The latest renewable energy news includes announcements from Georgia Power, Catalyst Power, Google and Mitti Labs, and others.
Georgia Power Gets Approval for 1,137 MW of New Solar PPAs
Georgia Power has received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission for 1,137 MW of new solar power purchase agreements under its CARES 2023 and CARES 2025 procurement programmes. The 2023 procurement represents the largest single solar procurement in Georgia Power’s history, expanding renewable electricity available to customers across the US state. The PPAs allow Georgia Power to secure solar generation from independent projects rather than developing all capacity itself. The 1.14 GW addition represents a substantial opportunity for solar developers, EPC contractors and equipment suppliers as Georgia prepares for increasing electricity demand from businesses, manufacturing facilities and other large power consumers.
Catalyst Power Secures $15 Million for Distributed CHP and Solar Projects
Catalyst Power Holdings has secured a $15 million revolving credit facility from East West Bank to accelerate distributed-generation projects for commercial and industrial customers. The financing runs through 2029 and will support the initial phase of Catalyst’s pipeline of combined heat and power and solar projects. Catalyst says its commercial-scale CHP systems capture waste heat from onsite electricity generation to heat and cool buildings and water, increasing thermal efficiency to around 70–80 percent. The financing gives Catalyst additional development capital as businesses seek alternatives to rising grid electricity costs and reliability constraints. The company provides retail electricity and cleaner-energy solutions to commercial and industrial customers.
Google Signs 1 Million Carbon Credit Deal with Mitti Labs in India
Google and Mitti Labs have signed a five-year carbon-credit agreement covering 100,000 hectares of smallholder rice farms in India. Mitti Labs will deliver 1 million high-integrity carbon credits to Google by 2030, described as the largest rice-methane offtake agreement to date. More than 70,000 farmers are expected to adopt water- and methane-saving irrigation techniques. The programme aims to cut rice-field methane emissions by up to 50 percent and irrigation volumes by nearly 40 percent while maintaining yields. Mitti Labs estimates the project could eliminate the equivalent of 3 million tonnes of near-term warming impact. Its GeoAI platform uses satellite radar and field data.