Looking Ahead to 2026

Megger Industrial Reliability (MIR) has officially expanded its reliability service offering into North America, strengthening its presence across industrial sectors including food and beverage, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, mining and metals.

The expansion builds on more than 25 years of Megger’s condition monitoring expertise, marking an important step forward in giving customers clearer visibility and practical insights to help extend asset life and reduce unplanned breakdowns across the North American vibration monitoring and reliability market. Unlike traditional providers focused solely on sensors or standalone technology, Megger Industrial Reliability operates as a service partner. Its fully integrated, end-to-end solution combines hardware, software, cloud analytics and engineering expertise into a single, turnkey reliability service.

 At the core of this service is Co-Engineer™ (Co-E™), Megger’s virtual engineer capability. Co-E™ delivers 24/7 engineering-level diagnostic recommendations, supported by experienced analysts who validate alarms, identify anomalies, and translate complex data into actionable insights. This innovative capability empowers customers to make confident, data-driven decisions without the complexity of managing systems themselves.

 Dr Stephan Sommer, Managing Director of Megger Industrial Reliability, said:

“Industrial organizations across North America are under increasing pressure to maintain uptime while managing skills shortages and operational costs. Our expansion into this region enables customers to access a proven reliability service that transforms maintenance from a reactive cost centre into a strategic business advantage.

By combining 25 years of condition monitoring expertise with our Co-E virtual engineer capability and fully integrated turnkey model, we help customers make confident, data-driven decisions without the complexity or headcount challenges of building and managing systems themselves.”

Megger Industrial Reliability’s reliability service includes on-site critical asset assessments, tailored technology recommendations, installation and commissioning, cloud-based predictive and prescriptive analytics, and ongoing expert validation and support.

“For over 25 years, partnering with the team at Diagsol, now Megger Industrial Reliability, has been a key driver of our operational success. Their deep understanding of the challenges in the FMCG sector and their innovative IIoT-based solutions have not only improved our uptime but also significantly reduced unexpected costs. Their commitment to reliability and efficiency sets them apart as leaders and trusted reliability partners in the industry.”

Clint Heaton, Asset Care Lead GB, CCEP 

Megger Industrial Reliability has already supported leading global manufacturers in optimizing asset performance and reducing operational risk.

North America represents a significant opportunity for condition-based monitoring adoption and Megger Industrial Reliability can make a difference for industrial applications where rotating machinery reliability is essential or even critical to business continuity and success.

With this expansion, Megger continues to position reliability not just as maintenance activity, but as a core business strategy.

Megger Industrial Reliability | megger.com

The Massachusetts House released their redraft of a climate omnibus bill (H.4744). The bill includes provisions recommended by advocacy organizations, including Vote Solar, that can help transform our grid to be more resilient and more affordable, but it still calls for dramatic funding cuts to the Commonwealth’s nation-leading energy efficiency program. While many of the solar provisions in the bill will help to meet Massachusetts climate goals, the bill misses an opportunity to rein in costs by reducing fossil fuel spending and utility expenditures. Instead, the bill cuts Mass Save by $1B, focusing on a short-sighted cut instead of a long-term solution to address energy affordability.  

 Originally released in November of last year, bill H.4744 included meaningful solar advances that were overshadowed by provisions that would raise energy costs and increase fossil fuel dependence. Since November, organizations, including Vote Solar, worked with legislators to present a path forward that could transform the bill into one focused on true energy affordability, ensuring that all communities benefit from its advantages. The bill includes many forward-thinking measures to advance local solar and work towards a distributed, resilient, and affordable grid; however, it excludes solutions that address the true costs of rising utility bills.

 “As extreme weather continues to leave thousands in the dark and drive up energy costs, we need long-term solutions that lock in an affordable clean energy future that benefits all residents— regardless of income,” said Lindsay Griffin, Vote Solar’s Northeast Regional Director. “This bill is a starting point for expanding local solar, which encourages resiliency and affordability— but it misses a critical piece to the solution, holding utilities accountable for prioritizing their profits over the communities they serve.” 

 The rewritten bill includes provisions that modernize solar deployment and grid participation across the state by streamlining permitting, improving interconnection, expanding municipal net metering, and advancing virtual power plants. Smart Solar Permitting would accelerate deployment and reduce soft costs by adopting an instant permitting framework already used in more than 150 localities. The bill also introduces flexible interconnection to prevent small projects from being delayed in queues dominated by larger projects. The legislation also improves municipal net metering by increasing municipal capacity to 20 MW, helping solar on schools and government buildings come online. In addition, the bill mandates comprehensive virtual power plant (VPP) planning within existing regulatory processes, allowing homes and businesses with solar and storage to aggregate resources and support the grid during periods of high demand while delivering greater benefits to ratepayers. 

“We greatly appreciate House leadership’s focus on facilitating the deployment of local solar by including provisions that would help meet Massachusetts’ climate goals. But we were disappointed to see that Mass Save— a program that has been critical to supporting families across the state— is being unfairly scapegoated,” said Elena Weissmann, Vote Solar’s Northeast Regional Director. “We hope that lawmakers will refocus efforts to rein in costs on utility spending and the buildout of gas infrastructure, not on an efficiency program that saves us all money.”

Vote Solar | https://votesolar.org/

OMCO Solar, a leading US factory-direct manufacturer of solar trackers and fixed-tilt solutions, announces it has been acquired by MacLean-Fogg, a family-owned, US-based manufacturing enterprise.

The partnership between OMCO and MacLean-Fogg has strong alignment and common values. The acquisition brings together two successful manufacturing companies and is driven by OMCO’s strong growth in the US tracker and fixed tilt markets.

OMCO will continue to operate as a distinct brand within the MacLean-Fogg family, maintaining its current leadership team to ensure continuity for employees, customers, and industry partners.

“We are excited about this opportunity to take OMCO Solar to the next level, now with the backing of a great partner in MacLean-Fogg. We look forward to growing our team and adding even more value to our customers.” said Eric Goodwin, OMCO Solar Vice President of Business Development.

Over the past 19 years, OMCO has established itself as a leader in domestic manufacturing, including all structural components for our tracker and fixed tilt products. OMCO has also delivered advanced products such as the OMCO Star® Tracker Control System, launched to market last year to support utility scale tracker projects.

“This newly formed synergy is complementary to our already well-established brand name. With so many commonalities such as strength in culture, customer-focused service approach, and decades of manufacturing experience to just name a few, continued success is inevitable. Today we are not just celebrating an acquisition — we are celebrating the union of vision, talent, and momentum. When bold ideas meet strategic opportunity, growth stops being a goal and becomes our new reality.” said Kevin Hopp, OMCO Solar President.

Built for the Next Century of American Industry

MacLean-Fogg's investment in the OMCO brand, stretching across roll forming, fabrication, and solar, represents a strategic move to expand its portfolio of manufacturing platforms.

Together, MacLean-Fogg and OMCO will continue investing in advanced manufacturing, engineering talent, and operational excellence to support customers across industrial markets.

The acquisition underscores a shared commitment to strengthening U.S. manufacturing, supporting local communities, and delivering the precision-engineered products that keep industry moving.

MacLean-Fogg | https://macleanfogg.com/

OMCO Solar | https://omcosolar.com/

Natural Power, the global renewable energy consultancy, has successfully supported its client OX2 in securing long-term project financing for two battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Finland, representing some of the first standalone BESS projects in the country to reach financial close.

The projects, with a combined capacity of 235MW/470MWh, will be co-located with the Kannisto and Korkeamaa wind farms in Finland and mark OX2’s first energy storage additions to its Finnish independent power producer (IPP) portfolio. Construction is scheduled to begin immediately, with operations expected to commence in 2028.

Natural Power acted as the lender’s technical advisor (LTA), delivering comprehensive technical due diligence (TDD) reports to project financiers KfW IPEX-Bank, NatWest, Nordea and SEB. The reports identified key project risks and opportunities, providing lenders with the independent technical insight required to underpin their investment decisions.

Clare McDowell, Senior Energy Storage Advisor at Natural Power, said: “We’re proud to have supported OX2 and the lenders in reaching financial close on these landmark BESS projects in Finland. As part of the first wave of energy storage projects to secure financing in the country, they required careful structuring, rigorous technical due diligence and strong alignment between sponsors and lenders. Drawing on our global BESS expertise, Natural Power played a key role in structuring robust contractual frameworks aligned with international best practice and lender expectations, while providing lenders with clear visibility of project risks and long-term performance potential.

“These projects mark an important step in Finland’s energy transition, enhancing grid flexibility and renewable integration, and we look forward to continuing our support through construction and into operations.”

Natural Power partnered with Etha Wind Oy, a long-standing and trusted subcontractor in the Nordics, to deliver local expertise and on-the-ground support. In addition to its LTA role, the team also supported OX2 in refining equipment supply, construction, trading and operational agreements, drawing on its global experience across the BESS and hybrid project landscape.

Natural Power has now been appointed to provide ongoing construction monitoring services on behalf of both OX2 and the lenders. Once the projects become operational, Natural Power will also deliver operational monitoring services, ensuring continued independent oversight of technical performance and asset reliability.

Whether it’s banks, developers, independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, or investment funds, Natural Power supports organisations in making sound financial decisions for green energy projects. Find out more about due diligence services here: Renewable Energy Project Due Diligence | Natural Power

Natural Power | www.naturalpower.com   

Ever.green, a marketplace empowering businesses of all sizes to participate in the energy transition through the purchase and sale of long-term, High-Impact RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates), announced the completion of the first six solar systems across 15 schools in Wayne County, West Virginia. Ever.green, which aggregated the corporate buyers, and West Virginia-based solar developer Solar Holler, are delivering hundreds of thousands in annual energy savings to the rural West Virginia school district, while expanding clean energy access in a historically coal-dependent region, delivering impact beyond clean electrons.

Understanding that rooftop solar could lower long-term energy costs and redirect savings back into education, the Wayne County School District entered a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solar Holler to lock-in a long-term energy rate. To ensure the schools saved money and the projects proceeded, Ever.green aggregated demand from corporate energy buyers that valued High-Impact RECs. With six systems complete and nine more under way, the school district anticipates approximately $150,000 to $200,000 in annual energy savings flowing directly back into the district’s operating budget. The solar systems are also expected to avoid roughly 2,400 metric tons of CO₂ annually, which is equivalent to taking about 560 cars off the road each year.

“Our work with Wayne County Schools and Solar Holler showcases an ideal example of how corporate climate commitments can be structured to directly impact community-scale renewable energy projects that traditional financing often overlooks,” said Cris Eugster, CEO and Co-founder of Ever.green. “Beyond emissions reductions, this project is creating savings that will directly benefit students, while also creating high quality, local clean energy jobs, supporting long-term employment in the region.”

Like many school districts, energy is one of the largest operating expenses for the Wayne County School District, and rising electricity costs are increasing the strain on already tight budgets. District leaders knew installing solar on school rooftops would result in lower long-term energy costs, but the challenge was that solar projects require significant upfront capital. To address the financing gap, Ever.green structured High-Impact REC contracts from corporate buyers committed to adding new renewable energy to the grid through projects that also deliver measurable community benefits. By entering into long-term High-Impact REC contracts at a meaningful price, these corporate buyers supplied the additional, contracted revenue Solar Holler needed to move forward, while providing Wayne County Schools a PPA rate that generated immediate savings.

“The contribution from Ever.green is what tipped the scales and made these projects buildable,” said Heather Ransom, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Solar Holler. “There are a lot of pieces to the financial puzzle, and having that revenue certainty at exactly the right moment is what got us over the finish line.”

“In some of the projections we were looking at over the life of this PPA, it's basically going to fund two teaching careers,” said Todd Alexander, Superintendent, Wayne County Schools. “The companies that have been involved in our project, they're helping contribute to our savings, which is helping us provide services for students. So it's a benefit for the entire community.”

The Wayne County School solar projects illustrate how corporate climate commitments can be structured to directly impact communities and school districts. Nearly 8,000 rural school districts across the United States face similar budget pressures, collectively spending billions of dollars on energy each year that could instead support students and educators. As demonstrated through this innovative REC agreement, Ever.green’s approach creates a clear channel for corporate climate dollars to enable projects that deliver impact. When corporate buyers, mission-aligned developers, and community needs come together, the result is durable, locally-grounded climate action, with benefits that extend far beyond the grid.

Ever.green | www.ever.green

Exus Renewables, a leading global energy solutions provider,has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJC – Masdar, a global clean energy leader, to acquire a 60 percent stake in a portfolio of nine wind farms in Portugal. Masdar will retain a 40 percent stake inthe portfolio. The operational capacity of the portfolio, located in Guarda and Castelo Branco, is currently being increased in one of Portugal’s first large-scale repowering initiatives, taking overall capacity from 144MW to 164MW. The projects have entered the final development phase of repowering, with completion expected by 2027. Once fully operational, the repowered sites will generate clean, sustainable electricity for more than 200,000households, avoiding approximately 41.7 kilotons of CO₂ emissions every year.

“Repowering unlocks significant new renewable capacity from existing sites. Together with Masdar, we are scaling this approach in Portugal as part of Exus’ optimisation- led growth strategy,” said Luis Adão daFonseca, CEO at Exus Renewables. “This deal significantly strengthens Exus’ operational presence across Europe and underscores our innovative approach to maximising the performance and value of renewable assets. We’re delighted to be working with Masdar on this highly strategic project.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Through repowering andhybridization, we are enhancing the performance and long-term value of these sites, underscoring our innovative approach to asset management. Disciplined portfolio management and partnership are fundamental aspects of our growth strategy, and we are proud to be working with Exus as we continue to deliver clean,affordable, and reliable power to communities across Portugal.”

The repowering initiative includes plans for hybridization, adding 110MW of solar, to be codeveloped by Masdarand Exus, which would further enhance the portfolio’s capacity and contribution to national clean energytargets.

This initiative is fully aligned with Portugal’s energy transition roadmap which targets

10.4 GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2045. Through repowering and hybrid solar integration, the project contributes to capacity growth and system optimisation.

With Exus accelerating its expansion across Europe, the company is positioning itself as an integrated energyplatform operating across the entire value chain from early- stage development and project optimisation to assetmanagement and hybridization – with the ambition of delivering comprehensive, end-to-end energy solutions.

Masdar is targeting expansion across the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, with the company aiming for global portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030. Today, Masdar is one of the world’s largest developers and operators of renewables worldwide, with platforms for growth in the world’s most commercially attractive, fast-growing energy markets.

Exus Renewables | www.exusrenewables.com

Masdar | https://www.masdar.ae