Looking Ahead to 2026

On February 11, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a draft resolution (Resolution E-5440) that it is likely to vote on in early March. The resolution—which concerns necessary improvements to an important grid transparency tool called an Integration Capacity Analysis, or ICA—raises serious concerns about whether the Commission is committed to ensuring that this tool, which has been over ten years in the making and has cost ratepayers millions, ever achieves its intended functionality

Problems with the state’s ICA data have been well documented since the first full versions of the ICA were published in 2019. Though these issues prevent the tool from being used as intended, over the last few years, the Commission has repeatedly declined to require the state’s investor-owned utilities to fix the issues and comply with the Commission’s own regulations. The CPUC’s new resolution continues the trend by failing to resolve the known issues. 

Comments on the draft resolution are due next Tuesday, March 3, with replies to those comments due Monday, March 9th. Barring a decision from the Commission to revise the resolution after comments are received, a vote is expected on March 19, 2026. This is a critical moment in California utility regulation that will determine whether additional years go by in which ratepayer funds are wasted on a tool that does not work as intended, or whether the Commission will hold the state’s utilities accountable to ensuring the ICA provides the minimum functionality that the Commission has already mandated. 

California’s ICAs: What Are They, What’s Wrong, and Why Does It Matter?

California’s Integration Capacity Analyses (ICAs) are grid transparency tools that are intended to help the state meet its clean energy and electrification goals by providing data that enables developers to advance projects efficiently and affordably. Presented as maps, the ICAs show where there is capacity on the electric grid to add new electric generation (like solar projects) or load (like electric vehicle charging stations), without the need for costly and time-consuming upgrades to grid infrastructure. Each of California's major investor-owned utilities (IOUs)—Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)—was ordered to create an ICA, starting with a pilot program in 2015.

Unfortunately, since the first full ICAs were published in 2019, the ICA data utilities provide has consistently been too incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, or redacted to be used for intended purposes. Additionally, in the years since the first ICAs were published, the Commission has established numerous other policies and practices for clean energy and EV charging projects that depend on this tool. For example, under a rule published in 2020, ICA data should be used to streamline the process of approving clean energy projects to interconnect to the grid. It is also the basis for a program in which clean energy projects can propose operating schedules to stay within current grid capacity to avoid having to pay for grid upgrades. Without improvements, both the original intended value of the tool and the related policies that depend on it, will not be realized. 

Affordability is another key issue at play in the resolution. If the ICA were functional, it could help avoid millions of dollars in distribution upgrade costs by directing customers to locations with existing capacity instead of those requiring costly and time-consuming grid upgrades, which utility ratepayers will have to pay for. This is a vital option to limit increases in electricity rates. Adding insult to injury, California’s IOUs have collectively spent millions of ratepayer dollars on a tool that still does not work properly despite over a decade of work. Under the current resolution, ratepayers will continue to fund utilities’ related activities to produce the ICA without any actual improvements in its quality. 

California already has the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S. At a time when rapidly rising electricity prices are a critical concern for Californians, a resolution that fails to require any fixes or penalize utilities for lack of compliance sends the message that the Commission is not committed to holding its regulated utilities accountable for responsible spending of ratepayer funds—which directly contribute to electricity prices. 

Specifics of the Resolution

There are three primary issues that currently prevent the use of ICAs for their intended purposes. First, questions about the accuracy of the ICA have persisted since its completion in 2019. While some of the glaring problems have been remedied, it is undisputed that SCE’s Load ICA does not produce results that align with actual grid conditions. The Load ICA is intended to identify where there is capacity on the grid to develop EV charging stations and other sources of energy consumption. SCE’s is clearly failing to do that. For example, though the quality of the data provided was poor, a recent report from SCE appears to demonstrate that, out of 507 EV charging applications, ICA results were not aligned with actual grid conditions in 43% of cases. 

Rather than requiring the issue to be fixed, the Commission orders utilities to report on whether ICA results align with interconnection outcomes and to file letters recommending (but not implementing) improvements, “no earlier than 18 months and no later than 30 months.” Given that utilities are unlikely to file recommendations before they are required to, this all but assures that there will be no steps to improve the ICA for several more years. While there is value in this reporting, when it comes to SCE’s Load ICA, there is no reason to wait for more data; it will not change the need for a solution. The Commission should require SCE to fix the Load ICA by the end of 2026, and shorten the timeline for action on the reporting significantly.

Second, data redaction: SDG&E continues to redact excessive information from its ICA. It has engaged in these redaction practices since it first published its ICA; the Commission previously ordered SDG&E to discontinue the practice, yet it continues to violate past orders. The Commission’s draft resolution oddly acknowledges that SDG&E is not in compliance with the orders, but only requires it to publish two additional data fields rather than the actual ICA results. This change will not help projects locate sites, and the draft resolution offers no explanation of why the Commission is not requiring publication of the data that it previously ordered. The Commission should require full utility compliance with its own data transparency orders.

Third, because grid conditions change rapidly as new projects are developed, ICA data is only useful if it is regularly updated. The Commission previously ordered all of the state’s IOUs to update the ICA for all circuits with changed conditions on a monthly basis. This is the bare minimum necessary for ICA usability, yet PG&E and SCE continue to fail to meet this requirement. Although the resolution acknowledges that the monthly updates are required, it does not order the utilities to come into compliance or create any consequences for failure to meet the required cadence. 

This is a critical moment for California regulators to show that they take seriously their responsibility to regulate the state’s investor-owned utilities and enforce rules that have already been on the books for multiple years without utility compliance. Interested parties can submit public comments through March 9th to express their desire for the Commission to hold utilities to account and require a usable ICA. Functional ICAs can help accelerate the efficient and affordable transition to clean energy and electric transportation.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council | irecusa.org 

Smart Energy Week Spring 2026, one of the world’s largest exhibitions for renewable energy, clean power technologies and next generation energy systems, will open at Tokyo Big Sight from March 17 to 19, bringing together global energy professionals as the momentum toward carbon neutrality accelerates.

Smart Energy Week 2025 welcomed thousands of attendees at Tokyo Big Sight, highlighting the industry’s rising engagement as the 2026 event approaches.

As the event unfolds, attendees can expect a comprehensive display of technologies spanning hydrogen and fuel cells, energy storage, solar and wind power, smart grids, biomass and zero-emission thermal power. More than 1,600 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors from across Asia and the world are anticipated to participate, reinforcing Smart Energy Week’s position as a dynamic marketplace for energy innovation. The breadth of solutions on display creates a cohesive environment for discovering how renewable and smart energy systems continue to evolve and integrate into global decarbonisation strategies.

In addition to its primary exhibitions, the event will also run concurrently with Sustainability Management Week, formerly known as GREEN TRANSFORMATION WEEK, which broadens the show’s scope by spotlighting corporate sustainability initiatives that are now central to long-term business strategy. This co-located exhibition highlights decarbonisation solutions, circular economy models, sustainable materials, energy management technologies and supply chain innovations, allowing attendees to navigate both energy transformation and enterprise level sustainability developments in a single venue. Together, the two events reflect the increasing interconnectedness of cleantech adoption and organisational sustainability performance.

Exhibitors and attendees fill the show floor at Smart Energy Week 2025, showcasing a wide range of technologies across hydrogen, fuel cells, solar, batteries and other clean energy sectors.

Meanwhile, leading companies shaping Japan’s energy transition are set to play a visible role throughout the exhibition halls. Major brands such as JERA Co., Ltd.; BYD Energy Storage; Toyota Motor Corporation; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.; GS Yuasa Corporation; Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Taisei Corporation; Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.; Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.; and IHI Corporation will showcase portfolios aligned with hydrogen ecosystems, advanced batteries and energy storage systems, electrified mobility, grid modernisation technologies and zero-emission thermal pathways. Their presence underscores the show’s status as a key global platform for advancing practical, scalable energy solution storage systems, electrified mobility, grid modernisation technologies, and zero-emission thermal pathways. storage systems, electrified mobility, grid emission thermal pathways‑storage systems, electrified mobility, grid‑emission thermal pathways.

The event’s conference program further enriches the experience, offering high signal sessions from leaders at theMinistry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Honda R&D Co., Ltd., IHI Corporation, TEPCO Power Grid, Inc., MHI Vestas Japan Co., Ltd., and JERA Co., Ltd. These presentations will explore Japan’s GX strategy, hydrogen technology developments, pathways for electric aviation, next generation power network design, offshore wind expansion and emerging trends in zero-emission thermal power. Together, these discussions provide a strategic vantage point on how policy, technology and industry are converging to redefine the energy landscape.

Beyond the exhibits and conference sessions, Smart Energy Week continues to serve as a premier meeting ground for decisionmakers across utilities, manufacturers, engineering firms, technology developers and government agencies. Attendees gain direct access to innovations poised to reshape global energy systems, while also participating in networking opportunities that foster partnerships, investment and market expansion. The strong representation from Japan, China, South Korea and other key Asian markets positions the event as a gateway to the region’s rapidly developing clean‑tech sector.

As Smart Energy Week Spring 2026 and Sustainability Management Week prepare to open this March, the combined event stands as a pivotal moment for stakeholders seeking to translate decarbonisation strategies into real-world action.

Visitor registration for the Tokyo show is now open, with free general admission and VIP registration available for management‑level attendees seeking enhanced access and privileges. With energy innovation and sustainability leadership converging under one roof, early registration is encouraged to secure priority entry and valuable meeting opportunities.

Smart Energy Week Spring 2026 | www.wsew.jp/spring

Despite falling hardware costs and rising public interest in clean energy, rooftop solar adoption in the U.S. faces a significant financing gap. Even though the US residential solar market installed 6.8 GW of capacity in 2023, up 13 % from a year earlier, high financing costs and confusing loan structures continue to dampen consumer uptake, says Wolf River Electric.

Analysts report that loan and cash financing volumes for customer‑owned systems dropped by more than half in 2024, as rising interest rates and economic uncertainty made traditional loans less attractive for homeowners. While alternative models such as third‑party ownership (leases, PPAs) gained share, they also shift long‑term value away from consumers rather than building ownership equity.

Compounding the problem, market research shows that 77 % of solar installers still offer financingbecause they recognize its importance, yet high interest rates and dealer fees, which can tack on up to 19 % or more of a system’s principal, make loans less appealing.

Industry studies also highlight financial confidence barriers: uncertainty over system ROI and payoff timelines remains one of the most persistent obstacles to rooftop solar adoption, second only to upfront cost concerns. This has left many homeowners hesitant to embrace solar even as panel costs decline and public incentives such as tax credits help reduce net expenses.

Financing Is the New Bottleneck

High interest rates and opaque loan fees have curtailed consumer willingness to invest in solar, with traditional lenders becoming more cautious. As consumer loans constitute a shrinking share of the market, homeowners face fewer attractive options for paying for rooftop solar.

Why Payback Realism Matters

Many consumers misunderstand payback assumptions. The CFPB has warned that some solar loan products hide markups and overestimate future energy savings, contributing to confusion and misaligned expectations.

Installer Quality & Performance Guarantees Reduce Risk

Performance over decades depends not just on panels, but on installation quality, monitoring, warranties, and maintenance plans: elements often glossed over in financing packages. Educating lenders and homeowners about these long‑term risk drivers can improve underwriting and consumer confidence.

“The next solar breakthrough are trust and transparency.

Solar hardware has become commoditised, but financing still traps too many homeowners in confusion. Lenders and buyers alike underestimate how much performance guarantees, installer quality signals, and realistic payback assumptions matter to long‑term success.

Consumers often base decisions on overstated future energy savings or poorly explained loan terms. Meanwhile, lenders can struggle to underwrite renewable energy finance because bankers aren’t used to evaluating long‑term production risk or maintenance assumptions. Standardising underwriting practices around verified system performance, clear warranties, and documented maintenance planswould reduce risk and expand access.

Homeowners want dependable energy cost savings, not surprise fees or assumptions that solar payback will happen overnight. Educating buyers on lifecycle performance and giving lenders confidence in system quality will unlock adoption far more than incremental panel efficiency gains. Trust, in installers, in financing, and in the long‑term expectations of a system, will be the real key to scaling rooftop solar,” says Solar Expert, Justin Nielsen from Wolf River Electric.

Wolf River Electric | https://wolfriverelectric.com/

Latvian startup Deep Space Energy has closed its pre-seed round by raising €350K, led by Outlast Fund and Linas Sargautis, an angel investor and a former co-founder of NanoAvionics. The company also secured additional €580K in public contracts and grants by the European Space Agency (ESA), NATO DIANA, and the Latvian government. The funding will primarily be used to further develop a novel radioisotopic generator toward commercialisation, in a bid to strengthen the European sovereign space and defence industry and power Moon surface exploration.

Deep Space Energy is developing a power generator technology that is based on radioisotopes, materials derived from nuclear waste, which generate heat through natural decay. According to Mihails Ščepanskis, founder and CEO of the company, their solution converts that heat into electric power, requiring 5 times less radioisotope fuel than a thermo-electric generator (RTG), currently used in space.

“Our technology, which has already been validated in the laboratory, has several applications across the defence and space sectors. First, we’re developing an auxiliary energy source to enhance the resilience of strategic satellites. It provides the redundancy of satellite power systems by supplying backup power that does not depend on solar energy, making it crucial for high-value military reconnaissance assets,” Ščepanskis says.

From left to right: Linas Sargautis (advisor), Prof. Jānis Priede (Chief Scientist, co-founder), Dr. Mihails Ščepanskis (CEO, co-founder), Olga Barreto Goncalves (BD & Project Manager) (Photo by: Bruno Kabucis)

The company highlighted that its radioisotope-based energy generator is not designed for any kind of weapons. It will target high-value, dual-use satellites to increase their resilience and operational reliability. The primary focus is on satellites operating in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), which are all critical for modern military reconnaissance and early-warning systems.

These satellites support a range of defence functions, from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites for detecting troop concentrations through clouds and foliage, to signal intelligence for intercepting communications and radio transmissions, as well as missile-launch detection, which is essential for anti-missile defence systems.

Ščepanskis says that the ongoing war in Ukraine clearly demonstrated the decisive role of satellite-based reconnaissance data for modern warfare.  In 2025, Ukraine lost its beachhead in Russian Kursk Oblast at a time when the US temporarily terminated the sharing of satellite intelligence. This fact highlights the strategic importance of satellite-based reconnaissance data and also indicates the strategic vulnerability of Europe, which largely relies on the US defence space assets, especially for high-value GEO satellites.

“As Europe is trying to become more independent, it is imperative to produce satellites with advanced capabilities on our own. Our technology provides an auxiliary energy source for satellites, which makes them more resilient to non-kinetic attacks and malfunctions," he adds.

In the long term, the company aims to focus on the Moon economy. The radioisotope power generator will address critical energy challenges in the next phase of lunar exploration, including NASA and ESA’s Artemis, Argonaut and lunar rover programmes, as well as the Moon Village framework. In particular, the technology is designed to support lunar night survival and operations in permanently shadowed regions, enabling extended scouting and prospecting missions.

On the Moon, where the temperatures at night drop below 150 degrees Celsius, and nights last for roughly 354 hours, moonrovers can’t rely on solar power. 

The company’s technology requires approximately 2kg of Americium-241 fuel to generate 50W of power for a lunar rover, compared with around 10kg of radioisotope material needed by legacy RTG systems for comparable output. Given current projections that Americium-241 production capacity will reach around 10kg per year by the mid-2030s, this efficiency could enable lunar exploration missions to begin more than five years earlier and at up to five times the mission volume. 

As a result, commercial lunar activities and resource utilisation could emerge significantly sooner than previously expected.

According to Ščepanskis, the company’s technology can significantly enhance the economics of moon rover missions by enabling them to last multiple day-night cycles up to a few years. The sole expenses of bringing payload to the Moon cost up to a million euros per kilogram; thus, by enhancing the lifetime of the rovers, the company helps to save hundreds of millions. 

Egita Poļanska, partner at the lead investor Outlast Fund, says that the company’s direction aligns with the fund’s strategic goals.

“Space energy tech has been stuck with certain limitations for decades, but we’re finally seeing the pieces come together for a real breakthrough – new materials, smarter power systems, and actual commercial demand for lunar operations. Deep Space Energy is building the infrastructure that will literally power the next chapter of space exploration and industry. As Europe ramps up its space ambitions, we need our own companies to lead in these foundational technologies. We’re thrilled to back this team and honestly pretty excited to have an actual moonshot in our portfolio, in the most literal sense possible,” she says.

Linas Sargautis has also participated in the round and joined the company’s leadership team as an advisor, emphasising that such investments put the Baltics in the spotlight as an emerging space hub.

“The Baltic region is increasingly recognized for its innovation in space technology, with Deep Space Energy serving as another strong example. By supporting Deep Space Energy, we are helping to establish a solid foundation for the future of space frontier exploration, such as lunar and deep-space missions, expanding humanity’s knowledge and footprint, while also contributing to European space defence capabilities,” Sargautis says. 

“I am proud to support the company’s journey by strengthening the team’s connections with leading space systems integrators, as well as supporting the company’s expansion and contracting plans to build the necessary expertise at the subsystem integration level.” 

Deep Space Energy | https://deepspaceenergy.space/

Hammond Power Solutions (HPS), a leader in dry-type transformers and power quality solutions, announces the addition of Iralynn Rumbaoa and Shayne Welch to its Technical Solutions team. These additions strengthen HPS’s ability to provide consultative technical support and innovative solutions to customers across North America. 

Rumbaoa joins HPS as Technical Solutions Consultant for the Western United States. She brings more than 16 years of experience in electrical and industrial markets, including roles at Schneider Electric, ABB, and Killark Electric (Hubbell). She will leverage her expertise in industrial, utility, and data center markets to help customers and partners optimize power systems and improve operational efficiency. Her experience in strategic account management, technical presentations, and channel development enables her to deliver effective, solutions-focused guidance. 

Welch joins HPS as Technical Solutions Consultant, Canada. With more than 30 years of experience in the electrical industry, including 25 years with HPS, he brings deep knowledge of HPS products and strong customer relationships. He will use his expertise to support Canadian customers and partners in expanding product adoption, guiding specifications, and improving power system performance. His experience in technical leadership and market engagement ensures customers receive consultative guidance tailored to their needs. 

“These additions reflect our commitment to expanding Technical Solutions to better serve our customers,” said Jeff Somerville, Director, Technical Solutions at HPS. “Iralynn and Shayne bring the expertise and consultative approach needed to help customers navigate today’s complex power challenges and maximize the value of HPS solutions.” 

With a strengthened Technical Solutions team, HPS is well-positioned to provide even stronger support, helping customers navigate complex power challenges and optimize their systems. 

Hammond Power Solutions I https://americas.hammondpowersolutions.com/

Moment Energy, one of North America’s leading EV battery repurposing companies, announced the appointment of battery scientist Dr. Kandler Smith as Technical Fellow, further strengthening the company’s battery energy storage systems (BESS) platform and expanding its core battery science capabilities.

The company also welcomes Dorian West, former Tesla engineering leader, as Strategic Advisor. Together, Smith and West bring unmatched expertise in battery modelling, system engineering, and large-scale product deployment to accelerate Moment Energy’s mission to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy storage solutions.

“We are excited to be working with the top minds in the world as Moment Energy pushes the boundaries of battery performance as we continue to scale Gigawatt-hours globally,” said Edward Chiang, CEO and Co-Founder of Moment Energy. “Dr. Kandler Smith’s modelling expertise and Dorian’s engineering leadership cement our position as the top EV battery repurposer. Together, they are helping us build highly scalable systems that treat rigorous safety certifications as our baseline, not a hurdle to work around.”

Smith brings 20 years of experience from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he led the Electrochemical Modelling & Data Science team within the Energy Storage Group. He holds nine patents in lithium-ion battery design and control, 12 software copyrights in neural networks and lithium-ion modelling, and has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles with over 10,000 citations.

As Technical Fellow, he will lead advanced battery life and performance modelling, SOC/SOH algorithm development, and second-life battery research. Drawing from his pioneering NREL work, which includes developing lifetime simulation tools to estimate end-of-life battery value and modeling the safe installation of repurposed packs. His expertise will enhance Moment Energy’s proprietary AI-driven Battery Management System (BMS). This system underpins its UL 1973, UL 9540, and UL 9540A-certified Luna BESS, delivering more than 30% cost savings compared to first-life battery systems.

“Second-life EV batteries are becoming critical to enabling affordable, reliable, and clean energy storage, and I’m excited about joining Moment Energy to help address this at such a pivotal time,” said Smith. “I am excited to join a dynamic team of engineers and scientists who are focused on the safe design of large-scale batteries with low cost and long lifetime.”

Dorian West brings strategic guidance from his 15-year tenure at Tesla (2005–2020), where he helped launch the original Roadster battery pack and later served as Director of Engineering, leading the Model 3 and Tesla Semi prototype programs. His insights will strengthen Moment Energy’s engineering and product development roadmap as the company expands into new markets and applications.

"I'm thrilled to support Moment Energy, which is pioneering the utilization of excess energy storage assets,” said Dorian West, Strategic Advisor to Moment Energy. “This is an important, yet solvable problem, and it's great to work with such a talented and enthusiastic team."

Supporting the company’s commercialization efforts, Carl Mansfield, VP of Business Development, and Sathvik Tantry, Strategic Advisor, will help scale Moment Energy’s technology and deployments globally. Mansfield brings deep experience in the commercialization of behind-the-meter energy storage and utility-scale virtual power plants, while Tantry contributes strategic expertise in growth and partnerships across clean technology sectors.

Moment Energy | https://www.momentenergy.com/