Higher Power PV Modules Drive Up BOS Costs

Following successful pilot projects and the first full-scale installation on a seagoing vessel, the Vertom Tula, Wattlab is now taking the next step: scaling its Solar Flatrack solution towards the international bulk shipping market. Currently, Solar Flatracks can be deployed on vessels up to and including the Supramax segment. In parallel, Wattlab has started the development of seaworthy solar solutions for Panamax and even Capesize bulk carriers.

Wattlab, a specialist in solar power for shipping, has demonstrated through the successful application of its Solar Flatrack system on seagoing vessels that solar energy can be a practical and scalable part of onboard energy supply - particularly for the vessel’s hotel load.

After two pilot projects and a first full-scale installation on a coaster, the results confirm that the system performs reliably at sea and directly contributes to fuel savings and emission reductions.

From pilot to practice

In collaboration with TNO and shipping company Vertom, the system was tested on the Vertom Anette. The insights gained were subsequently applied to the Vertom Tula, where 44 Solar Flatracks reduce approximately 20% of the onboard hotel load. The project was co-financed by the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), part of the European Green Deal towards climate neutrality by 2050.

“With this step, we show that solar power at sea is no longer an experiment, but a working solution,” says Bo Salet, CEO and co-founder of Wattlab. 
“Through the two pilot projects, we learned a great deal about usability - both from a technical perspective and in terms of how easily the crew can operate the system. We also gained valuable insights into seaworthiness. Based on this knowledge, we have significantly upgraded our Solar Flatrack system.”

No impact on operations

A key concern for shipowners is the impact on day-to-day operations, particularly when carrying deck cargo. The Solar Flatrack system has been designed to ensure that:

• panels can remain in place during loading and unloading
• the system can be easily disconnected and stacked if required
• units can be compactly stored within the footprint of a single 20-foot container

As a result, the vessel’s operational flexibility remains fully intact.

Scaling towards the big bulkers 

With its current technology, Wattlab can deploy solar energy systems on coasters and vessels up to the Supramax segment - particularly on ships equipped with foldable or stackable hatch covers. Based on these results, development has now started to serve larger vessel classes, including Panamax and bigger bulk carrier types.

Salet : “Market interest is growing rapidly. We have already engaged with more than 200 international parties interested in applying Solar Flatracks across their fleets.”

Contribution to energy transition and regulation compliance

By reducing fuel consumption, solar energy directly contributes to lower CO₂ emissions and improved performance on key indicators such as CII and EEXI. It also supports compliance with European regulations, including FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS. In addition, Solar Flatracks reduce shipowners’ dependence on volatile fuel prices.

With an expected return on investment of 3 to 5 years, Wattlab considers the system a financially viable solution for decarbonising both existing and new vessels.

Wattlab | www.wattlab.nl

Ecosuite, a leading provider of distributed energy resource (DER) management and edge compute technology, has been selected by the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC), alongside project partner and local virtual power plant (VPP) developer Ecogy Energy, to participate in the Solar Aggregation and Advanced Inverter Project, a 5-year pilot program designed to explore new ways to manage local solar and energy resources on the electric grid.

The project is part of DCPSC's broader PowerPath DC initiative and is funded through the Modernizing the Energy Delivery System for Increased Sustainability (MEDSIS) program, established as part of the Pepco Holdings–Exelon merger in 2016.

Through this pilot, Ecosuite will demonstrate how smaller, customer-based energy resources, such as rooftop solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging, can work together to support the electric grid. These technologies have the potential to help the grid operate more efficiently as energy demand grows and infrastructure ages.

As part of the demonstration, Ecosuite will deploy its open-source software platform and on-site edge compute nodes (ECNs) across at least three locations in Washington, D.C. These sites will include a mix of solar generation, battery storage, and flexible building or EV charging loads. The project will explore how real-time coordination and dynamic interconnection of DERs can increase solar hosting capacity, streamline interconnections, unlock aggregated grid services, and support a reliable and secure electric grid in the District.

Pepco is supporting the pilot as a learning opportunity to better understand how emerging technologies could benefit customers in the future.

"This project gives us an opportunity to learn how new technologies might help customers connect solar and other clean energy resources more easily, while continuing to deliver reliable service," said Taiwo Alo, Vice President of Technical Services at Pepco. "By participating in pilots like this, we can better understand what works, what's scalable, and how these tools could support a more resilient and efficient grid for the communities we serve."

Pepco supports the DCPSC's efforts to modernize the District's electric distribution system and explore solutions that can expand access to clean energy while protecting reliability and affordability for customers. Insights from this pilot will help inform future discussions about how advanced, interoperable digital tools could support a reliable and cost-effective electric system as customer energy needs continue to evolve.

Ecosuite | ecosuite.io  

Swift Current Energy (Swift Current) announced that Michael Arndt has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective April 6, 2026. Michael succeeds Eric Lammers, who co-founded Swift Current in 2016 and has led the company as CEO for nearly a decade. Lammers founded Swift Current in 2016 alongside current management team members Matt Birchby, William Kelsey, Peter Mara, and Will Havemeyer.

Over the last 10 years, Eric, along with his co-founders, have built Swift Current into a leading clean energy independent power producer. Swift Current is known for its strategic and large-scale projects, including Double Black Diamond Solar, the largest U.S. solar project east of the Mississippi River, and its recently commercialized Steel River project, a 2.9 GWh Storage and 2.5 GWdc solar facility, one of the largest of its kind in the country. During Eric's tenure, Swift Current raised more than $1.5 billion in project financing, $1.2 billion in tax equity and tax credit transfers, and $750 million in corporate debt. Swift Current has also commercialized more than 5 GW of projects and currently operates more than 1 GW of projects.

Michael Arndt joins Swift Current as CEO. Most recently President and General Manager, North America, of Recurrent Energy, Michael led the creation of Recurrent Energy's world-leading battery storage business in the US and successfully oversaw the transition of the company to an independent power producer. Over the course of his career, Michael has developed and overseen a total investment of over $3 billion into renewable energy projects.

As electricity demand accelerates, Swift Current is well positioned to support the next phase of energy infrastructure development. Building on its track record of delivering large-scale, complex renewable projects, the company is continuing to scale its platform to meet the needs of the evolving market. As part of this growth, Swift Current is pursuing a powered land strategy that complements its deep expertise in solar, wind, and energy storage to support energy infrastructure and data centers with long-term power solutions.

Eric Lammers, said, "When we founded Swift Current Energy, we were committed to building a durable organization that could trailblaze a path for major clean energy projects. I am incredibly proud of the organization we have built and how we've gone about it, prioritizing our team, the communities where we operate, and U.S. energy supply chain and workforce. There is tremendous demand for major clean energy projects and Swift Current is positioned well for the next phase of growth."

Neil Doherty, Executive Director at IFM Investors, said, "Under Eric's leadership, Swift Current Energy has grown into a leading independent power producer, with some of the largest operating and development projects in the country. We are grateful for his leadership, vision, partnership and for the strong foundation he leaves behind. We are excited to welcome Michael Arndt to the company. We believe his track record of scaling renewable platforms and driving disciplined growth makes him well suited to lead Swift Current into its next phase."

Michael Arndt, incoming CEO of Swift Current Energy, said, "I look forward to joining Swift Current at such an important time for meeting growing energy demand. Eric and the team have built an impressive portfolio since its formation, and I am excited to help scale the platform to meet rapidly growing power demand. Together we will build on Swift Current's entrepreneurial roots and strong capital backing to deliver projects that define Swift Current as a leading renewable energy platform in the United States."

Swift Current Energy | https://swiftcurrentenergy.com/

Five Texas State Technical College (TSTC) graduates returned to their alma matter, not as students, but as builders, helping deliver the new $72 million Construction Technologies Center where the next generation of trades professionals will be trained. The 120,000-square-foot facility opened to students on February 2. Texas State Technical College will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 26, with media invited to attend.

At the peak of construction, five TSTC alumni were part of the RO team delivering the project:

• Seth Blanchard, Project Manager, TSTC Class of 2016
• James Stefka Jr., Assistant Project Manager, TSTC Class of 2016
• Ulises Camacho, Field Foreman, TSTC Class of 2018
• William Holmes III, Quality Manager, TSTC Class of 2020
• Daniel Sprinkle, Project Engineer, TSTC Class of 2024

The project brings together programs previously spread across campus, including Building Construction Technology, Electrical Construction, HVAC Technology, Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology, and Solar Energy Technology, creating a centralized hub for hands-on skilled trades education.

For Seth Blanchard, the project was especially meaningful. The RO project manager graduated from TSTC in 2016, and his connection to the college runs even deeper. His mother is also an alum. 

"This place means a lot to my family," Blanchard said. "TSTC helped launch my career, so getting the chance to come back and build the facility where the next generation will learn these trades is something really special." For Daniel Sprinkle, the experience began before graduation. While still a student, he joined the project team as an intern and was hired full-time as a project engineer after completing his degree.

"Being part of this team while I was still a student was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Sprinkle said. "Now when I walk through it and see students learning here, it's pretty amazing knowing we helped create that opportunity."

The project reflects a broader partnership between RO and TSTC to strengthen the pipeline of skilled trades professionals across Texas. In addition to constructing the facility, RO leaders are collaborating with TSTC to help evolve curriculum and ensure students are gaining the skills required on today's job sites.

The investment comes as demand for skilled trades continues to outpace supply across Texas and the U.S., making workforce development a growing priority for both contractors and educators.

"At RO, we talk about building a better Texas, and that starts with investing in the people who will build it. We're excited to have built this space because TSTC is preparing the skilled workforce our industry depends on. Seeing their graduates come back to campus to help build this facility makes the project especially meaningful," said Braylon Byford, Director of RO Waco.

Rogers-O'Brien Construction | https://r-o.com/

The Department of the Interior announced an agreement with French developer TotalEnergies to invest approximately $1 billion in oil and natural gas and LNG production in the United States. Following this new investment, the federal administration will reimburse the company up to the amount paid for both offshore wind leases in New York and North Carolina. Additionally, TotalEnergies pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the United States.

In response, Oceantic Network has released the following statement from Sam Salustro, SVP of Policy & Market Affairs: 

“After failing to shut down offshore wind through strong-arm tactics and litigation losses, the administration is now spending $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to force developers out of the market—wrapped in a false narrative about affordability, reliability, and national security. Winter Storm Fern showed how offshore wind helps keep the lights on and rates down for millions in the Northeast. And while security claims have been reviewed and dismissed by multiple federal judges, the Department of the Interior and Department of Defense have repeatedly signed off on projects well before construction began.  

"Offshore wind's long-term trajectory remains secure in the U.S. as states continue to make the power source a foundational part of their energy mixture that creates good-paying local jobs. This is political theater meant to obscure the fact that offshore wind capacity is being pulled out of the pipeline when energy prices are skyrocketing, even as other offshore wind projects continue delivering reliable and affordable power to the grid. Paying to remove affordable, homegrown energy out of the equation leaves American consumers struggling to pay their electricity bills."

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/

ArtIn Energy, ArtIn or the Company, a global renewable energy infrastructure platform, announced a definitive agreement for a USD 255 million strategic investment from Agila Investments LLC, Agila or the Investor, a private platform focused on structured capital deployment across energy and infrastructure. The capital will support ArtIn’s U.S. portfolio of utility-scale solar, battery storage, and green fuel infrastructure.

Deal Highlights

Multi-Billion Dollar U.S. Pipeline, ArtIn’s portfolio includes a Texas project with approximately USD 1.4 billion CAPEX and a Nebraska project with approximately USD 2.6 billion CAPEX, collectively implying an enterprise valuation of approximately USD 14.5 billion.

Contracted Investment-Grade Offtake, The projects are supported by long-term agreements with investment-grade counterparties, providing predictable cash flows and strong financing visibility.

Accelerated Renewable Growth, The investment aligns with rapid U.S. renewable expansion driven by solar and battery storage, supported by federal incentives and long-term policy frameworks.

Institutional Governance, Agila’s participation introduces milestone-based funding, board-level oversight, validated financial models, and robust security packages aligned with institutional standards.

Use of Proceeds, Funds will support late-stage development, including interconnection, detailed engineering, procurement, and advancement toward notice-to-proceed and construction financing.

“Agila’s investment validates ArtIn’s institutional platform and disciplined capital strategy,” said Jhon Cohen, CEO of ArtIn Energy. “This partnership accelerates deployment of large-scale renewable infrastructure while maintaining strong governance and risk management.”

Rachel Lucero, President and CEO of Agila Investments, added, “ArtIn has built a sophisticated platform integrating solar, storage, and renewable fuels, aligned with U.S. energy priorities, grid resilience, and large-scale infrastructure deployment.”

ArtIn Energy | www.artinenergy.com