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

Canadian Solar has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Axpo Italia to procure power produced from two solar projects totaling 12 MW near Ragusa and Enna, in Sicily, Italy. Under the agreement, Axpo Italia will purchase solar power at a guaranteed tariff for ten years starting April 2022. Construction of the projects will begin by the end of 2021. This is one of the first private PPAs signed in the Italian market. It is also part of a broader framework agreement signed between Canadian Solar and Axpo Italia in November 2020 for the execution of up to 300 MW of similar PPAs in the country.

Power utility Elektroprivreda HZHB is exploring the possibility of integrating completed or near-completion renewable energy projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina into its portfolio. The company has issued a public call to purchase wind farms, solar projects, and hydropower units with a capacity of 1 MW or more. Priority in the selection of wind power plants will be given to projects that have a building permit and secured locations. Existing power plants are eligible if they have more than 2,500 operating hours per year. A location permit is also a necessary condition. Individuals and legal entities can send bids until December 31, 2021.

Renewable energy developer and investor RP Global is selling its most recent 12 MW wind project, Le Champvoisin, to the German independent power producer clearvise AG. The deal follows the recent closing of the €24 million (~$29.29 million) project financing and includes a 20-year PPA from the French government. The nearly completed wind farm is set to commence commercial operation in August 2021. Le Champvoisin wind farm in Fomperron marks the first project for which RP Global offered a crowdfunding campaign on the French platform Lendosphere.

Australia’s New South Wales has awarded an AUD 3.2 billion ($2.5 billion) 10-year power supply contract to Royal Dutch Shell. The deal includes supplying battery energy storage for wind and solar projects. The 100 MW two-hour battery will be built and run by Edify Energy. Operations are slated to start in early 2023. Located in the Murrumbidgee Shire, the Riverina Energy Storage System will be a 100 MW/200 MWh lithium-ion battery project that will connect to TransGrid’s network at Darlington Point Substation. Shell Energy is signing a long-term services agreement for operational rights to a 60 MW/120 MWh part of the project.

Srinwanti is a copy editor at Mercom India, where she writes and edits news stories across the clean energy spectrum. Prior to Mercom, she has worked in book publishing at Macmillan Publishing House and Integra and honed her editorial and writing skills in both online and print media such as Reuters, Times Group Books, The Times of India, and Pune Mirror, covering local to international stories. More articles from Srinwanti Das.