Higher Power PV Modules Drive Up BOS Costs

Ava Community Energy (Ava) announced the launch of SmartHome Battery, an $11 million program to support residential customers installing solar and battery storage systems in their homes. The goal of SmartHome Battery is to make it more affordable for customers to own a home solar and battery system, reduce their electricity bill, and build a stronger local grid. The program connects residents' home batteries to Ava's virtual power plant (VPP), one of California's largest VPPs, enabling a more resilient electricity grid for all.

How residents can take advantage of Ava's SmartHome Battery program 

SmartHome Battery provides two types of incentive offers. The installation rebate helps lower the initial cost of owning a new home solar and battery system or adding a battery to an existing solar system. The ongoing participation payments encourage participants to share a percentage of their battery with Ava's VPP to use during grid events. The amount of money that can be earned for each is based on how much of the battery that is chosen by the customer: 40%, 60% or 80%. Residential customers can apply for the SmartHome Battery program here.

• Installation Rebate
  • Market-rate customers: $90/kWh for the portion of the battery that participants choose to share.
  • Income-Qualified customers: $500/kWh for the portion of the battery that participants choose to share.
• Participation Payments Details
  • Customers earn $3 per month for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) based on the portion of the battery that participants choose to share

"This program was designed to help offset legislative changes to the residential solar industry," said Howard Chang, Ava Community Energy CEO. "The introduction of the Solar Billing Plan (SBP) in 2023 and the end of federal tax incentives (ITC) at the end of 2025 left customers with fewer benefits and more costs. As electricity demand is on the rise, our role is to help our customers navigate these headwinds through incentive programs that make electrification more affordable and maintain grid stability."

All Ava Community Energy customers who are installing a program-approved home battery or already have a program-approved home battery are eligible for SmartHome Battery. Customers must own their batteries and not be enrolled in conflicting programs. The program enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis and will remain open until the program budget is fully committed.

Ava Community Energy | https://avaenergy.org/

LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners Inc. (TSXV: LIB | OTCQB: VLTLF | FSE: I2D) (“LibertyStream” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has begun production from its DLE Unit and its Lithium Carbonate Refining Facility (the “Lithium Carbonate Operating Facility”) at Select Water Solutions’ (NYSE:WTTR) (“Select”) site in Howard County, north-east of Midland. The Company has also pre-sold its first tonne of production of lithium carbonate from its Lithium Carbonate Operating Facility for delivery in June 2026. The first commercial sale is part of broader offtake discussions between LibertyStream and an American consumer of lithium carbonate for a future offtake agreement. LibertyStream anticipates derisking its scalable development model that it intends to replicate across high-volume U.S. basins, including the Permian and Bakken.

“We are proud of the pace of execution at Select’s site,” said Alex Wylie, President & CEO of LibertyStream. “We appreciate the confidence shown by our first customer as we work to convert our ongoing discussions into long-term offtake agreements. With production now underway, we are positioning the Company to reach an annualized production capability of up to 1,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate by the end of 2026.”

Lithium Carbonate Operating Facility

LibertyStream completed installation and construction of its Lithium Carbonate Operating Facility ahead of schedule in March 2026 and has commenced production at the Refining Unit. The Refining Unit is engineered to produce both battery-grade and technical-grade lithium carbonate. The current configuration at Select’s site incorporates key learnings from the Company’s prior field operations and is designed to enhance operating performance as LibertyStream continues building its production history in the field. The Company is actively collecting production and operating data and expects to provide further updates as operations progress.

The first purchase order marks an important early milestone as LibertyStream transitions from site deployment and systems integration into customer qualification and product sales. Aligned with the Company’s strategy of directing initial production into qualification and spot channels while advancing broader commercial relationships, the order provides early validation that LibertyStream is delivering against the milestones set for its Texas operations. Following fulfilment of the purchase order, LibertyStream will be making a royalty payment to Select.

LibertyStream expects the Select site to remain a core operating and validation platform as the Company advances customer qualification efforts, expands commercial sales, and begins site preparation for the construction of its first Texas facility capable of annualized production 1,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate by end of 2026.

LibertyStream | https://libertystream.com/

Mortenson, a leading builder and provider of energy and infrastructure solutions, announced the acquisition of Nor-Cal Controls, a controls systems provider specializing in energy management control systems for solar, battery energy storage, and microgrid applications. The acquisition strengthens Mortenson’s ability to deliver increasingly complex energy and infrastructure projects by integrating advanced controls expertise with its established engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) capabilities. 

Nor-Cal Controls designs and delivers sophisticated, open-architecture control systems that sit at the center of how energy assets operate, interfacing directly with the electrical grid to store, dispatch, and manage power. These systems play a core role in project performance, operational reliability, and long-term asset operation. As renewable energy development accelerates and energy infrastructure becomes more complex, the combination positions Mortenson to deliver fully integrated, high-performance solutions at greater scale. 

The acquisition reflects Mortenson’s continued investment in capabilities that strengthen project delivery in a more complex energy market. Together, Mortenson’s EPC leadership and Nor-Cal Controls’ controls expertise position the organizations to deliver integrated, high-performance multi-technology energy solutions. 

“Mortenson has grown over many decades by being deliberate about how we expand and by staying grounded in our values,” said Derek Cunz, CEO of Mortenson. “We chose to bring Nor-Cal Controls into the Mortenson organization because of the people, their expertise in power control systems engineering, and their relentless focus on the customer. This strengthens a capability that matters to our customers while preserving the culture and principles that define who we are.” 

Continuity is a priority for customers and partners. Nor-Cal Controls customers will continue working with the same teams and leadership they know today, and Mortenson customers will benefit from expanded controls expertise. Mortenson will honor existing customer relationships, and Nor-Cal Controls will maintain its established partnerships across the energy market. 

“Joining Mortenson is an exciting next chapter for Nor-Cal. We’ve built a company rooted in technical excellence, deep customer focus, and a strong team culture. Mortenson shares those same values, and we’re thrilled to combine our strengths to deliver even greater value to our customers and new opportunities for our people,” said Bob Lopez, Co-Founder of Nor-Cal Controls. 

Nor-Cal Controls | https://norcalcontrols.net/

Mortenson | https://www.mortenson.com/

Stryten Energy LLC, a U.S.-based energy storage solutions provider, announced the launch of its new E-Series AGM160 and E-Series AGM190 multi‑terminal batteries, designed for long life and high performance in demanding telecommunications and electric utility applications.

What are the features of the AGM160/190 batteries?

The AGM batteries support extended discharge applications where durability, consistency and uptime are critical. The batteries are maintenance-free, support rapid charge, and offer up to 80% depth of discharge without compromising performance.

The AGM batteries are available with front and top terminal options, providing enhanced flexibility during installation and maintenance. The sealed, spill-proof design allows the batteries to be mounted in any orientation, making them an ideal solution for cabinet enclosures and standard relay rack trays.

What are the use cases for the E-Series AGM160/190 batteries?

Stryten Energy’s E-Series AGM batteries are designed for long life and high performance in:

• Telecommunications: Wireless, Broadband, Signaling, Distributed Power, Customer Premise Equipment
• Electric Utility: Switchgear Control Power, SCADA, Industrial UPS

Two models are now available:

“Telecom and utility environments can be harsh. Stryten Energy’s new AGM multi-terminal batteries are built to withstand harsh environments and ensure critical infrastructures are available,” said Matt Gould, Vice President, Industrial Sales and Service. “The launch of these network power batteries reflects Stryten Energy’s extensive experience and leadership in valve‑regulated lead‑acid (VRLA) battery technology.”

For more information, visit the E-Series AGM160/190 web page.

Stryten Energy | www.stryten.com

AVILOO, the global leader in independent battery diagnostics for electric vehicles officially announced the appointment of Brett Lippel as CEO of AVILOO Northern America. Lippel is now formally introduced in this leadership position as he drives AVILOO’s strategic growth and the nationwide adoption of its advanced battery testing technology.

As the U.S. EV market continues to grow rapidly - particularly the used‑EV segment - trust and transparency around battery health have become critical factors for consumers, dealerships, remarketers, and fleet operators. AVILOO offers the industry’s first manufacturer‑independent, validated battery diagnostic, providing an accurate assessment of an EV battery’s real condition rather than relying solely on Battery Management System (BMS) data.

AVILOO Global CEO Marcus Berger emphasized the importance of Lippel’s appointment in this phase of expansion, noting that the company has found “a proven expert from the automotive sector” who brings not only deep market knowledge but extensive industry relations. “We are truly excited that we were able to bring on board a proven expert from the automotive industry with Brett. We can see how passionately he takes on this mission, and we are confident that thanks to his know‑how and dedication, we will make a decisive step toward realizing our goals in the United States” , Berger said.

Lippel’s first weeks in the role have already been marked by extensive engagement with keyindustry stakeholders. Reflecting on his new responsibilities, he explained that stepping into the position has only strengthened his belief in AVILOO’s impact: “This new responsibility isincredibly exciting, and I’m glad to be part of the outstanding AVILOO team. I am one hundredpercent convinced by the product, and I believe our independent battery certificate is exactly thetool the industry needs to sustainably revolutionize the used EV market in the coming years. ”

Driving Trust and Transparency in the Used-EV Market

With over 20 years of leadership experience across automotive, mobility, fintech, logistics, and SaaS, Lippel brings a strong background in scaling organizations, building nationwide partnerships, and leading high‑performance teams. He has previously held senior roles including SVP at ShipYourCarNow.com, CEO of Lendgistics, and President of Midway Auto Group, and was part of the early leadership team at TrueCar during its rapid growth phase.In his new role at AVILOO, Lippel intends to leverage his broad network and operational expertise to accelerate the availability of AVILOO’s independent battery testing across dealerships, fleets, remarketing partners, and OEMs. His mission is to establish independent battery diagnostics as a new national standard of trust in EV transactions.

AVILOO | https://aviloo.com/en-us/

GridStor, a developer and operator of utility-scale battery energy storage systems, and Axpo, a leading international energy company headquartered in Switzerland, announced the execution of an Energy Storage Agreement with the Hidden Lakes Reliability Project, a 220 MW, 440 MWh battery energy storage system located in Galveston County, Texas, which began operations in 4Q2025.

In brief:

• GridStor and Axpo have executed an Energy Storage Agreement for the Hidden Lakes Reliability Project, a 220 MW, 440 MWh battery storage system in Galveston County, Texas.
• The partnership enhances pricing stability for Houston residents and businesses.
• The transaction demonstrates an innovative, financeable solution for battery storage operators and energy companies.

"We are proud to work alongside Axpo to support long-term pricing predictability for Houston residents and businesses," said Chris Taylor, CEO of GridStor. "Our collaboration with Axpo to develop a bespoke transaction structure that unlocks financing for battery storage also contributes to more stable retail electricity rates for customers."

Lance Titus, Chief Commercial Officer of GridStor, added: "This structure marks a major advancement in risk management product development and sets a strong precedent for financeable solutions for the energy storage industry. Meeting the needs of counterparties with creativity and strong transaction execution is core to how we approach our customers and clients - we are proud to be a trusted provider to Axpo."

The 100 MW bespoke agreement backed by GridStor's Hidden Lakes Reliability Project enables Axpo to pass price predictability through to Houston retail customers. The Hidden Lakes project began operations in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

Shimon Schaff, Origination Director at Axpo in the U.S., said: "At Axpo, our mission is to help customers achieve their desired energy risk profiles through tailored solutions. Our platform is built to give our customers and industry partners direct access to our trading capabilities and resources. We look forward to deepening our cooperation with GridStor in ERCOT and beyond." 

Backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, GridStor manages 530 MW, 1,300 MWh of battery energy storage assets in operation and construction, as well as a pipeline of over 3 GW of battery storage projects in later-stage development across the western and central U.S. The company is focused on executing and delivering projects that provide cost-effective, near-term solutions to utilities, data centers, and other large industrial customers in regions with rapidly growing energy demand.

Axpo Group is a leading international energy company headquartered in Switzerland. In the US, Axpo focuses on the supply of energy and risk management solutions to consumers, producers, and retailers of electricity and natural gas.

Axpo | https://www.axpo.com/us/en.html

GridStor | www.gridstor.com

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, is deepening its collaboration with Microsoft to help make it easier for industrial companies to modernize their operations, break free from proprietary legacy systems and deploy AI-powered automation at scale. 

At the heart of this collaboration is a conviction that industrial automation is overdue for the same open, software-driven transformation that reshaped enterprise IT. Today, most factories and energy plants still run on hardware-locked control systems that are expensive to update, slow to adapt and difficult to extend with Industrial AI. Schneider Electric is building the technology that showcases a better alternative exists. 

In collaboration with h2e POWER, an Indian green hydrogen pioneer, the two companies have deployed India’s first fully autonomous solid oxide electrolyzer system, empowering operators to shift their focus from routine monitoring to more strategic, high-impact work. The system has surpassed 6,000 hours of stable operation in part- and full-load conditions and has demonstrated just-in-time predictive maintenance and promise in cutting electricity consumption by up to 10%, in a process where electricity accounts for more than 70% of total hydrogen production cost. 

A Collaboration Built to End Legacy Drag 

The Schneider Electric collaboration with Microsoft combines Schneider Electric’s role as a global energy technology partner and pioneer of open, software‑defined automation with Microsoft Azure cloud, AI, and edge infrastructure. The goal is a practical, vendor-neutral path for industrial companies to modernize without scrapping existing investments or halting production. 

Central to this is the Industrial Copilot, which extends intelligence to the edge using Microsoft Azure’s cloud and AI services approach for local inference and reinforcement. It automates the engineering tasks that slow modernization most: writing control logic, configuring systems, and navigating documentation. Engineering teams using it report up to 50% time savings, with production line changes that once took weeks now completed in hours. 

Underlying everything is Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert, the world’s first open, software-defined automation platform. By separating software from hardware, it lets customers run and reuse their automation applications across different equipment, vendors, and generations of infrastructure. Microsoft Azure provides the secure cloud and edge backbone that connects it all, from individual sensors to enterprise dashboards. 

Together, the two companies are offering something the industrial world has lacked: a migration path that meets organizations where they are, not where they “should be.” 

Proving It in the Field: Green Hydrogen with h2e POWER 

Green hydrogen is central to global decarbonization plans; however, producing it cheaply and reliably at scale remains a challenge. Solid oxide electrolyzers (SOECs) offer the highest efficiency of any hydrogen production technology, but their operating conditions are so demanding that it has been difficult to maintain equitable net energy consumption and operate them autonomously. 

h2e POWER, an India-originated green tech company based in Pune with operations in India, Germany and the USA, had exactly this challenge. Its SOEC system is technically superior, but limited real-time visibility and the absence of open, scalable automation were pushing operating costs well above design targets.  

Working with Schneider Electric, they deployed a new AI-powered control solution on h2e POWER’s 20 kW SOEC system. The solution continuously monitors and adjusts the electrolyzer in real time, managing thermal balance, hydrogen flow, energy inputs, and safety and equipment health, remotely. 

The results speak to both the technology and the collaborative approach. Energy efficiency improved, stack wear was significantly reduced, and the levelized cost of hydrogen, the industry’s key economic metric, fell by up to 10%, equivalent to around €500,000 per year for a typical 10 MW plant. The system has now run for more than 6,000 hours, making it one of the most durable autonomous electrolyzer demonstrations in India, and probably anywhere in the world. 

Schneider Electric | https://www.se.com/ww/en/

h2e POWER | https://www.h2epower.net/