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/haryana-bids-procure-500-mw-of-solar-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Haryana Power Purchase Center, a joint forum of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, has invited bids for supplying 500 MW of solar power</strong></a> from grid-connected solar projects in Haryana. The last date to submit the bids online is May 24, 2023. Bids will be opened the following day. Bidders must deposit ₹10,000 (~$121.87)/MW plus 18% GST as a bid processing fee. They must also furnish ₹800,000 (~$9,749)/MW as an earnest money deposit.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/apex-court-denies-wind-higher-tariff-gujarat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Supreme Court of India recently set aside the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) and State Commission orders that allowed wind developers to claim higher tariffs</strong></a> than mutually agreed in the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL). The wind developers contented that the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission&#8217;s amendment to the renewable energy certificate regulations in 2013 was a valid ground for amending the PPA. GUVNL had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the decision of APTEL.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ira-fuels-record-investment-us-clean-energy-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The American Clean Power Association (ACP) said that the utility-scale clean energy sector in the U.S. has received investments of over $150 billion since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed</strong></a> into law in August 2022. ACP estimated that the amount is equivalent to five years&#8217; worth of American clean energy investments. The funding has surpassed the total investment into U.S. clean power projects commissioned between 2017 and 2021. The past eight months saw the announcement of 46 clean energy manufacturing facilities, including new projects, expansions, or reopening of existing facilities.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/volkswagen-invest-1-billion-electric-vehicle-center-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Volkswagen Group is investing roughly €1 billion (~$1.09 billion) to establish a development, innovation, and procurement center for intelligent electric vehicles in Hefei</strong></a>, a city in southern China, as part of its strategy to expand its development capabilities. The center, named &#8216;100%TechCo,&#8217; will combine research and development teams for vehicles and components, thereby integrating advanced local technologies into product development at an early stage and leveraging synergies in the development process.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-awards-%E2%82%B91-3-billion-solar-to-bvg-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SJVN&#8217;s subsidiary, SJVN Green Energy, has awarded Bharat Vikas Group India the contract to install a balance of system (BoS) package for a 100 MW solar project in Punjab.</strong></a> The contract is worth ₹1.33 billion (~$16 million) and includes the operation and maintenance of the solar project for three years. The BoS project encompasses all photovoltaic system components, including the photovoltaic panels, wiring, switches, a mounting system, one or many solar inverters, a battery bank, and a battery charger.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-bid-to-strengthen-energy-supply-chains-in-focus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mercom India will bring together industry panelists who will discuss local supply chains and their impact at its &#8216;Mercom India Renewables Summit 2023,&#8217;</strong></a> an exclusive event on April 26-27 in New Delhi. In a session titled &#8216;Domestic Manufacturing – Strengthening Local Supply Chains,&#8217; scheduled for April 26, 2023, panelists will discuss critical issues, opportunities, and emerging trends in the industry.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/eu-parliament-adopts-climate-measures-2030-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Members of the European Parliament have approved the European Union&#8217;s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which seeks to impose a carbon tariff on carbon-intensive products</strong></a> imported into Europe. CBAM seeks to put a &#8216;fair price&#8217; on the carbon emitted while producing carbon-intensive goods entering the EU and encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries. Several countries have opposed the EU&#8217;s carbon tariff measure for its &#8216;protectionist&#8217; intent.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/new-material-solar-cell-efficiency-capturing-heat-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Colorado State University researchers said introducing molybdenum disulfide in solar cells can help capture excess solar energy, which is generally lost as heat,</strong></a> thereby improving light-to-energy efficiency conversion. They performed a series of experiments using laser spectroscopy while capturing the hot carriers or highly charged electrons. The team claimed that conventionally used silicon solar cells do not provide ways for such hot carrier extraction phenomenon, which proves to be an efficient method to increase the overall efficiency of the solar cells.</p>


Daily News Wrap-up: Haryana Tenders 500 MW of Solar Power


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					</table><p>The <a href="https://www.volkswagenag.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Volkswagen Group</a> is investing roughly €1 billion (~$1.09 billion) to establish a development, innovation, and procurement center for intelligent electric vehicles in Hefei, a city in southern China, as part of its strategy to expand its development capabilities.</p>
<p>The center, named &#8216;100%TechCo,&#8217; will combine research and development teams for vehicles and components, thereby integrating advanced local technologies into product development at an early stage and leveraging synergies in the development process.</p>
<p>The objective is to bring Volkswagen vehicles more closely in line with Chinese customers’ preferences and reduce the time to market.</p>
<p>The new center is projected to reduce the development times for new products and technologies by approximately 30%.</p>
<p>According to Ralf Brandstätter, a Group Board Member for China, the formation of 100%TechCo is a significant component of the company&#8217;s &#8216;in China, for China’ strategy.</p>
<p>This will also enhance the effectiveness of collaboration with its joint venture partners and lead to greater profitability.</p>
<p>In addition to combining research and development for vehicles and components in China, 100%TechCo will merge procurement into a unified unit for its R&amp;D activities.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the new company intends to more closely integrate the development projects of all the Volkswagen Group&#8217;s joint ventures in China.</p>
<p>The newly established unit, 100%TechCo, is expected to become operational at the beginning of 2024, with over 2,000 employees from procurement and R&amp;D.</p>
<p>Marcus Hafkemeyer, who will serve as the CEO of the new company, said the new company represents a new chapter in Volkswagen&#8217;s collaboration with its joint venture partners in Changchun, Shanghai, and Hefei, as well as with the group&#8217;s brands.</p>
<p>The company is expected to play a significant role in the development of a future Volkswagen brand model scheduled to launch in 2024.</p>
<p>In October 2022, Umicore<u>,</u> a Belgium-based circular materials technology company, and Volkswagen Group’s battery unit PowerCo <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/umicore-volkswagens-powerco-e3-billion-deal-battery-materials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a joint venture with a plan to invest about €3 billion ($3.3 billion) to establish a large-scale supply chain for sustainable batteries.</p>
<p>Earlier in the year, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra and the Volkswagen Group <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-ntpc-commissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a term sheet on supplying modular electric drive matrix (MEB) electric components for Mahindra’s new, purpose-built electric platform INGLO.</p>


Volkswagen to Invest $1 Billion in Intelligent Electric Vehicle Center in China


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					</table><p>The market for electric vehicles (EVs) expanded further in Norway in 2022 with <a href="https://ofv.no/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norway’s Road Traffic Information Council</a> data showing that 79.3% of all new passenger vehicles sold were electric, up from 64.5% in 2021.</p>
<p>The number of electric cars sold stood at 138,265 out of the total sales of 174,329 last year.</p>
<p>The clamor for EVs was attributed to an expectation of a new weight tax and value-added tax (VAT) on EVs for the part of the price that exceeds NOK 500,000 (~$50,713), to be imposed in the new year.</p>
<p>Council’s Director Øyvind Solberg Thorsen said, “Almost 40,000 first-time registered new passenger cars in December alone, means that just over 22% of the entire year&#8217;s new car registrations were made during the last month of the year. Altogether, there were only 1,947 new cars that separate 2022 from the record year 2021.”</p>
<p>Increased demand for EVs also resulted in a 16.2% and 23.3% drop in sales of petrol and diesel cars, respectively. The proportion of new petrol and diesel passenger cars registered for the first time in 2022 totaled 6.7%. The registrations for the new plug-in petrol hybrids in 2022 stood at 14,336 which is 60.8% fewer than in 2021.</p>
<p>EV makers like Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo, BMW, and Skoda among others emerged as the most preferred brands among Norwegian buyers.</p>
<p>Thorsen said, “Although a record number of people got a new car in December, it is clear that many who ordered a car a long time ago will not receive the car until 2023 &#8211; and then with new taxes on top. The government was not willing to give everyone, who had already ordered a new car before the proposal for the state budget for 2023 became known, an exemption from the new taxes.”</p>
<p>Norway was one of the 16 countries that earlier this year <a href="https://mercomindia.com/16-countries-pledge-94-billion-renewable-demonstration-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed</a> $94 billion for clean energy demonstration projects worldwide, at the first-ever Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Last May, the International Energy Agency said that lithium rates <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ev-battery-supply-chains-stressed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peaked</a> over seven times from May 2021 tightening the global EV battery supply chain. The demand for automotive lithium-ion batteries reached 340 GWh in 2021, more than twice the demand in 2020, primarily driven by the increase in electric passenger cars, which observed a 120% surge in registrations last year.</p>


Norway EV Sales in 2022 Surged on Expectations of Higher Taxes in New Year


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					</table><p><a href="https://www.umicore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Umicore</a><u>,</u> a Belgium-based circular materials technology company, and Volkswagen Group’s battery unit <a href="https://www.powerco.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PowerCo</a> have announced a joint venture with a plan to invest about €3 billion ($2.9 billion) to establish a large-scale supply chain for sustainable batteries.</p>
<p>Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly control the venture and equally share costs, investments, revenues, and profits. The long-term partnership includes the production of precursor and cathode materials in Europe, which are the core input materials and central to the creation of battery value.</p>
<p>The joint venture will start with material for 40 GWh of capacity by 2026 at Volkswagen&#8217;s first battery plant in Salzgitter, Germany. The carmaker plans to build six battery factories in Europe, totaling 240 GWh capacity by 2030.</p>
<p>At a later stage, Umicore will provide refining services to PowerCo, aiming to include refining and battery recycling elements.</p>
<p>In addition, Umicore and PowerCo will collaborate on the sustainable and responsible sourcing of raw materials.</p>
<p>&#8220;This partnership further strengthens and diversifies our exposure to a major player in the EV (electric vehicle) value chain and marks an important step in the execution of our strategy to set up value creative partnerships across the battery value,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore.</p>
<p><strong>Cathode Material Production</strong></p>
<p>Under the partnership, PowerCo’s European battery cell factories will be supplied with key materials by 2025. By the decade&#8217;s end, the partners aim to produce cathode materials and their precursors for 160 GWh cell capacity per year. This would account for an annual production capacity of powering about 2.2 million fully electric vehicles.</p>
<p>Cathode-active materials are imperative for a successful transition towards e-mobility as they are the key technological lever for battery performance and the biggest contributor to overall battery cost.</p>
<p>&#8220;Cathode material is an indispensable strategic resource for battery production, accounting for roughly fifty percent of the overall cell value. Immediate and long-term access to extensive capacity is thus a very clear competitive advantage. We are setting up a sustainable, transparent supply chain with high environmental and social standards, localizing value creation here in Europe,” said Thomas Schmall from Volkswagen Group.</p>
<p>This unique cooperation in the European automotive industry is designed to meet both partners’ profitability and return criteria. It will provide Umicore with secured access, through firm take or pay commitments, to an important part of the European demand for EV cathode materials at guaranteed value creative returns. PowerCo will secure cost-competitive access to Umicore’s innovative, sustainably sourced, high-performance battery materials for its unified cell strategy in Europe.</p>
<p>The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. The name of the joint venture has not been decided yet.</p>
<p>Europe is expected to <a href="https://mercomindia.com/europes-battery-cell-capacity-increase-1-5-twh-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">achieve</a> a battery cell production capacity of 124 GWh during 2022, with significant Asian cell producers expanding operations. With current announcements for the construction of battery cell factories covering at least 15 European nations, the latest numbers reveal that Europe will likely accommodate around a quarter of global battery cell production capacities by the end of the decade.</p>
<p>According to Mercom Capital’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/corporate-funding-battery-storage-up-1h-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1H and Q2 2022 Funding and M&amp;A Report for Storage, Grid &amp; Efficiency</a>, global corporate funding for battery storage, smart grid, and energy efficiency companies in the first half of 2022 touched $17 billion.</p>


Umicore and Volkswagen’s PowerCo in €3 Billion Deal for Battery Materials Production


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					</table><p>Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:</p>
<p><strong>Green hydrogen company Ohmium International is </strong><a href="https://www.ohmium.com/news/shell-and-ohmium-announce-collaboration-on-green-hydrogen-energy-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>collaborating</strong></a><strong> with Shell India to evaluate hydrogen applications, markets, and project opportunities in India and globally.</strong> As part of the collaboration, both parties intend to launch joint working groups to assess opportunities from the technical, commercial, and safety perspectives. Ohmium maintains its interlocking modular PEM electrolyzers will provide a safer, modular, flexible, easy to install, and maintain alternative to customized electrolyzers. The collaboration is positioned to elevate Shell&#8217;s ambition further to help build a global hydrogen economy by developing the most competitive opportunities in producing, storing, transporting, and delivering hydrogen to end customers.</p>
<p><strong>Renewable energy company Vena Energy </strong><a href="https://www.venaenergy.com/news/vena-energy-switches-on-queenslands-largest-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commenced</strong></a><strong> commercial operation of the 100 MW/ 150 MWh Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Queensland. </strong>The Wandoan South BESS is located approximately 400 km northwest of Brisbane in the Darling Downs region and is connected to Powerlink&#8217;s Wandoan South Substation. The project can store enough energy to power approximately 57,000 average-sized Australian households annually. The project was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2022 Clean Energy Council Innovation Awards. Full operational dispatch rights of the Wandoan South BESS have now been handed over to Australia&#8217;s largest electricity provider, AGL, on a fixed long-term contract for 15 years.</p>
<p><strong>QatarEnergy </strong><a href="https://www.qatarenergy.qa/en/MediaCenter/Pages/newsdetails.aspx?ItemId=3721" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>awarded</strong></a><strong> the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for its industrial cities solar power project (IC Solar) to Samsung C&amp;T, a construction and trading arm of Samsung.</strong> The project includes two large-scale photovoltaic solar power plants to be built in Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC) and Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC). MIC will have a 417 MW plant, and RLIC will have a 458 MW plant. The two plants will occupy a combined area of 10 square kilometers. It is expected to start electricity production by the end of 2024. The project will utilize high-efficiency bifacial modules mounted on single-axis trackers and cleaning robots that will operate daily to minimize losses due to soiling by removing dust from the PV modules. The project&#8217;s power generation capacity is strategically distributed between Qatar&#8217;s leading industrial cities, MIC and RLIC. The approximately QAR2.3 billion (~$631.69 million) IC Solar project will result in a direct emissions reduction of more than 28 million tons of CO2 over its lifetime.</p>
<p><strong>ABB, a global technology company, <a href="https://new.abb.com/news/detail/94188/abb-and-hydrogen-optimized-expand-hydrogen-partnership-including-a-strategic-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an agreement with Canadian technology innovator Hydrogen Optimized Inc. (HOI) to </strong>expand<strong> the partnership and include investment in HOI&#8217;s parent company Key DH Technologies.</strong> ABB and Canadian green hydrogen technology company Hydrogen Optimized will seek to advance the deployment of economic large-scale green hydrogen production systems to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries. The companies will leverage their respective capabilities and resources to rapidly commercialize Hydrogen Optimized&#8217;s patented RuggedCell high-power water electrolysis technology for green hydrogen plants. RuggedCell technology converts renewable electricity such as hydro, solar, and wind power into green hydrogen for the industry. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.</p>
<p><strong>Octopus Energy Group <a href="https://octopus.energy/press/new-octopus-energy-renewables-fund-makes-first-investment-to-develop-green-energy-and-the-uks-largest-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> its new €220 million (~$218.28 million) renewables fund Octopus Energy Development Partnership (OEDP).</strong> The fund makes its debut investment in renewables developer Exagen to build new green energy and rapidly grow the UK&#8217;s energy storage capacity. OEDP focuses on investing in the early stages of building new green energy, which is vital to help reduce Europe&#8217;s dependence on gas imports and lower future energy bills. Managed by Octopus Energy Generation, OEDP targets solar, onshore wind, and energy storage projects in the UK and the rest of Europe. This latest multi-million-pound deal sees OEDP take a 24% stake in Exagen. Exagen is working on large-scale solar and battery facilities, partnering with farmers, landowners, and local communities to build projects that help bring energy security. This deal includes the option to purchase one of the UK&#8217;s largest batteries at 500 MW/ 1 GWh located in the Midlands, England, scheduled to be operational by 2027.</p>
<p><strong>Volkswagen AG and the Government of Canada <a href="https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-group-and-canada-aim-to-advance-sustainable-battery-supply-chain-in-north-america-15125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inked</a> an agreement to promote e-mobility in the country and to explore opportunities across Canada&#8217;s automotive and battery supply chain.</strong> Both parties will investigate opportunities for Canada to contribute to Volkswagen&#8217;s global and regional battery supply chains. PowerCo, the newly founded battery company of the Group, has a central role in these efforts and will drive forward the planned cooperation in battery value creation, raw materials supply chains, and cathode material production in the North American region. For the development of sustainable battery production, both parties intend to boost cooperation based on recognized Environment, Social, and Governance criteria between PowerCo and the Canadian mining sector, which is seen as a world leader in terms of responsibility and transparency. For this purpose, PowerCo is planning to establish a new, dedicated liaison office in Canada. A key focus of cooperation is the supply of critical raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Ohmium Partners With Shell India on Green Hydrogen Solutions


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					</table><p>Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:</p>
<p><strong>NTPC </strong><a href="https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/c40bb032-24c5-46e4-a111-3d4a4b394aa4.pdf"><strong>announced</strong></a><strong> the commissioning of the third part capacity of 21 MW out of the 56 MW Kawas Solar PV Project at Kawas, Gujarat.</strong> The total capacity of 56 MW is now commissioned. With this, the standalone installed and commercial capacity of NTPC has become 55.09 GW, while the group installed and commercial capacity of NTPC stands at 69.45 GW.</p>
<p><strong>Mahindra &amp; Mahindra and the Volkswagen Group have </strong><a href="https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/c184c4c8-92dd-4767-af24-ccf486c36d41.pdf"><strong>signed</strong></a><strong> a term sheet on supplying modular electric drive matrix (MEB) electric components for Mahindra’s new, purpose-built electric platform INGLO.</strong> The cooperation intends to have more than one million units over a lifetime and includes the equipment of five all-electric SUVs with MEB components. The two companies will explore further opportunities for collaboration, opening the perspective toward a broader strategic alliance to accelerate the electrification of the Indian automotive market. The term sheet covers all significant commercial and technical terms along with a path to the potential localization of the battery system. The final supply agreement will be negotiated in a continued constructive and legally compliant way by the end of 2022.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mahindrasusten.com/"><strong>Mahindra Susten</strong></a><strong>, the cleantech arm of the Mahindra group, announced the appointment of Deepak Thakur as the new Managing Director &amp; CEO.</strong> Thakur will oversee the renewables businesses, comprising Mahindra Solarize &amp; Mahindra TEQO, apart from Mahindra Susten. Before Mahindra, Thakur was the Renewables &amp; Energy Storage &#8211; Executive Vice President at the Reliance Group. Earlier, he was CEO – Hybrid and Energy Storage Business for Sterling and Wilson, a Shapoorji Pallonji Group company.</p>
<p><strong>Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) </strong><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/08/15/2498327/0/en/Solar-array-fuels-growing-Porsche-U-S-headquarters-and-Experience-Center.html"><strong>announced</strong></a><strong> a contract with Cherry Street Energy, the largest non-utility provider of solar energy in Georgia, to build and operate a solar power microgrid at One Porsche Drive.</strong> The site combines PCNA corporate headquarters with the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta. At One Porsche Drive, energy from solar panels will provide a significant portion of annual electricity needs. It will also mean the all-electric Taycan sports cars that are part of the visitor fleet can be charged from purely renewable power. Cherry Street Energy estimates the array of solar panels on the headquarters campus will generate 2,050 MWh of electricity annually – enough to power 191 average homes for a year. Installation of the solar microgrid will start in September and is expected to be completed in 2023, kicking off a 25-year operating agreement between PCNA and Cherry Street Energy.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: NTPC Commissions 56 MW Kawas Solar Project in Gujarat

<p>Here are some noteworthy cleantech announcements of the day from around the world:</p>
<p><strong>KPI Global has announced that it has </strong><a href="https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/2819c6f5-a0df-4e7e-9ebd-a4b526ce2bc5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bagged</strong></a><strong> an order for executing a solar project from Anupam Rasayan India.</strong> Slated to be developed for a 12.50 MW capacity, the project has been received under the captive power producer category, the company said in a BSE filing. The company has received the letter of intent for the project.</p>
<p><strong>We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service have </strong><a href="https://investor.wecenergygroup.com/investors/news-releases/press-release-details/2021/We-Energies-and-Wisconsin-Public-Service-announce-states-largest-renewable-energy-project/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>proposed</strong></a><strong> to purchase the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center, a planned 465 MW solar and battery storage project in south-central Wisconsin.</strong> If approved, the project would be the largest renewable energy project in the state. This is the third large-scale solar and battery project announced in 2021 by We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, the largest utilities in WEC Energy Group. The Koshkonong Solar Energy Center would feature 300 MW of solar generation and 165 MW of battery storage, which can store solar-generated power and provide customers with round-the-clock power. The project is planned to be built in Dane County, Wisconsin. The total investment is expected to be $649 million.</p>
<p><strong>The Federal Constitutional Court, in an </strong><a href="https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2021/bvg21-031.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>order</strong></a><strong>, said that the German government needs to more clearly define the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions for the period after 2030.</strong> Upholding the Federal Climate Change Act, 2019, the bench noted that the current outlines of the nation’s climate targets lack sufficient specifications. German policymakers have been asked to set out the measures they will use to achieve the climate targets.</p>
<p><strong>Slovenia’s </strong><strong>Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy will </strong><a href="https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-04-26-eu-funding-for-small-solar-power-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>co-finance</strong></a><strong> small-scale solar units.</strong> They have issued a financial support decision for the call for proposals to co-finance the construction of new small-scale solar facilities. The total amount available under the call for proposals is €10 million (~$12.02 million), with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at €5 million (~$6.01 million).</p>
<p><strong>German auto giant Volkswagen has presented a </strong><a href="https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2021/04/way-to-zero--volkswagen-presents-roadmap-for-climate-neutral-mob.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>roadmap</strong></a><strong> for climate-neutral mobility.</strong> The company aims to cut CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in Europe by an average of some 17 tonnes per vehicle by 2030, 40% less than in 2018. The motor vehicle manufacturer has pledged to invest €14 billion (~$16.83 billion) in decarbonization by 2025. The firm has also declared that electricity for its plants in Europe and North and South America will be switched to renewables by 2030. The company said it would source 170 GWh of solar power annually.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: KPI Global Bags Order to Build a 12.5 MW Captive Solar Project

<p>Volkswagen, a Germany-based automobile manufacturer, announced its plans to invest €15 billion (~$ 17.53 billion) in China’s electric mobility segment by the end of 2024.</p>
<p>The carmaker’s China arm will collaborate with its joint ventures, including SAIC Volkswagen, FAW-Volkswagen, and JAC Volkswagen. According to its press statement, the company will produce a portfolio of 15 new vehicle models in China by 2025, 35% of which would be fully-electric models.</p>
<p>The production at its two new dedicated modular electric drive matrix manufacturing facilities would start in October 2020. The two facilities have a combined annual manufacturing capacity of 600,000 units.</p>
<p>It added that the sales numbers for 2020 would double compared to 2019.</p>
<p>According to Volkswagen Group China, the company is partnering with local battery suppliers to meet its future market requirements. The company&#8217;s battery capacity demand is expected to reach 150 GWh by 2025.</p>
<p>Recently, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/china-leads-lithium-ion-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturers are likely to retain their recently acquired number one position in the next five years. China faces a vast 72GWh demand for Li-ion batteries from its domestic market. It also controls almost 80% of the world’s raw material refining, 77% of the world’s cell capacity, and 60% of the world’s component manufacturing, according to data from BloombergNEF.</p>
<p>In its press statement, the automobile manufacturer said it secured a 26% stake in Guoxuan Hi-Tech, a battery manufacturer, through a strategic investment. It would also equip the new vehicles with batteries from a domestic manufacturer Ningde Times this year.</p>
<p>Previously in May 2020, the company unveiled its plans to raise its shareholding to 75% in the all-electric joint venture JAC Volkswagen to enhance its portfolio in China&#8217;s electric vehicle market. It also plans to launch five pure-electric models by 2025 and to develop an electric vehicle facility as well as a research and development center in Hefei.</p>
<p>The company, in partnership with Xingxing Charging, FAW Group, and Jianghuai Automobile, established KAMS New Energy Technology Company Limited to enhance EV charging infrastructure in the country. It will install a network of public direct current charging stations and provide private charging wall boxes through KAMS.</p>
<p>Notably, China-based BYD Company Ltd and Toyota Motor Corporation have <a href="https://mercomindia.com/byd-toyota-join-hands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> that the operation of their new company in 2020. The name of the new company will be called BYD Toyota EV Technology Co. Ltd. The company will be involved in the design and development of battery-run electric vehicles and their platforms and related parts. The equity participation of both companies is 50% each.</p>
<p>Volkswagen also set an objective to reduce its overall carbon footprint and zero carbon emissions for its product fleet by 2050.</p>
<p>China has also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/china-pledge-to-become-carbon-neutral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> its ambition to transform into a  carbon-neutral economy by 2060. However, for a country that contributes 28% of global emissions, Chinese President Xi Jinping&#8217;s claim lacked announcement of a definite roadmap and immediate concrete steps towards the goal, analysts opined.</p>
<p>Image credit: Volkswagen</p>


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