While solar tracker software is known for its role in maximizing production, it also plays a key role in mitigating risks. It can increase energy production in challenging situations, minimize damage from weather events, and reduce O&M costs. In the face of escalating climate change threats and heightened solar industry pressures, tracker software is rising to the challenges to keep solar sites productive and protected. Q:&n....
As wind development pushes into more remote and environmentally sensitive terrain, site access is no longer a secondary concern. It is a primary project risk. Unstable soils, seasonal flooding, protected wetlands, and water crossings can derail permitting, trigger regulatory violations, and expose developers to costly remediation. Temporary bridging, when done properly, is a genuine project enabler. Done poorly, it becomes a liability that compou....
The solar industry has spent the last decade relentlessly driving down cost. Module prices fell. Installation efficiencies improved. Supply chains have globalized. In many ways, the playbook worked. But as development pushes into more challenging terrain: rocky soils, variable geotechnical conditions, and remote locations, that same cost-first mindset is beginning to show its limits. Developers now routinely confront conditions earl....
As the clean energy industry continues its rapid expansion, utility-scale solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being deployed in increasingly challenging environments. From extreme desert heat in the Southwest to hurricane-prone regions along the Gulf Coast, today’s projects are operating in conditions that test both infrastructure and human performance. Extreme weather is no longer an exception — it is the operating environmen....
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Jeremy Sheldon
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NEMA welcomes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's action to bring greater transparency and certainty to the process for connecting major new sources of electricity demand and infrastructure to the grid. As demand surges from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, innovative grid solutions and efficient interconnection policies will be critical to maintaining America's competitive edge.
"Thank you to Chairman Swett and the Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for taking an important step toward improving transparency and consistency in the process for connecting large loads to the electric grid, while recognizing the value of proven grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side solutions that can improve reliability, resilience, and affordability," said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips.
"NEMA's electrical manufacturers are innovating to help America meet rising electricity demand by getting more out of the grid we have today, while also building new infrastructure to reliably support our future needs,” said Phillips. “From grid-enhancing technologies and advanced energy management systems to reconductoring and behind-the-meter solutions, our industry is delivering technologies that unlock capacity, improve performance, and accelerate economic growth.
NEMA's recently-released AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework complements FERC's action on interconnection policies by providing a roadmap to improve the efficiency, resilience, and performance of next-generation data centers—helping ensure that new sources of demand are connected and operated as effectively and safely as possible. Together, these efforts help lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient electric grid.
National Electrical Manufacturers Association | makeitelectric.org
FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc. announced plans to enter the European residential energy storage market in 2027, introducing its system this week at Intersolar Europe 2026 as utilities and homeowners respond to rising electricity costs and growing demand for grid flexibility.
Electrification of transportation and home heating, combined with rising renewable energy adoption, is accelerating demand for residential storage across Europe. Utilities are expanding distributed energy resource programs to manage peak demand and improve grid reliability. Homeowners are looking for lower energy costs, backup power and greater control over how they use electricity.
The FranklinWH System integrates battery storage, solar, electric vehicle charging and energy management through a single residential platform. It scales from 15 to 225 kilowatt-hours per aGate intelligent controller and supports backup power, solar self-consumption and energy cost management. The system uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and an all-in-one architecture that simplifies installation. Energy management software adjusts charging and discharging based on household consumption, electricity pricing and weather.
FranklinWH enters Europe with experience supporting more than 25 utility-led virtual power plant (VPP) and demand response programs in the United States, where customers are compensated when their batteries discharge stored energy to the grid when it’s needed.
The company has a global network of more than 4,000 authorized installation partners with experience in residential storage deployment, training and customer support. FranklinWH said the network will support its European market entry.
"European homeowners want lower energy bills and utilities want flexible resources they can count on," said Vincent Ambrose, Chief Commercial Officer of FranklinWH. "Those are not separate challenges, they are the same opportunity viewed from different sides of the meter. Our systems are already operating in VPP’s across the United States, and we built this platform around what we learned. FranklinWH was built around a simple idea: homeowners should be able to generate, store, manage and use energy through a single integrated platform rather than a collection of disconnected devices."
FranklinWH is meeting with utilities, distributors, installers and energy aggregators at Intersolar Europe as it builds its European partner network ahead of its 2027 market launch. Distribution partnerships, market availability and additional product details will be announced before the company's European market entry.
FranklinWH will exhibit at Hall C3, Booth 130, at Intersolar Europe 2026, June 23-25 at Messe München in Munich.
FranklinWH Energy Storage | franklinwh.com
Dominion Energy Virginia is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for information on long-duration energy storage technologies that might be suitable for participation in a pilot program.
As defined by Virginia legislation, long-duration energy storage refers to technology that has 10 or more hours of storage duration when operating at full nameplate capacity.
At least three different technologies could be chosen to participate in the pilot program, which will have an expected capacity of at least 4,000 megawatt-hours. The program is intended to evaluate long-duration energy storage technologies that can support electric grid reliability, renewable energy integration, and compliance with the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
Interested companies are asked to contact [email protected] to participate and submit responses to the RFI. Companies will have six weeks from Friday, June 26, to submit responses, with a deadline of Aug. 7.
The RFI will request entities to provide clear and accurate information about:
The RFI does not represent a commitment to procure, partner, or invest.
The program will support local jobs, increase spending in local communities, and bring in new tax revenue for local governments.
Dominion Energy | https://www.dominionenergy.com/
Pattern Energy Group (Pattern Energy), a leader in clean energy and transmission infrastructure, announced that SunZia, the largest renewable energy infrastructure project in U.S. history is fully operational. The SunZia project can generate and deliver more power than the Hoover Dam and supply affordable, reliable energy to the western United States. “SunZia proves that we can still build the consequential infrastructure this country needs,” said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. “We did this the right way, we did it on time and on budget – in genuine partnership with the local communities and landowners who trusted us, with the environmental stewardship this unique landscape deserves, and with the determination to see something through that many thought was too big and too complex to finish.”
The approximately 3,650-megawatt (MW) wind project and 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that comprise SunZia are generating and delivering affordable, American-made energy from New Mexico to Arizona and to customers across the western grid. At full capacity, the project can deliver enough energy to power approximately one million American homes annually.
“SunZia becoming fully operational is a milestone more than 18 years in the making and one that I’ve been fighting for since I first came to Congress,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. “Through a whole series of obstacles spanning over a decade and a half, we kept working to move it forward because we knew what it could mean for America’s energy future and New Mexico’s role in leading it. Now, New Mexico is home to one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the Western Hemisphere.”
SunZia is meeting surging energy demand with new interregional transmission infrastructure that can deliver reliable, affordable energy. The project helps solve one of the central challenges facing the energy sector: not only building energy generation, but also the grid infrastructure needed to deliver that power.
At the center of that solution is SunZia’s HVDC transmission system, which moves large amounts of electricity efficiently across long distances. With major converter stations at each end of the line converting power for delivery and then back for use on the grid, SunZia is deploying one of the first major HVDC systems built in the United States in a generation — advanced infrastructure that can help define how America delivers power at scale.
“Large-scale transmission is essential to meeting the West’s growing energy needs and strengthening reliability across the grid,” said Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of the California Independent System Operator (ISO). “Projects of this scale help deliver energy reliably to areas of rising demand, improve the movement of power across states and support a more resilient, flexible and affordable electric system. SunZia represents the kind of long-term infrastructure investment needed to serve customers today and prepare the grid for the future.”
Construction on SunZia began in September 2023 and more than 2,000 quality jobs were supported at peak construction. The project will also create more than 100 permanent operations jobs in New Mexico and Arizona. The facility will invest over $20 billion in New Mexico and Arizona communities including $1.3 billion in direct payments to local governments, schools, counties and private landowners over the first 30 years of operations.
“The benefits of this project will be felt in our communities for years to come,” said Barbara Sultemeier, Board Member for the Corona Landowner’s Association through the Lincoln County Community Foundation. “SunZia is supporting local jobs, strengthening the local tax base and creating long-term investment that can help support schools, public services, landowners and families across the region. For communities like ours, that kind of sustained economic impact matters.”
SunZia also demonstrates what private industry can deliver when it takes on complex infrastructure challenges with discipline and responsibility. The fully contracted project advanced through years of development, permitting, financing, construction and community engagement, requiring close coordination among private companies, local governments, state and federal agencies, landowners and energy customers.
“The result is historic energy infrastructure that will power millions of American homes and businesses for decades to come. This project sets a new standard for what is possible — and we intend to keep building on it,” said Hunter Armistead.
Pattern Energy | www.patternenergy.com
The Nordex Group has received three new orders in the United States totaling 484 megawatts (MW), underlining the continued momentum of the company’s business in the region. One order covers 32 N133/4.8 turbines, adding up to a total capacity of approx. 154 MW. The two other orders are for projects with a total capacity of approx. 350 MW, comprising of 56 turbines of the N163/5.X type. The names of the three customers and the projects are not disclosed.
“These projects clearly demonstrate the trust our customers place in Nordex technology and execution capabilities,” said Manav Sharma, CEO of Nordex North America. “They are a clear signal that our momentum in the region continues to accelerate. With our proven turbine technology and local supply chain, we remain well positioned to support our customers in delivering large-scale wind projects across North America.”
Nordex Group | https://www.nordex-online.com/en
Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company, announced the launch of the new IQ9N Microinverter for residential solar across the United States. Built with gallium nitride (GaN) technology, IQ9N Microinverters help enhance energy production from the latest high-power solar panels and are engineered to deliver peak performance over the system’s lifetime, with an industry-leading 97.5% CEC weighted efficiency and a 25-year limited warranty.
IQ9N Microinverters support 16 A of continuous DC current and 427 VA of continuous output power, pairing with today’s premium high-wattage residential solar panels to help maximize energy production from each module. They are backward compatible with IQ7 and IQ8 Series Microinverters and IQ® Batteries, enabling homeowners and installers to expand existing Enphase systems using similar installation methods and accessories.
GaN technology enables a peak efficiency of up to 97.8%, with cooler operation and optimized performance across conditions. Enphase’s GaN architecture reduces conduction losses and heat, improves long-term reliability based on engineering and lifecycle testing, maintains peak performance across seasons, and provides capacity to support emerging high-power solar panels. Read the technical white paper, "Enphase Adoption of GaN Bi-Directional Switch Technology for Distributed Power Electronics," for a more detailed view of Enphase's GaN architecture.
"Every hour our crew spends on a roof — and every time we have to go back — cuts into our margins," said Bill Ward, president at Elbac Solar. "The IQ9N Microinverters work with the installation process we already use, and because they're so dependable, we're not getting pulled back out for service calls. For installers, that's what a real win looks like."
"IQ9N Microinverters are a major leap forward in residential inverter performance," said Carlos Martínez Muñoz, president at Solar Roots, an installer of Enphase products in Puerto Rico. "The combination of GaN technology, higher efficiency, and support for the latest high-power panels lets us design better systems for our customers and unlock more energy from every roof."
IQ9N Microinverters are engineered to optimize energy from every panel across a wide range of conditions, including partial shading, complex roof layouts, and high-temperature environments. Like all Enphase microinverters, IQ9N Microinverters convert DC to AC at each panel, eliminating long high-voltage DC runs used in traditional string inverter designs and delivering a safer, all-AC architecture on the roof. Per-panel power conversion also keeps the rest of the system producing even if one panel is shaded, soiled, or offline.
"Enphase keeps setting the bar higher," said Mike Thompson, CEO of Golden Bear Solar. "IQ9N Microinverters pair perfectly with today's premium panels, and the distributed architecture means homeowners get more usable energy and a safer system on the roof."
"Homeowners want solar that just works, year after year, in any weather," said Kevin O'Donnell, CEO of O'Donnell Solar Co. "With IQ9N Microinverters, we can deliver that with confidence, and the cooler operating temperatures give us peace of mind on long-term reliability."
IQ9N Microinverters meet rigorous grid compliance standards and are NEMA Type 6 rated with a double-insulated, corrosion-resistant polymer housing and an operating temperature range of -40°C to +65°C, engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions. Built-in rapid shutdown capability helps reduce risk to utility workers and first responders. Homeowners can monitor system performance at the panel level, receive real-time alerts, and benefit from over-the-air software updates through the Enphase App.
IQ9N Microinverters that are manufactured in U.S. facilities with domestic content are designed to be “FEOC compliant” (see Enphase website for details on “FEOC-compliant” products) and may help eligible projects qualify for domestic content bonus tax credits. The products also comply with Buy American Act standards for federal direct procurement contracts.
"Residential solar customers expect their systems to perform at the highest level for decades," said Aaron Gordon, senior vice president and general manager of the systems business unit at Enphase Energy. "IQ9N Microinverters combine our proven distributed architecture with GaN technology and support for the latest panels, giving homeowners the most powerful, efficient, and reliable Enphase microinverter we've ever built."
IQ9N Microinverters are backed by an industry-leading 25-year limited warranty. The product is available now in the United States through Enphase distribution partners.
Certain Enphase products may qualify as FEOC-compliant under IRS Notice 2025-08. Customers should consult their legal and tax advisors to confirm eligibility.
Enphase Energy | https://enphase.com/
rPlus Energies announced the successful start of commercial operations for Green River Energy Center, a 400-megawatt (MW) solar and 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour battery energy storage project located in Emery County, Utah. As the largest solar and storage facility within PacifiCorp’s six-state service territory, Green River Energy Center highlights the growing role Utah continues to play in meeting the West’s increasing energy needs. In 2024, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced Operation Gigawatt, an initiative aimed at doubling Utah’s energy production over the next 10 years. The project reflects Utah’s commitment to expanding reliable, affordable energy production through Operation Gigawatt.
“Operation Gigawatt is about ensuring Utah has the reliable, homegrown energy needed to power opportunity for generations,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “Green River Energy Center represents the kind of large-scale energy investment we need to deliver reliable energy, support rural Utah, and help power the next generation of prosperity across our state.”
“Meeting America’s growing energy needs will require an all-of-the-above approach, and Green River Energy Center is an important example of that effort in action,” said US Senator John Curtis. “This investment strengthens our energy infrastructure, supports Utah workers and communities, and helps ensure reliable, affordable power for families and businesses across the West. I congratulate everyone who helped bring this project from vision to reality.”
Green River Energy Center will generate more than $55 million in property taxes for schools and public services. During construction, the project employed hundreds of workers, including several local contractors for key components. Project partners committed $375,000 in scholarships for local students who plan to build their careers at home while strengthening the region’s long-term workforce in local and energy-related industries.
“This project represents years of collaboration and commitment from all of the project partners,” said Luigi Resta, rPlus Energies President & CEO. “Together, we believed in the vision, and today Green River Energy Center is delivering reliable power and real value to families across the American West.”
The successful commissioning of the project was celebrated during an on-site ceremony held Monday, June 22, attended by Utah Governor Spencer Cox, project partners, and community members.
During the commissioning ceremony, project partners announced that they donated $45,000 to the Ferron Fire Department, located near the project, in support of local emergency response services and community infrastructure.
The project has received both national and local recognition, including Project Finance International’s “Renewables Deal of the Year – Americas” and the Emery County Business Chamber’s 2024 “Energy Company of the Year” award, in recognition of the project’s long-term investment and impact in the region.
Watch a video about Green River Energy Center here.
rPlus Energies | https://www.rplusenergies.com/
Alternative Energies Jun 16, 2026
American clean energy policy faces a gridlock. AI and cloud providers, the public, and government officials remain at odds over affordability and reliable power, imbuing tensions in regulatory dockets and legislative hearings throughout 2026. These s....
A decade ago, most utility-scale solar projects were built on flat, well-drained land. Today, those sites are largely gone. What remains are parcels that sit lower, drain poorly, or come with a history of standing water. At the same time, storms a....
The season for hail storms is getting longer, producing storms with large hail more frequently during an expanded season. Case in point: On March 10, 2026, softball-sized hail fell in northern Illinois. While that might not have been news had it occu....
The solar industry has spent the last decade relentlessly driving down cost. Module prices fell. Installation efficiencies improved. Supply chains have globalized. In many ways, the playbook worked. But as development pushes into more c....
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As wind development pushes into more rem....
They equip existing wind turbines with n....
Half of North America's installed wind f....
Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and blizzards have increased over the past several years. Alongside this trend, the need to protect critical onsite energy storage equipment has grown in order to maintain grid reliabi....
From hurricanes to ice storms and derechos, severe weather is hitting harder and more often. Energy infrastructure is under unprecedented strain, and the traditional methods of grid hardening are no longer enough. For decades, utilities have....
Americans are watching their electricity bills climb, and many are pointing the finger at the massive data centers sprouting up across the country. It's an understandable reaction. The U.S. Department of Energy U.S. says that data center energy ....
American clean energy policy faces a gridlock. AI and cloud providers, the public, and government officials remain at odds over affordability and reliable power, imbuing tensions in regulatory dockets and legislative hearings throughout 2026. These s....
The bond between solar energy and storage is undergoing a profound transformation. What started as a supplemental technology to reduce renewable energy intermittency is now becoming a defining prerequisite to how solar projects are financed, built, a....
When a complex, entrenched system faces immense strain, it can either generate the capacity for transformational change or distort in unproductive ways. The North American power grid is experiencing exactly this tension. After years of relative stasi....
