Recent export restrictions by China on key rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium have brought renewed attention to the global importance of these materials. As China implements new licensing requirements, particularly for elements used in high-performance magnets, manufacturers worldwide are confronting the reality that access to certain critical inputs can no longer be taken for granted. These restrictions ....
According to a recent report from the US Energy Information Administration, though 2024 saw record-setting levels of energy consumption, demand isn’t slowing down anytime soon. This comes less than six months after a separate reportestimated the US grid would need to increase its capacity to generate and deliver electricity by 16 percent in the next four years to keep pace with growing energy needs. Simply put, the count....
In an era marked by increasingly severe weather from Mother Nature, utilities face mounting pressure to enhance the resiliency and reliability of their power delivery systems. While icing of the wind turbine blades has been discussed extensively, the physical means of distributing that energy has been addressed far less. Just as wind farms components are adopting the latest technologies to modernize their fleets and extend life expectan....
Ensuring the reliability and efficiency of wind turbines requires a deep understanding of the fluids that keep them running smoothly. To that end, compatibility testing plays a critical role in preventing costly issues that arise from mixing incompatible lubricants. This article explores the significance of fluid compatibility testing in industries such as power generation, highlighting its ability to enhance equipment reliability, reduce mainten....
Energy Storage
Craig Tropea
Solar
Jonathan Lwowski
Solar
Steve Macshane, CESSWI
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced new data centre solutions specifically engineered to meet the intensive demands of next-generation AI cluster architectures. Evolving its EcoStruxure Data Centre Solutions portfolio, Schneider Electric introduced a Prefabricated Modular EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre solution that consolidates infrastructure for liquid cooling, high-power busway and high-density NetShelter Racks. In addition, EcoStruxure Rack Solutions incorporate detailed rack configurations and frameworks designed to accelerate High Performance Computing (HPC) and AI data centre deployments. The new EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre and EcoStruxure Rack Solutions are now available globally.
Organizations are deploying AI clusters and grappling with extreme rack power densities, which are projected to reach 1MW and beyond. Schneider Electric’s new line of solutions equips customers with integrated, data-validated, and easily scaled white space solutions that address new challenges in pod and rack design, power distribution and thermal management.
“The sheer power and density required for AI clusters create bottlenecks that demand a new approach to data centre architecture,” said Himamshu Prasad, senior vice president of EcoStruxure IT, Transactional & Edge and Energy Storage Centre of Excellence at Schneider Electric. “Customers need integrated infrastructure solutions that not only handle extreme thermal loads and dynamic power profiles but also deploy rapidly, scale predictably, and operate efficiently and sustainably. Our innovative next-generation EcoStruxure solutions that support NVIDIA technology address these critical requirements head on.”
New Product Overview
“Schneider Electric’s innovative solutions provide the reliable, scalable infrastructure our customers need to accelerate their AI initiatives,” said Vladimir Troy, vice president of data centre engineering, operations, enterprise software and cloud services at NVIDIA. “Together, we’re addressing the rapidly growing demands of AI factories — from kilowatt to megawatt-scale racks—and delivering future-proof solutions that maximize scalability, density and efficiency.”
The new solutions and suite of engineered data centre reference designs equip data centre operators and Schneider Electric’s partner ecosystem with the infrastructure and information needed to deploy powerful AI clusters faster and more reliably while addressing common barriers to adoption, including:
These enhanced EcoStruxure offerings add to Schneider Electric’s robust line of fully integrated, end-to-end AI infrastructure solutions — spanning advanced hardware, intelligent software, services such as EcoCare and EcoConsult for Data Centres, and strategic industry partnerships with key IT players. Schneider Electric is the partner of choice for building efficient, resilient, scalable and AI-optimized data centres.
Schneider Electric | se.ca
Emeren Group Ltd ("Emeren" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL), a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator, announced that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Shurya Vitra Ltd., a business company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands ("Parent"), and Emeren Holdings Ltd, a business company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), pursuant to which the Parent will acquire the Company for US$0.20 in cash per ordinary share of the Company (the "Shares"), or US$2.00 in cash per American Depositary Share of the Company (each, an "ADS", representing ten Shares).
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the merger (the "Effective Time"), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving company and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger"). At the Effective Time, each of the Company's ordinary shares issued, outstanding and not represented by ADS immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than the Excluded Shares and the Dissenting Shares (each as defined in the Merger Agreement), will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive US$0.20 in cash and without interest, and each ADS of the Company, other than ADSs representing the Excluded Shares, together with each Share represented by such ADSs, will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive US$2.00 in cash and without interest.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, Himanshu H. Shah has entered into an equity commitment letter with the Parent, pursuant to which the Mr. Shah committed to invest in the Parent at or immediately prior to the Effective Time an equity contribution solely for the purpose of funding, to the extent necessary to fund, such portion of the Merger consideration and such other amounts required to be paid by Parent pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, together with related fees and expenses. For the avoidance of doubt such fees and expenses, does not include any termination fees payable by Parent under the Merger Agreement and certain obligations set forth in the limited guarantee, which Mr. Shah has entered into in favor of the Company in respect of certain payment obligations of the Parent under the Merger Agreement.
The Company's board of directors (the "Board"), acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee of independent directors established by the Board (the "Special Committee"), approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger and resolved to recommend that the Company's shareholders vote to authorize and approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Special Committee negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement with the assistance of its financial and legal advisors.
The Merger, which is currently expected to close during the third quarter of 2025, is subject to customary closing conditions including approval by the Company's shareholders of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. If completed, the Merger will result in the Company becoming a privately held company and its Shares and ADSs will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Kroll, LLC is serving as the financial advisor to the Special Committee. Morrison & Foerster LLP is serving as the U.S. legal counsel to the Special Committee. Harney Westwood & Riegels (UK) LLP is serving as British Virgin Islands legal counsel to the Special Committee. DLA Piper LLP (US) is serving as the U.S. legal counsel to Parent and Mr. Shah.
Emeren Group | www.emeren.com
Aptera Motors is set to unveil its first fully complete solar electric validation vehicle during a YouTube Live broadcast on June 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.
For the first time, Aptera will showcase a vehicle featuring every system a future owner would expect—from climate control and infotainment to the vision system and full solar integration. It represents a unified, real-world version of the design Aptera intends to mass-produce, with nearly 50,000 reservations demonstrating strong demand for this innovative solar electric vehicle.
“This is the moment we’ve been building toward,” said Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of Aptera. “This vehicle is built to the design we plan to produce at scale and deliver to our eager reservation holders.”
Aptera has successfully moved beyond the prototyping phase and is building multiple validation vehicles simultaneously. These vehicles play a critical role in the company’s ongoing testing program. While some refinements are anticipated as the process progresses, they closely represent the vehicles Aptera expects to assemble for customers.
“With few exceptions, virtually every circuit, every bit of software and firmware—is designed entirely in-house,” said Steve Fambro, Co-CEO of Aptera. “From the vehicle computers and battery management system to the solar panels and charge controller, it’s all part of Aptera’s own tightly integrated hardware and software stack. Every element works in concert to achieve unparalleled energy efficiency. It’s a system that’s not only robust and elegant, but purpose-built to support our radically efficient architecture.”
Following the reveal, Aptera plans to take the vehicle on a cross-country road trip later this summer, showcasing its solar-powered capabilities and collecting valuable real-world data as the company continues through its validation plan and moves closer to delivering on the promise of solar mobility.
Watch the reveal live on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/yNs02F0t_9U on June 27 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Aptera Motors Corp. | aptera.us
Sol by Sunna Design, a global leader in solar lighting for over 35 years, proudly announces the launch of the EverGen 3, its most advanced solar-powered outdoor lighting system yet. The EverGen 3 embodies Sol’s “A Different Light” ethos by offering a solution that performs like a gridconnected system while delivering all the benefits of solar.
Designed for municipalities, utilities, developers, and commercial projects, the EverGen 3 addresses today’s infrastructure challenges: rising energy costs, copper wire theft, and the growing demand for resilient, low-maintenance lighting solutions that work even when the grid doesn’t.
“The EverGen 3 is everything a solar light should be,” said Ignace de Prest, CEO. “We’ve designed a system that looks and performs like a traditional light but runs entirely on clean energy. That means no compromises—just reliable lighting, lower emissions, and safer outdoor spaces for more people.”
Unlike typical one-size-fits-all solar lights, each EverGen 3 is custom-built to match the site’s solar conditions, output, and runtime requirements. It pairs this tailored approach with high-performance fixture options from Acuity, America’s largest fixture manufacturer, to provide quality light that meets IES standards.
“Our goal is to make solar lighting accessible to more communities, no matter the scale or budget,” said de Prest. “From compact, all-in-one systems to our affordable all-in-two solution, we offer a full range of options. The EverGen 3 extends that range even further, giving cities, utilities, and developers a powerful, grid-comparable alternative that meets rigorous lighting standards while reducing emissions and costs.”
Key features:
• Combines solar and grid power to ensure uninterrupted lighting, with options for solar-first use or timed grid backup.
• Custom lighting profiles: Every system is tailored to the project, with advanced dimming, scheduling, and output controls.
• Remote monitoring and controls: GSM technology and SunnaCloud software enables remote diagnostics, alerts, and system management from anywhere. D4i-enabled networked lighting controls support seamless integration into smart city platforms as they evolve.
• 10-year full-product warranty: The EverGen 3 is backed by Sol’s industry-leading warranty, guaranteeing performance, durability, and peace of mind.
The EverGen 3 marks a turning point for solar-powered infrastructure. By combining smart design, reliable performance, and smart city integrations, Sol is setting a new benchmark for what outdoor lighting can— and should—do in 2025 and beyond.
Sol by Sunna Design | https://evergen.solarlighting.com/
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces that it has formalized a long-term agreement with Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (“Shell”) to integrate and further develop technologies for utilizing robots and drones in plant monitoring and maintenance. Under the agreement, Yokogawa will add an advanced machine vision tool called Operator Round by Exception (ORE), developed by Shell, into its own OpreX™ Robot Management Core. The enhanced software service will be made available by Yokogawa to customers in the energy, chemicals, and other industries.
ORE is a digital solution that uses machine vision and AI analytics to enable robots to autonomously perform a number of tasks in the operator round process, such as reading gauges and checking for leaks and machinery issues. It is the result of a two-year collaborative effort within Shell, which combined machine vision strategy with deep capabilities in the field of integrity management, remote site inspection, and corrosion management.
OpreX Robot Management Core is a key product in Yokogawa’s robot solutions. The software helps customers maintain their facilities in a safer and more efficient manner by integrating the management of various types of robots that perform plant maintenance tasks conventionally carried out by humans. When connected to a plant’s control and safety systems, the data acquired can be used to issue instructions to robots, thus enabling the first step to be taken toward autonomous plant operations. The addition of Shell’s ORE technology will significantly increase the number of use cases available to customers through OpreX Robot Management Core.
OpreX Robot Management Core
Moving forward, Yokogawa robotics operations will deploy at two Shell facilities as a pilot into how robotics and drones can deliver value through efficiencies in plant monitoring and maintenance.
This collaboration is the first key milestone for Yokogawa working alongside Shell in the collaboration space at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam, which was created by Shell in 2022 to provide a platform for collaboration between companies, societal organizations, governments, and universities to work on tomorrow’s energy solutions. Shell and Yokogawa have also agreed to collaborate on an aligned R&D roadmap to further develop and enhance the machine vision technology, ensuring continuous innovation and improvement. This collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the energy and industrial sectors.
Masaharu Maeda, Yokogawa Electric vice president, executive officer, and head of the company’s Solutions Business Division, stated, “We are very excited to be working with Shell on this key technology field that promises to address the workforce challenges facing plant owners by significantly improving the efficiency of rounds in the field, while also reducing the inherent risk to operators. We look forward to making it available to industrial facility owners globally in the near future and contributing to safer and more efficient workplaces.”
“Shell & Yokogawa have a proud history of developing together to enable advanced automation solutions for our sites. With this agreement, we are taking our relationship to the next level. Robotics solutions combined with AI provide the potential to create a step change in productivity and safety,” said Gerben de Jong, CIO for Shell Integrated Gas, Upstream and Projects & Technology.
Yokogawa | www.yokogawa.com
Integrated Power Services (IPS), a world-class provider of electrical, mechanical, and power management systems, recently achieved a significant milestone – growing to 100 total locations following recent acquisitions. Through its expanded service network, IPS is now offering critical power management and electromechanical services for customers in the North American, European, and Caribbean markets.
“In reaching this milestone of 100 locations, IPS has become one of the leading aftermarket service providers for power management and electromechanical services,” said John Zuleger, IPS President and CEO. “Customers are looking for a trusted advisor to assist them in improving uptime and reliability of their highly technical processes. With a 100-location network, we are getting closer to more customers and improving our ability to respond, rethink, and resolve the most challenging process problems.”
Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, in the United States, IPS has one of the aftermarket service industry's largest networks, with repair and distribution centers, field service offices, and more than 1,000,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage for customer spares and critical equipment. “Each IPS location serves as a gateway to an international network of engineering expertise, technical experience, and resources,” explained Zuleger. “We have 158 engineers, and 1,800 experienced and skilled technicians – including more than 500 field service technicians – ready to meet the most critical challenges in power management processes, electromechanical systems, and rotating equipment.”
IPS serves more than 30,000 customer locations annually across a wide range of industries, including power generation, utilities, water and wastewater, petrochemicals, air separation, oil & gas, metals, mining, paper, aggregates, cement, hospitals, universities, commercial buildings, and data centers. “We serve as a trusted advisor to our customers, delivering reliability and highly responsive services, which allows them to maintain peak performance and minimize process downtime,” added Zuleger. “The capabilities of our local operational platform and technical talent often exceed that of other local service providers.”
Established in 2007, IPS has grown both organically as well as from strategic acquisitions, starting in electromechanical service for electric motors and generators, then expanding into power management, NETA field services, distribution, repair and remanufacturing for transformers, switchgear, motor control centers, and control panels, and custom power control equipment beginning in 2021. “IPS delivers the widest range of services in the entire industry,” said Zuleger. “No other provider is offering these services through this large of a scaled network, which allows us to become an end-to-end, single-source supplier in served markets.”
Integrated Power Services | www.ips.us
Michigan State University researchers and MSU Extension educators are evaluating the potential of agrivoltaics — which combines agricultural operations with solar energy production — in Michigan. Agrivoltaics systems place solar panels directly in the field, either arranged several feet above agricultural activities or in rows to allow for crops or animals to be between them. The goal is to continue producing an agricultural commodity while gaining another revenue source for the farm through solar energy.
Proponents of agrivoltaics tout the dual use of agricultural land, which can allow for plant and animal agriculture operations to coexist with solar energy production and the ability to use such energy on the farm.
Benefits to soil and water are being studied around the world, possibly pointing to less water evaporation that leads to more efficient water use. Solar arrays can also promote habitat for pollinators.
However, application of solar energy projects on agricultural land is not without controversy. Opponents have introduced concerns about the removal of valuable farmland — a finite resource — from agricultural production, along with inflation of farmland prices through federal subsidies that allow energy companies to offer well over fair market value to farmers. The upfront costs of installing complex solar systems can also be a limiting factor.
Additional questions have been raised about food safety with crops grown under solar panels. When the panels are disassembled, small fragments of metal and plastic may contaminate the soil. Members of the Potato Growers of Michigan have cited this possibility as a particular concern for their crop, which is grown underground and can readily take in these objects.
Furthermore, the compatibility of agrivoltaics with Michigan’s wide range of agricultural commodities, as well as the state’s unique growing environments, is not well-studied.
George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch, says this information is critical to helping growers and producers make informed decisions.
“The role of MSU research and outreach is to pursue science-based recommendations for our growers and producers,” Smith said. “Our priorities are driven by the agricultural industries that rely on research, and we’re taking into account important factors such as economic viability, food safety and protecting our natural resources, among many others.
“Agrivoltaics systems are a complex issue that needs to be evaluated further, and we’re dedicated to providing the necessary information to Michigan’s agriculture stakeholders so they can make the best decisions for their industries.”
One of the common concerns with agrivoltaics is removing crops or animals from agricultural land to accommodate solar panels. This is a misconception says Charles Gould, a bioenergy educator with MSU Extension.
“We don’t have to take agricultural land out of production to introduce solar,” Gould said. “It’s not either or. It can be both. This research is new to Michigan, but it’s being done worldwide and we need to ensure we’re taking advantage of the opportunities to increase farm profitability where we can.”
Gould, who is an expert in dual-use land management, said he routinely speaks with Michigan farmers who are interested in solar technology implementation.
In July, he’s attending the AgriVoltaics World Conference in Germany, which brings together global leaders in the field. In addition to scientific information exchange, participants will tour farms that utilize solar arrays.
“We’re looking to collect as much information as possible from places that are doing this and seeing positive results, but it’s also an area in which research investment is critical,” Gould said. “There are all sorts of considerations to make. What configuration of solar panels will be conducive to productivity for certain crops? What is the ideal distance between solar panels if arranged in rows? Depending on the crop or animal involved, what height do the panels need to be above the soil surface? And ultimately, it this profitable to farmers? There are a lot of questions we need to answer, and the only way we can do that is through research.”
Investigating agrivoltaics in Michigan apple orchards
A new project supported by the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission will begin to test these systems in apple orchards, possibly including other tree fruits in the future.
Research will take place at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center (WCMREC) in Hart, which is supported by MSU AgBioResearch.
The research team is seeking to answer three fundamental questions:
The topic is of great interest to the agricultural community, as a potential revenue source and as energy and solar companies continue to purchase agricultural land. In Oceana County, where the WCMREC is located, a utility company recently purchased roughly 800 acres. This, coupled with community conversations on the issue over the past few years, prompted staff at the center to consider how solar energy and agriculture can work together.
Ashley Fleser, WCMREC farm manager who coordinates the project, indicated that while agrivoltaics offer a number of potential benefits, research in Michigan — a state with more than 300 commodities — has been limited thus far.
“We’ve learned through interactions with the community that many people are understandably skeptical of the idea,” Fleser said. “When the company purchased the land in Oceana County, which many assume will be for a future renewable energy development, this got us thinking about the possibility of integrating these two land uses — solar and agriculture. This has been done a fair amount with livestock grazing and even some vegetable production, but it’s still quite novel in tree fruit.”
Trever Meachum, chair of the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission and production manager at High Acres Fruit Farm in Van Buren County, said the research will serve as a pilot for Michigan orchards and collect much-needed information.
“This is not a completely new idea in that it’s being done all over the world — particularly in Europe, Australia and even some regions of the U.S.,” Meachum said. “But I’m not aware of any work being done in Michigan apple orchards with agrivoltaics. From research in other places, we know it works, but we don’t know how Michigan orchards will react. Are we generating enough electricity to provide a true benefit while not compromising fruit quality and productivity? That’s what we need to determine.”
Meachum indicated the priority for the tree fruit industry is to keep high-quality agricultural land productive while maximizing revenue potential for growers.
“A lot of power and solar companies are interested in purchasing or leasing good agricultural land for solar projects, and we’d like to see that land stay in production,” Meachum said. “But if there are opportunities for growers to keep farming while also diversifying revenue sources, it would be a good thing. We need some data to inform those decisions, and that’s why this research is important.”
At WCMREC, Fleser has been discussing the project with interested researchers and Extension educators, including Gould and Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Dong leads several research efforts looking to improve energy- and water-use efficiency across the commodity spectrum. One of these projects was funded last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and is aimed at developing a solar-powered irrigation technology that saves farmers money through more efficient use of energy and water.
“Farmers are concerned with costs, of course, and I talk to some growers who are only irrigating during certain times to avoid rising energy costs, for example,” Dong said. “Testing a system that eases the burden of rising costs and can lead to additional revenue is certainly worth exploring.”
Inspiration for the WCMREC project came, in part, from a study conducted in Belgium with pears grown in an agrivoltaics system that uses concrete trellises manufactured in Italy that are designed to accommodate the installation of solar panels. After figuring the cost to use these trellises across several acres in Michigan, it proved to be a barrier to entry for tree fruit growers.
“We pivoted to looking at whether we could develop something that deploys the panels over existing wood trellis infrastructure commonly used in Michigan for high-density tree fruits,” Fleser said. “We’re working with a local solar designer and a local fabricator to set up a small demonstration that will serve as a proof of concept.”
The team will examine the potential to offset costs of the solar infrastructure implementation through energy generation. Research will uncover just how much energy is generated, as well as how the fruit trees and environment respond to the agrivoltaics system.
“With agrivoltaics, there will be many questions moving forward,” Dong said. “This research is important because we need to find out if it’s a worthwhile investment for farmers, how it affects the crops and surrounding soil, and for which commodities it makes the most sense. Some of that may be dependent on the commodity or the size of the farm. But ultimately, asking farmers to change their operations in such a large-scale way will have to make sense economically.”
Michigan State University AgBioResearch | agbioresearch.msu.edu
Energy Storage Jun 18, 2025
When was the last time you pulled up at a gas station and had to leave empty handed? It speaks volumes for fuel retailers that reliability is a given on the forecourt, but that experience has set a high bar for charge point operators (CPOs) and those....
Building codes and minimum building standards such as ASCE 7, Eurocode, and the National Building Code of Canada, are used to calculate the maximum forces a building may encounter. These forces result from wind, snow and seismic activity. For wind up....
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that in 2024 alone, the United States experienced 27 weather- and climate-related billion-dollar disaster events, with losses totaling $182.7 billion. Severe convective storms — a....
As the world transitions to clean energy, one of the biggest challenges facing the solar industry isn’t technology or financing — It’s labor. The demand for skilled workers to install and maintain solar infrastructure far exceeds supply, threat....
Renewable energy sources such as wind an....
When was the last time you pulled up at a gas station and had to leave empty handed? It speaks volumes for fuel retailers that reliability is a given on the forecourt, but that experience has set a high bar for charge point operators (CPOs) and those....
Recent export restrictions by China on key rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium have brought renewed attention to the global importance of these materials. As China implements new licensing requirements, particularly for eleme....
According to a recent report from the US Energy Information Administration, though 2024 saw record-setting levels of energy consumption, demand isn’t slowing down anytime soon. This comes less than six months after a separate reporte....
How can one know the climate impact of a purchase or investment? Clean energy production is about climate mitigation, but how can one know the climate impact of a purchase or investment? Many investors and buyers want to understand how t....
There is no question that weather events place enormous stress on the country’s power grids. Nowhere is this more clearly on display than in the renewable energy market, including the turbulent conditions of the offshore wind industry. As....
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is well known as a household disinfectant, but in its concentrated forms, it has a powerful second life as a clean and efficient propellant used in space applications. When decomposed, H2O2 breaks down into oxygen and wa....
