South African independent renewable energy company, Earth & Wire has placed an order with U.S.-based energy storage provider, Ambri, for a 300MW, 1,200MW battery system for the company’s combined wind and solar facility in the Eastern Cape. The long-duration energy storage system represents the largest ever deployed in South Africa, with first delivery of the batteries expected in Q2, 2024, and installation completion expected in 2026.

French president Emmanuel Macron announced that the French government will plough €1.9bn ($2.15bn) into the country’s hydrogen sector as part of his €30bn“France 2030” industrial investment plan.

French car manufacturer Hopium said it had taken its first 1,000 pre-orders for the Machina, a high-end hydrogen-powered sedan.

France is set to expand its portfolio of renewable energy capacity with an additional 3,700MW of solar energy using €5.7 billion ($6.7 billion) in funding approved by the European Commission