Drafting vs. Engineering: Choosing the right partner for commercial projects

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a $55 million energy technology program funded by Wells Fargo & Company and coadministered by NREL, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, announced the selection of three startups for its next cohort in the Emerging Tech track. This cohort focuses on enhancing resiliency in the built environment through innovative technologies that strengthen building operations, heating and cooling systems, and grid reliability.

“As our energy systems face growing pressure to perform reliably and efficiently, resiliency has become a strategic advantage for building owners and operators,” said Sarah Derdowski, IN2 program manager at NREL. “This cohort represents a focused effort to strengthen building-level independence and operational continuity, with each company bringing practical solutions that support long-term cost savings and system reliability. We’re proud to support their progress and accelerate scalable solutions across the built environment.”

Each startup selected received $250,000 in nondilutive funding to work with NREL’s leading researchers and utilize the laboratory’s state-of-the-art facilities. The companies were nominated by members of NREL’s exclusive Channel Partner network, a nationwide group of 60 incubators, accelerators, and universities that identify and refer high-potential startups aligned with IN2’s mission.

The selected companies in IN2’s 15th cohort are:

• MicroEra Power (Rochester, New York): MicroEra Power’s THERMAplus is a tunable thermal energy storage system that delivers flexible, reliable heating and cooling in buildings by shifting electrical load to off-peak hours, lowering costs and improving grid resiliency. MicroEra Power will collaborate with NREL Senior Researcher Chuck Booten.
• SkyCool Systems (Mountain View, California): SkyCool Systems develops passive cooling technology for commercial buildings that replaces condensers, cooling towers, and cool roofs by deflecting heat beyond Earth's atmosphere. SkyCool Systems will work with NREL’s Ravi Kishore and Sajith Wijesuriya.
• Verv Energy (Los Angeles, California): Verv Energy uses artificial intelligence to optimize HVAC and refrigeration performance, helping buildings cut costs with monitoring, control, and predictive maintenance. Verv Energy will collaborate with NREL Researcher Landan Taylor.

The startups completed their onboarding at NREL’s Golden, Colorado, campus in August and began tailored research collaborations for their specific technology. In addition to technical validation and support, participating companies will gain access to IN2’s growing ecosystem of investors, adopters, and market partners. This will include connecting directly with IN2’s Scalable Tech track participants, corporations and municipalities adopting validated technologies, to gain valuable insights on their specific business needs, deployment challenges, and innovation priorities.

“Wells Fargo is proud to support innovators who are bringing solutions to strengthen building operations,” said Jeff Schub, head of sustainability at Wells Fargo. “Our ongoing work with IN2 helps develop and deploy technologies that improve reliability, reduce costs, and enhance operational resilience.”

With the addition of this 15th cohort, IN2’s portfolio now includes 77 startups working across the built environment, grid, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. To date, IN2 portfolio companies have raised more than $2.6 billion in follow-on funding, and 21% have exited via acquisition or initial public offering.

Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator | www.in2ecosystem.com

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, announced the Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative—a nationwide effort to rapidly deploy resilient, community-based energy systems across the U.S. The initiative brings together more than 20 partners to support public and private sector organizations with innovative solutions and financing.

The Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative is designed to help rapidly scope, finance and deploy resilient energy infrastructure, such as microgrids, while federal incentives remain available. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. energy infrastructure. With federal incentives currently available for clean energy projects, communities have a unique opportunity to accelerate deployment of resilient energy infrastructure. Acting now allows organizations to take advantage of existing funding mechanisms before key deadlines shift—making timely planning essential.

Participants joining forces to support the initiative at launch include:

• Global technology leader Microsoft, bringing cloud, AI and data capabilities
• Infrastructure providers AlphaStruxure, AZZO, Celsius Energy, CDM Smith EVerged, Mainspring Energy, Pisgah Energy, Sprocket Power, Sunrock Distributed Generation, Sustainability Partners, Unison Energy, Verdant Microgrid and Viridi.
• Consulting firms Arcadis, Baringa, Viridi Edge and Zurich Resilience Solutions; electrical distributor Graybar; and the nonprofit Resilient Cities Network.
• Strategic integrator Schneider Electric, connecting customers with project developers and providing advanced energy technologies.

“Communities are under increasing pressure to maintain reliable, affordable power in the face of aging infrastructure, extreme weather, rising demand and evolving cyber threats,” said Jana Gerber, North American President of Microgrids for Schneider Electric. “With power outages costing the U.S. economy an estimated $150 billion each year, the need for resilient energy infrastructure has never been more urgent. This initiative brings together industry leaders to accelerate the deployment of local, future-ready energy solutions, helping communities reduce risk, control costs and ensure continuity of critical services.”

“The initiative is a powerful example of how industry collaboration and digital innovation can accelerate the deployment of resilient energy infrastructure at scale,” said Darryl Willis, Corporate Vice President, Energy & Resources Industry at Microsoft. “By combining Schneider Electric’s expertise with Microsoft’s trusted cloud and AI technologies, we are helping communities strengthen critical infrastructure, unlock new business value and advance a more sustainable, secure and resilient energy future.”

By 2028, the U.S. power grid is expected to reach a critical inflection point, where peak electricity supply may no longer meet peak demand, threatening grid reliability. The initiative aims to ease grid stress and curb rising energy costs by scaling distributed energy resources (DERs). These include solar panels, battery energy storage, geothermal heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. By deploying these technologies, the initiative helps communities reduce reliance on the centralized grid, mitigate the impact of rising utility rates, strengthen energy resilience and support long-term sustainability goals.

Financing and Delivery at Scale

Project developers AlphaStruxure, AZZO, EVerged, Unison Energy, Verdant Microgrid and Sunrock have identified $7.5 billion in capital to finance energy resilience projects for sites such as municipal facilities, airports, campuses, hospitals, schools, seaports and water-treatment plants.

Projects can be delivered as turnkey solutions through long-term service agreements such as Energy as a Service (EaaS) contracts. These convert upfront capital costs into predictable, recurring payments, making advanced energy systems more accessible. For organizations seeking to fund upgrades through operational savings, Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) offer a proven model, allowing improvements to be paid for over time using guaranteed energy savings. This approach eliminates the need for upfront investment and enables communities to reinvest savings into essential services and local priorities.

Microgrids for Reliability and Cost Certainty

Resilience solutions can include Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Microgrid Flex system and Energy Control Center, along with solar, battery storage, fuel cells or flexible-fuel generators. Digital controls and advanced analytics connect these assets to optimize cost, resilience and sustainability.

Microgrids are localized energy systems that can operate independently from the centralized grid, providing reliable power during outages or grid stress. Schneider Electric’s network of EcoXpert partners will support the national rollout. In addition to resilience, microgrids offer cost certainty and faster time to power by overcoming grid constraints.

Examples of resilient energy systems already being deployed include:

• Montgomery County, Maryland: AlphaStruxure microgrids at two bus depots – Brookville and the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center (EMTOC) – support the county’s 100% carbon emissions reduction goal. Brookville powers up to 70 electric buses with a 6.5-megawatt microgrid; EMTOC, currently at 6.84 megawatts, will eventually support 200 zero-emission buses.
• Piscataway, New Jersey: Through its “Piscataway Goes Green” initiative, the township is deploying a 2.9-megawatt solar and microgrid system across eight municipal buildings, including Town Hall and Public Safety buildings. The project includes 28 EV charging stations – the largest municipal deployment in New Jersey – and battery energy storage to provide up to five days of backup power. It’s expected to reduce the township’s carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2026 and deliver $19 million in savings over 20 years.
• Middle Tennessee Electric: A microgrid in Murfreesboro integrates solar, battery storage and smart energy management to serve 750,000 residents across four counties – ensuring continuity and advancing clean energy goals.
• Longview Independent School District, Texas: A 4.2-megawatt solar project across 10 school buildings is projected to save the district $450,000 annually in utility costs. The project also will eliminate approximately 9 million pounds of carbon emissions, supporting both fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship.

To learn more about the initiative or to join, visit here. 

Schneider Electric | https://www.se.com/us/en/

Solis proudly marked a milestone at RE+ 2025 as our new 30–60kW hybrid inverter receiving the TŰV Rheinland cTUVus certification, showcasing Solis’ commitment to quality and meeting the standards of both US and Canadian markets.

With flexible capabilities, seamless functionalities and scalability, it’s built to enhance and simplify Solar+Storage commercial projects across the U.S. and Canada. Accepting orders now!

Solis | https://www.solisinverters.com/us

Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, has been granted another new patent by the United States Patent Office. The patent covers Beam Global’s Phase Change Composite (PCC) material for Lithium-ion batteries and is titled Smart Phase Change Composite for Passive Thermal Management.

The U.S. Patent Office granted Patent No. US 12,422,195 for Beam Global’s PCC material. Unlike conventional solutions, the Smart PCC material acts as a thermal switch, insulating the battery when cold and cooling the battery when hot. This innovation makes Beam’s batteries significantly more robust for extreme environments, such as freezing winters in Serbia, where Beam Europe is headquartered, and scorching desert conditions such as those found in the Middle East, where Beam Global has recently expanded operations through the formation of Beam Middle East.

“This new patent covers our latest, innovative thermal management technology which makes our battery solutions more dynamic and capable of addressing a wide range of customer requirements,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “These energy storage solutions make our own products more robust and efficient, while also meeting the growing customer demand for intelligent battery technologies that our patents protect. Beam Global’s battery solutions are currently powering drones, robots, medical devices, electric vehicles, and a host of classified and sensitive government applications. Our products are excellent and highly differentiated, and our patents ensure we maintain strong barriers to entry for our competitors while protecting the value of our intellectual property.”

The Smart PCC material enhances both battery safety and reliability by accommodating the natural expansion of phase change composites when hot and contraction when cold. This intelligent thermal regulation increases performance, extends battery life, and provides a scalable, flexible solution for a wide range of applications including electric mobility, defense, and energy storage.

Beam Global | https://beamforall.com/

Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced enhancements to its Solargraf platform with new third-party ownership (TPO) financing integrations, faster proposals, and availability in Japan. Solargraf is an all-in-one digital proposal, design, and permitting tool that enables solar installers to create, manage, and close high-quality proposals quickly and efficiently.

With the new federal budget framework redefining clean energy incentives, Enphase is helping installers navigate the transition with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on designs, automated permits that are AHJ-ready, and fully customized proposals. Backing these innovations, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) validated the Solargraf platform’s performance against measured photovoltaic (PV) system data, confirming accuracy comparable to NREL’s own System Advisor Model. This independent verification reinforces the Solargraf platform’s reliability as a trusted tool for solar design and proposal generation. The latest updates to the Solargraf platform include:

• Integrations with TPO financing companies. Most leading TPO providers in the United States, including EnFin, GoodLeap, LightReach, EverBright, and IGS, now accept Solargraf. LightReach, EnFin, and GoodLeap are fully integrated, enabling instant proposal generation with seamless financing options. The platform is expected to help installers support more TPO projects and maximize tax credit value following the recent U.S. policy changes.
• Express Editor. A streamlined feature that allows installers to quickly adjust proposals on the spot, whether at the kitchen table or over a video call, so they can close deals faster and increase homeowner confidence.
• Availability in Japan. The Solargraf platform, available in the Japanese language, is now accessible to installers in the region and helping solar professionals in this important new market for Enphase. Enphase also expects to expand the platform into India, France, and Australia in the coming months.

“The Solargraf platform continues to evolve with enhanced features that give our teams the tools needed to more efficiently make sales and design and build systems,” said Connor McFadden, director of strategy at Revolution Solar. “It’s helped us reduce proposal revisions and close more deals, while completing projects we can be proud of, both on time and on budget.”

“The updates to the Solargraf platform are a game changer for our business,” said Mark Hader, VP of sales at Go Solar Power. “The faster proposal editing with Express Editor is a big help. Most important for our team is the new shading tool and setbacks, supporting consistent yields and streamlined layouts. We’re able to move quickly and deliver a better experience for our customers.”

“The financing integrations added to the Solargraf platform have made our sales process dramatically more efficient,” said Bernie Packard, CEO of Exo Energy. “With the leading TPO providers built right into the platform, we’re able to create finance-ready proposals more efficiently.”

Enphase plans to expand the Solargraf platform into additional markets and introduce new features to support productivity, sales velocity, and customization for solar professionals. Planned improvements to the platform include an enhanced user experience for system design, streamlining ordering and shipping for a complete bill of materials (BOM), including racking from leading racking providers, and a custom tariff builder to help visually explain energy tariffs to homeowners.

“The Solargraf platform is designed to help reduce friction in the solar sales, design, and permitting process,” said Jayant Somani, senior vice president and general manager of the digital business unit at Enphase Energy. “These updates make it easier for installers to serve more homeowners, with greater flexibility, speed, and financial transparency across many geographies.”

For more information, please visit the Solargraf platform’s website.

Enphase Energy | https://enphase.com/

EV Realty announced that it has secured an additional $75 million growth equity commitment from private equity investor NGP alongside contributions from EV Realty’s management team. This significant infusion of capital enables EV Realty to scale its Powered Properties® portfolio, including construction of the company’s first multi-fleet charging project, a 76-stall fast-charging hub for commercial fleets in San Bernardino, California capable of charging more than 200 Class 8 trucks per day.

EV Realty launched in 2022 to provide turnkey, scalable charging solutions for commercial truck fleets. By combining fleet operational knowledge, proprietary analytics and deep energy sector expertise, EV Realty acquires, develops and operates optimally sited “grid-ready” properties in targeted industrial warehouse centers that support its freight and logistics customers.

“The market is experiencing near-term challenges, but the longer-term trend toward fleet electrification is unmistakable – vehicle technology is improving, battery costs are falling and we’re enabling customers to make the transition economically today. Our strategy is built for stability amid changing policies and industry conditions, ensuring we can deliver reliable, cost-effective charging solutions for fleets,” said EV Realty CEO Patrick Sullivan. “As a long-term partner, NGP shares our vision, and today’s groundbreaking on our first large-scale site in San Bernardino is a major step toward making this vision a reality.”

Today is the official groundbreaking for EV Realty’s first large-scale truck charging hub, strategically located near the San Bernardino Intermodal Facility, more than 60 million square feet of nearby industrial warehouses, and Interstates 10 and 215, a major freight lane from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. With 9.9 MW of grid capacity and 76 DC fast charging ports, including megawatt charging pull-through stalls, the project will serve regional and short-haul fleet customers in a key Inland Empire freight and logistics market – home to nearly 17,000 medium and heavy-duty trucks. EV Realty’s San Bernardino charging hub has funding support from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and was selected for a conditional award for the EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles Project, funded by the California Energy Commission. It is scheduled to open later this year.

“‍NGP has been at the forefront of backing innovative companies tackling the energy transition. We are excited to increase our commitment to EV Realty – we are bullish about the team and their thoughtful approach to supporting commercial fleet customers’ transition to electric vehicles in a time of increasing constraints on the electrical grid,” said Greg Lyons, partner at NGP.

This announcement builds on strategic steps EV Realty has taken to strengthen its position in a shifting market – expanding partnerships, consolidating assets, and leveraging state and regional programs to deliver projects that work for fleets today. Last month, EV Realty and Prologis announced a partnership to streamline fleet charging access across networks, enabling seamless charging for drivers at both company’s charging hubs. Earlier this year, EV Realty acquired a portfolio of assets from charging provider Gage Zero, positioning the company for further growth and consolidation in an increasingly competitive space.

EV Realty | www.evrealtyus.com

NGP | www.ngpenergy.com

Cadeler has signed a firm contract with Ocean Winds for the transportation and installation of 26 Siemens Gamesa 14MW offshore wind turbines at the BC-Wind offshore wind farm in the Polish Baltic Sea. The signing of this firm contract follows the Vessel Reservation Agreement (VRA) signed in February 2025 between Cadeler and Ocean Winds.

When fully completed, BC-Wind will have a total capacity of up to 390 MW, supplying clean electricity to nearly half a million Polish households. The Project is located about 23 km from the Polish coastline, north of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is Ocean Winds’ first project in Poland and will play an important role in the country’s ambitious offshore wind plans.

The installation is set to start in 2028 and to continue for approximately 4 months. Cadeler will deploy one of its O-class wind turbine installation vessels and will operate from the Port of Gdańsk in Poland.

Cadeler and Ocean Winds have worked together previously, most recently on the Moray West offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland, but this contract represents their first direct contractual partnership.

Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, comments: “With this firm contract now signed, we are ready to bring our best-in-class fleet and experienced crews to support Ocean Winds on this important project. Poland is establishing itself as a key offshore wind market in Europe, and this project will be a significant step in strengthening the country’s renewable energy ambitions. We look forward to expanding our presence in the Polish Baltic Sea, building on the strong pipeline of projects we have already secured in the region.”

Strong position in the Polish offshore wind market

This project reaffirms Cadeler’s strong position in the Polish offshore wind market and is a natural continuation of four other milestone projects in Cadeler’s Polish pipeline.

This July, Cadeler began installation work on the Baltic Power project, which will become Poland’s first offshore wind farm. From the Port of Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm, Cadeler will execute the transportation and installation of 76 Vestas 15 MW turbines. The 1.2 GW project will have the capacity to power over 1.5 million households with green energy once fully commissioned next year.

In February 2024, Cadeler signed a contract with Ørsted and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna for the transport and installation of Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines at Baltica 2, part of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

In October 2024, Cadeler signed firm contracts with Equinor and Polenergia joint ventures for the installation of two offshore wind farms, Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027.

Cadeler | www.cadeler.com

Ocean Winds | https://www.oceanwinds.com/