OCI Energy and Arava Power have executed a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (MIPA) for the development of the 670 MWdc La Salle Solar project in La Salle County, Texas. Under the agreement, Arava Power will acquire a 50% ownership stake in the utility-scale solar facility, with both companies jointly financing, constructing, owning, and operating the project.
The signing ceremony marks a major milestone for the two renewable energy developers, as La Salle Solar becomes the largest single-site solar project undertaken by either company to date. The transaction also strengthens the long-standing collaboration between OCI Energy and Arava Power, representing their third joint renewable energy project in the Texas market.
Located in South Texas, the La Salle Solar project is expected to contribute significantly to regional energy reliability and clean power generation. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 100,000 homes. The project is expected to support increasing electricity demand in Texas, one of the fastest-growing energy markets in the United States.
Sabah Bayatli, President of OCI Energy, described the project as a reflection of the company’s development expertise and long-term commitment to the Texas renewable energy market. According to the company, La Salle Solar demonstrates OCI Energy’s ability to execute large-scale solar projects through strategic partnerships, strong market positioning, and scalable infrastructure planning.
Arava Power CEO Ilan Zidkony highlighted the agreement as an important step in expanding the company’s U.S. renewable energy portfolio. He noted that the project strengthens Arava Power’s position in the American clean energy sector while reinforcing its collaboration with OCI Energy. The company also confirmed that construction activities are expected to begin before the end of 2026.
The La Salle Solar project is scheduled to commence commercial operations in 2028. The development aligns with broader industry efforts to accelerate utility-scale solar deployment and support grid modernization initiatives across North America.
Founded in 2012, OCI Energy develops, owns, and operates utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects across the United States, with a portfolio target of up to 10 GW by 2028. Meanwhile, Arava Power, established in 2007, is recognized as one of Israel’s early pioneers in utility-scale photovoltaic energy development and continues to expand its multi-gigawatt renewable energy portfolio across Israel and the United States.
Cox Automotive has announced a major milestone in electric vehicle battery recycling. The company revealed that its EV Battery Solutions division has successfully processed and recovered more than 10 million pounds of black mass, a key material containing valuable battery minerals used in manufacturing new batteries.
The achievement highlights the growing importance of recycling and lifecycle management as electric vehicles become more common in global transportation markets.
Rising Need for EV Battery Lifecycle Management
The milestone comes at a time when more electric vehicles are entering the secondary market. EVs represented roughly 5% of lease maturities in 2025, and the share is expected to exceed 12% in 2026 and reach nearly 23% by 2028.
As EV adoption increases, the need for safe battery diagnostics, repair, second-life applications, and responsible recycling is becoming critical. Recycling prevents batteries from ending up in landfills while helping maintain a steady supply of essential minerals needed for battery production.
Operational Approach to Battery Recovery
Through its EV Battery Solutions division, Cox Automotive focuses on extending the usable life of batteries through repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing, before moving to recycling at the end of the lifecycle.
The company uses proprietary depowering and dry-shredding technologies designed to reduce fire risk during battery processing. These systems help ensure safer handling and material recovery while protecting workers and nearby communities.
Advanced Recycling Facility in Oklahoma City
At Cox Automotive’s recycling center in Oklahoma City, technicians employ a patented dry recycling process that avoids the use of water and chemical treatments.
The process involves mechanical disassembly, shredding, and air-based material separation, enabling the recovery of valuable battery components. According to the company, the facility achieves material recovery rates of up to 94%, significantly reducing the need for virgin mining of battery minerals.

Importance of Black Mass in Battery Manufacturing
Black mass is a powder-like substance created during the mechanical recycling of lithium-ion batteries. It contains valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which can be refined and reused in the production of new batteries.
By recovering these materials, recycling programs help build a circular battery economy, reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable EV production.
Sustainability Strategy and Industry Impact
The recycling milestone also contributes to the sustainability commitments of Cox Enterprises through its environmental initiative Cox Conserves. Since launching in 2007, the program has supported more than 500 sustainability projects and invested over $165 million in initiatives aimed at reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting biodiversity.

With global EV battery service facilities across the United States, Europe, and other markets, Cox Automotive is expanding its role in supporting the full lifecycle of electric vehicle batteries, from logistics and diagnostics to reuse and recycling.
Honeywell and IIT Bombay Announce New Centre of Excellence
Global technology company Honeywell has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to establish a Centre of Excellence for Future Skills and Innovation at the institute’s Powai campus.
Funded by Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation, the centre will support sustainability-focused education by providing laboratory infrastructure, specialised equipment, curriculum development and research grants. The initiative aims to train more than 100,000 students by 2030 through certificate-based programmes combining classroom instruction with applied projects.
Programme Structure and Pilot Phase
The programme will begin with a two-month pilot phase, focusing on building core infrastructure, developing coursework and training the first cohort of around 250 students. After the pilot stage, the programme is expected to engage nearly 20,000 students annually.
Students from undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes will complete 40 hours of training across five key themes:
- sustainability reporting
- sustainable finance
- energy security
- sustainability infrastructure
- policy advocacy
Courses will be taught jointly by IIT Bombay faculty and Honeywell industry experts, with mentorship and technical support from Honeywell professionals.
Addressing India’s Growing Green Skills Demand
The initiative comes amid rising demand for sustainability-related skills in sectors such as energy, infrastructure and finance. According to the Government of India’s Economic Survey 2023–24, India could generate 3.4 million green jobs by 2030.
However, staffing firm TeamLease estimates the renewable energy sector already faces a shortage of about 1.2 million skilled workers, which could increase to 1.7 million by 2027.
Supporting India’s Sustainability Workforce
Ashish Modi, President of Honeywell India and Asia Pacific, said the collaboration aims to strengthen workforce capabilities as India expands its technology-driven economy.
Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, noted that the centre will allow students to work on real-world sustainability challenges through experiential learning and applied research.
The initiative will operate under Saksham Programme, Honeywell India’s broader skilling programme focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability.












Share your Details for subscribe