The Hidden Risk in Your Battery Storage System: Why cable cleats belong in every BESS specification

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) announced the company will be  issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for wind and solar projects on August 11th 2026, targeting 800 megawatts to support DTE Electric’s Voluntary Green Pricing (VGP) program. The RFP requires the wind and solar projects to achieve commercial operation by December 31, 2030. Projects must be interconnected to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) in the following states and zones: Michigan (Zone 2 or Zone 7), Arkansas (Zone 8), Illinois (Zone 2, 3, or 4), Iowa (Zone 1 or 3), Minnesota (Zone 1 or 3), Mississippi (Zone 10), Missouri (Zone 5), Texas (Zone 9) and Wisconsin (Zone 1 or 2).

Projects can also be interconnected to the DTE distribution or sub-transmission system. Interested bidders should register their company information on the PowerAdvocate website. Bids are due September 23, 2026, and DTE expects to execute contracts in Q2 2027. 

DTE is Michigan’s leading producer of and investor in renewable energy and currently generates enough clean energy from wind and solar to power more than 900,000 homes. By 2042, the company plans to grow that number to power the equivalent of approximately 6 million households with clean energy.  

To learn more about DTE’s renewable energy portfolio, visit dteenergy.com/renew.  

DTE Energy | dteenergy.com

ContourGlobal announced the execution of a large-scale, Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tesla for Project Sterling, a landmark hybrid solar and battery energy storage project located in Arizona’s WAPA region, with firm transmission rights into California’s CAISO market. The agreement with Tesla covers ~1 TWh per year, representing around 90% of the project’s as‑generated annual output, and will provide long‑term renewable energy.

Project Sterling is a large-scale hybrid project combining 509 MWdc/ 450 MWac of solar PV with 360 MW / 1.4 GWh of battery energy storage capacity, with an expected annual energy output of more than 1.1 TWh. Once operational, it will be ContourGlobal’s largest renewable asset to date.

Acquired in the development stage in December 2024, the project has since been reshaped by ContourGlobal’s in-house Business Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Commercial teams specifically to meet the offtaker’s requirements. Substantial construction activity began in 2025 through off-site physical work of significant nature, including procurement of major equipment in June. On-site construction is scheduled to commence later in the year, and commercial operation (COD) is targeted for 2028.

“After starting operations of our first renewable plant in the U.S. in 2025, we are now moving ahead with the construction of our largest renewable project globally, located in one of the country’s most dynamic energy markets”, commented Antonio Cammisecra, Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal. “Securing our biggest PPA ever - and one of the largest of its kind in U.S. renewable history - with an iconic customer like Tesla, a true symbol of the global energy transition, is a testament of our ability to deliver tailor-made solutions to our customer’s energy needs. This milestone represents a remarkable achievement of our commercial team which spearheaded a company-wide effort to strike a major deal like this one.”

Strategic Location and Advanced Project Design

Located in Arizona and physically connected to the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) grid, Project Sterling holds firm point-to-point transmission rights to access California’s CAISO and will be pseudo-tied, enabling it to serve Tesla’s needs.

ContourGlobal | http://www.contourglobal.com/ 

Mercom Capital Group, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm, released its report on funding and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity for the solar sector in the second quarter (Q2) and first half (1H) of 2026.  

To learn more about Mercom’s 1H and Q2 2026 Solar Funding and M&A Report, visit: 1H and Q2 2026 Solar Funding and M&A Report - Mercom Capital Group. 

Total corporate funding, including venture capital and private equity funding (VC), public market, and debt financing in 1H 2026 totaled $16.9 billion, up 56% year-over-year (YoY) compared to the $10.8 billion raised in 1H 2025. The number of deals increased 23% YoY with 96 deals in 1H 2026 compared to 78 during the same period last year.  

CHART: Solar Corporate Funding in 1H 2022-1H 2026 

"Solar financing and acquisition activity remained strong in the first half of 2026 as developers accelerated project execution ahead of the construction-start deadline to preserve tax credit eligibility. Debt financing remained the primary source of capital, while project acquisitions increasingly targeted development-stage projects that could advance toward construction and strengthen strategic project pipelines," commented Raj Prabhu, CEO at Mercom Capital Group. "Although policy and trade uncertainty continued to influence investment decisions, investors and lenders remained steadfast, backing companies with strong fundamentals, high-quality project pipelines, and clear execution strategies." 

In 1H 2026, VC funding activity decreased 40% YoY with $1.5 billion compared to $2.5 billion in the first half of 2025. Deal activity increased 9% YoY with 35 deals in the first half of 2026 compared to 32 in 1H 2025. In Q2 2026, global VC funding activity declined 60% YoY with $445 million raised in 18 deals compared to $1.1 billion in the same number of deals in Q2 2025. 

CHART: Solar VC Funding 1H 2022-1H 2026 

The top VC deals in 1H 2026 were the $343 million raised by Inox Clean Energy, $180 million raised by Nexamp, $165 million raised by Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions, $150 million raised by Amarenco, and $118 million raised by GREW Solar. 

A total of 135 VC investors participated in solar funding in 1H 2026. 

Solar public market financing in 1H 2026 totaled $2.2 billion in 17 deals, a 371% increase compared to $467 million in five deals in 1H 2025.  

Solar debt financing activity in 1H 2026 reached $13.2 billion in 44 deals, a 69% increase compared to 1H 2025 when $7.8 billion was raised in 41 deals.  

In 1H 2026, three securitization deals totaled $540 million, a 66% decrease YoY compared to $1.6 billion raised in four deals in 1H 2025.  

Solar corporate M&A activity increased with 57 transactions in the first half of 2026, compared to 50 transactions in the first half of 2025. The largest deal was by INOX Solar Americas, a U.S.-based renewable energy company backed by INOX Clean Energy, which signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the assets of Boviet Solar Technology’s U.S. subsidiary, Boviet Solar Technology (North Carolina), for approximately $750 million.  

CHART: Solar M&A 1H 2022-1H 2026 

In 1H 2026, 134 solar project acquisitions totaling 25.2 GW were transacted, compared to 106 project acquisitions totaling 19.9 GW in 1H 2025. Deal activity increased 26% YoY, while acquired megawatts rose 27%. 

CHART: Solar Project Acquisitions by GW 1H 2022-1H 2026 

Project Developers and IPPs were the most active acquirers of solar projects in Q2 2026, picking up 4.4 GW, followed by Investment Firms with 2.2 GW. Other buyers, including energy suppliers, engineering, and construction companies, acquired 180 MW, while Utilities acquired two projects totaling 54 MW. 

This report covers 347 companies and investors. It is 70 pages long and contains 64 charts, graphs, and tables.  

To learn more about Mercom’s 1H and Q2 2026 Solar Funding and M&A Report, visit: 1H and Q2 2026 Solar Funding and M&A Report - Mercom Capital Group.

Mercom Capital Group | https://mercomcapital.com/clean-energy-reports/. 

Perceptual Robotics, the wind turbine inspection and maintenance technology company has secured over £4 million in funding so far this year. The funding combines investment from new and existing shareholders (Investing for Purpose, Loggerhead Ventures and One Planet Capital) alongside support co-funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The funding will help the company expand what it offers to the wind industry, increase its presence across existing and new markets, strengthen its offshore capabilities, and continue scaling the products that customers rely on every day.

Perceptual Robotics is grateful to Innovate UK for its continued support of innovation in the UK technology sector, alongside the backing of its shareholders and investors, in reaching this milestone.

Since its last investment round, Perceptual Robotics has expanded internationally, growing its customer base across Europe, North America, Latin America and beyond. Its technology now supports inspections in environments ranging from the forests of northern Sweden to the Caribbean and some of the world’s largest wind turbines.

Matthew Jellicoe, director of OnePlanet. Capital, said of the round. “It has been great to see such strong investor support for Perceptual Robotics.The business has strong momentum now across both onshore and offshore wind, and it is clear there are multiple verticals that the company can expand into over the next 24 months.” 

Evangelos Kosmidis, CEO & General Partner from Loggerhead said “Perceptual Robotics has continued to demonstrate the technical expertise, commercial vision, and execution needed to become a key enabler in the wind energy sector while advancing the resilience and efficiency of the clean energy transition. The company’s continued progress has further strengthened our confidence in the team and the impact they are well positioned to create.”

Eleonore Cottarel, Partner, Investing For Purpose, said “Perceptual Robotics exemplifies the type of company we want to support: one that combines technological innovation with meaningful, measurable environmental impact. By helping wind assets operate more efficiently, safely and for longer, the company is strengthening the resilience of renewable energy infrastructure while accelerating the clean energy transition. We are delighted to back Kostas and the team as they continue to scale their impact internationally.”

“This funding is a vote of confidence in the work our team has put in over the last few years, and in the direction we’re taking the business. It gives us the resources to move faster on the products our customers are asking for.” said Kostas Karachalios, CEO of Perceptual Robotics.

The company’s development has been driven by ongoing conversations with operators, service providers and blade experts about the practical problems they face, whether that’s inspection speed, damage prioritisation, or finding better ways to manage growing fleets. Those conversations have shaped developments including autonomous inspection systems, AI-assisted damage detection, the Repair Now Ratio, and platform integrations released over recent years.

With this new funding, Perceptual Robotics aims to move faster, delivering more products, more capability, and support for more turbines,  while continuing to build tools that help the wind industry keep turbines generating power and blades in service for longer.

Zelestra, a global, multi-technology, customer-focused renewable energy company, has expanded their energy engagements with Tesla across markets with the signing of a new 140 MWac power purchase agreement (PPA) for Lumen Farm solar project in Texas.

Separately, Zelestra signed a 57 MWac PPA with Tesla in 2024 for the output of the Brazatortas I, II and IV solar plants, in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain.

Zelestra anticipates starting construction at Lumen Farm, located in northeast Texas, by 2027, with full operations anticipated by 2029.

Phil North, Zelestra’s US CEO, said: “As a trusted global partner, we can deliver bespoke solutions for clients in multiple geographies. As such, we are excited to expand our relationship with Tesla to the US. We aim to deliver the project and bring the new solar plant online as quickly as possible to support Tesla’s growing energy needs in Texas.”

Zelestra is advancing its position in the US energy landscape with innovative, multi-technology solutions tailored to the evolving needs of hyperscalers, corporate partners, and other customers. The company is developing a robust portfolio of more than 16 GW of renewable energy projects across key markets.

Zelestra | https://zelestra.energy/en

Viridi, the industry leader in fail-safe battery energy storage systems (BESS), announced a strategic partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory, to support research into next-generation utility grid technologies that advance grid resilience and reliability.  As part of the partnership, Viridi's BESS was selected and installed at ORNL's Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C) as part of the testing platform for a DOE resource integration and evaluation project. 

This research began with ORNL developing a system for controlling clusters of grid resources to meet utility needs. The developed technology was first tested in an indoor laboratory using emulated energy sources and battery storage. But it was important to follow up with testing in a live grid with real resources to correct any issues emerging from complex equipment interactions and real-world battery charging dynamics.

Viridi’s RPS 150 was installed at GRID-C’s Power Distribution Field Test Site to support the research. ORNL integrated its converter system with Viridi’s battery to validate the technology. Testing has now concluded, and ORNL is expected to present the project's findings in the coming months. 

“This project bridges an important gap by integrating real electrical equipment to understand realistic performance challenges, proving the robustness of ORNL’s new control strategies and AC/DC architecture for supporting the future grid," said Dr. Madhu Sudhan Chinthavali, Electrical Systems Integration Program Manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "Viridi’s battery integrated seamlessly with our management system, and its engineering team supported our researchers throughout testing and integration, making them a valuable partner." 

As demand on the electric grid continues to grow, BESSs have become a critical component of grid infrastructure. Utilities across the country are under increasing pressure to modernize aging grid systems, integrate distributed energy resources, and improve resilience against disruptions. The ability to coordinate energy storage across multiple components of the grid is emerging as one of the most important capabilities in that effort. 

"Being selected by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to support the project is a milestone for Viridi and a validation of what we have built”, said Jon M. Williams, CEO, Viridi. “When a DOE national lab chooses your technology to support their research, it is the highest bar a battery system can meet. We built Viridi's fail-safe BESS to perform in exactly these kinds of environments, and we are proud to be partnering with ORNL to advance the grid modernization solutions that utilities across the country need.” 

The collaboration marks the beginning of an ongoing research relationship between Viridi and ORNL, with additional joint projects planned. For Viridi, the partnership represents a significant step in its mission to bring safe, reliable battery energy storage to the infrastructure applications that matter most, from grid modernization research to real-world utility deployment. 

Viridi | www.viridiparente.com

Oak Ridge National Laboratory | https://www.ornl.gov/

Enertis Applus+, a global engineering consultancy firm with extended expertise in the renewable energy and storage sectors, served as independent technical advisor to MN8 Energy in its acquisition of Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC. This landmark transaction will create one of the largest clean power platforms in the United States, with more than 6 GW of operating and under-construction renewable energy and battery energy storage (BESS) capacity across 33 states.

 As part of the transaction, Enertis Applus+ supported MN8 Energy through a multi-phase technical due diligence process covering Greenbacker's wind portfolio, comprising 19 assets in various stages of operation. Given its scale and complexity, Enertis Applus+ conducted an in-depth technical review focused on asset performance, operational risks, and long-term outlook.

 The services provided included operational performance assessments, energy yield forecasting, operations and maintenance (O&M) and technology reviews, and long-term operating expenditure (OPEX) forecasting. Enertis Applus+ also performed site visits, drone-based blade inspections, SCADA reviews, technical useful life assessments. Findings from the field investigations were then incorporated into updated energy yield and OPEX forecasts.

 “We value the opportunity to have supported MN8 Energy in this landmark transaction,” said Iñaki Herrero, Managing Director, North America, at Enertis Applus+. “This acquisition brings together a highly diversified portfolio of renewable energy and energy storage assets. Our team was pleased to bring our extensive expertise and provide the technical insights and independent assessments needed to support MN8 Energy’s evaluation of the wind portfolio.”

The transaction represents another milestone in Enertis Applus+ extensive track record of supporting investors, developers, lenders, and asset owners in complex renewable energy acquisitions and financing transactions in the United States and globally.

Enertis Applus+ | https://enertisapplus.com/