
<p>The first-of-its-kind commercial facility in North America is poised to become a major domestic source of battery-grade materials, such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt.</p>
<p>It is currently projected that the loan will be finalized in Q2 2023.</p>
<p>The loan will have a maximum term of 12 years from the date of financial closure, and interest on the loan will be based on the 10-year U.S. treasury rates at the time of each advance.</p>
<p>Speaking on the development, Ajay Kochhar, Co-founder, president, and CEO at Li-Cycle, said, &#8220;We are delighted to receive the first conditional commitment from the DOE LPO for a resource recovery facility, as it further supports our efforts to create a sustainable domestic supply chain of battery-grade materials in the U.S. and to grow American jobs.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The Rochester Hub is a cornerstone asset for Li-Cycle and its stakeholders and will contribute to the clean energy economy. As a sustainable pure-play battery material recycling company, we expect the Rochester Hub will position Li-Cycle as a leading domestic producer of recycled battery-grade materials for accelerating electrification demand to address climate change and secure energy independence,&#8221; Kochhar added.</p>
<p>&#8220;The loan of $375 million will now supercharge Li-Cycle here in Rochester, with 270 good-paying jobs, to become one of America&#8217;s largest suppliers of recycled materials for batteries. Last year, I stood alongside Li-Cycle&#8217;s powerhouse workforce and promised I would push to deliver federal funding to spark more growth, and now thanks to the investments I secured in the Inflation Reduction Act, Rochester will help power America&#8217;s drive to lead in battery technology,&#8221; said Senator Charles Schumer.</p>
<p>With a processing capacity of up to 35,000 tons of black mass per year, equivalent to around 90,000 tons of lithium-ion battery material or 18 GWh of lithium-ion batteries, the Rochester Hub has been designed for optimal efficiency. When fully operational, the facility is projected to produce up to 8,500 tons of lithium carbonate, 48,000 tons of nickel sulfate, and 7,500 tons of cobalt sulfate on an annual basis.</p>
<p>In May last year, Li-Cycle had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/funding-and-ma-roundup-clean-energy-arcadia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">completed</a> a $50 million aggregate investment in common shares from LG Energy Solutions and LG Chem.</p>
<p>The company also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/funding-and-ma-roundup-group14-series-c-funding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> into a deal with Glencore, a commodity trading and mining company, to supply manufacturing scrap and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.</p>


Battery Recycler Li-Cycle Raises $350 Million Loan from US Energy Department


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					</table><p>Researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science &amp; Technology (<a href="https://www.dgist.ac.kr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DGIST</a>) said they have developed a new electrolyte technology through magnetic nanoparticles that can improve both the stability and lifespan of next-generation lithium batteries.</p>
<p>Lithium metal is actively being seen as the next-generation anode material.</p>
<p>Its commercialization was hindered until now owing to the problem of the generation of the dendrite, which is heavily dependent on the ion transport phenomenon in the electrolyte.</p>
<p>If a lithium metal battery is manufactured with the electrolyte developed by the team and used while applying a rotating magnetic field on the outside, it can dramatically improve lifespan compared to the existing system, the researchers affirmed.</p>
<p>At present most commercialized batteries use graphite electrodes as negative electrodes. However, a graphite negative electrode comes with its own setbacks; in terms of energy density owing to its size and weight occupying a lot of space inside the battery.</p>
<p>This limits long battery operation and therefore the demand for a lighter and smaller anode material has come to light.</p>
<p>The development is expected to solve the problem of “dendrite growth” – a twig-shaped crystal that accumulates on the surface of the anode during the lithium battery charging process — by turning the liquid electrolyte into a dynamic state and can possibly accelerate the commercialization of next-generation batteries.</p>
<p>Professor Lee Hong-Kyung of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST explained that it is a new concept electrolyte system that can create a dynamic electrolyte and can change the paradigm of electrolyte research through magnetic nanoparticles.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-47295 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction.png" alt="" width="2116" height="884" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction.png 2116w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-300x125.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-2000x836.png 2000w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-768x321.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-1536x642.png 1536w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-2048x856.png 2048w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-650x272.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-624x261.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5.-lithium-metal-battery-structure-with-nano-stirring-bars-capable-of-convection-induction-600x251.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 2116px) 100vw, 2116px" /></p>
<p>The team of researchers produced a nano-spin bar (NSB) that responds to an external magnetic field so that the static electrolyte solution in the battery can be turned to a dynamic state and added to the electrolyte solution to generate micro-convection.</p>
<p>The team found out it was possible to rotate NSBs distributed throughout the electrolyte by applying an external rotating magnetic field to transmit power remotely.</p>
<p>This resulted in facilitating fast ion transport while reducing ion diffusion by about 35% compared to the previous method, thus enabling homogeneous ion transportation. The team said when the ion transport velocity is faster and the homogeneity is improved, it is easier to control dendrite.</p>
<p>The team said the dynamic ion transport realized through the application of magnetic nanoparticles (NSB) and an external magnetic field can promote rapid and uniform transport of lithium ions.</p>
<p>Additionally, the same effect could be achieved when they were added to other electrolytes.</p>
<p>The research was carried out with support from the <a href="https://english.motie.go.kr/www/main.do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Trade</a>, and the <a href="https://www.postf.org/en/main.do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POSCO TJ Park Foundation</a>, along with the <a href="https://www.nrf.re.kr/eng/main/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Research Foundation of Korea&#8217;s Excellent New Research</a>.</p>
<p>In December last year, researchers at the University of Sydney <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-claim-sodium-sulfur-battery-potent-than-lithium-ion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have developed a new, low-cost sodium-sulfur battery with four times the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries.</p>
<p>In the same month, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/researchers-claim-aqueous-redox-flow-battery-for-renewable-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have built a stable kilowatt-scale aqueous redox flow battery (AOFB) with high-performance organic redox-active molecules for renewable storage.</p>


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