Recent export restrictions by China on key rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium have brought renewed attention to the global importance of these materials. As China implements new licensing requirements, particularly for elements used in high-performance magnets, manufacturers worldwide are confronting the reality that access to certain critical inputs can no longer be taken for granted. These restrictions ....
According to a recent report from the US Energy Information Administration, though 2024 saw record-setting levels of energy consumption, demand isn’t slowing down anytime soon. This comes less than six months after a separate reportestimated the US grid would need to increase its capacity to generate and deliver electricity by 16 percent in the next four years to keep pace with growing energy needs. Simply put, the count....
In an era marked by increasingly severe weather from Mother Nature, utilities face mounting pressure to enhance the resiliency and reliability of their power delivery systems. While icing of the wind turbine blades has been discussed extensively, the physical means of distributing that energy has been addressed far less. Just as wind farms components are adopting the latest technologies to modernize their fleets and extend life expectan....
Ensuring the reliability and efficiency of wind turbines requires a deep understanding of the fluids that keep them running smoothly. To that end, compatibility testing plays a critical role in preventing costly issues that arise from mixing incompatible lubricants. This article explores the significance of fluid compatibility testing in industries such as power generation, highlighting its ability to enhance equipment reliability, reduce mainten....
Energy Storage
Craig Tropea
Solar
Jonathan Lwowski
Solar
Steve Macshane, CESSWI
Airloom Energy, the company pioneering low-cost and resilient U.S. energy generation and backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, announced its pilot site groundbreaking near Rock River, Wyoming. At this research and development site, Airloom Energy will build out its first utility-scale turbine, designed to generate more energy at lower cost and increased efficiency amid the U.S.’s prevailing need for energy security and independence.
According to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), approximately half of the United States is at risk of energy shortfalls that could cause outages and reduced power supplies by 2035. Combined with surging demand from the increased use of AI and reliance on data centers, global research and advisory firm Gartner predicts 40% of existing facilities around the world will be constrained by access to sufficient power by as soon as 2027. Low-cost, high-efficiency energy is critical for the grid—requiring bold innovation and long-overdue improvements to power system design and deployment.
"Current energy technologies can’t meet the growing complexity and demand of the next decade," said Neal Rickner, CEO of Airloom Energy. "With growing electricity needs, we need more flexible systems that can be built quickly, and deployed anywhere at large scale. That’s the only way we’re going to achieve and maintain energy security and independence. Airloom’s proprietary, U.S.-manufactured turbines do just that—replacing bulky, costly models with low-cost compact designs that generate more energy in less space. This groundbreaking marks a key milestone in validating our power curve and achieving essential cost efficiencies for wind energy.”
Traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs), are increasingly less cost-competitive and difficult to construct. Made in low volumes and at massive scale, this approach has resulted in restricted innovation, limited sites for deployment, and a stagnation in levelized-cost of energy (LCOE).
Comparatively, Airloom Energy designs a next-generation of turbines that add to the energy mix while yielding substantial cost savings and boosts in efficiency, even without subsidies.
“Breaking ground on a first pilot site is a major inflection point for any wind technology product — Airloom has reached this point with remarkable speed and clarity of purpose,” said Paul Judge, former head of Product Management at GE Onshore Wind and advisory board member for Airloom Energy. “What sets Airloom apart is not only its innovative architecture, but the caliber of the team behind it who understand how to move from concept to scale with tenacity and rigor. This pilot is more than a test site; it’s the beginning of a fundamentally new approach to resilient renewable energy generation: wind energy that’s faster to deploy, land-efficient, and built for the energy challenges ahead.”
The groundbreaking keeps Airloom on track to complete its pilot site build out ahead of commercial demos beginning in 2027. At this site, Airloom will be installing and testing its proprietary turbine designs to validate its power curve, ensure efficiency of production, refine cost of deployment, and expand maintenance documentation. Beyond standard onshore integration, Airloom Energy will also evaluate future use cases such as defense, disaster relief, and offshore wind energy generation.
In October 2024, Airloom Energy raised $7.5 million in a seed financing round with participation from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, WYVC, Crosscut Ventures, WovenEarth Ventures, and others. An additional $5 million in Energy Matching Funds was secured in September 2024 from the State of Wyoming, and a $1.25-million non-dilutive contract from the U.S. Department of Defense in August 2024.
For more information about Airloom Energy’s wind turbine designs, technical roadmap, or investment opportunities, reach out to [email protected].
Airloom Energy | https://www.airloom.energy
Gripple, a leading manufacturer of engineered suspension solutions for construction and critical infrastructure applications, is proud to highlight Power-Tie, an advanced cable tie designed to deliver secure, efficient, and long-lasting cable management across solar applications.
Power-Tie sets a new standard for cable protection with its wide security strap, designed to distribute pressure evenly across electrical cables. This feature minimizes the risk of damage to cable jackets, ensuring long-term cable integrity and helping prevent costly operations and maintenance issues. With a robust construction that provides a maximum working load of 264 lbs, a wire rope tensile strength of 227 ksi, and a breaking load of 346 lbs, Power-Tie offers extreme holding power in demanding conditions.
The product is designed to operate effectively in temperatures from -40°F to +194°F, making it suitable for both extreme heat and cold. Installation is completely tool-free, enabling rapid deployment and reducing on-site complexity. Power-Tie is available in three size options, making it suitable for virtually any structure and eliminating the need to cut excess wire.
Material selection is at the core of Power-Tie’s reliability. The housing is made from corrosion-resistant zinc alloy, while the casing and strap are crafted from HDPE with UV and fire-retardant additives, extending product life and safety in outdoor environments. The wire rope is manufactured from 316 stainless steel, providing outstanding resistance to corrosion and ensuring consistent long-term performance for 20+ years, even in the harshest conditions.
With its high-performance materials and installer-friendly design, Power-Tie delivers a comprehensive, reliable, and efficient solution for solar cable management. Manufactured in the UK and USA to the highest standards, Power-Tie is compliant with IEC 62275 and UL 62275/CSA 62275, ensuring international safety and regulatory acceptance. Gripple’s Power-Tie combines secure, durable, and simple installation with lasting reliability and superior cable protection.
Gripple I www.gripple.com
nVent recently earned two notable recognitions. We have been recognized on the Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Companies list. Also, for the fourth consecutive year, nVent is Great Place To Work Certified.
Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Companies
The Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Companies 2025 list recognizes the top 750 publicly listed companies, across 26 countries, for their environmental sustainability performance. The ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of self-disclosed sustainability data. More than 8,000 companies were evaluated. Companies were screened based on sustainability standards established by the European Union.
At nVent, being a good steward of the environment is integral to how we operate. Our innovation, adaptability and continuous improvement approach allow us to help protect natural resources and provide value to our customers and the communities where we live and work. In 2024, we reduced normalized CO2e emissions by 47%, compared to our baseline year of 2019, through our energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy use. We also reduced our normalized water consumption by 36%, compared to our baseline year of 2019, through our water reduction and reuse effort. Learn more in our 2024 Sustainability Report.
Great Place To Work
For the fourth consecutive year, nVent has earned a Great Place to Work Certification, which recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience. The Great Place To Work Certification is based on current, anonymous employee survey responses. According to Great Place To Work, 76% of surveyed employees say nVent is a great place to work compared to a typical U.S.-based company at 57%. Additionally, 87% of surveyed nVent employees reported being made to feel welcome when joining the company.
Great Place To Work Certification also includes a Trust Index survey which draws commonly included words in employee comments. The most-mentioned words in nVent employee survey responses include “people,” “leadership,” “culture” and “team.”
It is an honor to earn these recognitions from Newsweek and Great Place To Work. We are proud of our employees, who made these achievements possible because of their dedication. Each day, our people are building the future of a more sustainable and electrified world, and they make nVent a great place to work!
nVent | https://www.nvent.com/en-us
Enertis Applus+, a global consulting, engineering, and quality control firm with extended expertise in the renewable energy and storage sectors, is acting as an Independent Engineer for Lydian Energy, a portfolio company of Excelsior Energy Capital. Enertis Applus+ is providing a comprehensive suite of technical advisory services for a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) portfolio of three standalone projects with a total capacity of 550 MW / 1,433 MWh. All three projects located in Texas are expected to reach Commercial Operation Date (COD) within a year.
“BESS projects are gaining increasing relevance as part of the overall energy infrastructure. And, standalone BESS systems such as these, which are directly connected to the electrical grid, provide much-needed flexibility and reliability to the overall network,” said Inaki Herrero, Enertis Applus+ Managing Director North America. “In 2024, Texas exceeded 5GW of installed storage capacity. In 2025, the Excelsior Energy Capital portfolio of 550MW will make up almost 10% of additional capacity for the state's storage resources and enable a considerable leap forward in the deployment of storage assets. We proudly contribute our extensive BESS engineering expertise to key renewable energy players such as Lydian Energy and Excelsior Energy Capital.”
The Enertis Applus+ team, including licensed professional engineers, accredited project managers, and OSHA 30 certified site personnel, performed technical due diligence (TDD) for project financing for each project. Via comprehensive analyses, the team verified that each project complied with the required technical regulations and quality standards, and identified any additional technical and economic risks. Each analysis evaluated site characteristics, design and main equipment, and grid connection, among other aspects.
Enertis Applus+ will perform milestone certification for Mechanical Completion (MC), Substantial Completion (SC), and Final Completion (FC), as the projects progress. All three are at or near notice to proceed (NTP) status. Team members also evaluated Excelsior Energy Capital’s coverage of equipment warranties and operational agreements, minimizing risks and maximizing performance.
As Texas continues to expand its BESS assets and BESS technology matures, considerable challenges emerge in its adoption and deployment. Utility-scale standalone BESS projects with a storage capacity exceeding 100 MW and nominal discharge durations of two hours, such as these, are key examples of successful increases in scale and impact.
The individual Excelsior Energy Capital Texas projects include: Headcamp Project (150MWac/391MWh), Crane Project (200MWac/521MWh), and the Pintail Project (200MWac/521MWh).
Enertis Applus+ | www.enertisapplus.com
Lydian Energy | www.lydianenergy.com
Excelsior Energy Capital | www.excelsiorcapital.com
Hitachi Digital Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., and is a global systems integrator powering mission-critical platforms with people and technology, announced an exciting partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences, which will provide Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood with sustainability-driven, cutting-edge digital technology solutions.
As part of this collaboration, Hitachi Digital Services will be a preferred provider of clean technology for Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Hitachi’s array of clean technologies includes electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, advanced battery energy storage systems, comprehensive energy management and optimization solutions, and power consulting services developed by and provided in partnership with Hitachi Energy.
“Hitachi Digital Services is thrilled to support Universal Destinations & Experiences as it looks for innovative ways to enhance its operation with new technology solutions,” said Hitachi Digital Services CEO Roger Lvin. “Our unique capabilities uniting the physical and digital worlds will enable us to power transformative solutions that drive sustainability and efficiency while also enhancing the experiences of millions of theme park visitors every year.”
“Innovation extends to every area of our business,” said David Grimm, Senior Vice President of Business Analytics and Industrial Engineering for Universal Destinations & Experiences. “Our tech-forward partnership with Hitachi reinforces our commitment to operating sustainably as we continue to offer guests around the world the most innovative and immersive entertainment experiences.”
Comcast NBCUniversal has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions across its global operations. Universal Destinations & Experiences’ sustainability initiatives are focused on clean energy and maximizing energy efficiency, reducing and recycling waste, and conserving resources.
As a company that is, itself, committed to social innovation and environmental sustainability, Hitachi Digital Services’ partnership with Universal illustrates Hitachi’s broad commitment to these ideals by helping its clients implement programs to achieve similar goals. This includes supporting them through the transformation towards clean technology and a more sustainable future.
Hitachi Digital Services | https://hitachids.com
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) announced three storage technologies projects that will receive up to $5 million each to demonstrate the ability of energy storage to support critical facilities and infrastructure during a power outage or other emergency. The selected projects will receive funding through the Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which OE released in August 2024.
Energy resiliency is crucial to support the nation’s electricity grid through extreme weather events, cyber or physical attacks, aging infrastructure, and electromagnetic events with the potential to cause widespread power outages. The selected projects will help advance innovative storage technologies from early-stage research and development to widespread commercialization. Projects will also demonstrate the capabilities of these storage technologies to support critical infrastructure or facilities with resiliency needs.
“This $15 million investment deepens our commitment to modernizing the nation’s electric grid through innovative energy storage technology solutions,” said Gil Bindewald, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Electricity. “Maintaining critical infrastructure will ensure the nation’s electricity grid remains reliable, resilient and secure as we navigate different emerging threats.”
Selected projects:
| Entity | Project Title | Project Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Binghamton University | Resilient Energy System based on high-voltage PhosphatE Cell Technology (RESPECT) |
Binghamton University and its partners will develop and demonstrate a Bio-Mineralized Lithium Mixed-Metal Phosphate grid-scale battery energy storage system to improve energy resilience at a critical services facility (e.g., fire, water treatment, etc.) in Endicott, NY. Funding amount: $5,000,000 |
| Inlyte Energy | Iron and Sodium Long Duration Battery for Multi-day Resilience and Renewable Shifting in High Wildfire Risk Zone |
Inlyte and its partners will develop and demonstrate an iron and sodium long duration energy storage system to improve energy resilience at the Alliance Redwoods site in Occidental, CA. Funding amount: $4.1 million |
| Long Hill Energy Partners | Demonstration of Low-Cost, Organic Quinone Flow Battery |
Long Hill Energy Partners and its project team will develop and demonstrate Quino Energy’s organic quinone flow battery to improve energy resilience at Los Angeles County’s High Desert Regional Health Center (HDRHC) in Lancaster, CA. Funding amount: $5,000,000 |
U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity | https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity
Quino Energy | https://quinoenergy.com/
Sharper Shape, a global leader in utility asset intelligence and grid resiliency software, has been named the winner of the Data Visualization Solution of the Year award in the 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards. The award, presented by AI Breakthrough Awards, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes top companies, technologies, and products in the global artificial intelligence industry, highlights Sharper Shape’s innovation in transforming raw utility data into visual, actionable insights through its Living Digital Twin (LDT) technology.
The AI Breakthrough Awards program is renowned for evaluating the most promising AI companies from around the world, with more than 5,000 nominations submitted this year alone. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts based on innovation, performance, ease of use, functionality, and impact. Winners include but are not limited to global leaders such as IBM, NVIDIA, and Intel—underscoring the prestige and competitive nature of this recognition.
Sharper Shape’s award-winning solution is powered by CORE (Cloud Optimized Remote Evaluation), its AI-driven platform that processes LiDAR, imagery, and other data to build a dynamic, digital representation—or Living Digital Twin—of utility infrastructure. This visualization enables utilities to understand, inspect, and manage their assets with a level of precision and proactivity never before possible.
“Our team is honored to be recognized by the AI Breakthrough Awards for our work in utility data visualization,” said Chris Beaufait, CEO at Sharper Shape. “This award validates our mission to revolutionize utility operations by making massive volumes of complex data understandable and actionable. We’re proud to empower utilities to make smarter decisions that protect people, infrastructure, and the environment.”
Sharper Shape’s CORE platform is already being used by major utilities to reduce truck rolls, inspect assets, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve wildfire risk mitigation. The platform’s visual insights help transform traditional grid management into a proactive, data-first discipline.
Sharper Shape | www.sharpershape.com
Energy Storage Jun 18, 2025
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Recent export restrictions by China on key rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium have brought renewed attention to the global importance of these materials. As China implements new licensing requirements, particularly for eleme....
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