The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

LS Energy Solutions (“LS-ES”), a leading provider of grid-connected energy storage solutions, announced that commercial operations have commenced at the Big Rock energy storage site in Imperial County, California. The 200 MW/400 MWh project, developed and operated in partnership with Gore Street Energy Storage Fund (“GSF”), is now providing resource adequacy (RA) and ancillary services for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) electrical grid.

“We are thrilled to see the Big Rock site in full commercial operation and providing storage services for CAISO,” said Curt Feldman, Vice President at LS Energy Solutions. “As California’s grid faces challenges from data center growth, wildfires, and the need to meet carbon reduction goals, utility-scale storage like Big Rock is more critical than ever. Gore Street Energy Storage Fund has been an excellent partner for this project, and we look forward to working with them on future CAISO projects.”

The Big Rock site includes 137 LS-ES AiON-ESS containers storing energy for two-hour durations. LS-ES and GSF currently operate the site at 100 MW of deliverability to supply 400 MWh to CAISO and meet the four-hour discharge stipulation of a 12-year RA contract. In addition to supplying AiON-ESS containers, LS-ES is also supporting the site with operational services that include preventative and capacity maintenance, an extended warranty, and system remote monitoring for the life of the project.

GSF acquired the Big Rock site in February 2023 from clean energy developer Avantus, and it marks the developer’s first project for CAISO. Big Rock joins other energy storage investments by GSF in Texas, Ireland, Great Britain, and Germany, with a total operational portfolio of 753.4 MW / 924.1 MWh of energy storage assets.

“We are pleased to see Big Rock delivering the full suite of storage services to CAISO, including operation under the 12-year Resource Adequacy contract we have secured," said Alicja Kowalewska-Montfor, Technical Principal at Gore Street Capital. “This marks our first project in CAISO, one of North America’s leading grid operators. Our 200 MW / 400 MWh site, supported by LS Energy Solutions, will play a vital role in supporting CAISO in building a more flexible grid for Californians, and we look forward to supporting the operator for years to come.”

To learn more about the Big Rock site and LS-ES’s energy storage services, visit https://www.ls-es.com/, or meet with the LS-ES team at the RE+ trade show (September 9-11, LS Electric booth F17613).

LS Energy Solutions | www.ls-es.com

Gore Street Energy Storage Fund | www.gsenergystoragefund.com

Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility, community solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure projects, has closed the tax equity funding for its Fund 10 portfolio. The $26.5 million Fund 10 closing expands Renewable Properties’ ongoing relationship with SOLCAP, KeyState’s tax equity investment platform.

Fund 10 includes three solar projects in California, totaling 17 MWdc. The projects have commenced construction and are scheduled for completion this year. 

The 5.56 MWdc Redemeyer Road Solar Project in Ukiah, to be completed in Q4 2025, will also incorporate a 4 MWdc/16 MWh energy storage system. Power from the Redemeyer project will be procured by community choice aggregator Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) as part of its EverGreen shared solar program, which allows customers to benefit from off-site solar, storage, and geothermal energy.

The Althea Avenue Solar Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects in Fresno County will complete construction by Q4 2025. Energy from the 6.42 MWdc Althea Solar Phase 1 project will contribute to the Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Green Tariff program offered by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), which provides clean power to low to moderate income-qualified residents with a 20% discount on their electric bills. The adjacent 5.02 MWdc Althea Phase 2 project is part of PG&E’s Solar Choice program, which allows customers to purchase solar energy to match either 50% or 100% of their energy use.

“We’re grateful to our tax equity partner KeyState for supporting another Renewable Properties project portfolio and their continued commitment to helping us provide solar access to more Californians,” said Aaron Halimi, Founder and President of Renewable Properties. “With these projects and our expanding 1.5 GW pipeline, Renewable Properties is living up to our mission to drive energy forward for local communities.”

Since 2021, KeyState – through its tax equity platform, SOLCAP – has been a trusted partner to Renewable Properties. By investing in four of the company’s renewable energy project funds, including Fund 10’s 17 MWdc portfolio, KeyState has helped finance the construction and operation of 86.3 MWdc of small-scale utility and community solar projects across five states.

“By continuing to grow our tax equity collaboration with Renewable Properties with Fund 10, we are helping expand access to local clean energy throughout the U.S.,” said Josh Miller, CEO of KeyState, which manages the SOLCAP platform. “In this time of policy uncertainty, our ongoing relationship strengthens the community solar and small-scale utility solar market and adds to our successful track record with Renewable Properties.”

While the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) presents challenges for the industry, Renewable Properties has built a strong financial foundation with tax equity and lending partners that will enable the company to continue expanding community solar. The 17 MW Fund 10 portfolio is part of Renewable Properties’ pipeline of more than 1.5 GW of solar, energy storage, and fleet EV charging projects under development. The company will announce further project commencements this year.

Renewable Properties | www.renewprop.com

KeyState | www.sol-cap.com

Stryten Energy LLC, a leading U.S.-based energy storage solutions provider, will showcase its Lead BESS at RE+ 2025, North America’s largest clean energy event, held September 8–11 at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

At Booth #F18033, attendees will see how this proven solution delivers power security and flexibility across commercial, industrial, and utility-scale environments. From microgrids and EV charging stations to hospitals, warehouses, and data centers, Lead BESS ensures facilities maintain uptime, reduce energy costs, and enhance sustainability.

Key benefits of Stryten’s Lead BESS include:

• Grid resilience through rapid response and voltage stabilization.
• Reliable back-up power to ensure operational continuity during outages.
• Modular design to meet evolving power demands, from microgrids to multi-site industrial facilities.
• Low fire risk and strong thermal stability for safe indoor installation.
• Integration with solar and other renewables for peak shaving and carbon reduction.

Backed by vertically integrated, U.S.-based manufacturing facilities, Stryten Energy’s lead battery production ensures secure sourcing and sustainable manufacturing for its customers.

“Our Lead BESS is engineered to keep operations running, minimizing downtime and safeguarding business continuity,” said Scott Childers, Vice President of Essential Power at Stryten Energy. “Just as businesses need confidence they won’t lose power, they need confidence their energy storage partner will deliver dependable service and support. With U.S.-based manufacturing and a fully integrated, turnkey system, our Lead BESS delivers true energy resilience, improving reliability while helping meet sustainability goals.”

In addition to Lead BESS, the Stryten team will feature lithium BESS and off-grid battery technologies designed to help businesses and consumers meet their energy resilience needs. Stryten partner Storion Energy will also display its innovative Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) components used for Long-Duration Energy Storage applications.

Stryten Energy is driving the transformation of energy storage with a portfolio of solutions including advanced lead, lithium, and vanadium technologies. This battery-first, technology-agnostic model ensures customers have the right chemistry for the right application.

Panel Discussions at RE+ 2025

Stryten Energy will host two thought-provoking panel discussions that explore the evolving role of energy storage in distributed infrastructure and solar bankability.

• On Tuesday, September 9 at 2 p.m., the panel “Behind the Meter, Ahead of the Curve: How Distributed Energy Is Redefining the Power Paradigm” will spotlight how behind-the-meter solar-plus-storage is reshaping energy systems. Moderated by Scott Childers, the session features David Johnson of CE+T America, Jon Parrella of TerraFlow Energy, and Dr. Vick Singh of Dragonfly Energy. Attendees will gain insights into how distributed energy resources are accelerating deployment, improving resiliency, and empowering communities to take control of their energy futures.
• Wednesday, September 10 at 11 a.m., the panel “Making Solar More Bankable” will examine how energy storage transforms solar into a grid-ready, financially viable solution. Olivia Amyette of Infinite Energy Advisors, Dr. Vick Singh of Dragonfly Energy, and Travis Torrey of Storion Energy will join Scott Childers to discuss how battery storage enhances solar reliability, reduces levelized cost of energy, and supports sustainability goals. The conversation will also explore regulatory shifts, integration challenges, and the future of solar-plus-storage amid rising demand from AI, EVs, and electrification.

Visit Booth #F18033 to participate in Stryten Energy’s panel discussions and discover how energy storage delivers the resilience and reliability your operations demand. For more information about Stryten Energy’s presence at RE+, visit www.stryten.com/stryten-at-re-plus/.

Stryten Energy | www.stryten.com

EnergyHub, a leading provider of grid-edge flexibility solutions, announced the acquisition of Bridge to Renewables (BTR), a strategic investment that will accelerate utility electric vehicle (EV) program growth. Through the acquisition, EnergyHub expands its direct partnerships with top EV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), gains access to foundational integrations with those OEMs, and enables highly engaging EV driver experiences across managed charging programs.

EnergyHub provides Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology to over 80 North American utilities, managing more than 120 programs that integrate EVs, connected thermostats, batteries, and other flexible devices. By optimizing these resources in a single platform, EnergyHub helps clients meet rapid load growth while ensuring reliable, affordable service for all.

BTR is the preeminent provider of EV telematics-based solutions used by EV OEMs. The company works with 12 EV manufacturers to enable more than 500,000 connected vehicles to participate in low carbon fuel standard programs. BTR also facilitates participation in managed charging programs via a suite of embeddable mobile app experiences.

As electricity demand continues to rise, load flexibility is critical for ensuring grid reliability and affordability. By acquiring BTR, EnergyHub dramatically scales its ability to integrate EVs– alongside other distributed energy resources (DERs) like thermostats, batteries, and more– into cross-DER VPPs that simultaneously deliver value to customers, EV OEMs, and the grid.

Benefits of the acquisition include:

• Accelerated growth for utilities’ managed charging programs. BTR’s existing integrations with EV OEMs will make it simpler and faster for those OEMs to participate in EnergyHub’s utility clients’ managed charging programs. At the same time, BTR’s embeddable app experience makes it easier for drivers to enroll in managed charging programs and track the benefits of participation.
• Streamlined access to new opportunities for EV OEMs. OEMs integrated with BTR’s platform to participate in low carbon fuels programs will be able to leverage that same integration to access managed charging programs that EnergyHub runs for utility clients.
• Simple, engaging experiences for every EV driver. BTR’s platform enables EV OEMs to offer drivers across North America the ability to optimize charging for cost and emissions and to view performance via the OEM’s mobile app, building drivers’ familiarity with EV managed charging via a trusted channel and boosting utility program enrollment rates once an OEM’s vehicles are eligible to participate.

“BTR has proven its value as the connective layer between drivers, EV OEMs, and multiple DERMS providers and regulators” said Seth Frader-Thompson, President, EnergyHub. “By acquiring BTR, we are accelerating our delivery of transformative grid value and an exceptional customer experience – built on an industry-leading foundation of EV data, seamless integrations, and VPP expertise.”

“EnergyHub is the ideal partner to bring the benefits of our combined platforms to our OEM partners and millions of EV drivers,” said Jack Barrow, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, BTR. “With EnergyHub’s reach across more than 80 utilities and proven capabilities across device classes, this combination will catalyze the next phase of growth and innovation in the EV managed charging ecosystem.”

EnergyHub | energyhub.com/ev

Bridge to Renewables | https://btr.energy/

SunStrong Management, LLC (“SunStrong”), an independent full-service asset manager for renewable energy portfolios, announced it has been retained by Solaris Assets and affiliates (“Solaris”) to manage the residential solar servicing and operations portfolio acquired from Sunnova Energy International Inc. (“Sunnova”).

The integration significantly expands SunStrong’s platform, bringing its managed portfolio to over 500,000 solar customers and 4 GW of distributed generation and storage assets across the United States. SunStrong is now one of the largest residential solar asset managers in the country, with unmatched capacity to deliver operational excellence and investor confidence.

“By combining SunStrong’s asset management expertise with Sunnova’s nationally scaled customer base, we are creating a stronger, more capable leader in the solar industry,” said Brendon Merkley, Chief Executive Officer of SunStrong. “Our priority is to maintain the highest levels of service for customers as we expand our footprint as a premier solar asset servicer. Together, we are committed to advancing the future of renewable energy and delivering lasting value to our partners and communities across the country.”

Through its full-service asset management approach, SunStrong provides a suite of offerings to both renewable asset owners and capital markets investors, including field service O&M, billing and collections, and investor engagement and reporting. This transaction builds upon SunStrong’s successful acquisition and management of legacy SunPower assets in 2024.

As part of the integration, former Sunnova CEO Paul Mathews will be joining SunStrong as Chief Revenue Officer, a new role established to drive growth and performance. SunStrong will also retain key talent, systems, and capabilities from Sunnova, further strengthening its asset management platform and creating new opportunities for expansion.

“This transaction marks a significant step forward that preserves the best of the platform, people, and customer relationships that have been the heart of the former Sunnova,” said Paul Mathews, SunStrong’s new Chief Revenue Officer. “We are proud of the innovation we brought to the residential solar and storage market, and I look forward to building upon SunStrong’s differentiated and leading asset management services.”

SunStrong will look to advance its asset management model by increasing efficiencies, improving service, and lowering costs. It will also be expanding its offering to new customers and investors, differentiated by its size, scale, and breadth.

A Growing History of Leadership
SunStrong is a first-of-its-kind business model created through the acquisition of legacy SunPower assets, including more than 110,000 solar loan and lease systems, and focused exclusively on distributed energy asset management. Today, with the addition of Sunnova’s assets, SunStrong has become one of the largest independent solar asset managers in the U.S., with unmatched scale, talent, and expertise.

SunStrong | https://sunstrongmanagement.com/

Convergent Energy and Power (Convergent), a leading provider of energy storage solutions in North America, announced the appointment of Leandro Abreu as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 1.

“Leandro brings more than two decades of experience leading complex organizations, building high performing teams, and delivering operational excellence across multiple industries, including in renewable energy and technology,” Convergent’s Co-Chief Executive Officer Frank Genova said. “We are confident that Leandro’s collaborative leadership style, combined with his strategic mindset and commitment to our mission will make him a valuable addition to our leadership team as we work to continue building a more reliable, cost-effective grid.”

Prior to joining Convergent, Abreu served as the CEO of Prospera + Greener where he led the strategic expansion and merger of Prospera with Greener, forming an ESG-driven energy platform aimed at reducing consumer carbon footprints through solar generation. Prior, Abreu served as Vice President for Digital Grid Solutions for Siemens, overseeing a high-impact regional portfolio with focus on digitalization, automation, and modernization of energy infrastructure. Previously, Abreu also served as a General Manager for Enel X, where he led the rapid expansion of Enel X’s solar division, and as an Executive (Cloud & Technology Services) for IBM Brazil.

“Convergent Energy and Power is an exemplary leader in the energy storage sector, with nearly 15 years of experience financing, owning, and operating energy storage systems in North America,” Abreu said. “I’m excited to work with Convergent’s best-in-class team as we chart the company’s next chapter and expand its portfolio of increasingly essential energy storage assets.”

Abreu’s appointment follows the departure of Convergent’s outgoing Chief Operating Officer Don Jenkins, who relocated overseas.

“Don’s contributions to Convergent cannot be overstated,” Genova said. “He brought operational excellence to our organization, and we thank him for his strong leadership throughout his tenure. “We wish him well in his next chapter and are confident in Leandro’s ability to build on Don’s contributions.”

Convergent Energy and Power | convergentep.com

Ultion Technologies announced a breakthrough for the energy storage industry: the successful production and testing of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells made entirely with North American materials. The cells have been validated at commercial scale, delivering performance that rivals — and in some cases surpasses — leading imported alternatives at high discharge rates.

For the first time, North America has demonstrated it can produce LFP battery cells that meet or exceed global performance standards while using only regional materials. The achievement comes as the U.S. government pushes to reduce dependence on foreign battery imports.

The breakthrough reflects collaboration between Ultion and First Phosphate, a Canadian mineral development company that supplied the high-purity phosphate and iron needed for cathode materials. Ultion, a Nevada-based company, handled cell design, assembly, and testing. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 to develop this North American supply chain.

“We can now point to a working battery cell and say every critical material came from North America,” said Johnnie Stoker, CEO of Ultion Technologies. “From mine to finished cell, the supply chain is real, and the performance matches or surpasses what global leaders are putting on the market.”

Performance results

Ultion assembled and tested the cells in standard 18650 cylindrical format (about the size of a AA battery). Independent validation confirmed:

• Stable capacity of 1.6 amp-hours (Ah) across all tested cells
• Projected cycle life of at least 2,000 cycles with 80 percent capacity retained
• Reliable performance with minimal cell-to-cell variation
• Strong stability at a 5C discharge rate, which is 10 times faster than commercially available LFP batteries.

The ability to maintain performance at high discharge rates is particularly significant for applications such as grid storage, data centers, and defense systems that require rapid power delivery.

Market impact

China currently produces more than 90 percent of the world’s LFP battery cells. Recent supply chain disruptions and national security concerns have highlighted the risks of that dependence. This project demonstrates that North America can build competitive manufacturing capacity using regional resources.

Torus, a Utah-based manufacturer of hybrid flywheel and battery storage systems, has invested in Ultion and committed to purchasing the North American cells for its products serving utilities, data centers, and commercial & industrial facilities.

“Ultion’s progress gives us reliable supply, strong performance, and a clear competitive edge,” said Nate Walkingshaw, CEO of Torus. “What excites us most is the combination of performance and strategic value. We can now offer our utility and data center customers storage systems that are built in America and exceed the capabilities of imported alternatives.”

“American innovation and manufacturing can compete head-to-head with any battery technology in the world,” Stoker said. “We are demonstrating performance that surpasses imports, while creating jobs and strengthening energy security.”

Ultion Technologies | ultiontech.com