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

Adani Transmission has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, BEST Smart Metering (BSML), to undertake the smart meter business. Adani Transmission has 100% equity of ₹100,000 (~$1,207) divided into 10,000 equity shares of ₹10 (~$0.12) each in the company.

NTPC announced the second part of the 300 MW Nokhra solar power project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, with a capacity of 50 MW, has been declared ready for commercial operation. The first part of the project, with a capacity of 100 MW, was declared ready for commercial operation on December 20, 2022. With this, the standalone installed and commercial capacity of NTPC will become 58,259 MW, and the group’s capacity will be 70,874 MW.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas has taken a strong stance against pollution caused by the use of heavily polluting fuels such as coal in various industrial, commercial, and other miscellaneous applications. The Commission has reminded all sectors, including industrial units, to stop using unapproved fuels, including coal (except for low-sulfur coal in thermal power plants) as of January 1, 2023, or face immediate closure and fines.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) approved Tata Power Green Energy’s request for connectivity of its 225 MW solar power project in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The approval has been granted for 25 years. The company must seek the authorities’ consent to put up overhead lines. If the route of the overhead lines falls in the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) potential zone, the company will have to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court concerning undergrounding the transmission lines or installing bird diverters.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed new energy-efficiency standards for three categories of distribution transformers in an effort to improve the resilience of the power grid, lower utility bills, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The proposal represents a move toward using amorphous steel cores in transformers, which are significantly more energy efficient than those made of traditional grain-oriented electrical steel. If implemented, the DOE estimates that these measures would reduce CO2 emissions by 340 million metric tons over the next 30 years. The current efficiency standards apply to three categories of distribution transformers: liquid-immersed, low-voltage dry-type, and medium-voltage dry-type. DOE’s proposed rule would modify the energy conservation standards for all three categories.

TotalEnergies ENEOS signed a deal to install a 1 MW rooftop solar system at CARROS Centre, Singapore’s largest freehold automotive hub, to power the facility with renewable energy. This is the second project for CARROS Centre, with the first installation in 2019. Upon completion, the solar system is expected to generate about 1,250 MWh of electricity annually. The system will also help to offset approximately 480 tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to planting over 7,200 trees. In addition to reducing the company’s carbon footprint, CARROS Centre will also benefit from electricity supply cost savings from the clean energy produced for 25 years without any upfront investments.