23 July

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India has achieved criticality on the third unit of the 700MWe at Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant, in the state of Gujarat. This is the first unit fully based on Indian technology, after the first two units based on Canadian technology. Meanwhile, union power and new & renewable energy Minister R K Singh said the country will use approximately 60% clean energy sources by 2030. The minister launched two reports, one of which reassesses the country’s energy future following the pandemic.

North Carolina and South Carolina customers of US company Duke Energy Progress have started receiving 560MW of energy from the firm’s Asheville Combined Cycle Station. The $817m power station in North Carolina produces sufficient energy to serve approximately 450,000 homes. The station uses more than 18,000 components, not including two electricity-producing power blocks with four generators.

Ball Corporation has signed two virtual power purchase agreements in Europe. One agreement covers the Corral Nuevo project with wpd. The other relies on the Brattmyrliden project with Falck Renewables, for a total of 93.4MW of additional wind energy. Ball has committed to achieving and maintaining 100% renewable energy in Europe, and the agreements enable it to cover approximately 63% of the electricity used in its aluminum beverage packaging plants, with the exception of Russia.