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

First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company") welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcing the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario among the first projects to be fast-tracked under Canada's new Major Projects Office. The federal decision, which highlights Darlington's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) as a nation-building priority, underscores Canada's intent to be the first G7 country with an operational SMR-a milestone that directly supports First Hydrogen's SMR-green-energy production. These SMRs are designed to be factory-built and deployable for small-scale uses. The first of four planned SMRs at Darlington would provide enough energy to power 300,000 homes (CBC News).

The Company is collaborating with Prof. Muhammad Taha Manzoor from the University of Alberta on the design, design-optimization, reactor fuel materials for SMRs (First Hydrogen Announces Strategic Collaboration with Renewable Thermal Laboratory at the University of Alberta to Advance Nuclear SMR Technology - First Hydrogen Corp). The project will reflect the significant and rapidly growing amounts of energy required for artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts global power demand from data centres will increase by 50% by 2027 and by as much as 165% by the end of the decade. Additionally, an estimated US$720 billion of grid spending through 2030 may be needed (Goldman Sachs Research).

First Hydrogen's SMR-to-Hydrogen pathway
In March 2025, the Company launched First Nuclear Corp., a dedicated subsidiary to integrate SMR power with electrolysis for green-hydrogen production-targeting off-grid, remote, and industrial sites where reliable zero-carbon energy is essential. Today's federal action further validates this strategy and accelerates engagement with utilities, Indigenous partners, and provincial governments. 

"Building on Canada's CANDU legacy, SMRs are positioned to become a part of the country's power infrastructure," said Balraj Mann, Chairman & CEO of First Hydrogen, "SMRs use simpler, low-power, low-pressure designs with passive safety (no human or external power needed to shut down) and use less fuel, making them a highly attractive source of green energy."

First Hydrogen | www.firsthydrogen.com

First Nuclear | https://firstnuclear.com/

Oceantic Network announced three new members to its Board of Directors. The new Board members hail from JERA Nex bp, NJEDA, and RWE and join current members from ABS, DEME Offshore, Dominion Energy, Nexans, and others. They each offer extensive experience in the offshore energy space and diversify Oceantic’s expertise in marine renewable energy technologies beyond offshore wind. The new board members will serve three-year terms ending in January 2029.   

• Sam Eaton, President and CEO, RWE US Offshore Wind. Mr. Eaton leads RWE’s offshore wind activities in the U.S. Since joining RWE in June 2021, he has led RWE’s entry into the U.S. offshore wind market including acquisition of seabed leases in the New York Bight, Northern California, and the Gulf Coast. Eaton has spent two decades in the energy industry in a broad array of positions ranging from strategic and management consulting, mergers and acquisitions, project development, and corporate relations. Most recently, he was employed by Eversource Energy in corporate strategy and development. Mr. Eaton received a degree in Economics with honors from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.  

• Jason Meidinger, Project Director – Beacon Wind, JERA Nex bp. Launched on August 4, 2025, JERA Nex bp is a global offshore wind developer, owner and operator with a portfolio of operating assets and development project capacity of 13GW. Mr. Meidinger was recently appointed as the Project Director for the Beacon Wind lease located in federal waters between New York and Massachusetts and will be leading bp’s offshore wind efforts in the Americas. Jason brings over 22 years of leadership, engineering, and project management experience in the power industry, and over five years leading offshore wind initiatives. His past roles supported the bp global offshore wind organization and their portfolio of projects. He is a Professional Engineer, a certified Project Management Professional, holds a Master's degree in engineering management, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

• Tim Sullivan, CEO, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Mr. Sullivan currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the NJEDA, a role he has had since February 2018. As a member of Governor Murphy’s Cabinet, Tim oversees the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth and making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development. Under Tim’s leadership, the EDA has invested more than $6 billion into New Jersey’s economic competitiveness, which has supported the creation of more than 200,000 new jobs during Governor Murphy’s time in office. Tim has helped facilitate numerous major projects in New Jersey, including the nation’s first purpose-built offshore wind port in Salem County. 

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network: 

“These three additional board members provide invaluable expertise and important perspective as Oceantic Network continues to American energy development in the U.S. By harnessing the energy of our oceans, we can scale up the development of innovative, reliable, cost-competitive energy to meet rising energy demand and lower energy costs. Our Board’s experience as energy developers, manufacturers, and government agency executives are already advancing U.S. development with commitments and investments in a robust, local supply chain, positioning Oceantic to further shape the offshore wind and marine renewable energy industry. We must prioritize a true “all-of-the-above" approach to energy to deliver more domestic energy for our economy, our workforce, and our country’s energy security.” 

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/

Southwire Company, LLC, North America’s leading wire and cable manufacturer, has entered a partnership with Foundation Current/OS, a global non-profit partnership foundation promoting direct current (DC) safety, standards and advancement across the electrical industry.

This unique partnership positions Southwire at the forefront of advancing DC technologies, a critical piece of progressing the company’s strategic verticals in key fields.

“DC systems are key to unlocking the next generation of resilient, efficient infrastructure¾from data centers to microgrids,” said Axel Schlumberger, Southwire’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Wire and Cable. “The partnership is a step forward in shaping future grids¾advancing standards and scaling adoption of DC technologies across industries.”

Current/OS has united leaders in the electrical industry with the mission of amplifying safety, establishing standards and enhancing energy resilience in DC technologies. The organization gives manufacturers and stakeholders a seat at the table to learn and share ideas in emerging fields powered by DC.

“Direct current power is one of many tools we must leverage to achieve a successful energy transition and deliver greater resiliency when the grid is under strain,” said Yannick Neyret, Current/OS President. “Developing a shared standard for DC power distribution is a collective effort—and we’re grateful to partners like Southwire, whose expertise in wiring, cabling, and microgrid systems helps demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of DC in real-world projects."

In this partnership, Southwire is helping shape future grid standards while promoting innovation through its research and development (R&D) efforts. By joining Current/OS, Southwire will be able to use its expertise as an industry leader to accelerate scalable adoption of DC systems across in use cases like data centers, hybrid architectures and microgrids.

Thanks to the company’s deep knowledge and experience in electrification, industrial services and utility modernization, Southwire will have a place in the foundation’s technical, marketing, education and certification working groups. 

“Our partnership with Current/OS is a powerful alignment with our Grid of the Future vision and a catalyst for Southwire R&D to drive innovation, impact and thought leadership across the energy ecosystem,” said Schlumberger.

Southwire Company | www.southwire.com

Current/OS Foundation | https://currentos.org/ 

Nexamp, a leading developer, owner and operator of solar and battery storage assets across the U.S., has secured $350 million in financing from Macquarie Asset Management to support the construction of its first utility-scale solar and battery storage projects. In a separate transaction, the company also has raised additional development capital from Nomura to advance earlier-stage project development and sustain its robust national pipeline of utility-scale opportunities.

The Macquarie transaction enables Nexamp to execute its near-term construction plans. The facility was originated by Macquarie and underscores the firm’s growing presence in the domestic infrastructure credit market. The funding will enable Nexamp to advance a significant portion of its 6 GW pipeline, which has been under development since the company’s expansion into the utility-scale segment in 2021.

The Nomura investment complements this structure by supplying flexible capital to support development activities of its next tranche of utility-scale projects. Together, these commitments enable Nexamp to meet both immediate construction needs and long-term development growth, a dual-track approach that strengthens the company’s market leadership.

“Access to capital across both development and construction is essential for building the scale of projects that today’s energy market demands,” said Zaid Ashai, Chairman and CEO of Nexamp. “These financings, secured from two world-class partners, ensure that Nexamp can both deliver on the near-term buildout of utility-scale solar and storage and invest in the development pipeline that will power the next phase of growth. This is about building a durable platform that meets the country’s rising demand for easy-to-deploy, more affordable energy.”

Macquarie’s financing will facilitate the construction of more than 1 GW (AC) of solar and storage projects across the high-demand MISO, ERCOT and NYISO markets, while Nomura’s capital will advance development activities in MISO, NYISO and PJM, three of the nation’s fastest-growing regions for utility-scale renewables. Nexamp’s long-term expertise in greenfield development of commercial distributed generation assets will complement its successful development of new utility-scale projects. Leveraging its proven platform and extensive industry experience, the company is positioned to broaden its geographic reach and expand delivery of clean energy resources in markets where reliability, affordability, and speed of deployment are critical. 

“We are looking forward to the expansion of our partnership with the Nexamp team as they embark on the next chapter of strategic growth. We believe this relationship will allow the team to realize rapid success in the utility-scale energy transition market,” added Harlan Cherniak, Head of Americas Infrastructure Debt at Macquarie Asset Management. “Through this $US350 million facility, we will continue to solidify our Credit & Insurance division as a global leader in the infrastructure and asset-based credit market.”

“This transaction represents a remarkable milestone for Nexamp with their inaugural investment and entry in the US utility scale sector. We are thrilled to support their growth strategy,” added Vinod Mukani, Global Head of Nomura Infrastructure & Power Business (IPB) Nomura.

Alain Halimi, Managing Director, IPB Nomura added: “We look forward to our partnership with Nexamp in conjunction with Macquarie, as Nexamp continues to rapidly scale up within the utility scale sector. Supporting decarbonization and best in class developers like Nexamp is a cornerstone of our business.”

Nexamp is the nation’s largest community solar and commercial-scale distributed generation owner. With its expansion into utility-scale solar and battery storage, the company is applying its proven model of vertically integrated development, deployment, and asset management to deliver clean energy at greater scale. Backed by leading global institutional equity sponsors and a track record of execution, Nexamp is well-positioned to capture the growing demand for renewables across regional markets and customer segments.

PEI Global Partners served as financial advisor to Nexamp on both transactions. PEI is a private, closely held investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, capital raises, and financings in power and infrastructure.

Nexamp | www.nexamp.com

MAM | https://www.macquarie.com/us/en.html

Nomura | www.nomura.com

Bila Solar, a U.S.-based solar panel manufacturer, has secured a 10 megawatt (MW) order from a leading U.S. community solar developer to safe-harbor ahead of the Sept. 2 federal deadline for projects seeking to qualify for key tax incentives. 

The product, Bila Solar’s 550 W dual-glass series, featuring U.S.-manufactured solar cells, will be delivered by the end of the year. This timeline underscores the company’s ability to execute on compressed schedules and reinforces its role as a trusted U.S. manufacturing partner for developers navigating shifting policy and market demands.

This order highlights Bila Solar’s growing role in strengthening America’s domestic solar supply chain and advancing product innovation for the clean-energy economy. To meet surging demand, the company is scaling its U.S. manufacturing footprint — currently operating two shifts at its Indianapolis facility, with plans to move to 24/7 production in early 2026. Bila Solar will reach 300 MW of annual capacity by the end of 2025 and is reviewing expansion plans to scale to 1 GW.

“In the lead-up to the federal safe-harbor deadline, developers moved quickly to secure U.S.-made modules, and this 10 MW order demonstrates Bila Solar’s ability to step up and deliver,” said Wei-Tai Kwok, Head of U.S. Operations at Bila Solar. “As deadlines come and go, our focus remains on helping developers maximize tax credits, strengthen their projects’ economics and move solar forward with reliable, domestically assembled modules.”

At the same time, Bila Solar is driving product innovation that combines technical performance with domestic content advantages. From advanced glass-glass modules available today to the recently launched 550 W dual-glass steel-framed series developed with Origami Solar, the company is bringing to market solutions that enhance strength, reduce embodied carbon and qualify for the 10% domestic content ITC bonus adder. 

Looking ahead, Bila Solar is also evaluating demand for a 100% U.S. domestic content lightweight framed module—the first of its kind—which would mark another transformative step for the domestic market.

Bila Solar’s rapid growth comes at a pivotal moment for the U.S. solar industry, as developers and EPCs seek bankable, domestic content-compliant solutions to meet both regulatory requirements and market demand.

Bila Solar | www.bilasolar.com

Catalyze, a fully integrated developer of distributed renewable energy assets and Independent Power Producer (IPP), announced the completion of four community solar projects in central and western New York. Developed in partnership wit CS Energy, a renewable energy company that develops, designs, and builds optimized solar, and energy storage, the 27 megawatts (MW) of solar energy adds to Catalyze’srobust New York footprint, helping the state reach its goal of installing 6 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar ahead of schedule.  

The four projects—located in Pavilion, Phelps, Fonda, and Fabius—were designed to integrate seamlessly with the local grid and built with prevailing wage labor, supporting both reliability and clean energy workforce development. The installations were supported by New York State programs, including the Inclusive Community Solar Adder and the Community Adder, which help ensure reliable energy access to low-to-moderate income (LMI) subscribers and disadvantaged communities. 

The projects leveraged standardized design, a consistent racking system, and trusted subcontractor relationships, allowing the Catalyze and CS Energy teams to accelerate schedules and bring power online. At the same time, construction access and laydown areas were carefully managed so that farmland could return to its pre-existing condition, allowing landowners to continue farming outside the solar arrays. 

These four completed sites represent the first half of an eight-project collaboration between Catalyze and CS Energy. The remaining projects, totaling more than 25 MW, are scheduled for completion over the next year. 

“We're proud to be a part of the extraordinary progress New York state has made in accelerating the transition to renewable energy. Our work with CS Energy shows what's possible when states, developers, and communities align,” said Andrew D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer at Catalyze. “This milestone is about more than megawatts, it's about taking action. We are seeing businesses move fast to lock in the long-term benefits and cost advantages of solar power while federal tax credits are still in place, with states offering incentives designed to expand access.” 

Michael Garofalo, Vice President of Operations at CS Energy, added: “Community solar has become one of the most effective tools for delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power. We’re thankful to have collaborated with Catalyze on building these installations that will provide significant energy for businesses and households across New York at a time when electricity demands continue to grow.” 

The timing of these projects highlights the importance of acting quickly to secure federal tax incentives. Current solar investment tax credits cover 30 percent of project costs, with potential bonuses of 10 percent for domestic content and an additional 10 percent for projects in designated energy communities. With key deadlines approaching, developers and communities should act fast to maximize the economic and environmental value of solar deployment. 

Catalyze | www.catalyze.com

CS Energy | https://www.csenergy.com/

Japanese shipowner Nissen Kaiun has become a shareholder in Dutch Wind-Assisted Shipping Propulsion pioneer Econowind. This move highlights growing industry interest in fuel-neutral technologies. The Imabari-based shipping company, which operates a diversified fleet through several subsidiaries, said it had chosen Econowind for its technology.

“We recognized that Econowind has a mature Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion solution in the market,” a spokesperson for Nissen Kaiun said. “As one of the market leaders Econowind delivers proven technology. Making shipping more sustainable is a top priority at Nissen Kaiun. We are currently looking into installing the large version of their innovative VentoFoils on our vessels. It is well suited to maritime conditions while being easy for the crew to use. This technology allows us to take steps in reducing fuel consumption and emissions.”

Over 130 units sold worldwide
Econowind has developed the VentoFoil, a wing-shaped wind-assist device that drives decarbonization within the shipping markets. More than 130 units have been sold globally, with customers ranging from shortsea and deepsea operators across all market segments. 

Daan Koornneef, Chief Executive Officer of Econowind, said: “The partnership with Nissen Kaiun will support the expansion of our VentoFoil product line, including larger units for deepsea shipping, and could also open the door to future production in Asia. Nissen Kaiun is the perfect partner with a large network in Japan and wider Asian markets. With them becoming a shareholder, we can expand our footprint and accelerate the development of larger units for the deepsea markets.”

The agreement comes as shipowners worldwide look for immediate steps to cut emissions ahead of tightening regulatory targets. Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion is gaining traction as a fuel-neutral solution that can be combined with any engine type or fuel strategy.

Econowind | econowind.nl