The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

ION Storage Systems, Inc. (ION), a Maryland-based leader in next-generation solid-state battery technology, announces that it has begun shipping Cornerstone, the first commercial generation of ION's solid-state battery technology, to leading consumer electronics companies. These multilayer cells are specifically designed for future integration into smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other compact, high-performance products. ION's solid-state platform delivers what the battery industry has long promised but never fully realized: long cycle life, no swell, and enhanced safety, without bulky compression systems.

Jorge Diaz Schneider, chief executive officer of ION Storage Systems, emphasized that this milestone signals a much larger roadmap ahead for the company. "Cornerstone powers the most expansive solid state sampling programs in the industry, reaching top-tier customers in consumer electronics, EV, aerospace, and defense simultaneously. Our platform is uniquely positioned for broad, multi-industry adoption."

From a commercial perspective, the launch of Cornerstone is a critical validation point. "The industry has been waiting for solid-state batteries to progress from lab-scale prototypes to commercially viable products," said Eric Lind, chief commercial officer. "That inflection point is here with Cornerstone. According to our customers, we're the only solid-state battery company currently delivering fully functional cells that don't require compression for integration and testing in real-world consumer electronics—an achievement that sets us apart in a highly competitive landscape. This testing is the first step in the qualification process that will allow our technology to rapidly deploy into portable devices with significantly improved energy density, integration, thermal stability, and cycle life."

ION's customer sampling follows a string of technical and operational milestones. Earlier this year, the company achieved a 25x increase in cell capacity while maintaining over 1,000 charge cycles in a commercially relevant format, all without external compression or volume change.

ION Storage Systems | www.ionstoragesystems.com

Tigo Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYGO) (“Tigo” or “Company”), a leading provider of intelligent solar and energy software solutions, announced that the Company has surpassed 200GWh of Reclaimed Energy across the more than 130,000 optimized solar systems monitored by Tigo. At the same time, the commercial solar system owned by Pioneer Market & Pharmacy in Mariposa, California, has reached 6% Reclaimed Energy, adding more than $40,000 in incremental energy value since the system was commissioned four years ago. Reclaimed Energy is the measurement of any extra energy production harvested from a system using Tigo module-level optimization technology.

Designed and installed by Fresno-based solar and construction firm, Rakkar Development & Construction (RDC), the Pioneer Market system supports the vast amounts of electricity required for refrigeration, air conditioning, and lighting at the grocer’s main retail facility near Yosemite National Park. To offset these demands, the companies worked to install as much solar capacity as possible. To mitigate performance losses from intermittent shading from a perimeter parapet wall, HVAC and refrigeration condensers, as well as code compliance and performance visibility, the 370kW rooftop PV system was equipped with Tigo TS4-A-O module-level optimizers.

For Pioneer Market, the Tigo TS4-A-O optimizers perform module-level power optimization to reduce energy losses from shade and other sources of mismatch, deliver rapid shutdown for safety and code compliance, and allow both RDC and Pioneer Market to monitor system performance down to the individual solar module with Tigo Energy Intelligence. Over a four-year period, the site has generated more than 2.2 gigawatt hours, with 6% bonus energy, which has offset roughly $40,000 in energy costs for Pioneer Market.

“In addition to producing at 106% with Reclaimed Energy, the system at Pioneer Market has been completely reliable, with zero service calls required since commissioning in 2021,” said Taj Rakkar, president at Rakkar Development & Construction. “This is basically the best-case scenario every installer and owner wants from a system, and a testament to what you can do when system owner, EPC, and equipment providers align on getting things right.”

Whenever a Tigo MLPE optimizes for shading, module soiling, vegetation growth, cloud coverage, or any other source of mismatch, Tigo monitoring data shows how much power the MLPE is gaining at any given point in time. That amount is the total production of the panel minus the maximum of what it could have produced in a non-optimized system of the same characteristics under the same conditions. Across the 4TWh portion of optimized systems monitored by Tigo, more than 200GWh of Reclaimed Energy has been generated by customers. This represents a grand average of 5% Reclaimed Energy, with the top-performing systems sometimes reaching beyond 30%.

“The realities of the physical world in which solar systems operate require technology that adapts to and overcomes those challenges efficiently and reliably, and with Tigo optimization and module-level monitoring, you achieve both,” said Gal Bauer, senior director of validation, growth, and product management at Tigo Energy. “The broad Reclaimed Energy milestone we have reached is rooted in thousands of examples like that of Rakkar Development & Construction and their customer, Pioneer Market & Pharmacy. Together, the collaboration with these companies represents a commitment to Total Quality Solar.”

A detailed case study on the Pioneer Market project can be found here. For more information about the Tigo TS4 Flex MLPE family of products, please visit the Tigo product page, and for sales inquiries, contact Tigo here.

Tigo Energy | www.tigoenergy.com

Nextracker (Nasdaq: NXT), a leading solar technology platform provider, announced it has been selected by Casa dos Ventos, one of Brazil’s largest renewable energy companies, to supply 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of its NX Horizon-XTR all-terrain solar tracker and NX Horizon solar tracker systems for a portfolio of four new solar and solar-and-wind hybrid utility-scale solar projects in Brazil.

Casa dos Ventos, known for its leadership in Brazil's wind energy sector, is now integrating solar into its renewable portfolio, a growing trend among Brazilian developers aiming to optimize grid connections and project returns. The awarded contracts include four utility-scale solar projects: Babilônia Sul (117 MW), Babilônia Centro (226 MW), Seriemas (540 MW), and Rio Brilhante (680 MW). These sites are located in the municipalities of Morro do Chapéu and Várzea Nova in Bahia, and Rio Brilhante and Seriemas in Mato Grosso do Sul.

“Partnering with Nextracker gives us confidence in the long-term performance and reliability of our projects,” said Thiago Rezende, construction and operations director at Casa dos Ventos. “Nextracker’s strong track record, focus on engineering excellence, and ability to deliver high-quality solutions make it a trusted technology partner for the future.”

This agreement marks Casa dos Ventos’s first utility-scale solar deployment—and a significant step in its strategy to develop hybrid power plants that integrate solar and wind at shared grid interconnection points. By combining complementary energy sources, infrastructure, and available land, hybrid plants can optimize grid capacity—a growing advantage in Brazil’s constrained transmission landscape.

“Securing a multi-project commitment from a renewable energy leader like Casa dos Ventos reflects the growing importance of trusted partnerships when it comes to performance and long-term reliability in today’s solar industry,” said Alejo Lopez, vice president, Nextracker Latin America. “We are honored to support Casa dos Ventos with solutions that are engineered for resilience and optimized for each of its unique environmental site conditions," said Lopez.

Three of the four new projects—Babilônia Sul, Babilônia Centro, and Seriemas—are deploying NX Horizon-XTR all-terrain tracker systems, purpose-built for hilly and undulating landscapes, providing significant savings on earthworks and grading. All sites will incorporate Nextracker’s TrueCapture yield management and control system, which uses advanced sensor technology and machine learning to continuously adjust tracker angles to ensure expected energy generation in dynamic lighting and uneven terrain conditions.

Nextracker has a strong and growing presence in utility-scale and distributed generation solar projects in Brazil and across Latin America, with over 130 GW shipped in over 40 countries worldwide. Brazil, which already sources over 80 percent of its electricity from renewables, has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and aims to significantly expand its solar capacity. According to ABSOLAR, Brazil is expected to add 13.2 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, reaching a total of 64.7 GW by the end of the year. Investments in the solar sector are projected to exceed USD$ 7 billion (R$39.4 billion), generating over 396,000 jobs and contributing more than USD$ 2.3 billion (R$13 billion) in tax revenue.

With localized manufacturing capability, regional engineering expertise, and strong partnerships with leading developers, Nextracker is uniquely positioned to support the clean energy transition while contributing to local content and regional economic development.

To schedule a meeting with a sales representative, contact [email protected]

Nextracker | https://www.nextracker.com/

Casa dos Ventos | https://casadosventos.com.br/en

GameChange Solar has solidified its position as one of the world's leading solar tracker manufacturers, ranking third globally and second in the United States in the latest Global Solar PV Tracker Market Share Report 2025 from Wood Mackenzie.

In 2024, GameChange Solar shipped 13.7 GWdc of trackers, securing a 26% share of the U.S. market—its highest-ever U.S. ranking and maintaining a strong global footprint. The company also achieved notable success internationally, ranking second in India with 3.9 GWdc of shipments, and second in Africa due to major projects in South Africa and Egypt, both key drivers of its global performance.

"Reaching second place in the U.S. and holding third globally is a powerful milestone that reflects our relentless focus on delivering reliable, high-performance tracker solutions with a rock-solid supply chain," said Phillip Vyhanek, President and COO of GameChange Solar. "It's proof that when you combine innovative technology with rapid, dependable project delivery, you can reshape markets and help accelerate the global transition to clean energy."

GameChange's global growth is supported by a 35 GW U.S. manufacturing footprint and over 50 GW of total global manufacturing capacity, along with operational facilities in key markets including India and Saudi Arabia. The company's flagship Genius Tracker®product line—featuring 1P, 2P, and two-row 1P configurations—was its most popular technology in 2024, designed for rapid installation, terrain adaptability, and optimized energy yield.

Looking ahead, GameChange plans to continue scaling its global operations, advancing tracker technology, and delivering value to customers across the utility-scale solar sector.

GameChange Solar | www.gamechangesolar.com

Fermi America, in collaboration with the Texas Tech University System, is bringing two highly successful nuclear developers back home to spearhead the development and execution of the nuclear component of what is designed to be the world's largest advanced energy and artificial intelligence campus. Mesut Uzman will serve as Chief Nuclear Officer while Sezin Uzman has been named Vice President of Nuclear Supply Chain and Compliance. Together, the Uzmans bring more than two decades of unparalleled international nuclear experience and a proven record of delivering successful complex new nuclear projects under demanding regulatory, technical, and cultural conditions.

"Six of the projected 11 gigawatts of clean energy at our Amarillo campus are expected to come from advanced clean, new nuclear generation, making these some of our most critical hires in order to deliver the Fermi America project on time and on budget," said Fermi America Co-Founder Rick Perry.

"America is playing catch up while most of its nuclear talent pool is making excuses about prior failures," added Fermi America Co-Founder Toby Neugebauer. "We don't have time to guess how to do this right—we need proven playbooks executed by leaders with successful track records. Fermi plans on winning this race and is proud to add the Uzmans to the Fermi team."

Mesut Uzman: Delivering Global Nuclear Projects from Concept to Completion

Mesut Uzman joins Fermi America with internationally recognized expertise in the design, construction, and commissioning of nuclear power plants. He brings over two decades of nuclear engineering experience, including leadership roles in projects that delivered new reactors in China and the United Arab Emirates. At Westinghouse, Invensys and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Mesut played senior technical leadership roles in the deployment of 16 reactors globally, including the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, one of the first peaceful operational civilian nuclear facilities in the Arab world.

With deep knowledge of global regulatory standards and the AP1000 reactor design that Fermi America plans to deploy, Mesut has successfully managed multinational engineering teams and complex stakeholder environments. His career spans the full lifecycle of nuclear delivery, including licensing, project execution, and operational readiness.

Sezin Uzman: Bridging Regulatory, Operational, and Supply Chain Excellence

As Vice President of Nuclear Supply Chain and Compliance, Sezin Uzman brings over 20 years of leadership experience across major nuclear programs in the U.S., Middle East, and Asia. She has held strategic roles at Westinghouse, Invensys, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Nawah Energy Company, and Accelerant Solutions.

Sezin played a key leadership role in the development and launch of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, overseeing regulatory coordination and organizational transformation. Her expertise in supply chain, compliance, and nuclear operations has supported some of the sector's most successful international collaborations. She is widely respected for her work advancing operational efficiency and women's leadership in the nuclear field.

Recent Developments

Fermi America filed its Combined License (COL) application for new nuclear reactors with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on June 18, 2025, and it was accepted for review. Construction of the first unit is scheduled to begin promptly following approval of the COL, with initial nuclear power generation planned by 2032. In parallel, the company has secured more than 600 MW of clean gas-fired generation to support early delivery of 1 gigawatt of energy for AI operations by the end of 2026.

Fermi America | https://www.linkedin.com/company/fermi-america/

Texas Tech University System | https://www.texastech.edu/

Renon Power, a leading original equipment manufacturer of advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery energy storage systems, announced that its residential BESS — the Xcellent Plus has received UL9540 certification when paired with the Sol-Ark 12K and 15K inverters. Additionally, the Renon Power ECube 60AP as achieved the same UL9540 certification when paired with the high voltage Sol-Ark 60kW hybrid inverter.

The UL9540 certification, issued by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), is the gold standard for evaluating the safety and performance of energy storage systems in North America. This certification confirms that the Xcellent Plus + Sol-Ark
12K/15K, and ECube 60AP + Sol-Ark 60K pairing meets stringent requirements for fire safety, electrical reliability, and thermal performance — making them a trusted choice for homeowners and businesses alike.

“This milestone further validates Renon Power’s commitment to quality, safety, and compatibility,” said Paul Buckwalter, CEO of Renon Power North America. “Partnering with Sol-Ark was a natural fit. Their hybrid inverters are among the most trusted in the
residential market, and this certification gives our installer network the confidence to scale with us.”

The Xcellent Plus is designed to deliver unmatched scalability and reliability for residential applications, featuring:

● 16kWh of usable energy storage per unit
● LFP chemistry for enhanced safety and longevity
● Scalable up to 15 units for a maximum of 240kWh of total storage on a single hybrid inverter.
● Seamless compatibility with the Sol-Ark 12K and 15K for whole-home backup and solar optimization

The ECube 60AP is engineered to deliver exceptional performance and scalability for
commercial and industrial applications, featuring:

● 61.44kWh of robust energy storage capacity per unit
● LiFePO4 chemistry for superior safety and extended operational lifespan
● Scalable up to 6 units in parallel for a maximum of 368.64 kWh of total storage capacity.
● Seamless integration with Sol-Ark 60K inverters for comprehensive commercial backup power and intelligent energy optimization

With the UL 9540 certification in hand, Renon Power is actively ramping up U.S. deployments through its growing installer and distribution network. The company continues to invest in U.S. assembly and support operations, including a new assembly
plant currently under development in McKinney, Texas with a target of Q1 2026 for activation of both residential and C&I production lines.

Renon Power | https://renon-usa.com/

CleanCounts, a nonprofit with the industry leading environmental attribute certificate (EAC) tracking platform for voluntary and compliance claims of renewable energy projects across North America, announced James Critchfield as the Head of Registry & Market Integrity. In his role, Critchfield will lead the development and governance of high-fidelity registries that safeguard transparency and trust across clean-energy and carbon markets. CleanCounts shared the news on Critchfield joining the team from Aspen Energy Forum, where the nonprofit is taking part in discussions on decarbonization and renewable energy strategies.

Critchfield joins CleanCounts after spending two decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he was an authority on energy-attribute certificates, registry architecture, and greenhouse-gas accounting, advising Fortune 500 companies, state regulators, and international bodies. Most recently, Critchfield scaled the EPA’s Green Power Partnership from its infancy to hundreds of organizations, pushing annual voluntary green-power procurement to more than 100 billion KWh annually and catalyzing nearly 19 GW of new renewable capacity nationwide.

“CleanCounts has advocated for standards in the renewable energy market and the environmental attribute tracking industry to drive better decision making by corporate buyers and provide transparency for regulators,” said James Critchfield, CleanCount’s Head of Registry & Market Integrity. “I look forward to stepping into this new role to bring my experience to support CleanCounts’ continued reputation as the true validator for environmental markets.”

CleanCounts, formerly known as M-RETS, tracks generated energy outputs across North America, enabling market participants to place a dollar value on the environmental benefits of renewable energy and renewable thermal outputs. Through rigorous validation of the environmental benefits, verifiable data, and unbiased third-party verification, CleanCounts is now North America’s leading platform to obtain, transfer, or retire renewable energy certificates (RECs), renewable thermal certificates (RTCs), and alternative energy certificates (AECs).

“James Critchfield’s work in the federal government to support tracking system infrastructure for clean energy in the United States has led to the development of next generation tracking capabilities that feature the granularity needed for market transparency,” said Benjamin Gerber, CEO of CleanCounts. “With James joining our executive team, we look forward to engaging stakeholders throughout North America for conversations about how a continuity-first, climate-aligned, and tech-forward clean energy registry can create benefits for, and strengthen trust in, both the voluntary and compliance markets.”

Prior to joining CleanCounts full time on August 21, Critchfield will join an upcoming webinar with senior leaders from Singularity Energy and EnergyTag titled, How Western States Can Achieve Grid Decarbonization, on August 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET. The energy industry leaders will discuss how granular energy data and verified certificates can enable the hourly electricity accounting needed to drive investment and deployment of decarbonization technologies for an around-the-clock clean grid. Those interested in attending can register here.

CleanCounts | www.cleancounts.org