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The urgent need to accelerate solar installations across the United States stands at the forefront of the nation's commitment to significantly decarbonize the energy grid in the fight against climate change. Achieving this ambitious target necessitates a concerted effort to overcome the existing barriers to rapid expansion. Streamlining the installation process, improving regulatory frameworks, and standardizing product names and specifications a....
As the world rapidly electrifies, the demand for clean, scalable, and cost-effective energy storage is skyrocketing. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind offer an abundant and sustainable supply of power, much of their potential remains untapped due to one major challenge: storage. The inability to store and distribute renewable energy efficiently results in enormous daily losses. The good news is that this problem has a solution: c....
Despite generally widespread support for clean, renewable energy, a growing number of solar, wind, and battery storage projects are being met with resistance at the local level. In fact, community opposition has become a leading cause of delays and cancellations, with a recent study revealing that roughly one-third of wind and solar projects are scrapped due to pushback — and nearly half experience delays of six months or mor....
The energy industry is in the midst of massive change, exacerbated by a new administration and an alarming increase in demand that has characterized the past few years. Many industry experts are closely watching the Trump administration’s rhetoric, policies, and legislation to understand what the future energy landscape may look like. However, even during this transitionary period, there are several new opportunities for battery energy stora....
Wind
William “Bud” Frabell
Energy Storage
Schaltbau North America
Solar
Robert J. Munnelly, Jr.
SolMicroGrid, a leading national microgrid company, announced the launch of its pioneering ‘Energy-as-a-Service’ (EaaS) Partner Program. Through this first-of-its-kind offering, SolMicroGrid will purchase an existing solar-only or full microgrid system that is at or near completion, from developers, EPCs and OEMs, providing them with a quick exit and upfront cash. In turn, SolMicroGrid will provide the host customer with clean, resilient, no-capex energy under a long-term Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) agreement. As compared to the traditional “build-and-sell” model that is common across the industry, SolMicroGrid’s innovative approach offers a flexible, customer-focused solution and delivers faster exits to developers, along with cost savings, operational efficiency, and seamless energy management to host sites.
By taking ownership, SolMicroGrid monitors, maintains and is responsible for the energy system, via an EaaS agreement. This structure empowers the host to simply pay for energy solutions as a service and eliminates its need to own or manage the energy infrastructure. Whether it's a 500 kW array on a grocery store or a multi-mW microgrid across multiple locations, SolMicroGrid has the capital to acquire a wide range of systems: rooftop solar, canopies, battery storage, gensets, EV infrastructure, and advanced microgrids.
“We’re reshaping how solar, storage, and microgrid projects, near or at commercial operation, are monetized,” said Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicroGrid. “This model creates value for all stakeholders: project originators receive a clean, fast exit and upfront payment; host customers get predictable energy savings without ownership complexity, and SolMicroGrid assumes long-term operations, maintenance, and performance responsibility. It’s an elegant solution to a common challenge.”
Across the rapidly growing distributed energy landscape, a wide range of companies—project developers, EPC firms, builders, and OEMs—are designing and delivering renewable energy systems for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers. Many of these players share a similar business model: develop, engineer and construct the project, then sell it to the host customer upon completion, or own and operate the project to generate long-term recurring revenue. While both approaches have merits, SolMicroGrid offers a more efficient, scalable alternative through its EaaS Partner Program.
EaaS has become increasingly popular as electricity prices continue to increase, and renewable energy systems grow more complex. This model offers businesses an efficient way to access sustainable energy without the typical capital investment and day-to-day ownership responsibilities. Typically, EaaS agreements offer renewable energy rates at a discount to traditional utility tariffs. EaaS agreements also improve reliability, provide energy independence during grid disruptions, and often allow the business to sell excess energy back to the grid for an additional revenue stream.
Ideal customers for this mutually beneficial program include:
This news follows the launch of SolMicroGrid’s ‘Array to Microgrids’ service, which empowers business owners with existing solar arrays to sell their assets for an upfront cash infusion while also gaining a fully managed, resilient microgrid.
SolMicroGrid | https://solmicrogrid.com/solutions/
New Use Energy (NUE), a leader in professional-grade portable power solutions, is excited to announce a new partnership with ShopSolar.com, a premier online retailer of high-quality solar energy products. This collaboration will bring a curated selection of NUE's rugged, solar-plus-battery portable power systems to a wider audience, bundled with rugged high-performance solar panels.
The partnership is designed to provide customers with a complete, turnkey solution for reliable, silent, and emissions-free power in any environment. The new bundles will combine New Use Energy’s acclaimed SunCases with expertly chosen solar panels, ensuring seamless compatibility and maximum efficiency for DIY enthusiasts, disaster preparedness, and recreational use.
"We are thrilled to join forces with Shop Solar," said Max Shmotolokha, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager of New Use Energy. "Their deep expertise in the solar market and commitment to quality perfectly align with our mission to deliver resilient, professional-grade power. This partnership allows us to offer our customers a streamlined path to a complete power system, giving them the confidence to tackle any project without being tethered to a traditional, noisy generator."
The initial product offerings will feature a range of bundles, including the popular SunCase series, encased in a durable, weather-resistant case, and high-capacity rugged solar panels. Each bundle will include the necessary cables and connections, providing a true plug-and-play experience right out of the box.
"New Use Energy’s products are a natural fit for our customer base, which demands the highest quality and most reliable solutions for off-grid power," said Alex Smith, Co-Founder of Shop Solar. "The silent, emissions-free nature of their professional-grade portable power systems is a game-changer for many applications, from remote living to emergency response. We believe these bundles will provide incredible value and a superior user experience."
The New Use Energy bundles are available now on the Shop Solar website.
New Use Energy | www.newuseenergy.com
Shop Solar Kits | www.shopsolarkits.com
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy” or the “Company”), announced an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) Defense Innovation Unit (“DIU”) and the U.S. Department of the Air Force to advance the development of its commercial microreactor in alignment with President Trump’s executive order to deploy advanced nuclear technologies at DOD installations to support U.S. national security.
The agreement supports continued design and development for the X-energy XENITH microreactor under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (“ANPI”) program, an initiative led by DIU in partnership with the Department of the Air Force. The program is designed to accelerate the deployment of next-generation microreactor technologies to provide resilient, secure power at military installations, and enables governmental sponsors like the Department of the Air Force to engage with X-energy under a flexible contracting mechanism that allows for faster development and deployment of commercial nuclear systems.
“We’re seeing the full force of federal partnership mobilized to bring advanced nuclear to market, and the leadership of the Trump Administration has been phenomenal,” said X-energy CEO J. Clay Sell. “X-energy is proud to be a leader, and a partner with this administration to support America’s energy leadership.”
The agreement aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order on Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, issued in May 2025, which directs the Department of Defense to deploy an advanced reactor at a military installation before the end of the decade. As part of this effort, X-energy was selected to demonstrate commercial microreactors that can deliver resilient and secure energy to power critical defense infrastructure and remote microgrids.
XENITH, X-energy’s product, is a high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor first developed for DOD’s Project Pele, a mobile microreactor initiative led by the Strategic Capabilities Office. The design was selected to continue into an enhanced engineering phase, focused on achieving preliminary design maturity and initiating pre-licensing engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for both military and commercial applications.
In addition to XENITH, X-energy is advancing the deployment of its Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor as a grid-scale energy solution for utilities, industrial customers, and hyperscalers. The Company is also constructing a first-in-the-nation advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility to manufacture its proprietary TRISO-X fuel. Together, X-energy’s technology portfolio is designed to deliver scalable, secure, and reliable power to meet growing global energy demand.
X-Energy Reactor Company | https://x-energy.com/
Castillo Engineering has been selected to provide full-scope engineering services for six new utility-scale solar projects in Illinois developed by Recon Corporation. The portfolio spans multiple locations, including Manteno, Elburn, and Franklin Grove, featuring both agricultural and conservation-sensitive land.
Castillo is delivering a full suite of civil and electrical engineering services for each site, including power system and ampacity studies, structural and CAB calculations, equipment pad design, relay settings, and PVsyst modeling. These projects build on a longstanding partnership between Castillo and Recon, reinforcing both firms' commitment to technical excellence and reliable execution in solar.
"After collaborating successfully with the Recon team on prior projects, we're proud to support this next phase of work," said Christopher Castillo, CEO of Castillo Engineering. "Our continued partnership reflects the trust we've built and the consistency we bring to complex, multi-site portfolios."
Several sites posed significant engineering challenges. At multiple locations, the presence of central gas pipelines imposed strict constraints on electrical routing, allowing only two permitted conduit crossings. Castillo worked within these limits to develop optimized layouts and safe, code-compliant designs that preserved performance while adhering to permitting requirements.
In addition, the Franklin Grove site required additional environmental sensitivity to protect nearby wetlands. Addressing this challenge, Castillo repositioned customer poles to protect the wetlands while maintaining NEC and NESC compliance.
"This new portfolio continues the strong collaboration between our two companies," said Jackson Maxwell, Recon's project manager for the Franklin Grove project. "Castillo's ability to deliver quality engineering under tight constraints and diverse site conditions has made them one of our most trusted partners."
These Illinois-based projects support Castillo's strategic goal of expanding its presence in the MISO utility-scale solar market while maintaining its commitment to client-focused growth.
Castillo Engineering | https://www.castillope.com/
The Maryland Energy Administration announced the launch of a new initiative to help counties and municipalities across Maryland automate and accelerate their residential solar energy permitting.
The state agency’s SolarAPP+ Implementation Grant Program is a federally funded, $3.9 million Fiscal Year 2025 program that helps pay the costs associated with implementing the free-to-use SolarAPP+ solar permitting software, in line with Maryland law.
By adopting SolarAPP+, local governments can approve solar projects more efficiently, saving valuable staff time while maintaining rigorous safety and code compliance standards – and helping reduce the costs of solar energy systems.
“SolarAPP+ transforms the permitting landscape and helps make approvals occur much more quickly, while ensuring safety compliance,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “This platform drastically cuts wait times for homeowners and installers. It also empowers local governments to drive the transition to clean energy forward. This can help make ‘going solar’ easier and more efficient for all Marylanders.”
The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed SolarAPP+ through a collaborative effort with key code officials, authorities having jurisdiction, and the solar industry. This collaboration aimed to promote rooftop solar adoption by making it easier for local governments to quickly and safely approve rooftop projects. It features standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals for eligible rooftop solar systems.
The Maryland Energy Administration’s program provides financial assistance to local governments for implementation costs, including staff training, software integration and contractual support. It aims to ensure that every jurisdiction — regardless of size or resources — can participate in Maryland’s clean energy transition.
For more information about the SolarAPP+ Implementation Program, please contact Emma Stoney, Clean Energy and Resilience Program Manager, at [email protected].
Maryland Energy Administration | https://energy.maryland.gov/
The Connecticut Green Bank and GoodLeap, a leading finance and technology sustainable home solutions platform, announced a strategic partnership to develop and operate Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) across Connecticut. This collaborative effort, enabled through the State's Energy Storage Solutions program, will focus on deploying residential solar systems and battery energy storage to help lower energy costs, improve grid resilience, and advance Connecticut's clean energy goals.
Enabled by GoodLeap's AI-powered proprietary software, GoodGrid, the fastest growing VPP network in the US, and integrated with the utility's Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), the VPPs can aggregate thousands of residential solar and storage systems into coordinated networks to provide grid services, such as peak demand reduction, helping reduce strain on the electrical grid, potentially deferring distribution infrastructure investments for utilities, and will better position Connecticut to meet its clean energy deployment targets. This can help lower costs for all homeowners as more expensive sources of energy can be avoided during these peaks, and will increase access to distributed energy resources.
"Together with GoodLeap, we are working to ensure that Connecticut residents — especially those in vulnerable communities — benefit from clean, resilient, and affordable energy solutions," said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. "We saw GoodLeap leading on VPPs in other states around the country and felt that their technology, products and services were needed in Connecticut to help our families realize the benefits of these distributed energy resources. This initiative will bring new resources to homeowners and ratepayers while supporting our state's climate and energy goals."
Eligible Connecticut homeowners will receive monthly cash rewards through the GoodGrid cash rewards, advancing the goals of the Energy Storage Solutions program. The Green Bank will also support the partnership through technical assistance to streamline project development and interconnection, as well as stakeholder and community engagement to boost awareness and participation while ensuring equitable access.
"We are thrilled to work with the Connecticut Green Bank to scale residential clean energy and energy storage solutions across the state," said Daniel Lotano, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at GoodLeap. "Our technology has already helped tens of thousands of homeowners across the United States earn money for supporting a more reliable grid, and we're glad to bring our AI powered VPP software and our deep residential customer expertise to Connecticut."
Through this agreement, Connecticut Green Bank and GoodLeap will partner in ongoing collaboration on performance metrics, grid integration, and community impact reporting.
The Energy Storage Solutions program is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, is paid for by electric ratepayers, and is administered by the Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource, and UI. For more information on the Energy Storage Solutions program, visit https://energystoragect.com.
Connecticut Green Bank | https://www.ctgreenbank.com/
GoodLeap | https://www.goodleap.com/
The Team from the Ontario-based green energy company Green Sun Rising has completed the largest Northernmost solar system in Grise Fiord, which also happens to be the Northernmost community in North America, located on Ellesmere Island, the Northernmost Arctic Island in North America.
We would like to thank all the municipalities that provided support and assistance with the four CIPP solar PV projects for Diesel-reduction. Our founder, Klaus Döhring, enjoys cycling as his main mode of transportation. As is tradition with Green Sun Rising, Klaus ships a bicycle to every community we visit to experiencing cycling in extreme conditions throughout Canada, not only to promote healthier alternative to transportation but also to donate to an outstanding member of the community.
Green Sun Rising | https://greensunrising.com/
Alternative Energies Jul 31, 2025
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