Why the West Needs to Secure Heavy Rare Earths for the Future of Advanced Manufacturing

GridSeer, a Duke University-affiliated startup developing AI-powered energy forecasting and optimization tools, has been selected as one of six innovative companies for the 15th cohort of the Joules Accelerator, a nationally recognized program for high-potential energy ventures. The selection places GridSeer among an elite group of startups working to modernize the electric grid and accelerate decarbonization. The company was chosen for its groundbreaking work in risk-adjusted forecasting and real-time system optimization, empowering industrial, municipal, and campus-scale energy users to make smarter, data-informed decisions that reduce costs, improve reliability, and strengthen operational control.

Proven Results: Millions in Potential Savings
In a recent deployment at a major university campus, GridSeer cut forecasting error by 50%, and enabled significant financial savings in the campus-wide energy management system. This outcome demonstrated the technology’s real-world impact in commercial/industrial operating conditions and established a transformative potential across a range of energy-intensive environments.

Scaling Innovation Through Strategic Partnerships
The Joules Accelerator program connects selected startups with utility partners, cities, corporate sponsors, and investors, including Duke Energy, Honeywell, Microsoft, Southern Company, and North Carolina municipalities. Over a 90-day period, GridSeer will engage in targeted mentorship, explore pilot opportunities, and refine its go-to-market strategy to accelerate commercial deployment.

“Being selected for the Joules Accelerator validates our mission and approach,” said Jesko von Windheim, CEO of GridSeer. “We look forward to working with utility and industry partners to deploy GridSeer’s forecasting and optimization tools where they can deliver measurable impact, enhancing reliability, reducing costs, and strengthening energy resilience at scale.”

“GridSeer exemplifies how academic innovation can translate into real-world energy solutions,” said Dr. Lori Bennear, Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. “We’re proud to see research from the Nicholas School of the Environment making a tangible impact on sustainability and grid modernization. Energy research is one of the pillars of our program at the Nicholas School and partnerships like the Joules Accelerator are essential for transitioning our innovations from the lab to market.”

GridSeer | www.gridseer.com

Joules Accelerator | www.joulesaccelerator.com

Nicholas School of the Environment | nicholas.duke.edu

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (“Quinbrook”), a specialist global investment manager focused exclusively on the infrastructure needed for the energy transition, announced successful completion of construction and the start of commercial operations of the solar asset at the landmark Cleve Hill Solar Park (“Cleve Hill”) in Kent, UK. Cleve Hill is now exporting at 100 percent of its 373 MW dc capacity, which is more than four times the size of the next largest operational UK solar project. In May, electricity exports from Cleve Hill during the commissioning phase peaked at a level equivalent to 0.7 percent of the UK’s national power demand.

Cleve Hill was the first solar and battery storage project to be consented as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (“NSIP”). The record breaking solar project is supported by the largest solar + battery storage project financing ever undertaken in the UK. As previously announced, Quinbrook closed a GBP 218.5 million term loan and a GBP 20 million VAT facility with Lloyds and NatWest.

Construction is also underway on a 150 MW co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) which on completion will make Cleve Hill the largest co-located solar plus storage project ever constructed in the UK power market.

“Cleve Hill sets a new benchmark for large-scale solar projects to help decarbonise the UK power system and demonstrates how investing in the infrastructure needed to transition the UK to clean energy can support local communities and create new jobs,” said Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Leader for Quinbrook.

“Reaching commercial operations is a major technical, construction and financial achievement for our teams, our partners and our investors. Cleve Hill was not an easy project to build and we overcame many challenges along the way. The UK’s ongoing commitment to progress its energy transition and decarbonise the economy represents a strong conviction as a nation to a renewable energy future, one that is underpinned by a huge pipeline of large-scale infrastructure projects that will support growth, jobs and cheaper power for UK households.”

Cleve Hill was the UK’s first solar NSIP to be awarded a Contract for Difference (“CfD”) by the UK Government-backed Low Carbon Contracts Company and secured the largest award for a UK solar project in Round 4 of the CfD auction scheme. Quinbrook also secured a long-term offtake agreement with Tesco PLC, the largest solar corporate PPA executed in the UK to date.

“Quinbrook is proud to further enhance our track record of successfully delivering milestone infrastructure projects that create such a meaningful and positive impact for the UK’s energy transition. Projects like Cleve Hill set new scale benchmarks that should increase confidence that the UK’s renewables targets can be achieved,” said Rory Quinlan, Quinbrook’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner.

Cleve Hill was granted development consent in May 2020 and commenced construction in early 2023. Quinbrook partnered with its development affiliate, Private Energy Partners, in the construction and commissioning of the project. Cleve Hill is expected to help reduce carbon emissions by more than 142,000 tonnes in the first year of operations. It is also expected to support over 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and generate more than GBP 114 million in local socio-economic benefits over its lifetime.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners | http://www.quinbrook.com

Lyten, the supermaterial applications company and global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries, announced the acquisition of Northvolt’s Dwa ESS operations in Gdansk, Poland, a 25,000 square meter (270,000 sq ft) battery energy storage systems (BESS) manufacturing and R&D facility. Northvolt Dwa ESS is the largest BESS manufacturing facility in Europe and was part of Northvolt Systems. The financial terms of the acquisition are not being released by either party.

The Northvolt acquisition accelerates expansion of Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries into Europe and provides Lyten with production capacity to meet demand in the growing BESS market. Lyten has previously announced its lithium-sulfur batteries are shipping commercially for drones, launching onto the International Space Station, and selected by Chrysler, a Stellantis company, for its Halcyon Concept Electric Vehicle.

Lyten Lithium-Sulfur batteries have unique characteristics that make them ideally suited to meet rapidly growing demand for BESS: a broader operating temperature range especially in hot conditions, improved safety, and the ability to be made from abundantly available, low-cost materials found throughout the US and Europe. Lithium-Sulfur is also a high energy density, ultra-lightweight battery.

“Northvolt’s BESS manufacturing operations are truly world class and are a seamless strategic fit for Lyten as we launch an exciting new chapter for our company. We plan to immediately restart operations in Poland and deliver on existing and new customer orders,” said Dan Cook, Lyten CEO & Co-Founder. “The Port of Gdansk, local and federal officials have all been fully supportive as we combine Silicon Valley technology with Polish engineering and operations talent to export next generation energy storage technology to customers worldwide.”

The Dwa ESS facility came online in 2023. The facility includes equipment to ramp up to 6 GWh of energy storage manufacturing capacity and the footprint to expand to 10+ GWh in the future. The facility is supplied by renewable power and has contracted orders extending into 2026.

“The message we are hearing clearly from European customers is that they want energy storage systems manufactured in Europe using locally sourced supply chains free of geopolitical risk. Gdansk, Poland is the perfect location to meet this need for Europe,” added Lars Herlitz, Lyten Chairman and Co-Founder.

BESS is the fastest growing segment of the battery market, as the technology is critical to meet AI data center power demand, provide resiliency to the electricity grid in Europe and North America, and meet surging power demand in emerging markets. In December, Lyten announced a $650M LOI from the Export Import Bank of the US (EXIM) to expand battery manufacturing and commence delivery of BESS to Emerging Market nations.

Robert Chryc-Gawrychowski, CEO of Northvolt Poland, stated, “Northvolt set out to lead the sustainable development of Europe’s battery industry. Lyten is carrying that mission forward with BESS manufacturing and the introduction of lithium-sulfur batteries in Europe, which replaces minerals like nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, with locally abundant battery materials. Moreover, it is important and exciting that the factory in Gdansk, built for the production of energy storage systems, will continue its operations.”

Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, President of Gdansk, stated, "The planned investment is a confirmation of the growing competitiveness of Poland and specifically Gdansk on the global economic map. For Gdansk, Lyten’s activities constitute an opportunity to cooperate in the field of energy storage, create energy innovation centres and advance R&D partnerships with local universities.”

In late 2024 Northvolt announced the intended sale of its Northvolt Systems business unit as part of its strategic review and bankruptcy procedures. Scania, a Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer, announced the purchase of the Industrial subset of the Northvolt Systems division in April 2025.

Lyten and Northvolt intend to close the transaction in 3Q 2025.

Lyten | https://lyten.com/

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (“Shoals” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SHLS), a global leader in electrical balance of systems (“EBOS”) solutions for the energy transition market, announced that it has released a webinar on the subject of Battery Energy Storage Systems (“BESS”), followed by Q&A.

The webinar is intended to be educational and informative. Further, it is being provided to allow customers, investors, analysts and other interested parties to learn more about the BESS market landscape, Shoals’ BESS solutions, Shoals’ paths to market, strategy and competitive position. No financial projections are implied or intended. Featured speakers include Mike Everson, BESS Account Executive, Matt Tractenberg, VP of Finance & Investor Relations, and Lindsey Williams, VP of Marketing & Communications.

You can access the recorded webinar, along with the accompanying presentation, through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investors.shoals.com.

Shoals Technologies Group | https://www.shoals.com

As the energy industry navigates an era of transformation fueled by the energy evolution, technological advancements, and an increased demand in energy consumption, the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) is intensifying its efforts to cultivate a robust and talent ready pipeline. CEWD attended the SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta and spotlighted its initiatives to raise awareness for diverse energy careers and deliver career-readiness programming to empower the next generation. 

“The industry has a need to fill 32 million jobs over the next decade, and we remain steadfast in our goal to meet that demand by creating a skilled workforce capable of powering America’s energy future,” said Missy Henriksen, CEWD’s executive director. “We’re working to ensure that the next generation is not only aware of energy career pathways and opportunities, but also prepared to step into them. Our expanded outreach this year, particularly with SkillsUSA, is pivotal to engaging students early and guiding them toward impactful energy careers.” 

Explore CEWD’s career programming and initiatives at www.GetIntoEnergy.org.  

CEWD recognizes the importance of early engagement in shaping career interests and has developed programs that support both students and teachers in their career exploration and learning journeys, inclusive of: 

• Inaugural Try-A-Skill Activation at SkillsUSA: CEWD will host a Try-a-Skill activation at its booth during this year’s SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference to give student participants an opportunity to learn about potential careers and essential skills needed for the energy industry. 
• DECA Student Challenge: Later this fall, CEWD will launch its first student challenge with DECA featuring a workforce development campaign to ignite Gen Z’s career interest in energy. 
• Energy Industry Fundamentals 2.0: CEWD offers EIF 2.0, a free 120-hour curriculum that educates high school and college students about energy and its careers. Educators can easily access lesson plans, student materials, activities, and pacing guides to use alongside existing educational tracks. The curriculum is available in English and Spanish.  
• Energy and Natural Resources Career Cluster Curriculum: CEWD will release this summer an array of resources for educators and employers to support adoption of energy curriculum in classrooms and ultimately, acceptance of the new Energy and Natural Resources Career Cluster for career and technical education students. 

Beyond education, CEWD delivers targeted programs to bridge the skills gap and expand access to careers in the industry. This includes initiatives like Troops to Energy Jobs, an initiative to help veterans transition into energy, as well as strategic partnerships with local affiliates of UnidosUS and the National Urban League to develop career pathways that open doors for all communities. 

Nearing its 20^th anniversary in 2026, CEWD continues to adapt and expand its efforts to meet the evolving needs of the energy industry. Henriksen added, “By investing in these programs, CEWD, with support from the industry and our many partners, is on a path to future-proof the workforce and enhance the ways in which we advocate and prepare for filling energy jobs, building long-term careers for emerging professionals in the process.”   

CEWD | www.cewd.org

Primary Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: HDRO) (FSE: 83W0) (OTCQB: HNATF) (the "Company" or "Primary") is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated May 29, 2025, that it has closed the non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,728,800.00 (the "Offering"). 

Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued (i) 2,560,000 flow-through units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.48 per FT Unit; and (ii) 1,250,000 non flow-through units (the "NFT Units") at a price of $0.40 per NFT Unit. 

Each FT Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a "FT Warrant"), with each whole FT Warrant exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.55 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date"). Each NFT Unit is comprised of one Common Share and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a "NFT Warrant"), with each whole NFT Warrant exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.50 for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

The gross proceeds from the sale of the NFT Units are intended to be used for general working capital and corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units are intended to be used to incur Critical Mineral Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE"), such that they qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and can be renounced to the purchasers thereof. 

Pursuant to the Offering, the Company paid finder's fees of approximately $43,776 in connection with the FT Units and issued 27,000 finder warrants to an eligible finder in connection with the NFT Units (the "NFT Finder Warrants") and 91,200 finder warrants to eligible finders in connection with the FT Units (the "FT Finder Warrants"). Each NFT Finder Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.50 for period of 24 months following the Closing Date. Each FT Finder Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

Wicheeda Acquisition

The Company is also pleased to announce, further to its news release dated May 22, 2025, that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange in respect of its property option agreement dated May 21, 2025 (the "Option Agreement") with Power One Resources Corp. ("Power One") pursuant to which the Company has the option to acquire up to a 75% interest in and to the Wicheeda North project (the "Wicheeda Project") in British Columbia on the terms and conditions set forth in the Option Agreement. Accordingly, in satisfaction of certain option exercise conditions under the Option Agreement, the Company has paid to Power One $40,000 and will be issuing to it (i) 125,000 Common Shares at a deemed price of $0.45 and (ii) 125,000 Common Share purchase warrants (the "Wicheeda Warrants"), with each Wicheeda Warrant entitling Power One to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.90 for three years from the date of the Option Agreement. The Common Shares to be issued, and the Common Shares underlying the Wicheeda Warrants, are subject to a 4-month statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Option Agreement is an arm's length transaction. No finder's fee was paid in connection with the Option Agreement. 

Primary Hydrogen | https://primaryh2.com/

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WiWF) and Vista Sands Solar are pleased to announce a mutual agreement has been reached on the planned solar development in Portage County, Wisconsin. As part of the agreement, and pending formal approval by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), WiWF will be withdrawing its appeal filed in Columbia County Circuit Court.

The agreement comes after several months of collaborative discussions aimed at protecting Wisconsin’s state-threatened Greater Prairie Chicken – while maintaining the full capacity and progress of the renewable energy project. It reflects productive engagement and a shared interest in preserving Wisconsin’s natural heritage, while supporting sustainable homegrown energy generation.

Vice President of Development at Doral Renewables and Project Manager for the Vista Sands Solar project, Jon Baker, said: “From day one, this project has been shaped by a simple, commonsense goal: deliver clean, homegrown energy and economic uplift, while respecting nearby conservation lands, the people who work it, and the wildlife that inhabit it. Thanks to direct feedback from local leaders, adjustments have been made to further protect wildlife habitat and mitigate stakeholders’ concerns – demonstrating that energy progress and environmental stewardship are not at odds.”

“Vista Sands Solar made a tremendous effort to communicate and present accommodations that addressed the concerns raised by our technical working group,” said Cody Kamrowski, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. “This agreement shows what’s possible when conservation organizations and energy developers engage, listen to one another, and work toward a shared vision.”

As part of the agreement Vista Sands Solar is building on its existing commitments to restoring nearly 7,000 acres of native grasslands in the region, providing a $2.1 million contribution to support the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Greater Prairie Chicken management plan, and funding for local university-led research to study how wildlife interacts with solar.

Key Elements of the Agreement:

• 750 additional acres have been set aside specifically to address WiWF’s concerns for the Greater Prairie Chicken.
• Vista Sands Solar has committed $1 million to WiWF, specifically designated for habitat restoration and land acquisition in the Greater Prairie Chicken management priority areas.
• Project plans remain on schedule and capacity remains intact, ensuring solar-generated electricity will soon benefit Wisconsin homes and businesses.

This settlement is a model for future collaboration between stakeholder groups and energy developers. It sends a powerful message: with good-faith engagement and open dialogue, environmental stewardship and renewable energy goals are not mutually exclusive.

“This agreement sets a strong precedent for public lands and wildlife protections in Wisconsin,” Kamrowski added. “It demonstrates that renewable energy and habitat preservation can – and should – go hand in hand.”

WiWF encourages other conservation and community organizations to engage early with developers on similar projects. Moving forward, WiWF will advocate for the inclusion of stakeholder voices, including the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advisory committees, during the early stages of project planning and permitting.

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation looks forward to continued partnerships that protect the state’s rich natural heritage while advancing a clean energy future.

Vista Sands Solar | vistasandssolar.com

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation | www.wiwf.org