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

Catalyze, a fully integrated developer of distributed renewable energy assets and Independent Power Producer (IPP), announced the completion of four community solar projects in central and western New York. Developed in partnership wit CS Energy, a renewable energy company that develops, designs, and builds optimized solar, and energy storage, the 27 megawatts (MW) of solar energy adds to Catalyze’srobust New York footprint, helping the state reach its goal of installing 6 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar ahead of schedule.  

The four projects—located in Pavilion, Phelps, Fonda, and Fabius—were designed to integrate seamlessly with the local grid and built with prevailing wage labor, supporting both reliability and clean energy workforce development. The installations were supported by New York State programs, including the Inclusive Community Solar Adder and the Community Adder, which help ensure reliable energy access to low-to-moderate income (LMI) subscribers and disadvantaged communities. 

The projects leveraged standardized design, a consistent racking system, and trusted subcontractor relationships, allowing the Catalyze and CS Energy teams to accelerate schedules and bring power online. At the same time, construction access and laydown areas were carefully managed so that farmland could return to its pre-existing condition, allowing landowners to continue farming outside the solar arrays. 

These four completed sites represent the first half of an eight-project collaboration between Catalyze and CS Energy. The remaining projects, totaling more than 25 MW, are scheduled for completion over the next year. 

“We're proud to be a part of the extraordinary progress New York state has made in accelerating the transition to renewable energy. Our work with CS Energy shows what's possible when states, developers, and communities align,” said Andrew D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer at Catalyze. “This milestone is about more than megawatts, it's about taking action. We are seeing businesses move fast to lock in the long-term benefits and cost advantages of solar power while federal tax credits are still in place, with states offering incentives designed to expand access.” 

Michael Garofalo, Vice President of Operations at CS Energy, added: “Community solar has become one of the most effective tools for delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power. We’re thankful to have collaborated with Catalyze on building these installations that will provide significant energy for businesses and households across New York at a time when electricity demands continue to grow.” 

The timing of these projects highlights the importance of acting quickly to secure federal tax incentives. Current solar investment tax credits cover 30 percent of project costs, with potential bonuses of 10 percent for domestic content and an additional 10 percent for projects in designated energy communities. With key deadlines approaching, developers and communities should act fast to maximize the economic and environmental value of solar deployment. 

Catalyze | www.catalyze.com

CS Energy | https://www.csenergy.com/

Japanese shipowner Nissen Kaiun has become a shareholder in Dutch Wind-Assisted Shipping Propulsion pioneer Econowind. This move highlights growing industry interest in fuel-neutral technologies. The Imabari-based shipping company, which operates a diversified fleet through several subsidiaries, said it had chosen Econowind for its technology.

“We recognized that Econowind has a mature Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion solution in the market,” a spokesperson for Nissen Kaiun said. “As one of the market leaders Econowind delivers proven technology. Making shipping more sustainable is a top priority at Nissen Kaiun. We are currently looking into installing the large version of their innovative VentoFoils on our vessels. It is well suited to maritime conditions while being easy for the crew to use. This technology allows us to take steps in reducing fuel consumption and emissions.”

Over 130 units sold worldwide
Econowind has developed the VentoFoil, a wing-shaped wind-assist device that drives decarbonization within the shipping markets. More than 130 units have been sold globally, with customers ranging from shortsea and deepsea operators across all market segments. 

Daan Koornneef, Chief Executive Officer of Econowind, said: “The partnership with Nissen Kaiun will support the expansion of our VentoFoil product line, including larger units for deepsea shipping, and could also open the door to future production in Asia. Nissen Kaiun is the perfect partner with a large network in Japan and wider Asian markets. With them becoming a shareholder, we can expand our footprint and accelerate the development of larger units for the deepsea markets.”

The agreement comes as shipowners worldwide look for immediate steps to cut emissions ahead of tightening regulatory targets. Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion is gaining traction as a fuel-neutral solution that can be combined with any engine type or fuel strategy.

Econowind | econowind.nl

Trystar, LLC announces the acquisition of Asentria Corporation to enhance its monitoring and controls solutions portfolio. Based in Seattle, WA, Asentria is a hardware and software company renowned for its expertise in the design and development of remote site monitoring solutions.

Asentria’s flagship product is the SiteBoss site controller, an intelligent site automation platform that integrates with power, environmental, and security systems. It enables mobile network operators, data centers, and utility companies to detect and manage potential site threats and power resiliency issues. SiteBoss senses and sends power metrics and system alarms to operators, giving them advanced notice of failures and operational efficiency issues. When combined with Asentria’s deep experience in power and pinpointing operational trouble spots, the advanced SiteBoss provides visibility and actionable information for its customers’ power sites and remote systems. Another key differentiator is Asentria’s software, which features a single web interface and dashboard to analyze and manage multiple systems.

“I’m excited that the talented team at Asentria will be joining Trystar. Their products complement and broaden our monitoring and controls offering, and further strengthen our presence in the telecom, commercial, and industrial end markets,” said Trystar CEO AJ Smith. “With our expertise in electrical power systems, as well as our resources and market presence, we can help advance Asentria’s products and go-to-market efforts even faster.”

“Our companies’ cultures are also very complementary – they care deeply about the customer experience, are passionate about innovation, and believe in the same values. The Asentria team will help us reach our vision of becoming the world’s foremost custom electrical solutions provider,” said Smith.

With 40 years of experience, Asentria is the leader in remote site monitoring in the telecommunications market. The company is a trusted partner of leading telecom firms because of its ability to collaborate with customers to engineer sophisticated, versatile, and reliable products.

“After getting to know AJ and Trystar’s leadership team, I knew that Trystar would be the right partner for Asentria,” said Derrick Enders, Asentria’s CEO. “Besides their deep expertise in monitoring and controls, Trystar values our culture, shares our customer-first mentality, and sees the strategic potential of our team and our technology. They’re not just acquiring our products, they’re investing in our people. Together, we will be able to scale faster, innovate more, and reach even more customers who depend upon reliable power and intelligent site management.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Trystar | https://www.trystar.com/

Asentria | https://www.asentria.com/

Anza, a leading energy storage and solar development and procurement platform, announced it has supported the procurement of over two gigawatts (GW) of solar modules in 2025, surpassing the total 2024 volume in just eight months. A significant portion of this volume helped developers and IPPs safe harbor projects against incentive and tariff changes. Between June and August, Anza helped 15 customers execute procurement contracts rapidly, with 11 different solar module manufacturers, totaling over 1.2 GW. Anza has leveraged its data, technology and procurement scale to significantly reduce timelines, executing full procurement cycles in under two weeks when required. 

The surge reflects growing developer appetite to preserve the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), lock in more favorable pricing and avoid tariff and schedule risk. Developers also accelerated safe harboring efforts to get ahead of new Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules, which will take effect starting Jan. 1, 2026, and restrict which projects are eligible for the ITC, significantly narrowing sourcing options.

Safe harbor momentum was largely driven by major policy changes in July 2025. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” accelerated the phaseout of solar project ITCs, requiring projects to begin construction by July 4, 2026, or be placed in service by Dec. 31, 2027. Days later, an executive order directed the Treasury Department to tighten safe harbor rules, further compressing timelines and heightening compliance risks. Together, these changes created strong incentives for developers to secure equipment before stricter rules take effect.

“Developers face significant supply chain risks and worse project economics if they do not safe harbor equipment,” said Mike Hall, CEO of Anza. “Layering in FEOC requirements along with new and retroactive duties and tariffs reduces options and creates availability concerns. Anza helps customers navigate these constraints by quickly surfacing compliant choices so projects stay on track and remain financially viable.”

Missing a safe harbor window could mean exposure to millions of dollars in unexpected costs or reduced project profit, schedule delays and redesign requirements. Projects that don’t safe harbor by July 2026 will face difficulties utilizing the ITC, almost certainly forcing them to charge corporate, utility or consumer offtakes significantly more per megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy. 

“With only a few days left to meet the 5% safe harbor deadline, Anza helped us quickly identify module options that could meet the 105-day delivery rule and outlined the risks associated with each counterparty,” said Allon Raveh, executive chairman of Nofar USA. “Within 72 hours, we secured capacity with two top-tier suppliers at competitive market pricing.”

Anza has delivered measurable results for customers across both solar and storage safe harboring. In one case, the company supported a 150 megawatt (MW) safe harbor module swap that preserved original engineering plans while avoiding redesign costs. By surfacing exact-fit alternatives and negotiating delivery inside the safe harbor window, the company delivered $3 million in savings on capital expenditures while ensuring full FEOC compliance. In another case, amid the April 2025 tariff pause, Anza coordinated sizing, pricing and contracting to secure 18 MWh of storage in just seven days, eliminating up to eight weeks of schedule risk and keeping a customer’s financing and commercial operation date intact.

Anza has consistently helped customers stay ahead of shifting tariff and trade policies. From preemptive procurements ahead of the new presidential administration in January, to navigating spring tariff pauses to securing modules during the Southeast Asia antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) case in 2024, Anza has become a trusted partner for solar module and energy storage system equipment buyers seeking certainty in volatile times.

With more than 8.4 GW of cumulative solar procurements supported to date through Advisory Services, Anza continues to accelerate the energy transition by helping developers significantly improve the speed, cost savings and risk position during procurement.

To learn more about Anza’s subscriptions and services, visit here.

Anza | anzarenewables.com

At the heart of the energy transition lies collaboration. ZF Wind Power is proud to announce a new milestone in System Co*operation: over 10 GW of shipped offshore wind capacity. This impressive number is the result of thirty years of offshore innovation in close partnership with Vestas, one of the world’s leading companies in sustainable energy solutions. This milestone marks a significant step forward in shaping the future of offshore wind through integrated solutions, shared innovation, and long-term strategic alignment. 

Offshore wind energy is rapidly transforming Europe’s energy landscape. With record-breaking investments, expanding infrastructure, and ambitious climate goals, offshore wind farms have become a cornerstone of the transition to sustainable, secure, and affordable energy. At the end of 2024, Europe had reached a cumulative (geared and direct-driven) offshore wind capacity of 37 GW*, powering millions of homes and industries across the continent. “We are proud to announce that these 10 GW are more than 50% of the European geared offshore wind capacity powered by ZF technology, a testament to our leadership in drivetrain innovation and the strength of our System Co*operation with our partners across the wind energy value chain,“ says Bert Verdyck, CTO of ZF Wind Power. 

Thirty years of offshore innovation, from 500 kW to 15 MW: stronger and even more reliable 

Thirty years of offshore innovation began in 1995 with Tunø Knob, the world’s oldest commercial offshore wind farm, which remains operational today. In partnership with Vestas, ZF delivered gearboxes for the V39-500 kW turbines – marking the start of a pioneering collaboration that continues to shape the offshore wind sector. 

Over the past three decades, both the industry and the ZF–Vestas partnership have undergone substantial evolutions. From 500 kW to today’s 15 MW turbines, offshore technology has become thirty times more powerful and significantly more reliable. 

From the early days of small-scale turbines to the cutting-edge V236-15.0 MW platform, ZF and Vestas have continuously pushed the boundaries of offshore performance while maximizing reliability. Reliability is the key to scaling offshore wind successfully. Every turbine must perform flawlessly in some of the harshest environments. That’s why both companies continuously invest in advanced turbine and powertrain technologies. 

Building systems that last is the first step toward a sustainable, secure, and affordable energy future for our partners, society, and the planet. The V236 model symbolizes transformation, combining Vestas’ innovative design with ZF’s powertrain expertise to deliver exceptional reliability in demanding marine environments. This 10 GW milestone is a testament to what’s possible when partners join forces to drive innovation. 

Empowering a sustainable future together 

With projections from the European Commission indicating that offshore wind could supply up to 30% of global electricity demand by 2050, Europe is expected to lead the charge – aiming to install between 240 GW and 450 GW of offshore capacity in the coming decades. Achieving this vision will require deep cooperation across the wind energy value chain, and ZF Wind Power is uniquely positioned to contribute. “Our proven track record, technological leadership, and commitment to System Co*operation – from Co*Design to Co*Service – make us an essential partner in scaling up wind energy, both onshore and offshore. Together with our partners, we are empowering a sustainable future through collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose,“ concludes Dr. Jochen Witzig, CEO of ZF Wind Power. 

ZF Wind Power | https://www.zf.com/products/en/wind/home/wind.html

*Source: WindEurope 

Weidmuller USA, a leading provider of smart industrial connectivity and automation products and solutionsheadquartered in Richmond, Va., announces the debut of Data Hub, a new core service inside its industrial automation u-OS operating system that amplifies the platform’s unwavering commitment to stay open, flexible and independent.

Weidmuller’s u-OS currently supports a wide range of commercially available applications and programs, such as CODESYS, Node-RED and Grafana, along with custom programming and support for most fieldbus and IIoT communication protocols.

Now, the Data Hub simplifies collaboration between different applications by offering the only service that supports three open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) – a feature that is unprecedented for the industry. 

Data Hub allows any app, controller or sensor to share data through these three APIs: 

• REST - for low-code IT calls
• NATS – a high-speed message bus for event-driven communication
• REAL TIME – a deterministic cyclic channel for real-time industrial exchange

“With this new feature, we further push into a truly open system that allows for seamless data exchange between applications without the need for complex programming. With this innovative service built into u-OS, machine builders, system integrators and plant operators can easily interact with the system’s I/O modules to access essential data and make variables from one application visible to another,” said Ken Crawford, Senior Director of Automation at Weidmuller USA.

Additionally, by eliminating protocol silos and the need for third-party middleware, Data Hub is fully independent of any particular manufacturer’s technology. This industry-leading level of openness allows users to connect CODESYS variables, Node-RED flows, PROCON-Connect data aggregates, or any customized application in just a few clicks. 

Data Hub removes traditional barriers such as proprietary gateways, cloud lock-ins or requirements for recurring licenses so integrators can focus on analytics, optimization and new services rather than hand-coding protocol bridges. 

“Hardware-agnostic by design, Data Hub runs across the full u-OS portfolio – from compact u-control PLCs to Weidmuller’s industrial-edge gateways – so projects can scale without re-writing a single line of integration logic. Secure authentication, role-based access, and comprehensive API documentation ensure developers can build confidently while meeting stringent plant-floor security standards,” added Crawford. 

Engineers, programmers and businesses can download u-OS version 2, 2.0 anytime and enable Data Hub immediately through the built-in update service or by visiting weidmuller.com/u-OS for further details.

Weidmuller USA | www.weidmuller.com

Southwire’s commitment to sustainability continues to grow with the construction of a new solar installation at our North Campus. The project will feature two solar arrays, including both solar roof and ground mount components, which will significantly contribute to our clean energy efforts. Construction on the roof mount system began in August, while work on the ground mount system will commence in the fall.

When complete, the combined arrays will provide a capacity of approximately 4 MWdc, 3 MWac, which is expected to supply between 15 and 20 percent of the site’s electricity needs. Nearly 7,500 solar panels will be installed as part of this initiative, making it one of the largest renewable energy projects in the company’s history.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2025 or early 2026. In addition to providing clean energy, the ground space will be enhanced with pollinator-friendly landscaping, furthering Southwire’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

This installation is another example of how Southwire is advancing toward its sustainability goals while also supporting operations with cleaner, renewable energy. 

Southwire | https://southwire.com/sustainability