The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

OMRON Electronic Components, a global leader in innovative component solutions, will highlight its AC and DC high-power relays for renewable energy applications, along with its newly released Weather Sensor, at RE+ 25 – North America’s largest clean energy event – Sept. 8-11 in Las Vegas. Attendees can visit Booth #V13535 in the Venetian Ballroom – Level 2 to explore OMRON’s technologies designed to advance renewable energy and grid resilience.

“RE+ is always a great opportunity to put our technology in front of the innovators driving clean energy forward,” said Kyle Alberti, business development manager, OMRON Electronic Components. “This year, we’re focused on demonstrating how our relays, monitoring solutions, and more can deliver high quality performance and reliability in renewable energy applications.”

During the event, OMRON will showcase its AC and DC high-power relays designed for renewable energy applications such as PV inverters, battery energy storage systems, and more. Attendees can experience an interactive high-power relay demo featuring five relays that simulate real-world functionality, paired with a video animation highlighting the advantages of the particular AC or DC relay. OMRON will also present a comparative demo illustrating the benefits of PCB-mountable relays versus traditional contactors, displaying an assembled contactor side-by-side with a populated PCB relay board equivalent.

In addition to its relay portfolio, OMRON will demo its new Weather Sensor, developed in partnership with KS Technologies. The compact, high-precision device enables operators across agriculture, smart cities, and energy infrastructure to optimize performance and improve predictive maintenance. Shifting weather patterns and the growing frequency of extreme weather events have amplified the need for precise, localized weather sensing. The sensor addresses that demand with a design that is also simple to install and maintain.

“Our LoRa module is a key component of the Weather Sensor’s design, enabling long-range, low-power data transmission that’s ideal for clean energy installations,” said Bob Kressin, CEO at KS Technologies. “By combining KST’s wireless expertise with OMRON’s proven sensing technology, we’re delivering a solution that gives operators the data they need to boost efficiency.”

Alongside the relays and Weather Sensor, OMRON will also display an interactive high-power relay kiosk, technology value comparison of PCB relays vs. contactors, and power monitoring solutions.

“OMRON’s attendance at RE+ this year will offer attendees the opportunity to see firsthand how our technologies integrate into real-world energy applications,” said Cary Horan, business development manager at OMRON Electronics Components. “From the Weather Sensor to our relay and monitoring solutions, we are committed to delivering technologies that solve challenges and advance the clean energy space.”

OMRON. | omron.com

NextWave Energy Monitoring (NextWave) and Cenergy, a leading national solar developer and EPC firm, announce the launch of NextWave's custom data acquisition system (DAS) for 529 megawatts (MW) of Cenergy's clean energy assets, including the largest utility-scale solar project to use NextWave's PVPulse software. NextWave, a solar energy monitoring solutions provider, is supplying custom Class-A DAS and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) hardware to 37 Cenergy projects, including a 300-MW utility-scale project in California. NextWave's monitoring will collect localized weather and energy performance data and provide Cenergy with access to advanced energy performance monitoring and management.

The platform's data-driven insights and precise, real-time alerts will empower Cenergy to identify root-cause issues quickly, reduce the mean time to repair, and extract the highest energy yield from its fleet. On the utility-scale project, NextWave is also providing controls capabilities, allowing asset management teams remote access and control of the site as well as robust user management for all stakeholders.

Monitoring systems are a critical component of solar projects, providing the transparency and accountability required by all stakeholders — from investors and asset owners to utilities and regulators. NextWave and Cenergy finalized their onboarding agreement in May 2025 and have begun production of the custom DAS equipment. Cenergy anticipates deployment of these assets in the field between Q3 2025 and Q3 2027, aligning with the broader execution timeline of its clean energy portfolio. NextWave's ability to rapidly deploy hardware and bring projects online — averaging 2 to 4 weeks, notably faster than the industry average — enabled Cenergy to meet aggressive commissioning schedules and qualify for time-sensitive federal tax incentives under the recently passed reconciliation bill.

The newly onboarded assets are located throughout the United States, primarily in Illinois, California, and Maine, and range in size from 1.3 MW to 300 MW. The recent onboarding confirms Cenergy's ongoing commitment to exclusively use NextWave products to maximize solar asset performance, including more than 60 MW of previously onboarded community solar assets in Illinois and Maine.

"NextWave's engineering team brings a level of expertise and collaboration that's hard to find in the monitoring space," said Andrew B. Goldin, Senior Vice President of EPC at Cenergy.

"From Day 1, they worked alongside our engineers to design a communication topology and DAS architecture that could meet complex utility and asset owner requirements. The custom SCADA solution they delivered addressed not only today's expectations but also anticipated the evolving demands from ISOs and utilities for large-scale projects. Their ability to tailor solutions while maintaining compliance and schedule has made them a trusted extension of our team."

The addition of these new projects demonstrates NextWave's capability to support energy monitoring for projects and portfolios of any size as well as the aggressive growth goals of its current and future partners.

"Successful solar projects require moving beyond a transactional, customer-vendor dynamic toward a true partnership — where needs, timelines, and quality standards become shared goals," said Nader Yarpezeshkan, CEO of NextWave. 

"Delivering on time and on budget is important, but delivering a more robust and future-proof system starts with listening closely, over-communicating, and aligning early. What makes the Cenergy relationship effective is their buy-in to our vision that monitoring and DAS aren't afterthoughts — they're fundamental to long-term performance and should be prioritized early in the engineering and procurement process."

NextWave Energy Monitoring | nwemon.com

Cenergy | www.cenergypower.com

PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a North American energy infrastructure developer and asset owner, is pleased to announce that its 5.7 MW North Main St ground-mount solar project (the "Project"), located in upstate New York, has completed its Coordinated Electric System Interconnection Review (CESIR), and now can proceed to the next important milestone: permitting the Project site.

The North Main St project is poised to qualify for New York's Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) compensation mechanism under Case 15-E-0751, with an estimated first-year average rate of US$0.0971/kWh. This VDER rate ensures fair compensation for clean energy delivered to the grid, reinforcing the project's financial and environmental viability.

Upon securing permits and financing, PowerBank will commence construction, with the project set to operate as a community solar initiative. This innovative model enables renters, businesses, and homeowners to subscribe to the solar farm, receiving bill credits and savings without installing on-site equipment. By feeding clean energy directly into the local grid, North Main offers an accessible pathway for New Yorkers to embrace the clean energy transition.

PowerBank's proven expertise, with over 100 MW of completed projects and a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, underpins the project's execution. Strategic partnerships and institutional-grade development capabilities position PowerBank to deliver reliable, high-impact renewable energy solutions.

The North Main St project advances New York's ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of 6 GW of solar capacity by 2025. As a national leader in community solar, New York accounts for nearly one-third of the United States' 6.2 GW of installed solar capacity, and PowerBank is honored to contribute to this transformative milestone.

PowerBank Corporation | www.powerbankcorp.com

Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure company, will develop a new 250 MW solar photovoltaic facility, located in Milam County, Texas. The project represents a total investment of approximately $355 million, including debt. Ferrovial will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility, which will deliver reliable electricity to the Texas grid and support long-term economic growth in the region.

"This project is a strong example of how infrastructure investment can directly benefit communities," said María José Esteruelas, Ferrovial Energy CEO. "As data centers multiply and energy needs continue to increase, this facility will bring lasting value to the region by creating jobs, supporting local services and strengthening energy reliability."  

Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming months, generating nearly 300 jobs during the build phase. The facility is expected to produce power by 2027 and deliver approximately 450 GWh (450,000 MWh) of electricity annually–enough to serve 43,000 homes.  

The project adds to Ferrovial's energy portfolio in Texas, complementing a 257 MWdc plant in Leon County. The Company is also nearing construction completion of a 72 MW PV plant in the Houston area for its client X-Elio. 

Ferrovial | https://www.ferrovial.com/

Trina Storage Solutions U.S., a global leader in integrated energy storage, announced the launch of its Elementa 2 Pro Platform in North America. Building on the momentum of the company's Elementa 2 Elevate offering, this next-generation platform delivers a fully wrapped, cell-to-AC energy storage solution designed for the specific demands of the grid-scale energy storage market. The platform will be available in two turnkey configurations: a 10 MWh (2-hour) system and a 20 MWh (4-hour) system.

With the Elementa 2 Pro Platform, Trina Storage continues its strategic commitment to offering more than a DC block of power. The platform integrates battery cells, PCS, transformers, and EMS into a single, streamlined architecture – designed, tested, and supported by Trina Storage as one cohesive solution. This approach eliminates common integration challenges and reduces procurement complexity for developers and EPCs, while accelerating time to commissioning.

The Elementa 2 Pro Platform delivers 10 MWh (2-hour system) or 20 MWh (4-hour system) in a compact, fully integrated containerized solution. At its core are long-life 314Ah LFP cells with intelligent liquid cooling, engineered to deliver up to 5% higher State of Health (SOH) at year 20 and extend project lifetimes beyond 25 years. This reduces augmentation needs and lowers overall project CAPEX. Combined with advanced fire safety systems, IP55/IP67 protection, and full compliance with UL 9540A, UL1973, CE, and UN standards, the platform ensures safe, reliable, and efficient performance across a wide operating range, from –22 °C to 50 °C. The Elementa 2 Pro Platform provides a bankable, future-proofed solution for today's most demanding utility and developer projects.

"Our Elementa 2 Pro Platform redefines what it means to deliver a complete storage solution," said Terry Chen, Vice President, Trina Storage Solutions U.S. "From traceability and State-Side Integration Testing (SSIT) to real-world performance modeling, every layer of this platform is designed to reduce risk, accelerate deployment, and maximize value for our customers."

As the only solution of its kind to combine comprehensive integration with deep traceability, the Elementa 2 Pro Platform introduces Trina Storage Trace, the company's proprietary digital system for component-level transparency. Every component – from battery cells to power conversion and controls – is serialized and traceable from raw material to installed product. Trina Storage Trace brings accountability and supply chain visibility to its energy storage business, enabling compliance with evolving regulatory and ESG requirements.

"The storage market has moved beyond standalone DC blocks," said Doug Alderton, Head of Sales & Marketing, Trina Storage Solutions U.S. "Customers expect trusted partners, fully wrapped systems, better performance and faster delivery. The Elementa 2 Pro Platform delivers on all of that – and more."

The Elementa 2 Pro Platform will be featured in Trina Storage's booth at RE+ 2025 from September 9 – 11, 2025. Visitors can explore the platform and speak directly with Trina's energy storage experts at booth V9071.

Trina Storage Solutions | 

As the U.S. electric grid strains under surging demand—from aging infrastructure and climate-driven extremes to the explosive rise of data centers—the urgency for resilient, localized power solutions has never been clearer. Oregon’s landmark microgrid law, signed this summer by Governor Tina Kotek, arrives at a pivotal moment. The law dismantles long-standing utility obstacles, clearing the way for microgrids to deliver reliability, cost control, and energy independence across public and private sectors.

Rising Pressure on Oregon’s Grid from Data Centers

Data centers now account for roughly 11% of Oregon’s electricity consumption, with expectations of continued growth pushing infrastructure and ratepayer burden to new heights. Reports confirm that costs to serve these massive energy users are increasingly spread across all consumers, contributing to rising bills—some up 50% over the past four years—and an alarming increase in utility disconnections. Western grid authorities likewise warn that new data centers are outpacing the region’s capacity to build a reliable energy supply and transmission.

Microgrids: The Ultimate in Energy Security

Against this backdrop, microgrids emerge as a foundational solution—providing energy security, autonomy, and resilience for businesses, municipalities, and government agencies. By generating critical electricity on‑site, microgrids immunize essential services (from wastewater plants to emergency operations) against widespread outages, while reducing dependence on the strained broader grid.

Microgrids Enhance Overall Grid Resilience

Distribution grid‑tied microgrids not only protect local users—they fortify the regional grid by smoothing demand peaks, reducing strain during extreme weather, and enabling flexible energy flows. Their decentralized nature mitigates systemic vulnerabilities in aging infrastructure and improves adaptability to evolving threats.

Oregon’s Microgrid Law: Leading the Nation

Oregon’s new framework stands as the first in the nation to explicitly authorize customers to “self‑perform” microgrid development—freeing municipalities, businesses, and agencies from utility delays or vetoes. This streamlines deployment, shrinking project timelines and unleashing resilient infrastructure investments.

Stracker Solar: Elevated Dual-Axis Tracking—70% More Output, Zero Land Loss

Ashland‑based Stracker Solar is primed to lead this microgrid revolution. Its extreme‑engineered, elevated dual‑axis solar trackers offer up to 70% greater energy yield compared to traditional fixed systems—all while preserving the land beneath for agriculture, parking, or community use.

Stracker’s technology is well-proven in the field. The company collaborated on the creation of the first agrivoltaic microgrid in the United States at Our Table Cooperative in Sherwood, Oregon—an innovative system that demonstrated how elevated, dual-axis solar trackers can deliver both resilient power and productive farmland use on the same footprint. This nationally significant proof-of-concept showed that Strackers and agriculture can thrive side by side while delivering reliable, on-site energy security.

Building on that success, Stracker has deployed municipal microgrids for the cities of Talent and Ashland, ensuring local resilience in the face of outages and wildfire risk. Beyond Oregon, a Stracker-powered microgrid drives an off-grid robotic dairy in California’s Antelope Valley, providing continuous, renewable power for a fully automated agricultural operation. Today, the company is advancing a new project in Coburg, Oregon, where up to 12 Strackers will power a wastewater treatment plant microgrid, protecting emergency operations at this critical public facility.

Founder Jeff Sharpe emphasizes, “Strackers were engineered with microgrids in mind…for maximizing distributed grid output and optimizing microgrid placement, there’s simply no better way to mount solar panels.”

A Strategic Asset for Critical Services & Commercial Continuity

When the grid fails, microgrids keep essential systems alive—powering 911 dispatch centers, water treatment, cold‑chain logistics, hospitals, and more. For businesses, a big‑box store outfitted with 60 Strackers (1MW) and battery storage could operate entirely off‑grid: lights, registers, refrigeration—business continues uninterrupted. That’s not just resilience—it’s competitive advantage.

Conclusion—Microgrids as National Model

With an increasingly vulnerable transmission grid and the explosive energy appetite of data centers, the time to act is now. Oregon’s microgrid law sets a national precedent; Stracker’s elevated dual‑axis microgrid systems offer unmatched efficiency and versatility. Together, they carve a path toward a more resilient, secure energy future for business, government, and community alike

Stracker Solar | https://stracker.solar/
 

Ampd Energy, a global leader in mobile battery energy storage systems (ESS) for heavy industries, announced the appointment of Chrystin Matuszek as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Based in the US, she will oversee sales, marketing, and application engineering, spearheading Ampd’s global growth strategy and advancing the deployment of its next-generation energy solutions.

Matuszek brings more than twenty years of leadership experience, including international and global roles in sales, operations, and strategy. She most recently served as Country Leader/Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand at Danfoss Power Solutions, where she was responsible for the region’s full commercial and operational performance. Her prior experience also includes senior leadership roles at Rockwell Automation, Eaton, AIT, and Gates Corporation. 

"We are excited to welcome Chrystin to our executive team," said Anthony Stewart, CEO of Ampd Energy. “Her extensive experience in global commercial leadership will significantly strengthen our market presence. We believe that Chrystin's strategic vision and passion for innovation will help us not only meet, but exceed the expectations of our clients and stakeholders, driving sustainable growth for Ampd Energy."

Reflecting on her new role, Matuszek commented, "Ampd is delivering real, measurable impact in energy storage, not just for today, but for the future of the industry. What stood out to me is the company’s commitment to innovation and to building solutions that truly matter. I’m excited to partner with this talented team to expand Ampd’s reach and unlock new opportunities worldwide."

Matuszek holds a BA in Psychology from Morehead State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also completed INSEAD’s Executive Strategic Excellence Development Program. 

Ampd Energy | https://www.ampd.energy