The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, announced that it has signed a contract with SmartestEnergy, the global provider of renewable energy solutions for businesses, for power from two Avangrid energy projects in New Hampshire. SmartestEnergy will receive the full capacity from Avangrid’s Lempster and Groton energy projects, totaling 72 Megawatts (MW). This deal represents the first offtake agreement between the two companies.

“We are happy to partner with SmartestEnergy for power from these two energy projects in New Hampshire,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, Avangrid CEO. “At a time when demand for power is growing rapidly, this demonstrates our proactive approach to managing Avangrid’s existing fleet of energy projects to ensure they continue to benefit the community through their lifetime and generate reliable electricity for homes and businesses in the Northeast.”

SmartestEnergy CEO Andy Cormie, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with Avangrid on the Lempster and Groton projects. Securing the full offtake from these long-standing New Hampshire wind assets demonstrates the trust and commitment Avangrid has in SmartestEnergy to provide a reliable and competitive route to market for their wind assets. This agreement reflects our continued focus on building strong partnerships that drive long-term value for communities and the clean energy transition.”

Lempster is a 24 MW wind energy project located in Sullivan County and came online in 2008 becoming New Hampshire’s first modern, commercial-scale wind farm. Groton is a 48 MW wind energy project located in Grafton County and came online in 2012. These two projects support 10 permanent jobs in the community for the operations and maintenance of the facilities. Additionally, these two projects contributed a combined $1.8 million in state and local taxes last year, and nearly $30 million in combined taxes since being built.

Avangrid has operations in 23 states and owns 10.5 GW of power capacity from 80 projects.

Avangrid | http://www.avangrid.com

SmartestEnergy US | https://www.smartestenergy.com/en_US/

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLS), a leading supplier of enabling ion implantation solutions for the semiconductor industry, announced a Joint Development Program (JDP) with GE Aerospace focused on the development of production-worthy 6.5 to 10kV superjunction power devices. Processes will be developed on Axcelis' Purion XEmax high energy implanter, which provides the industry's highest beam currents over the broadest energy range — up to 15MeV.

This JDP supports the 'Advanced High Voltage Silicon Carbide Switches' project led by GE Aerospace as part of the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub, which is headed by North Carolina State University. This project will aim to improve the performance of power switches used in important emerging applications.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) wide bandgap semiconductors deliver higher voltages, operating temperatures and frequencies compared to traditional Silicon (Si) devices. These semiconductor devices are enabling for many applications in the aerospace and defense sector through reduced power consumption and smaller packaging of critical systems. On the commercial side, high voltage wide bandgap semiconductors are expected to play an important role in emerging critical technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous vehicles and a more resilient power grid.

President and CEO Russell Low commented, "We are proud to collaborate with GE Aerospace in this endeavor, which has the potential to accelerate superjunction technology adoption. Axcelis is committed to providing equipment and process expertise that enables our customers' superjunction device roadmaps."

Axcelis' Purion XEmax provides maximum flexibility in energy ranges to optimize the profile in depth and concentration, enables a more cost-effective approach by reducing the number of application steps, and excels in channeling over 7µm of aluminum implanted depth.

GE Aerospace, through its Research Center in Niskayuna, NY, has built up a world-leading IP portfolio in SiC technologies over more than three decades and sells SiC- based electric power products today through its Electrical Power business to support the avionics and electrical systems aboard commercial aircraft and ground vehicles. More recently, GE Aerospace researchers have been focusing SiC developments to enable future flight operations in more extreme operating environments such as with hypersonic vehicles and space travel, and to support developments with electric propulsion.

Dr. Ljubisa Stevanovic, chief engineer at GE Aerospace Research, stated: "High voltage SiC power devices are an important enabler for a wide array of critical emerging applications and future endeavors, including hypersonic travel, electric propulsion, and space exploration. We are excited to partner with Axcelis on this project, due to their expertise in ion implantation for Silicon Carbide power devices, and their market leading portfolio of Purion high energy ion implanters."

Axcelis | www.axcelis.com

Sense, a leader in grid edge intelligence, announced a partnership with Enode, the leading API platform for connecting and optimizing energy devices, to develop new services that empower EV drivers with additional energy insights and control capabilities. Sense will integrate the Enode API into the Sense Home app to provide connected charging with data from 45+ EV brands and 365 EV models. Over the course of this partnership, users will enjoy additional details about their EVs, including the ability to see their vehicle charging details within the context of the entire home, the ability to distinguish between multiple EVs within the home, and the ability to optimize charging to maximize savings and ensure grid reliability.

"This partnership is a natural fit. Sense's deep expertise in analytics and home energy innovation coupled with Enode's robust suite of EV APIs will increase the velocity of EV innovation," said Nancy Riley, Sense SVP of Product. "This is another step in our mission to unlock true collaboration between consumers and utilities using grid edge intelligence. With our partners at Enode, we'll provide deeper, quicker, and more actionable insights and optimizations for EV drivers and grid stakeholders."

The Sense partnership with Enode opens the door for new offerings that extend beyond visibility and into control for Sense app users. Once connected to Enode through the Sense app, users will have access to real-time EV data that includes battery level, charge rate, charging status, and more. This creates the opportunity to set charging schedule preferences, which includes days, times, and battery percentage ranges, while smart charging controls send signals to stop and start charging as time of use rates rise and fall, ensuring EVs are charged, on time, with optimized usage and costs.

Over time, Enode's API platform combined with Sense's visibility into real-time power flow at the edge of the grid will enable the development of new tools for utilities and grid operators to influence local system reliability.

"We're excited to partner with Sense to bring richer EV insights and smarter charging to their users," said Thorvald Thorsnes, Chief Revenue Officer at Enode. "Together, we can make EV ownership simpler, more affordable, and more sustainable, all while laying the foundation for the next generation of intelligent energy services."

Following the debut of Sense's EV Analytics, a new load management solution to support utility electrification efforts that was announced in June, the Sense and Enode partnership will enhance insights and controls for consumers. The companies expect to release products and services directly connected to this partnership starting in 2026. Contact Sense for more information on EV and home energy solutions.

Sense | https://sense.com

Viridi, the industry leader in fail-safe battery energy storage systems (BESS), in partnership with McKinstry, a national leader in high-performing building solutions, announced the successful deployment of its RPSLinkEX energy storage solution at the Denver Public Library.

The project marks a first-of-its-kind Solar and Battery Energy Storage System for the city and counties of Denver, underscoring the city's commitment to sustainability and energy resilience. Unlike traditional lithium-ion systems that carry inherent fire risk, Viridi's proprietary fail-safe anti-propagation technology eliminates the potential for thermal propagation events, making it one of the safest battery solutions available for occupied public buildings.

The Denver Public Library required an energy solution that could deliver meaningful sustainability and cost savings while maintaining the highest standards of safety for its staff, visitors, and critical infrastructure. Viridi's behind-the-meter RPSLinkEX system delivers on that need—capturing excess solar energy for use during non-solar hours, reducing peak demand, and providing dependable backup power during outages, all while meeting Denver'srigorous fire safety standards.

"Public facilities like the Denver Public Library are at the forefront of demonstrating that energy resilience and safety can go hand in hand," said Jon M. Williams, CEO at Viridi. "This installation highlights how fail-safe battery storage can empower communities to maximize renewable energy, reduce costs, and maintain reliability—all without compromise."

With installation led by McKinstry, the Denver Public Library's new RPSLinkEX energy storage system is fully integrated into its existing infrastructure and monitored through Viridi's ViSTA Dashboard.

"The entire McKinstry team is very excited about developing and constructing the first Solar + BESS project for the City and County of Denver," said Jon Ensley, Sr. Construction Project Engineer at McKinstry. "We are appreciative of all our partners and stakeholders who helped to achieve this goal. We value Viridi's expertise in deploying this technology and the whole team has been great to work with."

This project sets a new benchmark for how cities can combine renewable energy and battery storage without compromising safety. With solutions like RPSLinkEX, Viridi is helping communities like Denver lead the way toward cleaner, more resilient energy infrastructure for the future.

For more information, visit: www.viridiparente.com

About Viridi
Viridi is transforming energy storage with its proprietary fail-safe lithium-ion battery technology. Viridi's battery energy storage systems (BESS) feature breakthrough anti-propagation technology, preventing propagation and significantly reducing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Viridi's commercial-scale BESS is among the first and only to be installed in an existing, occupied building, setting a new benchmark for safety and reliability. Engineered for seamless integration into virtually any environment, the BESS combines advanced AI and connectivity to deliver unparalleled remote monitoring and energy optimization. Viridi enables clean, scalable energy solutions across industries, paving the way for a safer, more sustainable future.
Learn more at: www.viridiparente.com, and follow Viridi on LinkedIn.

About McKinstry:
McKinstry is a national leader in designing, constructing, operating and maintaining high-performing buildings. From new construction and ongoing operations to adaptive reuse and energy retrofits, the company provides a single point of accountability across the entire building lifecycle. McKinstry focuses on people and outcomes to ensure the built environment serves owners, operators and occupants alike. McKinstry is your trusted partner for the life of your building.
Learn more at www.mckinstry.com.

With the goal of promoting healthy plant and soil ecosystems through sustained solar energy production, Colorado State University (CSU) announced that Pivot Energy, a leading renewable energy independent power producer, has contributed $60,000 to CSU's Dryland Ecology and Management Lab. The funding will support the first-of-its-kind, comprehensive research on dryland ecosystems with solar projects in the Desert Southwest.

Through Pivot Energy's generous donation, CSU will be able to advance its dryland research and explore new ecovoltaic synergies between solar development and dryland restoration. The research supports the key pillar of habitat enhancement work that Pivot deploys on solar project sites as one of its three agrivoltaics configurations.

Pivot's philanthropic investment will also enable valuable student training in dryland restoration and ecovoltaics research and grant application preparation and submittals to support students' ongoing workforce development and skills for sustaining long-term research work.

"We are excited to work with Pivot Energy and to embark on a variety of exciting new research opportunities at the nexus of sustainable energy production and restoration ecology," said Carrie Havrilla, assistant professor in the Department of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship and director of CSU's Dryland Ecology and Management Lab. "Pivot's generous support, coupled with its belief and investment in the CSU Dryland Ecology and Management Lab, demonstrates the high value the organization places on creating measurable positive impacts on people, communities, and the planet and its effort toward working in collaboration to battle climate change."

"Pivot Energy is thrilled to collaborate with CSU by utilizing its expertise to research and develop emerging climate solutions, and be part of this new, innovative research," said Angie Burke, Director of Operations, Pivot Energy. "We donated this grant to support integral dryland ecosystem research efforts, benefitting Pivot's agrivoltaics program, which is comprised of livestock grazing, habitat enhancement, and crop production, the key pillars of the program."

The research will take place on three Pivot solar project sites in Mesa County, Colorado, with fieldwork expected to begin in Fall 2025 and continue through 2027. Pivot has more than 16 years of experience accelerating the clean energy transition and helping companies and communities achieve impactful decarbonization.

For more information on CSU's Dryland Ecology and Management Lab and to learn how giving makes a difference in CSU's research, visit https://warnercnr.colostate.edu/.

Pivot Energy | pivotenergy.net

Batteries Plus is proud to announce it is teaming up with the Green Bay Packers for the 2025-2026 NFL season. Through a series of contests with Packers-themed prizes, the partnership – now in year two – aims to promote and educate Packers fans about the importance of recycling batteries in order to secure America's supply of critical minerals. As part of the agreement, Batteries Plus will be the official game sponsor for Green Bay's preseason matchup against Seattle at Lambeau Field on Saturday, August 23 at 3:00pm.

Proud Partners of the Green Bay Packers
Packers fans who bring in used batteries to be recycled at any of the 28 Batteries Plus locations in Wisconsinduring the football season will be entered for a chance to win Packers experiences and merchandise. These prizes include, but are not limited to:

• Tickets to all preseason and regular season home games, plus the chance to deliver the official game ball
• VIP pregame sideline passes for each regular season home game
• Bowl tickets and sideline passes if the Packers should host any postseason home game(s)*
• Packers-signed mini-helmets and footballs
• Packers Pro Shop gift cards

* Prize available upon Lambeau Field hosting a Packers postseason game

Batteries Plus first became a Proud Partner of the Green Bay Packers at the start of the 2024 season with a goal of reshaping battery recycling efforts across the country and inspiring communities to join the mission of doing their part. That first year proved successful in both the number of batteries recycled, and in the awareness raised about recycling batteries. In July 2024, third-party research found that just 28% of the Packers' national fanbase believed battery recycling was easy enough to incorporate into their regular recycling habits. But by the end of the inaugural season, that number had risen to 57%, reflecting the impact of the partnership's awareness efforts.

That awareness quickly translated into action. During that first football season, Batteries Plus stores across Wisconsin collected 100% more batteries to be recycledthan the previous year. That's an additional 100,000 pounds of lithium and other battery chemistries recycled for second life application and kept out of landfills. This year, Batteries Plus aims to double volumes again over the 2024 numbers.

"The Packers organization is proud to team up with Batteries Plus once again to tackle battery recycling head-on," said Justin Wolf, Packers Director of Corporate Partnerships Sales and Activations. "The significant growth in fan awareness over the past year highlights the real progress we can make when we combine education with community passion. By joining forces once again, we can keep building on that momentum, educating fans about the importance of proper battery disposal and encouraging them to take part in recycling efforts, all while giving them the chance to score exciting Packers prizes."

All fans attending the preseason game against the Seahawks will receive a complimentary magnet schedule of the Packers 2025-2026 season, courtesy of Batteries Plus. The magnet will feature the Batteries Plus logo and a QR code fans can scan to learn more about battery recycling, how to bring their batteries into a local Batteries Plus store for recycling, and to find their nearest location in Wisconsin. Additional magnet calendars will also be available at Batteries Plus locations the week following the preseason game while supplies last.

Throughout the season, fans attending Packers games can also expect to see the Batteries Plus logo and battery recycling messaging displayed on video boards within Lambeau Field and the stadium Marquee signs, as well as on various digital channels. The focus of this messaging will be to raise awareness of the batteries used every day, while informing fans of how to safely and properly recycle used batteries at Batteries Plus locations.

Why It Matters
Batteries power nearly every aspect of our lives, from the cell phones, laptops, and smart watches we use daily, to power tools, portable power banks, e-scooters, and more. Most of these rechargeable products use lithium-ion batteries, which contain hazardous chemicals and heavy metals that are a limited resource, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite. By increasing awareness and participation in battery recycling efforts, these critical minerals can be recovered and domestically repurposed for second-life application, ultimately securing America's energy independence and supporting the country's energy future.

When our batteries die or lose their power, it's tempting to throw them in the trash. But improper disposal can have serious consequences, including wasting those rare materials that could otherwise be reused for generations to come, as well as safety risks. Damaged or discarded batteries can spark fires in waste facilities and landfills, which has been a growing concern in communities nationwide, underscoring the critical need for consumers to prioritize battery recycling.

Continuing the Mission
Each year, Batteries Plus recycles more than 52.3 million pounds of batteries, keeping thousands of tons of material in circulation and out of landfills. Just as demand for rechargeable batteries has dramatically increased in recent years, so too has the demand for Batteries Plus' recycling services of items like lithium-ion batteries used in electronic devices. With a national reach of more than 730 locations, coupled with over 30 years of expertise in battery recycling, Batteries Plus has made it a mission to help secure the domestic critical mineral supply chain through larger recycling initiatives. The brand's already well-established recycling efforts are now even stronger through this continued partnership with the Green Bay Packers, a team known for its large and passionate fanbase of millions across the country.

"Batteries Plus has always been dedicated to responsibly recycling batteries in order to keep harmful substances out of our environment, secure critical resources, and reduce the risk of dangerous fires," said Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus. "As a Wisconsin-based company, teaming up with the Green Bay Packers is a shared commitment to our community. Together, we're showing fans that just like the Packers protect the football, we can all protect our planet by keeping batteries out of the trash and giving them a second life here in the United States."

Batteries Plus | www.batteriesplus.com

Green Bay Packers | www.packers.com

Onyx Renewables ("Onyx"), a leading clean energy solutions provider, announced the completion of two ground-mount solar projects totaling 13 megawatts at the U.S. Army's Fort Polk military installation. Developed in partnership with sustainable infrastructure solutions provider Corvias, the projects were celebrated earlier this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Onyx, Corvias, the U.S. Department of Defense, community leaders, and other key stakeholders.

In collaboration with the U.S. Army, Onyx and Corvias developed these projects to provide a predictable electric rate to the military installation while also advancing the Army's energy goals. The projects will leverage renewable energy generation that can support the military installation's energy resiliency, with the addition of battery storage and microgrid controls in the future.

"Onyx is proud to contribute to on-base readiness at Fort Polk through our partnership with Corvias," said Onyx Renewables' SVP of Origination Kevin Cox. "By increasing onsite energy capacity with distributed resources, we are not only bolstering crucial resilience across the base but also generating savings that will benefit the military community stationed there."

The Fort Polk solar projects, which are collocated on one parcel spanning 97 acres, will provide energy cost savings over a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) term. In addition to promoting energy security and resiliency, the projects are anticipated to meet 40% of the electricity demand for on-base housing in their first year.

"Corvias' efforts across our military housing portfolio are a reflection of the important role energy resilience plays in national security," said Corvias Chief Executive Officer Chris Wilson. "By enhancing the energy infrastructure of military installations, we are helping to meet tomorrow's defense needs." 

Building on their successful track record of developing distributed generation (DG) assets for the U.S. Army at bases such as Fort Riley, this latest milestone at Fort Polk underscores Onyx and Corvias' collective determination and ability to drive sustainable energy solutions forward. The companies' extensive experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes has been instrumental in advancing this landmark renewable energy project in Louisiana.

Onyx Renewables | https://www.onyxrenewables.com/

Corvias | www.corvias.com