Protecting Our Grid Lines

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, the vaunted partnership project between Shell and EDP Renewables planned for the east coast finally succumbed to pressure from both the new United States administration and local petitions demanding the project be scrapped. Originally marketed as a landmark collaboration to build a ”5+ gigawatt offshore wind portfolio, strategically positioned to meet the growing demands of multiple east coast markets including New Jersey and New York”, the project has formally withdrawn its plans.

According to the OREC filing to the utilities boars, per an atttorney for Atlantic Shores, "Due to the uncertainty caused by the Presidential Wind Memorandum, the subsequent loss of the Air Permit, and other actions.... Atlantic Shores has been forced to materially reduce its personnel, terminate contracts, and cancel planned project investments.”

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind | https://atlanticshoreswind.com/

Shoreline Wind has entered the onshore wind market with a full-scale planning, construction and O&M platform – unlocking a new era of smarter, more resilient growth for global wind developers, operators and service providers. With a proven offshore wind platform, powering some of the world’s most complex offshore projects, Shoreline now brings its simulation-first approach to the onshore wind market, supporting developers, operators and service providers to design, build, and operate more cost-efficient and low-risk projects.

The onshore wind sector is moving beyond the initial “gold rush” era of rapid expansion. Developers now face a complex combination of rising turbine and financing costs, tighter margins, and critical skill shortages. Regulatory, environmental, and community-specific requirements also vary widely by region, often leading to fragmented planning and inefficient execution. At the same time, intermittent generation, curtailment risk, and grid access limitations are creating an added layer of uncertainty that conventional planning tools struggle to handle.

Disconnected workflows between development, engineering, logistics, and operations teams further compound delays and cost overruns. In this context, even a 1–2% improvement in project efficiency can be decisive. Shoreline’s onshore market entry aims to unlock precisely these gains – by bringing greater precision, visibility, and collaboration to every phase of the project lifecycle.

Shoreline addresses long-standing pain points for the onshore market. Shoreline’s Platform is powered by its proprietary Artificial Intelligence software, Shoresim AI, capable of delivering detailed and adaptive work orders, real-time operational insights, sensitivity analyses, optimizations, and forecasts.

It also optimizes project-specific constraints such as crew and resource availability, modal logistics, and environmental permits, generating substantial efficiencies and reductions in operational expenditure (OPEX). Multi-scenario evaluation tools provide transparency for decision-makers under regulatory and investor scrutiny. Portfolio-level resource planning ensures optimal utilization of teams and equipment across multiple concurrent projects.

Shoreline’s onshore technology is already being used by RENOVA, a leading Japanese developer. In Japan, Shoreline’s simulations helped mitigate tidal and transport challenges, while in the Philippines, it streamlined logistics for a remote and complex site – unlocking efficiencies well before ground was broken.

These capabilities come at a critical inflection point. Changes to policy tailwinds like the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S., repowering initiatives in Germany and Central Europe, and rapid buildout in LATAM are underpinning the expansion of the onshore wind market but adding far greater execution risk. Shoreline is uniquely suited to address this complexity as it offers the operational backbone needed to boost certainty, performance, and capital efficiency.

Shoreline Wind’s vision is to bring the innovation that transformed offshore wind to the onshore sector – accelerating operations through a unified, AI-powered platform that redefines how wind farms are designed, built, and operated. With bold ambition, Shoreline is charting a course to power 25% of global onshore wind development within five years.

Shoreline Wind | https://shorelinewind.com/

Ocean Winds (OW) recognized a major milestone in the construction of the Îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm with the successful installation of its first wind turbine. In total, 61 Siemens Gamesa turbines (8MW/unit)— with blades and nacelles manufactured in Le Havre, France — will be installed by September 2025. Located of the coast of the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier in France, this bottom-fixed offshore wind farm will deliver clean, renewable electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of nearly 800,000 people.

Marc Hirt, Ocean Winds’ Country Manager for France, commented: “The installation of EMYN’s first turbine is a powerful demonstration of Ocean Winds’ commitment to France’s energy transition and our contribution to offshore wind development in the country and in the region. A remarkable feature of EMYN is its strong European and French industrial footprint for the construction phase: 95% of the project’s Tier 1 suppliers are European, with over 50% sourced in France. It is a proud moment for our teams and partners who have worked with determination and precision to reach this key moment.”

After pre-assembly of the turbine towers at the Port of Saint-Nazaire, installation at sea has been carried out by JAN DE NUL. The first turbine was installed following an offshore operation, mobilizing teams from the EMYN project, its contractors, and partners.

Frédéric Flaus, Project Director for EMYN, added: “We are proud to have successfully installed the first wind turbine on the EMYN project, a symbol of the excellent collaboration between all contractors and the EMYN project team. With this milestone, we have entered the final months of construction before commissioning at the end of the year.”

Yara Chakhtoura, Managing Director for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa France, mentioned: “The installation of the first offshore turbine at Yeu-Noirmoutier marks an important milestone towards achieving the ambitious targets of offshore wind in France. Our Le Havre factory is central to achieving these targets and, once its expansion is completed, it will become an essential link in our European offshore wind production network. We are proud to manufacture and install the turbines for this offshore wind farm and thereby contributing to the energy transition and decarbonization in France.”

Peter De Pooter; Manager Offshore Energy Structures at Jan De Nul: “We are proud to support the installation of 61 turbines for EMYN, carried out by the highly skilled crew of our vessel Vole au vent. This project represents another meaningful step toward accelerating the shift to renewable energy, and it strengthens our track record in delivering offshore wind projects in France and across Europe.”

During EMYN’s entire construction phase, more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs have been mobilized, including around 1,000 at the Siemens Gamesa factories in Le Havre to produce nacelles and blades. Once operational, the project will generate 85 long-term direct jobs, with around 60 positions based on the island of Yeu for operations and maintenance activities.

Ocean Winds | https://www.oceanwinds.com/

kWh Analytics, the leading provider of Climate Insurance and risk management solutions for renewable energy, released its 7th annual Solar Risk Assessment (SRA), a comprehensive report designed to provide an objective, data-driven evaluation of solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) risk. The annual report includes contributions from academia, technology, financing, and insurance leaders in the solar energy and BESS industries.

This year’s report arrives at a pivotal moment for the renewable energy industry as solar and wind energy production have become imperative to the U.S. energy mix, and new renewable energy deployment shatters expectations and records. At the same time, these assets face challenges from intensified climate impacts, operational and safety concerns, and increased cybersecurity threats.

“As renewable energy becomes the backbone of the electrical grid, ensuring system resilience is no longer optional—it’s imperative," said Jason Kaminsky, CEO at kWh Analytics. “Keeping these assets operational requires unprecedented collaboration among asset owners, operators, financiers, insurers, brokers, and manufacturers. We are grateful for the valuable research and articles by this year’s Solar Risk Assessment contributors, who are helping to establish higher industry standards required to build infrastructure that withstands heightened risks.”

The 2025 report consists of 15 articles written by U.S. and global industry partners and provides an objective analysis of the top extreme weather, operational, and battery risks facing the renewable energy sector. Top findings by category include:

“Insurance plays a key role in protecting our infrastructure,” said Isaac McLean, Chief Underwriting Officer, kWh Analytics. “The Solar Risk Assessment enables us to identify emerging risks and understand what data we need to inform accurate underwriting and promote resiliency among project developers and asset owners.”

Key takeaways from the 2025 report include:

• Hail continues to represent one of the most severe financial risks. Implementing proper module selection with thicker glass and advanced stow protocols that allow for steeper tilt angles can significantly reduce damage probability during severe storms.
• While the emergence of AI technologies presents powerful opportunities for renewables, improperly trained models can give false results. Data quality will be imperative to incorporating these tools into the industry.
• Cyber threat activity targeting renewable energy infrastructure is growing, necessitating enhanced protection strategies.
• Quality inspections of energy storage systems identify issues with fire suppression systems and thermal management components, highlighting the critical need for improved manufacturing and monitoring systems.

To access the complete 2025 Solar Risk Assessment, please visit https://learn.kwhanalytics.com/solar-risk-assessment. This year’s report is also available in audio format on all major podcast platforms.

kWh Analytics | https://www.kwhanalytics.com/

Leap, the leading platform for building and scaling virtual power plants (VPPs), and Xos, Inc., (NASDAQ:XOS), a leading electric truck manufacturer and fleet services provider, announced a new partnership to unlock grid revenue opportunities for electrified fleets. By connecting Xos Hub charging technology to energy markets through Leap’s automated platform, the companies will create new value for fleet owners and deliver crucial support for the grid during energy emergencies.

Xos manufactures electric stepvan vehicles used by some of the country’s most recognizable logistics companies, including FedEx and UPS. The company’s Xos Hub is a mobile, battery-integrated charger designed to speed up fleet electrification without the delays or costs of traditional infrastructure. It provides a versatile, scalable solution for stopgap charging, remote deployments, semi-permanent charging, and backup power.

Now, by using Leap’s software-only VPP platform, Xos can enroll its customers in California’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) grid services program. During emergency grid events, participating fleets will automatically shift charging from the grid to their Xos Hub battery-integrating chargers, relieving grid strain while generating revenue.

Last summer, with major contributions from Leap, DSGS helped California avoid blackouts during prolonged heatwaves. With the addition of Xos’s rapidly growing portfolio, Leap and its partners are poised to scale their impact and deliver even greater support to the grid.

“Leveraging our complementary technologies, Leap and Xos are tapping new value streams for commercial truck fleets, the transportation services that power our economy,” said Jason Michaels, CEO of Leap. “Together, we’re making these fleets cleaner, smarter, and more cost effective, while contributing to a more resilient energy landscape.”

Leap’s universal API suite automates energy market operations, enabling Xos to quickly deploy and scale its own VPP offering without additional hardware or significant additional operational overhead. This means that Xos can immediately start generating new grid revenue, reducing the total product cost for customers and driving ongoing energy savings.

“Our VPP offering gives fleet customers advanced energy capabilities without compromising control or convenience,” said Dakota Semler, CEO of Xos, Inc. “It’s a powerful way to lower the cost of infrastructure ownership even further, maximize the value of our products, and support customers in meeting their electrification goals.”

Leap | leap.energy

Xos | www.xostrucks.com

As the global spotlight turns once again to the urgency of climate action, SANY Renewable Energy is making that commitment tangible, not just in words, but in megawatts. Recently, SANY R.E. signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Contract for Difference (CfD) with Serbia's Alibunar Project. More than just a new market entry, the project reflects SANY R.E.'s resolve to drive clean energy solutions where they're needed most.

The Alibunar project is situated in eastern Serbia, which is one of the country's richest areas for wind resources. Expected to achieve commercial operation in 2028, the project has an operation period of 25 years. With a total installed capacity of 168MW, the project can produce electricity of about 480 million kWh annually after completion. When grid-connected, it will offer Serbia a large amount of clean energy, which will help optimize the local energy structure and reduce the reliance on traditional fossil energy.

The Alibunar project is SANY R.E.'s first investment in Serbia and a milestone in its global clean energy layout. Zhou Fugui, Chairman of SANY R.E., said: "The Alibunar wind project is of great importance to us, marking our entry into the wider European market. We will actively co-operate with local partners and introduce advanced wind power technologies and solutions to help Serbia realize its energy transition and sustainable development goals."

As a leading global provider of wind power solutions, SANY R.E. has been committed to providing efficient and reliable wind power equipment and support. In the process of the project, SANY R.E. will leverage its technical advantages to ensure the efficient advancement and stable operation of the project. Meanwhile, the company's local professional operation and maintenance team will provide comprehensive support for the project.

SANY R.E. has made climate action central to its sustainability strategy, supporting the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. In 2024, its wind turbines generated 135.8 billion kWh of electricity, cutting CO₂ emissions by 72.87 million tons — equal to planting 3.3 billion trees. The company also advances eco-friendly turbine design, aiming to raise the recyclability of mainstream models to 95% by 2030, based on 2020 levels.

Looking ahead, SANY R.E. will continue to contribute to the global energy transition by providing high-quality wind power solutions to more countries and regions, collaborating to create a cleaner energy future.

SANY Renewable Energy | sanre.com

Origis Energy, one of America's leading renewable energy and decarbonization solution platforms, announced the successful financial closing of the Wheatland solar project with MUFG, one of the 10 largest financial groups in the world. The portfolio financing package supports two major Origis Energy projects. The Wheatland Solar project in Knox County, Indiana, will provide 150 MWac of solar capacity and is slated for completion in the first half of 2026. It is supported by a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CenterPoint Energy. Meanwhile, the Optimist Solar + Storage project in Clay County, Mississippi, will deliver 200 MWac of solar power and 50 MW 4HR of energy storage.

This project is expected to be operational by early 2026 and is supported by a PPA with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The Optimist portion of the MUFG deal closed in late 2024. Origis Energy serves as the developer, owner, and operator for both projects.

"Origis Energy is excited to have achieved this financing milestone on Wheatland Solar with MUFG and other financing partners. We continue to see unprecedented growth in demand for electricity and look forward to completing this project for CenterPoint and its customers," said Vikas Anand, Chief Executive Officer of Origis Energy.

"We are proud to have partnered with Origis on this financing. It is a testament to our strong relationship and MUFG's commitment to supporting the development of renewable energy projects across the country," said Patrick Klein, Managing Director on the Project Finance Americas team at MUFG. "Supporting our clients' development projects and business goals is one of the tenets of our bank. We relish the opportunity to be a part of the Optimist and Wheatland projects that will provide clean and affordable power while creating jobs and economic opportunities in the region."

MUFG was Coordinating Lead Arranger, Green Loan Coordinator and Administrative Agent, and participating banks included: Associated Bank, CoBank, National Bank of Canada and NatWest, as Joint Lead Arrangers, and Amalgamated Bank and Siemens Financial Services as Lenders.

Latham & Watkins represented Origis Energy in the Wheatland transaction, with Taft Stettinius serving as Local Counsel. Milbank, LLP acted as MUFG's counsel, with Dentons serving as MUFG's Local Counsel.

More information is available about the projects here:
Optimist Solar + Storage https://origisenergy.com/project/optimist-solar-storage/
Wheatland Solar https://origisenergy.com/project/wheatland-solar/

Origis Energy | https://origisenergy.com/

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group |  www.mufgamericas.com