Why the West Needs to Secure Heavy Rare Earths for the Future of Advanced Manufacturing

Seaweed farmers have made the first-ever harvest at North Sea Farm 1, the world's first commercial-scale seaweed farm located in a field of wind turbines off the coast of Scheveningen in the Netherlands. The farm was created by North Sea Farmers with €2 million funding from Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund.

The harvest provides valuable insights to researchers looking into how seaweed farms could remove carbon from the atmosphere, contributing to climate resilience, and how to scale the cultivation of seaweed globally. Seaweed farms could also promote biodiversity and reduce agricultural pressure on land.

"The inaugural harvest of North Sea Farm 1 is a significant moment," said Eva Faict, Amazon Netherlands and Belgium country manager. "Together with North Sea Farmers, we have proven that cultivated seaweed farming among offshore wind turbines is a viable commercial concept."

By locating the farm between offshore wind turbines—a world first for a commercial-scale seaweed farm—North Sea Farmers found a way of securing physical space for the farm away from maritime traffic.

"Through ongoing scientific research, we aim to demonstrate whether farms like this can have a positive long-term impact on both biodiversity and climate change mitigation," said Eef Brouwers, Managing Director of North Sea Farmers. "At the same time, we're proving that seaweed production within an existing offshore infrastructure is possible at a commercial scale."

The harvesting process at North Sea Farm 1—spanning five hectares of the 'Hollandse Kust Zuid' wind farm—involves the use of a vessel carefully navigating between wind turbines, collecting seaweed from nets anchored to the seabed.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Deltares and Silvestrum Climate Associates have been monitoring the farm using satellite data, as well as site visits, to understand upper scaling limits for future projects.

Professor Ana M Queirós, Plymouth Marine Laboratory's Climate Change Lead, said: "We're very excited to understand the effects of the seaweed farm on the immediate and surrounding marine environment. Our analysis will follow the carbon from the seawater into the seaweed and the environment, and any effects on biodiversity.

"It's vital projects like this are underpinned with rigorous scientific evidence, particularly given the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis and the need to find scalable mitigation measures that produce genuinely beneficial and sustainable outcomes."

North Sea Farmers | https://www.northseafarmers.org/

Ingeteam is making a significant contribution to Australia’s decarbonisation process. The company will contribute its technology to the development of the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage Project. This is the first DC-coupled solar-plus-storage hybrid project being developed in eastern Australia.

This hybrid system will comprise 243 MWp of installed PV power co-located with a 172 MW/2.4h battery energy storage system (BESS). Combining solar power generation with energy storage means this installation will produce more than 520 GWh of clean, reliable, firm energy annually, enough to power around 82,000 Australian households and prevent the emission of nearly 412,000 tonnes of CO₂. 

Clean energy solutions provider Gentari, the owner of the project, has just issued ‘Notice to Proceed’, prompting PCL Construction’ Solar District (PCL Solar) to begin the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) works. This hybrid renewable energy facility, which will feature 243 MWp of photovoltaics DC-coupled with a 2.4-hour of advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity, is being developed in New South Wales, Australia, and is set to come into operation in Q2 2027. 

Ana Goyén, Ingeteam’s Solar PV & BESS director, said, “We are delighted to continue contributing our technology to decarbonising the energy mix of the Australian National Electricity Market”. She added that projects integrating solar and storage technology aim to balance sustainability and energy security, while offering greater potential for managing the solar resource and generating energy much more efficiently.

The photovoltaic panels will be connected to the batteries in ‘DC coupling’ mode. This means that the battery can be charged using solar power with no loss through DC to AC conversion. This allows the project to store solar energy during the day, when prices are typically lower, and discharge the batteries to utilise this electricity during evening demand peaks, when prices are usually higher. This makes the power conversion process more efficient and enabling the operating time range of the solar farm to be expanded, thus optimizing energy use by injecting the surpluses generated during the day at night. 

Combining solar generation with energy storage ensures the delivery of clean electricity over a long duration, enhancing grid stability and reliability thanks to the advanced auxiliary grid services offered by PV inverters. Ingeteam’s solution combines central solar inverters with modular DC-DC storage inverters, maximising energy availability through rack-level battery management.

For this project, the company will supply 32 power stations, including a total of 61 central PV inverters and 488 units of 430 kW DC-DC storage converters. Ingeteam will also provide its hybrid plant controller, which will manage the operation of the almost 400,000 PV panels and the 122 battery containers distributed across the site in a decentralised manner. The project will have a maximum export capacity of 172 MW into Australia’s National Electricity Market, and a maximum import capacity of 91 MW.

The Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage project has won a Long-Term Energy Storage Agreement (LTESA) from AEMO Services, acting as the NSW Consumer Trustee, in their fourth tender. This achievement highlights the importance of the project in supporting Australia’s transition to a clean electricity grid.

Ingeteam has been present in Australia for 12 years, during which time it has supplied over 4 GW and over 40 projects of solar PV / BESS projects to the country. 

Ingeteam | www.ingeteam.com

ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GWH), a leading manufacturer of iron flow long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems for commercial- and utility-scale applications, announced $31 million in insider-led funding measures. The package includes approximately $0.9 million in short-term loans from and warrants issued to a syndicated group led by members of ESS’ board of directors and the management team alongside participation from an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, L.P. (“Yorkville”), a production tax credit transaction with an affiliate of SB Energy for approximately $0.8 million, an equipment sale lease back transaction with a U.S. strategic partner for $4.0 million cash with certain closing conditions, and execution of a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement with YA II PN, LTD (the “Investor”), giving ESS the right, but not the obligation, to sell up to $25 million of common equity to the Investor at the time of ESS’ choosing over a 3-year term, subject to certain customary limitations including shareholder approval for aggregate issuances in excess of 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares.

ESS additionally secured its first Energy Base order for an 8 MWh project consistent with the strategic shift to the 10+ hour product announced in February. ESS recently completed measures to implement streamlined operations and reduced cash requirements, achieving a reduction of approximately 80% in monthly cash burn in June compared to the monthly average for the first 5 months of 2025. Preliminary unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter demonstrate nearly 300% increase in revenue, combined with a 22% decrease in the cost of revenue, a 37% decrease in operating expenses, a 43% improvement in net loss, and a 49% improvement in adjusted EBITDA. The funding measures complement these efforts and bolster the Company’s cash position moving forward. In addition, ESS’s directors will forego payment of cash compensation for 2025 under the Company’s outside director compensation policy.

“I am pleased to announce these transactions with our key partners coupled with a broader capital markets transaction that supports ongoing execution of our strategic pivot. This funding helps to strengthen our cash position to allow us to focus on the completion of key Energy Base contracting opportunities and to secure our broader capital raise,” said Kelly Goodman, Interim Chief Executive Officer. This funding announcement builds on significant technical momentum for ESS’ proprietary battery technology, including demonstration of extended duration of 12.2 hours at rated power and 17.8 hours at reduced power. The focused Energy Base product offering is manufactured entirely in the United States.

ESS Tech | www.essinc.com

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved the state’s first new interstate transmission line in 50 years, paving the way for improved grid reliability, job creation, and clean energy deployment. Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) and the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) applauded the decision, which will bring significant benefits to Michiganders.

The MPSC approved the certificates of public convenience and necessity for the Helix-Hiple and the Nelson Road-Oneida transmission line projects, known as "Line 17 and 18" in the Midcontinent Independent System Operators (MISO) Long-Range Transmission Plan (LRTP) Tranche 1 project portfolio.

The Helix-Hiple line represents approximately 55 miles of new 345 kilovolts (kV) lines stretching from northern Indiana to Helix, a new substation located southwest of Lansing. The Nelson Road-Oneida line is approximately 40 miles of new 345 kV transmission that will run from Oneida Township to the Nelson Road substation in New Haven Township. Together, these lines will facilitate Michigan’s ability to import and export electricity, boosting reliability and clean energy development.

CGA and Michigan EIBC intervened in the MPSC proceedings to support regulatory approval of the lines. Under Michigan law, the MPSC must determine that the transmission projects will bring sufficient public benefits to justify its construction.

“Investing in transmission infrastructure will spur innovation and allow Michigan to continue to realize the economic and jobs benefits that come with being a leader in the clean energy industry,” said Natalie Lyijynen, Sustainable Business Associate at Michigan EIBC. “These projects are not just about moving electricity – they’re about building the foundation for a generation fleet increasingly powered by lower-cost, renewable energy and supporting Michigan’s growing clean energy economy.”

“Clean Grid Alliance is very pleased that the Helix-Hiple and Nelson Road-Oneida Projects have received regulatory approval, and utilities can now get to work on these critical infrastructure projects. Regional transmission provides huge benefits for electric grid reliability, resilience, and affordability, and will deliver clean, affordable energy to homes and businesses across Michigan," said Elizabeth Wheeler, Senior Counsel and Director of Regulatory Advocacy at Clean Grid Alliance.

“As the owner and operator of the high-voltage electric transmission grid in the majority of Michigan’s lower peninsula, ITC applauds the MPSC’s approval of the Act 30 certificate,” said Chuck Marshall, President, ITC Michigan. “The LRTP Tranche 1 Michigan projects are strategically engineered to improve grid reliability and resiliency, support the state’s economic development efforts and enable the safe and reliable movement of power to our communities.”

The lines are expected to bring Michigan $6.2 billion in financial benefits over the next 20 years. Once completed, these lines will have enough capacity to supply power to 1.7 million homes and will create approximately 34,000 jobs over the course of their lifetimes.

The Tranche 1 LRTP portfolio of projects was approved by MISO in July 2022 and will provide $37 billion in regional economic benefits over 20 years and improve grid reliability and integration of new renewable energy resources. The Tranche 1 transmission lines are "least-regrets" projects because they are foundational to solving long-standing reliability and efficiency concerns on the regional grid.

Once constructed, the Helix-Hiple and Nelson Road-Oneida lines will serve as critical components of a stronger, smarter, and cleaner grid – reducing the risk of outages, enabling greater renewable energy integration, and ensuring electricity remains a reliable economic backbone for Michigan.

Clean Grid Alliance | https://cleangridalliance.org/

Michigan EIBC l https://www.mieibc.org/ 

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, and Fluence Energy, Inc. (“Fluence”) (NASDAQ: FLNC), a global energy storage leader, have announced the early start of commissioning for Ukraine’s largest battery energy storage project and one of the biggest in Eastern Europe.

The deployment of 200 MW of connected power across six locations is now entering the final phase of delivery, which includes commissioning, testing and first discharge of the batteries.

Six hundred and ninety eight Fluence Gridstack cubes with the batteries have been installed at six energy storage sites – each one with a capacity of between 20 MW and 50 MW. Collectively, they are able to store 400 MWh of electricity – enough to power 600,000 Ukrainian homes for two hours.

Under the contract with grid operator Ukrenergo, commercial operations are set to begin in October 2025 – in time for the start of Ukraine’s crucial winter heating season.

Announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, it marks the first major energy project to be delivered since the signing of the US-Ukraine Economic Partnership Agreement in April.

Once fully operational, the systems will provide frequency and power reserve as well as balancing services to reinforce Ukraine’s grid. This is especially critical during outages and to reduce the necessity of implementing rolling power outages that affect the population and economy.

Maxim Timchenko, DTEK CEO, said: “With our partner Fluence we are fast-tracking innovation, building homegrown technical expertise and showing that even in wartime, progress is achievable. This battery storage facility is proof of our determination to build back stronger. Together, we’re taking an important step towards a more secure and resilient energy system of Ukraine.”

Julian Nebreda, CEO of Fluence, said: “The project with DTEK to build a strong and decentralized energy system for enhanced energy security in Ukraine is perfectly aligned with our mission to transform the way we power our world. It is also one of the most impactful projects in our company’s history. The remote commissioning approach we have introduced ensures continuity and operational efficiency amid travel restrictions and will also enable faster scaling of any future deployments.”

Due to the challenges of war and restricted access in Ukraine, this is the first project Fluence has commissioned fully remotely. As part of the delivery, 20 Ukrainian power engineers and operations specialists completed advanced training on Fluence’s existing projects in Germany and Finland. The training has prepared them to manage the energy storage systems safely and independently, respond to emergencies and quickly resolve potential malfunctions.

Fluence will continue to support commissioning and operations of the project remotely through diagnostics, testing and performance monitoring to ensure safe and efficient deployment in wartime conditions. 

Fluence | https://fluenceenergy.com/

DTEK | https://dtek.com/en/

More than 30 ADS-TEC Energy (NASDAQ: ADSE) battery-buffered fast-charging solutions – predominantly ChargePosts as well as ChargeBoxes – will be deployed at retail group Müller locations throughout Germany. The project is being implemented jointly by ADS-TEC Energy, a global leader in battery-based energy storage and fast-charging systems, the Mannheim-based energy company MVV, and the Ulm-based retail group Müller.

A compelling solution for drugstore locations

As part of the project, the retail group Müller is providing the locations for EV charging. The company operates a total of around 950 stores in eight countries across Europe, the majority of which are in Germany. ADS-TEC Energy’s innovative, battery-based fast-charging systems enable ultra-fast charging even where grid capacity is limited. This not only fulfills the legal obligation under the German Act on Electric Mobility Infrastructure in Buildings (German: Gebäude-Elektromobilitätsinfrastruktur-Gesetz, GEIG) at Müller locations, but also creates a future-proof and convenient charging option for customers. With charging capacities of up to 320 kW, ADS-TEC Energy’s charging stations offer ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in a matter of minutes for customer convenience.

Implementation and operation by MVV

MVV is responsible for the complete financing, construction and operation of the charging infrastructure as well as the associated customer service. "We at MVV have been driving forward the mobility transformation since 2018. We are gradually expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles throughout the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and beyond. We now operate over 156 locations with more than 440 charging points," explains Ralf Klöpfer, Chief Sales Officer at MVV. "Through our partnership with ADS-TEC Energy and Müller, we are bringing innovative fast-charging solutions directly to retail locations and enabling our customers to charge their electric vehicles while they shop. This saves time, protects the environment and makes sustainable mobility even more attractive."

A first: ADS-TEC Energy manages the marketing of DOOH advertising space

In another first, ADS-TEC Energy is managing the marketing of the digital advertising spaces (Digital Out-of-Home, DOOH). The ChargePost systems have high-resolution 75-inch screens, which are ideal for targeted advertising at busy locations.

GEIG-compliant and an attractive economic proposition

By executing this project, the retail group Müller is fulfilling GEIG requirements, which mandate the expansion of charging infrastructure at buildings. Furthermore, this deployment ensures that customers have access to convenient, high-performance fast-charging solution. The combination of high-performance charging systems and digital advertising spaces creates a sustainable, future-proof infrastructure with an economic added value.

“The roll-out of an efficient charging infrastructure requires innovative approaches that go beyond mere EV charging. Our battery-based fast charging solutions enable ultra-fast charging even at locations with limited grid capacity. We are excited to work with our partner MVV to implement a sustainable and future-proof solution for Müller locations,” says Michael Rudloff, COO of ADS-TEC Energy.

ADS-TEC Energy | www.ads-tec-energy.com

MVV | https://www.mvv.de/en

Müller Holding GmbH & Co. KG. | https://www.mueller.de/unternehmen/

Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced that production shipments of its newest electric vehicle (EV) charger, the IQ EV Charger 2, have expanded across Europe to now include Greece, Romania, Ireland, and Poland. The IQ EV Charger 2 is a smart charger designed to work seamlessly with Enphase solar and battery systems or as a powerful standalone charger. Additionally, in France, the IQ EV Charger 2 has received one of the country’s highest quality standards, the E.V. READY certification, and can now integrate with the “Linky” meter to enable dynamic load balancing for standalone charger installations.

The Enphase IQ EV Charger 2 is designed to deliver high performance, intelligent energy management, and exceptional flexibility for homeowners and fleets. It supports both single-phase and three-phase wiring with configurable power up to 32 A per phase and features automatic phase switching to enable charging with as little as 1.38 kW of solar production. Smart features include AI-powered optimization using real-time rates and forecasts, dynamic load balancing, and a certified MID energy meter for accurate tracking. The charger is also future-ready, with built-in hardware and software to support AC bidirectional charging for potential vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications.

The IQ EV Charger 2 is available in socketed and tethered variants, featuring a rugged Type-2 connector that is fully compatible with the majority of EVs sold in Europe. Installation is fast and efficient, featuring a 7.5-meter cable for added flexibility and a streamlined setup process that minimizes labor time and installation costs. It is housed in an IP55-rated enclosure, making it weatherproof and safe for indoor and outdoor installations. All IQ EV Charger 2 products activated in Greece, Romania, Ireland, and Poland are backed by an industry-leading five-year warranty and 24/7 customer support from Enphase – ensuring exceptional peace of mind.

"The Enphase IQ EV Charger 2 uses solar power to help homeowners reduce costs and grid reliance,” said Tomasz Noga, owner of iPowerInstall, an installer of Enphase products in Poland. “It integrates seamlessly with the rest of the Enphase Energy System."

The IQ EV Charger 2 now also integrates with the Linky meter, enabling dynamic load balancing for standalone EV charger installations. The Linky meter is France's leading smart electricity meter technology, developed by Enedis, the country's main electricity distribution system operator. The IQ EV Charger 2 connects via USB to the Linky meter and reads the entire home consumption data. It dynamically adjusts the EV charging rate based on the total home consumption shared by the meter.

The IQ EV Charger 2 has received the E.V. READY certification, which is the leading standard for EV charging in France. E.V. READY is designed to help ensure product reliability, safety, and long-term compatibility with a wide range of EVs and smart home systems. Certification from ASEFA, the independent body that administers the program, signifies rigorous compliance with industry benchmarks for manufacturing, performance, and interoperability with vehicles and grids.

“The new certification and integrations reinforce the high quality of the Enphase IQ EV Charger 2,” said Mickaêl Garcia, general manager at NRJ Ingénierie, an installer of Enphase products in France. “It gives our customers additional confidence in the product’s long-term reliability and compatibility with future energy systems.”

“Our IQ EV Charger 2 is designed for performance, safety, and reliability, and is now officially certified to meet these key values,” said Jayant Somani, senior vice president and general manager of the digital business unit at Enphase Energy. “Expanding to more European countries accelerates Enphase’s growth strategy, allowing us to bring comprehensive energy management solutions to these dynamic markets as homeowners increasingly demand an intelligent, integrated charging technology. The E.V. READY certification helps give our customers and partners greater peace of mind that the charger can perform in harmony with local grid requirements and future energy technologies in Europe.”

Enphase launched the IQ EV Charger 2 in 14 European markets in March 2025. For more information about the IQ EV Charger 2 launch, please visit the Enphase websites for Greece, Romania, Ireland, and Poland.

Enphase Energy | https://enphase.com/