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

XL Batteries, an energy storage company that is building the lowest-cost, safest and most efficient form of long-duration energy storage (LDES), announced a $7.5 million investment from Merrin Investors, the mission-driven family office of entrepreneur and philanthropist Seth Merrin. This new funding accelerates XL Batteries’ ability to scale its operations, enhance grid resilience, and support energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

As grids face rapidly rising stress from data centers, mass electrification and manufacturing, scalable, safe, and flexible LDES solutions are critical to maintaining resilience. Flow batteries offer a proven solution, but reliance on scarce, expensive materials has historically made them prohibitively costly and risky for mass deployment.

XL Batteries is addressing this challenge with its low-cost, safe, and efficient Organic Flow Battery. By utilizing proprietary, organic, low-cost electrolytes instead of scarce, corrosive and expensive vanadium, its technology reduces risk and costs and eliminates the need for specialized infrastructure or supply chains. This capital from Merrin Investors will help XL Batteries advance its pathway to commercialization and further solidify its position as an LDES leader addressing critical energy challenges at a time when many in the industry face headwinds.

“This investment from Merrin Investors underscores that XL Batteries is built to thrive in today’s environment,” said Tom Sisto, Co-Founder and CEO of XL Batteries. “Over the past several months, XL has hit several key milestones that prove our technology is effective. Now, with Merrin’s support, we are bringing the next generation of safe, cost-effective, long-duration batteries to market at a pace to meet growing demand.”

XL's capital-light approach and commercial readiness position the company for success in the LDES technology race. XL’s technology can meet virtually any power need, enabling utilities, data centers, and industrial users to maintain reliable access to power. The company recently announced several key deployment milestones, including a strategic partnership with Prometheus Hyperscale for large-scale deployments at data center campuses - a first for flow batteries in the United States - and a commercial-scale pilot project with Stolthaven Terminals in Houston, Texas.

“I’m thrilled to back XL Batteries because they are rewriting the rules of industrial-scale storage,” said Seth Merrin, Founder of Merrin Investors. “Its breakthrough, non-flammable technology delivers lower cost, longer life, and greater safety than anything else on the market. This investment will help accelerate the company’s ability to lead a trillion-dollar market while supporting the clean-energy transition — a perfect example of doing well by doing good.”

XL Batteries | www.xlbatteries.com

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has finalized SMART 3.0, the state’s updated solar incentive program. With the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) now on a phase-out schedule, businesses, property owners, and public entities that act quickly can maximize value by securing both state and federal incentives.

SMART 3.0, effective September 12, 2025, shifts the state’s incentive structure to an annually adjusted model and prioritizes rooftop, canopy, and brownfield projects. Enrollment for Program Year 2025 opens October 15 with 900 MW of statewide capacity, followed by a second enrollment period on January 2, 2026 for Program Year 2026. In parallel, the federal ITC phase-out sets clear deadlines: projects that start construction before July 4, 2026, have four calendar years to finish and still claim the credit, while projects starting later must be completed and operational by December 31, 2027.

“SMART 3.0 and the federal ITC together create one of the strongest opportunities Massachusetts has seen for solar and storage projects,” said Matt Shortsleeve, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Policy at Solect Energy. “Timing is critical to safe harbor ITC eligibility. At Solect, we’ve purchased and warehoused equipment to ensure customers can access qualifying, cost-effective equipment even as new federal requirements take effect. That investment along with our team's readiness gives organizations confidence to move forward now and capture the full stack of incentives available.”

To learn more about SMART 3.0, ITC eligibility deadlines, and how organizations can prepare, read Solect’s full blog post here: A New Era for Clean Energy: Inside Massachusetts’ SMART 3.0.

Solect Energy | www.solect.com

Indigenized Energy proudly announces the completion of the Off-Grid Buffalo Project, a groundbreaking renewable energy installation bringing power, sovereignty, and cultural revitalization to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. The 36-kilowatt off-grid solar energy system, paired with a 58 Kilowatt-hour of battery storage, now powers critical ranch operations, supporting the tribe's buffalo program and broader food and energy sovereignty goals.

Located near Ashland, Montana, the solar and battery storage system replaces diesel generators and provides sustainable and reliable power in a location too remote for a traditional grid connection. The system now powers a conditioning pasture, hydraulic buffalo chute, operations building, and watering infrastructure—supporting a herd of more than 300 buffalo, which are central to the tribe's identity, cultural restoration, and land stewardship.

"This isn't just about electricity—it's about power in every sense of the word," said Cody Two Bears, Founder and CEO of Indigenized Energy. "Power to manage your land, feed your community, and decide your own future. That's what energy sovereignty looks like."

The project was made possible through a powerful collaboration among tribal leaders, nonprofit partners, and renewable energy companies. Indigenized Energy led development and coordination, with Freedom Forever serving as the project contractor, equipment and training from Jinko Solar, and major philanthropic funding from the Honnold Foundation and Empowered by Light.

"We are thrilled to support this collaborative effort, which provides an incredible opportunity for the Northern Cheyenne to reestablish their sovereignty, improve the health of their tribe and strengthen their connection to a culturally iconic species," said Moira Hanes, Executive Director and Co-founder of Empowered by Light.

"This project shows how clean energy can honor culture, protect the land, and strengthen community resilience, while advancing food sovereignty and creating a model for climate solutions rooted in equity," said Emily Teitsworth, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation.

For the Northern Cheyenne, the buffalo represent more than a food source—they are sacred relatives and ecological partners in regenerating prairie lands.

"Our buffalo are central to who we are as a people," said Brandon Small, Buffalo Program Manager for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. "Caring for them means caring for our culture, our health, and the land that sustains us."

A dedication ceremony is planned at a later date to honor the tribal members, funders, and partners who made the project possible.  

Indigenized Energy | www.4indigenized.energy

In a powerful example of grassroots sustainability, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has installed its first Sunbolt solar-powered charging station, made possible by a student-led initiative and a donation from former university President Paul LeBlanc. Installed just before commencement at the edge of a popular campus greenspace, the Sunbolt VelocityLT Solar Workstation gives students a weatherproof, ADA-accessible location to gather, charge devices, and enjoy the outdoors, all powered by renewable solar energy.

"This is exactly the kind of community-led impact Sunbolt was built to support," said Vanessa Branco, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Sunbolt. "When students take the lead on sustainable infrastructure, they not only transform their campuses, they inspire others to rethink what clean energy can look like in everyday life."

Driven entirely by SNHU's Environmental Club executive board, the project was developed as a way to leave a lasting impact on campus. After attending the AASHE Sustainability Conference in 2024, the students identified solar-powered furniture as a way to promote wellness, environmental awareness, and outdoor engagement for tech-connected students. After evaluating several options, they chose Sunbolt's VelocityLT for its all-weather durability, fast installation, and accessible design.

The charging station features 120V outlets, USB and USB-C ports, fully powered by integrated solar panels, and includes a custom plaque that reads: "To let the sun recharge your devices & recharge your minds."

Since its installation, the workstation has seen near-constant use, even during the quieter summer months, demonstrating strong demand for sustainable, student-centric infrastructure.

"This table is about bridging the gap between our digital lives and the natural world," said Jade Kosa, SNHU Environmental Club Vice President and project lead. "We wanted to give students a way to spend more time outside and the opportunity to grow their love for nature, even when they have to be tied to their screens."

SNHU has taken significant steps toward sustainability in recent years, with multiple LEED-certified buildings and a STARS Bronze rating. While future solar deployments are still under discussion, Sunbolt hopes this initial installation will serve as a model for other universities looking to combine climate goals with tangible, student-led action.

Sunbolt workstations are installed at colleges and universities across the country, helping to meet institutional sustainability targets while improving access to power, wellness spaces, and outdoor learning environments.

Sunbolt | www.gosunbolt.com

PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (CBOE CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in North American energy infrastructure development and asset ownership, is pleased to share a progress update for the three Community Solar projects in Nova Scotia. These projects located in Sydney, Brooklyn, and West Petpeswick (the "Projects") are all expected to receive interconnection results within the next 30 days. If the interconnection results are positive and the projects are financially feasible, the Company expects to begin construction in the Spring of 2026.

The Projects are owned by AI Renewable Flow-through Fund and PowerBank is the lead developer and builder for the Projects. PowerBank will partner with local Nova Scotia's trusted engineering firm, Trimac Engineering, to deliver the Projects. PowerBank has been at the forefront of community solar development in the United States with over 50 MW of community solar projects completed and is proud to be deploying its expertise in Canada as the community solar market develops there.

Over the Projects lifetimes, they will be generating up to a combined $6.95 Million in electricity savings for the local communities in Sydney, Brooklyn and Petpeswick. These savings come with the additional benefits of local job opportunities, economic growth, local educational opportunities regarding renewable energy, improved grid reliability, and emissions reductions.

The Canadian Federal government and the Province of Nova Scotia are very supportive of Community Solar, with a number of incentives, including the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), Indigenous-Led Clean Energy Stream, and the Low Carbon Communities program.

Community solar is a cornerstone of Nova Scotia's bold commitment to achieve 80% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero by 2035. As one of only four community solar contracts awarded under the program so far, the three projects contribute approximately 12.4 MW DC to the 100 MW AC of planned solar additions that will help reduce fossil fuel reliance and drive local economic development.

Unlike traditional rooftop systems, community solar allows renters, businesses, and homeowners to subscribe to the solar farm and receive bill credits and savings of $0.02/kWh—without installing any equipment. Project feeds directly into the local electricity grid and offers a flexible, accessible way for Nova Scotians to participate in the clean energy transition.

The Projects leverage PowerBank's proven execution capabilities and strategic partnerships. With over 100 MW of projects built and a 1+ GW development pipeline, PowerBank brings institutional-grade development expertise to Atlantic Canada. The Project's clear timeline ensures near-term EPC revenue generation, and positions PowerBank to obtain additional development contracts in the high-growth community solar market. All MW numbers presented as MW DC unless otherwise specified.

PowerBank Corporation | www.powerbankcorp.com

The BESSt Company, founded by Tesla alum Joley Michaelson, has launched a proprietary zinc-polyiodide REDOX flow battery designed for sectors that demand uninterrupted power, data centers, cold storage, and AI infrastructure. Based on breakthrough chemistry licensed from Battelle, The BESSt Company's platform offers multi-hour to multi-day energy storage, safety, affordability, and supply chain resilience, with non-flammable, abundant, rare-earth-free materials, and the most compact footprint in its class. Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is crucial to advancing the energy transition and meeting rising power demand. The BESSt Company's "any-duration" storage technology delivers uninterrupted, always-on energy that makes long-duration runtimes viable for sites of any scale.

The Technology and Why It Matters 

As power and energy demand surge, extreme weather-related outages increase, and the grid ages out of reliability, critical industries are turning to renewables for an unimpaired and robust energy supply. But generation alone doesn't ensure availability. Many rely on costly workarounds: oversized systems, diesel generators, or short-duration lithium-ion batteries packed with rare earth minerals, limited in capacity, and exposed to fragile supply chains. None were built for extended or bespoke runtimes. To date, most LDES technologies remain too bulky, site-restricted, or capital-intensive for widespread commercial and industrial use.

The BESSt Company battery changes the equation. It aligns renewable generation with real-world usage, turning intermittent power into a stable, on-demand resource. Power is banked, dispatched, and controlled.

"Energy storage has always been the missing link," said Joley Michaelson, founder and CEO of The BESSt Company. "Conventional lithium-ion can't meet today's uptime demands, and most long-duration systems are built for utility-scale projects, not the space and retrofit limits of real-world infrastructure. We designed this battery for those conditions at a cost that makes widespread deployment possible."

Supported by over 100 peer-reviewed studies and independently validated by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the chemistry offers unmatched safety, lifespan, and operational flexibility.

"It solves the problems that have held long-duration storage back," said Kevin Meagher, Chief Science Officer at The BESSt Company. "We built a system that stores power for days without performance loss, operates reliably in extreme conditions, and delivers predictable output when the grid can't. That's what the market needs: storage that behaves like true infrastructure."

          The BESSt Company battery delivers up to 20 times the energy density of conventional vanadium flow batteries (the most popular LDES technology today). Its compact, modular form factor makes it deployable in space-limited settings, unlocking any-duration, multi-hour to multi-day energy storage.

About The BESSt Company

          The BESSt Company was established to solve a critical bottleneck in renewable energy delivery, building on technology developed by The Sun Company, which was founded by Joley Michaelson in 2018. In designing decentralized power systems for mission-critical sectors, the team identified a critical need for energy storage engineered to meet real-world conditions—solutions that extend uptime, reduce space and safety constraints, and scale with demand. In response, they began developing a new platform that pairs field-tested system design with zinc-polyiodide chemistry licensed from Battelle. Today, The BESSt Company is advancing that platform through late-stage development and preparing for commercial deployment, supported by strong early interest from strategic partners and institutional investors. Visit www.tbc.energy

Solerus Energy, a trusted resource for solar and BESS installers and homeowners, announces a rebrand reflecting the company's growth from a regional parts supplier to a national, end-to-end solar solutions provider. The rebrand introduces a new visual identity, redesigned website, and improved e-commerce functionality to serve customers better as solar technology becomes increasingly mainstream.

The company's newly expanded product catalog includes a broad range of racking hardware, shutdown components, and monitoring systems selected to meet the needs of both professional and first-time solar users. The refreshed identity includes a modernized website that makes it easier for users to explore product lines, compare system configurations, and get expert advice. Solerus' new website also integrates a robust e-commerce platform designed to simplify procurement for solar buyers.

"Solar technology has accelerated quickly, and we've seen a growing wave of contractors and DIY homeowners who want flexible, affordable solutions," says Syed Mujtaba, founder and president of Solerus Energy. "We're excited to have grown from a regional presence to a nationally recognized brand due to the Solerus team's consistent focus on providing expert support to each customer, from design through final troubleshooting."

The company's new website highlights Solerus' value proposition: free technical support and system design services for both DIY and contractor customers. Key updates include:

• Streamlined navigation through a complete, searchable catalog with displayed prices
• A blog to share best installation practices and industry insights for contractors and DIYers
• Multiple payment options with automated tax and shipping calculations, including PayPal, credit card, and ACH
• Further information on Solerus' background, team, manufacturer details, and unique value proposition

"We aim to keep it simple," Syed said. "We ask customers what they want their system to provide, and guide them toward proven, high-performing products that will get them there. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of solar."

Solerus Energy | solerusenergy.com