The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

Transition Industries LLC, a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen facilities, has awarded Siemens Energy and Techint Engineering & Construction a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for an approximately 210 MW Elyzer P-300 electrolyzer facility as part of its 6,130 MT per day ultra-low carbon methanol Pacifico Mexinol project in Sinaloa, Mexico.

The FEED study marks the next step in the expanding partnership between Transition Industries, Techint Engineering & Construction, and Siemens Energy, who intend to leverage their advanced technology and services to ensure the highest standards of efficiency and reliability in green hydrogen production. Under the terms of the FEED Agreement, Siemens Energy and Techint Engineering & Construction will provide an initial binding not-to-exceed Lump Sum Firm Price, followed by a final binding Lump Sum Turnkey Firm Price for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the electrolyzer facility.

Once operational in 2029, Pacifico Mexinol is poised to be the largest standalone ultra-low carbon chemical production facility and one of the largest producers of green hydrogen and green methanol in the world.

Rommel Gallo, Transition Industries CEO, said: “This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to drive innovation and sustainability in the chemicals sector. Partnering with Siemens Energy and Techint E&C positions us to develop the hydrogen production element of our Pacifico Mexinol project, thereby reducing emissions and contributing to the global energy transition.”

The Hydrogen Plant will be designed to produce green hydrogen to support the growing demand for sustainable hydrogen. The FEED study will focus on optimizing the design, standardization, and engineering aspects of the Hydrogen Plant with an estimated production capacity of approximately 4,000 kg of hydrogen/hour with the highest safety, environmental and operational standards.

Siemens Energy, one of the world’s leading energy technology companies, was selected for this aspect of the project, capitalizing on their expertise in green hydrogen production. Siemens Energy’s Elyzer P-300 technology will play a crucial role in achieving the project’s goals of efficiency, sustainability, and scalability.

"At Techint E&C, we talk about a passion for doing, but even more so when it comes to challenging and high-impact projects like Mexinol, which are the ones that allow us to contribute with all our technical expertise, be part of a key energy transition project as the largest green hydrogen plant in America, and continue building a better future for everyone," highlighted Alejandro Maluf, President – North America Region, Techint E&C.

Transition Industries is jointly developing Pacifico Mexinol with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. When it initiates operations in 2029, Pacifico Mexinol is expected to be the largest single ultra-low carbon methanol facility in the world – producing approximately 350,000 MT of green methanol and 1.8 million MT of blue methanol annually from natural gas with carbon capture.

Transition Industries | https://transitionind.com/

Siemens | https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home.html

Techint Engineering & Construction | https://www.techintgroup.com/en/techint-ec

kWh Analytics, the market leader in Climate Insurance, announced the expansion of its insurance solutions with new Excess Natural Catastrophe coverage through its licensed insurance entity, Solar Energy Insurance Services, Inc., specifically addressing the growing need for severe convective storm protection in the renewable energy market.

This new offering complements kWh Analytics' existing property capacity, which provides 100% operational and construction coverage for solar, wind, and battery energy storage assets. The Excess Natural Catastrophe layer will provide up to $20M in additional capacity specifically covering damage from severe convective storms and named windstorms in non-coastal regions.

"Our loss database reveals that hail accounts for 73% of total solar industry losses by damage amount," said Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics. "As renewable projects grow in size and tax-equity investors and lenders require higher insurance limits, we're addressing a critical market gap with this specialized excess layer solution."

A cornerstone of kWh Analytics' approach is rewarding resilience through its underwriting process. Projects that implement protective measures such as hail stow capabilities, reinforced module characteristics including glass thickness, and proper O&M protocols will benefit in the excess layer, just as they do in primary coverage.

“Resilience should be rewarded at every level of coverage,” said Isaac McLean, Chief Underwriting Officer at kWh Analytics. “Our Excess Natural Catastrophe offering evaluates the same resilience factors we consider in primary coverage, and we request asset owners and sponsors provide us details of their hardening strategies so we can appropriately credit their risk mitigation efforts.”

To provide a standardized framework for evaluating hail resilience and offer insurance credit for protective measures, kWh Analytics and VDE Americas have developed the Hail Stow and Risk Evaluation tool. This assessment examines critical factors, including panel specifications, tracker stow angles, forecasting systems, and testing protocols. Projects demonstrating robust hail defense strategies through this evaluation can secure more favorable terms, even in the excess layer.

Excess Natural Catastrophe coverage is available immediately through select specialist energy broker partners. Visit https://kwhanalytics.com/solutions/property-insurance/ to learn more.

kWh Analytics | https://www.kwhanalytics.com/

DENSO, alongside the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), has "flipped the switch" on a solar facility at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. (DMTN). In a ceremony today, the group officially launched operations of the 12.82-acre energy infrastructure project, kicking off its efforts to produce green energy for DENSO's operations and support the local power grid.

Powered by over 4,000 state-of-the art solar panels, the new facility is expected to produce up to approximately 3,400 MWh/year. The project partners broke ground on the solar farm in November 2022 and finished construction this summer.

Today marks the completion of the first of three solar energy production facilities the group plans to bring online in Blount County, Tennessee. Silicon Ranch projects the second facility to be online by December of 2025 and anticipates that the third will come online in the second quarter of 2026.

In addition to its role in the three solar projects in Blount County, DENSO will also source solar energy from a fourth Silicon Ranch facility elsewhere in the Tennessee Valley through TVA's Green Invest program. The TVA program offers business and industry a timely and cost-effective solution to meet their sustainability goals. When all facilities are completed, DENSO will leverage each, along with other conservation initiatives, to source all of DMTN's electrical needs from renewable energy sources.

This milestone comes as DENSO celebrates its 35th year of operations in Maryville.

"This activity shows how we don't only strive to be green through our products, but also through our operations and energy use," said Chuntao Ye, President of DMTN and Business Leader of the DENSO North America Peace of Mind Business Group. "We appreciate the City of Maryville, Silicon Ranch and TVA for sharing this commitment with us and look forward to continuing to work together to advance renewable energy in East Tennessee. This only builds upon our 35-year history of working with local partners to give back to our neighbors in Maryville and surrounding communities."

"Working with our community partners on these projects aligns with our mission to provide reliable, low-cost energy to the Valley region," said Ray Knotts, TVA Senior Director, Demand Management. "Flipping this switch in partnership with DENSO, the City of Maryville, and Silicon Ranch helps TVA meet growing electricity demand and diversifies our portfolio."

Headquartered in Nashville, Silicon Ranch is owner and operator of one of the nation's largest fleets of solar facilities and a community-focused energy infrastructure company. The company pioneered utility-scale solar in the Tennessee Valley and remains a market leader, working collaboratively with TVA and more than 50 local power companies (LPCs) across the region since 2011.

"Today's milestone demonstrates what is possible when a group of partners come together with a shared vision for how we can help our communities become stronger, healthier, and more resilient," said Matt Beasley, Chief Commercial Officer at Silicon Ranch."Silicon Ranch takes great pride in our Tennessee roots, and our colleague who led our development work here is a Maryville native whose family has been here for seven generations. Our company looks forward to a productive partnership with all of our project partners and is proud to join DENSO as the newest corporate citizen of Blount County."

The effort supports the City of Maryville's work with local partners to improve sustainability in the region.

"This solar energy asset is another example of the next-level innovation we've come to expect from our community's largest manufacturer and employer — DENSO," said City of Maryville Mayor Andy White. "Our partnership with TVA, DENSO, and Silicon Ranch in this effort, highlights our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Providing quality utility infrastructure and affordable service to the residents, businesses, and industries we serve every day remains our top priority."

The project supports DENSO's Two Great Causes: Green and Peace of Mind. Through DENSO's Green cause, it aims to be carbon neutral by 2035.

To explore opportunities at a leading manufacturer committed to collaborative innovation for a greener and safer world, visit densocareers.com.

DENSO | https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

Silicon Ranch | https://www.siliconranch.com/

City of Maryville | maryvillegov.com

Tennessee Valley Authority | https://www.tva.com/

PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103), a leader in North American energy infrastructure development and asset ownership, is pleased to announce that its 3.16 MW Honesdale ground-mount solar project in Pennsylvania has secured site control, enabling progression to the interconnection study phase.

The clean energy generated by a community solar project feeds directly into the local electricity grid. Depending on the size and number of panels the project has, dozens or even hundreds of renters and homeowners can earn credits on their electric bill and save money from the electricity that is generated by the project. PowerBank's strategic focus on community solar aligns with its goal of powering thousands of homes with clean and affordable energy.

On March 26, 2024, the Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 1842, a bill enabling the potential development of community solar projects in the state, paving the way for companies like PowerBank to expand into the region and provide clean energy to residents of various income levels. On May 7, 2025 the bill passed House again with the addition of natural gas included in the community solar's application. The bill is currently under review by the Senate. The development of the Project as a community solar project will be subject to the final approval of House Bill 1842 by the State government of Pennsylvania.

PowerBank's proven expertise, with over 100 MW of completed projects and a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, underpins the project's execution. Strategic partnerships and institutional-grade development capabilities position PowerBank to deliver reliable, high-impact renewable energy solutions.

PowerBank Corporation | www.powerbankcorp.com

JA Solar recently launched DesertBlue, a leading PV module engineered specifically for desert and semi-arid regions. Designed to withstand dust, heat, and high winds, DesertBlue delivers up to 650W of power with 24% efficiency, establishing a new global standard for reliable solar PV performance in extreme conditions.

Leading design institutes, EPC firms, and certification bodies attended the launch event, demonstrating the demand for specialized solutions for large-scale PV development in challenging environments.

"DesertBlue represents a strategic milestone in global solar development," said Yang Aiqing, Executive President of JA Solar. "By directly addressing the unique challenges of desert deployment, we enable customers worldwide to unlock the full potential of renewable energy in regions considered too hostile for large-scale solar PV projects."

Surge in Desert Solar Creates Unique Needs

Developers in China, the Middle East, and Africa are accelerating investment in desert-based solar bases, creating growing demand for rugged PV solutions. With deserts covering nearly one-quarter of Earth's land surface, this trend could extend for decades.

Desert environments pose unique stressors for PV modules, including fine dust that reduces light transmission, abrasive sand that erodes coatings, strong winds that strain structural integrity, and extreme heat that degrades performance over time.

DesertBlue is engineered to meet these challenges head-on. Its nano-scale self-cleaning coating features dense microstructures and antistatic properties that reduce dust adhesion, allowing natural wind to assist in surface cleaning.

Delivering Value Across the Lifecycle

DesertBlue is engineered to create value from construction to operation. Key features include:

• Anti-dust nanocoating: 32% less transmittance loss; extends module life by up to 5 years.
• Sandstorm resilience: Up to 14% less power loss in abrasive conditions.
• Reinforced frame: Withstands 6000 Pa front/4000 Pa rear loads.
• Thermal stability: Operates up to 5°C cooler; produces 0.6% more power at 85°C.

In large-scale projects, DesertBlue reduces upfront costs, slashes cleaning Opex by up to $0.98M over 25 years and has already demonstrated 4.5% higher energy yield in field projects.

Certified Reliable

DesertBlue has also earned global recognition for its reliability in harsh environments. TÜV Rheinland awarded it the world's first "Desert Module" certification after rigorous testing, including UV exposure, thermal cycling, and sand abrasion. TÜV SÜD further validated its LC2-level sand resistance, confirming durability under 11,000 robotic cleaning cycles with a sand load of 110kg/m²—resulting in less than 1% power degradation.

As the global energy transition accelerates, JA Solar's DesertBlue is poised to power the next wave of desert PV expansion.

JA Solar Technology | https://www.jasolar.com/html/en/

Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) (OTCQB: SUNXF) (FSE: 6330), a leading North American franchisor of renewable energy solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever commercial-focused solar franchise in Temiskaming, Ontario. This milestone underscores the Company's growing leadership in delivering both residential and commercial solar solutions across its expanding North American network.

The Temiskaming franchisee, while offering residential services, is strategically focused on commercial installations—a first in Stardust's history. Within weeks of launch, the franchise signed a solar installation contract with an Ultramar Gas Station, marking the largest initial project ever signed by a Stardust franchisee.

This project, delivering an expected payback period of less than five years, highlights the accelerating demand and economic viability of commercial solar installations in Canada.

"Launching our first commercial solar franchise is a game-changing moment for Stardust Solar," said Mark Tadros, Founder and CEO of Stardust Solar. "Not only is this our biggest first project ever for a franchisee, but the economics of this installation demonstrate how solar is rapidly becoming one of the most compelling investments for business owners. This achievement reinforces our vision of building a robust franchise model that drives both sustainability and profitability."

"What's truly exciting about our commercial focus is showing businesses what's possible," said Mason Green, owner of the Temiskaming franchise. "Many owners are surprised to learn about the incredible savings available through initiatives like the Ontario Retrofit Program. We can engineer a system that not only reduces operational costs but also generates significant returns. We're talking about a 47kW system that gets over $40,000 back in rebates and produces nearly half a million dollars in ROI over its warrantied lifespan. It's an opportunity many businesses don't know they're missing."

Stardust Solar has experienced rapid growth, with 96 franchise territories across North America and a 68% Q2 year-over-year increase in solar project backlog, compared to 2024 Q2. The addition of a commercial-focused franchise reflects management's confidence in the untapped market potential for solar solutions in small and medium-sized businesses.

The Temiskaming project is also a model for replicable commercial installations nationwide, where businesses face rising energy costs and increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Stardust Solar's franchise network, backed by comprehensive training, engineering, and project support, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this demand.

Stardust Solar | www.stardustsolar.com

Ice has a proven track record when it comes to cooling drinks in the summer, so why not take it a step further? A big step, in fact, as thermal energy storage systems, often called “ice batteries,” are getting a boost from materials science research at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Patrick Shamberger, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, focuses his research on materials used to store and release thermal energy. In a paper published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry, he and co-authors explore how to improve the performance of these materials.

How It Works

Ice battery systems work by freezing water or other materials at night, when electricity is cheaper and demand is lower. The stored cold is then used to cool buildings during the day, reducing peak energy use and lowering costs. While the concept isn’t new, Shamberger’s research addresses a key challenge: how to make the materials inside these systems more efficient, stable and long-lasting.

“The ice battery technology has been around for a while,” Shamberger said. “But there are problems on the material side that I’m interested in: what’s the right material at the right temperature? Can we make it reversible? Can we make it last for 30 years?”

Although the systems save energy by relying less on the power grid during the day, they still draw power at night to freeze the water; larger systems freeze around 500,000 pounds of ice every night.

The Right Mix

Shamberger’s team is developing salt hydrates (salt that contains water molecules as part of its crystal structure) and other compounds that can store and release thermal energy at the most optimal temperatures for the environment.

By tailoring the temperature range of these materials, the team aims to improve energy efficiency and make the systems more compatible with both cooling and heating applications, especially in buildings that use heat pumps.

“We’re putting it at a specific temperature so it’s compatible with a particular HVAC system integration approach,” Shamberger said.

One of the biggest technical challenges is “phase segregation.” In many salt hydrate systems, the material separates into different solid and liquid phases with varying compositions and densities, which can degrade performance over time.

The study investigates how to prevent this degradation by better understanding the thermodynamics of these materials. The goal is to identify compositions that are more stable and can cycle reliably over many years.

A Cooler Future

The broader goal of Shamberger’s research is to support a more flexible and resilient energy grid. As renewable energy sources like solar and wind become more common, the grid faces increasing variability in both supply and demand. Technologies that can shift energy use away from peak hours are becoming essential.

“We don't want to solve grid problems by building more power plants,” Shamberger said. “That’s a very costly solution and they’d have to charge higher rates overall.”

By storing cold when electricity is cheap and using it when demand is high, buildings can reduce their energy bills and help stabilize the grid. Shamberger said the ideal system would be one that integrates seamlessly into existing HVAC systems and operates automatically.

Ice battery systems are already in use, including at the 30-story Eleven Madison building in New York City. 

By Lesley Henton, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications

Texas A&M University | experts.tamu.edu