The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced on August 18 a new collaboration to help meet America's growing energy demand and bolster the country's leadership in advanced nuclear energy. Through a new power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kairos Power and TVA, Kairos Power's Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., will deliver up to 50 megawatts (MW) of reliable, 24/7 energy to the TVA grid that powers Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.

TVA is the first U.S. utility to sign a PPA to buy electricity from an advanced, GEN IV reactor, and Hermes 2 is the first deployment under Kairos Power's landmark deal with Google to enable 500 MW of new, advanced nuclear capacity to come online by 2035 in support of Google's load growth. To accelerate the delivery of clean energy to Google, Kairos Power will increase Hermes 2's output from 28 MW to 50 MW generated by a single reactor, scheduled to begin operations in 2030. 

Through this agreement, Google will receive the clean energy attributes from the plant through the TVA system to further decarbonize its data center operations in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, and support future growth in the region. 

This collaboration demonstrates TVA's commitment to integrating innovative, firm energy sources like Kairos Power's advanced nuclear technology to proactively support the development of new, clean generation within its service territory. 

"To power the future, we need to grow the availability of smart, firm energy sources," said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's Global Head of Data Center Energy. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system. Lessons from the development and operation of the Hermes 2 plant will help drive down the cost of future reactors, improving the economics of clean firm power generation in the TVA region and beyond."

"This collaboration is an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive," said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder. "The re-envisioned Hermes 2 gets us closer to the commercial fleet sooner and could only be made possible by close collaboration with TVA and Google, and a supportive local community. We are excited to grow Kairos Power'soperations in Oak Ridge while writing a new chapter in the region's distinguished nuclear history."

"Energy security is national security, and electricity is the strategic commodity that is the building block for AI and our nation's economic prosperity," said Don Moul, TVA President and CEO. "The world is looking for American leadership, and this first-of-a-kind agreement is the start of an innovative way of doing business. By developing a technology, a supply chain, and a delivery model that can build an industry to unleash American energy, we can attract and support companies like Google and help America win the AI race." 

Google, Kairos Power, and TVA aim to deliver an innovative solution for industrial energy users to meet their growing business needs responsibly while driving local economic growth and opportunity. This approach protects electricity customers by limiting development costs to first movers while helping to bring costs down for customers as additional units are delivered. 

What People Are Saying

"The deployment of advanced nuclear reactors is essential to U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership," said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. "The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance."

"I am pleased to see Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority join forces to deliver reliable nuclear energy in Tennessee," said Senator Bill Hagerty. "Advancing nuclear technology is essential to unleashing American energy and driving a nuclear renaissance that secures our competitive edge in the global market. This agreement is a critical step toward this goal. Cutting-edge innovation has a home in Tennessee, and I intend to see that our state remains at the forefront of developing transformative technologies to maintain America's lead in the all-important energy sector."

"Tennessee should be America's leader in nuclear energy to secure our nation's energy independence and protect national security," said Senator Marsha Blackburn. "This partnership will strengthen both Tennessee and America's leadership in innovative nuclear energy, fuel economic growth in Oak Ridge, and help meet the country's growing demand for energy."

"I congratulate Kairos Power, Google, and TVA on their groundbreaking collaboration that will hasten the deployment of next-generation advanced nuclear technologies and cement East Tennessee as the national and global leader for new nuclear innovation," said Energy and Water Appropriations Chairman Chuck Fleischmann. "The United States and the world are in critical need of robust, reliable, affordable energy, and this exciting partnership will ensure East Tennessee and America continue to lead the global nuclear renaissance that will create countless new jobs and power our future."

"Tennessee's legacy of nuclear innovation positions the Volunteer State to lead America's energy dominance and drive continued economic growth with safe, clean, and reliable nuclear energy," said Governor Bill Lee. "I thank Kairos Power for its commitment to expand their presence in East Tennessee, which will further strengthen our nuclear ecosystem and bring greater opportunity to Tennesseans."

Kairos Power | kairospower.com

Tennessee Valley Authority | https://www.tva.com/

Geronimo Power (Geronimo) announced the start of onsite construction at its 125-megawatt (MW) Jackson County Solar (Jackson) project in Jackson County, Michigan. Jackson will join the previously announced MiSolar Portfolio (MiSolar) in nearby Clinton and Monroe counties and will expand the company's presence within the Midwestern Independent System Operator (MISO) market to nearly one gigawatt (GW).

"As a company founded on a farm in the rural Midwest, I'm thrilled to see our MISO footprint continue to grow," said Joe Ibrahim, Vice President of Construction at Geronimo. "The addition of the Jackson project to our Michigan portfolio will bring more than $70 million in total economic benefit. This is significant when you consider the impact that will make for local residents and communities – we're proud to be part of that story."

Once operational, Jackson is anticipated to produce $28 million in new tax revenue over the first twenty years, which will be distributed to local counties, townships and school districts. Barnhart Energy Company (BEC) is constructing the project, which is estimated to sustain approximately 300 construction and service jobs.

"We've enjoyed serving Geronimo Power on the Jackson County Solar project and are proud to help bring this milestone to life in Michigan," said Jeff Bowin, CEO of BEC. "It's a testament to what's possible when vision and execution align with collaborative problem-solving. A true one-team culture. We're grateful for the trust placed in us as their EPC partner."

Geronimo has had a longstanding presence in the MISO region, with a history of developing projects that deliver vital energy infrastructure across the Midwest. Most recently, the company announced the addition of its 250-MW Portage Solar project in Wisconsin. In total, Geronimo has developed more than 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy within the MISO market, delivering more than $275 million in new tax revenue to local communities.

Anticipated to begin operations next year, Jackson is expected to generate enough clean, renewable energy to provide the equivalent electrical usage of an estimated 33,600 homes each year. Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the project is estimated to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 161,300 metric tons annually – the equivalent of removing an estimated 37,600 cars off the road for one year.

Geronimo Power | www.geronimopower.com 

SolAmerica Energy ("SAE" or the "Company") recently closed on a $100 million Revolving Credit Facility ("Revolver") with Deutsche Bank. The Revolver will be used to finance development for the Company's growing portfolio of projects, equipment including solar modules and inverters to be used in projects, as well as project construction.

The Company is headquartered in Atlanta and specializes in developing and managing distributed solar generation assets across the U.S. Southeast, East Coast, and Midwest. SAE is owned by funds managed by AB CarVal, an established global alternative investment fund manager and subsidiary of AllianceBernstein. Deutsche Bank served as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent on the transaction. This represents the third financing the Company has closed on since acquisition by AB CarVal funds in 2023, in addition to a $50 million construction loan with KeyBank and a sale-leaseback tax equity transaction totaling over $80 million, as an investment with or to be syndicated by Key Equipment Finance.

Katherine Mason, the CFO of SolAmerica Energy, said, "SolAmerica is pleased to close this $100 million revolving credit facility, which strengthens our financial flexibility as we continue to scale our renewable energy platform. This facility reflects strong lender confidence in our business model and long-term vision. We look forward to growing the relationship with Deutsche Bank as we continue to advance the energy transition."

"We are excited to expand our distributed generation development facility offering to SolAmerica Energy, a high-quality developer with a proven track record in the community solar space. We look forward to continuing to support SolAmerica Energy as they deliver reliable, affordable, and clean energy to ratepayers," said Jeremy Eisman, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Financing at Deutsche Bank.

"As the demand for energy and power capacity increases, we are pleased to work with SolAmerica and Deutsche Bank to support the development and construction of these projects. Renewable solar energy continues to offer an affordable and reliable source in the energy transition," said Alex Flamm, Managing Director with AB CarVal.

SolAmerica Energy | https://solamericaenergy.com/

AB CarVal | www.abcarval.com

Diamond Infrastructure Solutions ("Diamond") and Houston-based Third Pillar Solar ("Third Pillar") have entered into an agreement giving Third Pillar exclusive access to its Texasreservoirs to investigate its design, development, and deployment of utility-scale floating solar projects across the Diamond-owned reservoirs. This marks the first collaboration of its kind in North America. By utilizing previously unused surface area, the initiative will generate clean energy and help reduce water lost to evaporation.

The comprehensive floating solar initiative represents a potential investment exceeding $700 million and is expected to generate up to 500MW of clean energy — all while minimizing land development and helping conserve approximately 15% of freshwater currently lost to evaporation in a fast-growing, water-stressed region.

"Our agreement with Third Pillar marks a bold step forward in how we think about infrastructure and sustainability. By transforming underutilized water surfaces into clean energy assets, Diamond is advancing its commitment to innovation while delivering long-term value," shared Ed Noack, CEO of Diamond Infrastructure Solutions. "It's a win for industry, communities, and the environment."

The projects, planned to be constructed and in-service by the end of the decade, will support hundreds of local jobs during their multi-year construction and operation. Additionally, Diamond will collaborate with Third Pillar on local supply chain opportunities, leveraging their shared expertise to drive mutually beneficial innovation and community impact.

"This agreement demonstrates the growing appetite for utility-scale energy solutions and highlights how floating solar can enhance and transform the value of existing infrastructure, all while providing cost-competitive energy, preserving agricultural land, reducing evaporation losses, and existing out of public view," said Jaimeet Gulati, CEO of Third Pillar. "We're honored to be the chosen partner for such an innovative initiative."

These projects will be the largest floating solar installations of their kind in the Americas and represent the unique, multi-pronged value proposition that floating solar provides for energy production, land use and water conservation.

Diamond Infrastructure Solutions | diamondinfra.com

Third Pillar Solar | www.thirdpillarsolar.com

Shoreline Wind, the only dedicated AI-powered platform designed to manage the full lifecycle of wind farms, announced a new partnership with ENEOS Renewable Energy (ERE), a leading developer in Japan’s wind industry, aimed at boosting the efficiency of its offshore wind projects in Japan. ERE will deploy Shoreline’s digital platform across its current offshore developments, tackling key challenges such as complex logistics, unpredictable weather, and tight supply chains.  From initial project planning and simulation to long-term operations and maintenance, Shoreline’s platform will offer ERE a consolidated, streamlined approach to project development and management.

The partnership comes at a critical time for Japan’s energy transition. Under its 7th Strategic Energy Plan, Japan has announced plans to develop up to 10GW of offshore wind projects by 2030, with a longer-term target of 30–45GW by 2040. Achieving these targets will require more precise project planning and efficient coordination throughout industry and across the APAC region.

"Shoreline’s platform gives us a new level of insight and control to tackle the complexities of offshore development," said an ERE spokesperson. "Shoreline’s AI-powered solution will enable us to create more efficient and cost-effective strategies for construction and ongoing operations and maintenance across all of our projects. Shoreline’s technology will also help to accelerate Japan’s ambitious offshore wind targets" they continued. 

We’re excited to partner with ENEOS Renewable Energy as Japan drives forward to scale up its offshore wind sector," said Ole-Erik Endrerud, Founder and Chief Product Officer at Shoreline Wind. "The Shoreline platform simplifies offshore wind farm operations, mitigating risk and uncovering hidden efficiencies across the entire supply chain. By implementing our platform, hopefully we can help ERE deliver these benefits for Japan."

For Shoreline, the collaboration strengthens its position as the foremost partner for wind developers around the world. With more than 50 wind developers and OEMs that already rely on its platform to optimize project delivery and operations globally, Shoreline is the most trusted provider of dedicated SaaS solutions for wind businesses, worldwide.

Shoreline Wind | https://shoreline.no/ 

ENEOS Renewable Energy Corporation | https://www.eneos-re.com/english/

Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, is announcing the appointment of Michael Lutgring as General Counsel, effective August 18, 2025.

“We are excited to have Michael join our senior leadership team,” said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. “Michael’s deep and wide-ranging experience will be critical as we strengthen our capabilities and bring further expertise in-house as we continue our growth and development as a public company.”

Mr. Lutgring brings over two decades of legal and strategic advisory experience across corporate law, regulatory compliance and commercial transactions. Prior to joining Standard Lithium, Mr. Lutgring served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Albemarle Corporation, where he led legal support for global supply chain operations, manufacturing, engineering and corporate functions including human resources, information technology and risk management. Mr. Lutgring played a pivotal role in major corporate initiatives, including the $6.2 billion acquisition of Rockwood Holdings to enter the lithium business, as well as the $3.2 billion divestiture of Chemetall Surface Treatment to BASF. Prior to Albemarle, Mr. Lutgring held senior legal roles at Amedisys, Inc., and practiced with respected law firms, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities and governance matters. He is recognized for his ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and align legal strategy with business objectives.

Standard Lithium | www.standardlithium.com

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) issued the following statement from ACP CEO Jason Grumet in response to the Treasury guidance released for wind and solar projects: 

“The Treasury Department’s decision to accelerate the phase out of clean energy tax credits undermines the integrity of our energy grid and our legislative process. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress explicitly chose to provide energy companies with one year to phase out tax credits to keep energy prices low while meeting growing power demand. We acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of Senators who led the effort to elevate pragmatism over partisanship in the legislative process. Their continued advocacy to protect this legislative agreement was instrumental in avoiding greater impediments to energy deployment.”

American Clean Power Association | cleanpower.org