Controlled Liquid Hydrogen Storage: The backbone of decentralized energy

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, announced the expansion of EcoCare, a next-generation service plan that combines AI-powered condition-based maintenance and 24/7 remote monitoring to now include 3-Phase UPS. It is designed to transform how organizations manage their critical assets and systems, applying energy intelligence to improve uptime, enhance safety, and streamline operational efficiency.

Operations are under increasing pressure as downtime costs range from $10,000 to $10 million per hour(1) and U.S. energy demand surges, with Schneider Electric's Research Institute projecting the country must add 1,000–2,000 TWh of electricity per decade to meet demand from AI, electrification, and industrial growth.

Meanwhile, a growing engineering skills gap—estimated to result in $8.5 trillion in unrealized global revenue by 2030—makes it more challenging to maintain safe, reliable, and compliant operations. Fragmented asset management and constrained investment further limit organizations' ability to prevent downtime, optimize maintenance, and extend asset lifespan.

In data center environments, current maintenance approaches are increasingly under strain, with power the leading cause of impactful outages—most often from UPS issues—and the majority of incidents still involving human error.

At the same time, 98% of sites face electrical safety risks, while 71% lack the spare parts needed to ensure business continuity. Further compounding the issue, 89% of organizations do not follow manufacturer-recommended maintenance practices.

"We're making invisible problems visible through digital connectivity—using data and AI to identify degradation and potential failures before they happen," said Bryan Stevens, Senior Vice President, US Services, Schneider Electric. "We're enabling organizations to transform operations in an unprecedented way - using predictive insights to reduce interventions and cost, improve risk management, and ultimately protect uptime in an increasingly complex environment."

Schneider Electric is the energy technology partner for the organizations that run critical operations, embedding energy intelligence across its services portfolio to turn real-time data into foresight, not hindsight.

Staying ahead of critical failures with 24/7 remote monitoring
EcoCare enables a shift to proactive, condition-based maintenance, starting with connected assets and remote monitoring. Whether through native connectivity or retrofitting with sensors and network management cards, critical operational and environmental data, such as temperature, wear, aging, partial discharge and battery status is continuously captured and analyzed.

Data flows securely into EcoStruxure IT architecture, which follows data protection best practices, including IEC 62443-4-1 standards and CREST-accredited penetration testing.

Schneider Electric's experts at the Connected Services Hub monitor UPS assets at the component level 24/7, using predictive analytics to detect early signs of failure and take proactive, AI-enabled action—remote troubleshooting or targeted on-site intervention—to mitigate downtime risks.

This results in shorter time‑to‑repair, improved first-time-fix rate, and less operational load so teams can concentrate on added value tasks.

Across industries, our customers have seen the value of 3-Phase UPS remote monitoring:

• Up to 70% less electrical failure risk and unplanned downtime on UPS.(2)
• 66% fewer break-fix interventions (3) and 5 critical failures prevented on UPS per year. (4)

Optimizing maintenance calendar through AI-powered condition-based maintenance
EcoCare shifts operations teams from reactive firefighting to proactive insight, combining AI models – trained on the world's largest installed base of electrical assets and continuously refined by over 300 data scientists – with the expertise of more than 6,000 Schneider Electric experts.

With AI-powered condition-based maintenance, key data points are analyzed, such as wear, aging and temperature, and maintenance history to determine the optimized date for the next maintenance intervention. This adapts maintenance schedules to the real condition of assets, avoiding both unnecessary maintenance and the cost of intervening too late.

 Condition-based maintenance can help:

• Reduce by up to 50% intrusive maintenance visits and planned downtime on UPS (from 1 to up to 2 years)(5)
• Achieve 20% OpEx savings compared with traditional calendar-based maintenance (6)

At Compass Datacenters, a fleet of 78 EcoStruxure™ modular data centers achieved up to 20% OpEx savings over a two-year period by shifting from calendar-based to condition-based maintenance.

Unlocking exclusive benefits
EcoCare also provides exclusive, faster support for organizations' daily operations with:

• Break-fix emergency intervention: Corrective action, remote or on-site, backed by a Service Level Agreement (SLA)
• Advanced technical support: Access the right certified expert remotely or on-site, to troubleshoot, advise, and quickly resolve issues
• Customer Success Plan: A trusted advisor and a tailored success plan to improve performance
• Other benefits: Optimize budgets and upskill teams with training, including immersive experience, spare parts and on-site intervention at discount rates

A true partnership on asset lifecycle management
Schneider Electric delivers a unified approach to Asset Lifecycle Management Services, supporting customers across plants, data centers, buildings, and grids to operate critical energy systems reliably, safely, and efficiently. The 3-Phase UPS expansion builds on the recent launch of EcoCare for BMS and joins a growing EcoCare portfolio—spanning electrical distribution, single- and three-phase UPS, modular data centers, and building management systems—that reinforces Schneider Electric's leadership in energy technology and services.

EcoCare services are complemented by:

• EcoConsult: Consulting services to design Asset Performance Management strategy and optimize systems
• EcoFit: Digital-ready modernization, circularity, repairability, take back

Related resources:

• EcoCare for 3-Phase UPS

Schneider Electric | www.se.com

Sanalife Energy was chosen as part of a larger consortium to commission California's first commercial truck-charging research hub in Carson. Sanalife's E360 energy management system serves as the real-time monitoring engine for the project's electrification and data collection. The Carson site is one of two pilot demonstrations under the California Energy Commission grant GFO-20-306, part of the Electric Truck Research and Utilization Center (eTRUC) initiative, which researches high-power charging for Class 7 and 8 zero-emission freight trucks.

California is electrifying its medium- and heavy-duty fleets faster than its grid can add capacity. A single megawatt charger draws more power than 600 homes. The Carson hub pairs heavy-duty EV charging with on-site battery storage that shaves peak demand without slowing truck movement. E360 is the data behind it.

Sanalife's E360 system integrates all major on-site devices and provides power data at one-minute intervals from the heavy-duty EV chargers, the battery storage system, the medium-voltage switchgear, and the supporting transformers. That's up to 100X more granular than the cadence typical of utility metering.

"Megawatt charging will define commercial freight for the next decade," said Ashish Chona, Chief Commercial Officer at Sanalife Energy. "The operators running those sites either see every kilowatt in real time, or they are guessing at their peak bills. Carson proves E360 scales to that class of load. The hydrogen refueling stations are next."

The hub serves Class 7 and 8 battery-electric trucks operating along Southern California freight corridors. Burns & McDonnell coordinated the electrical design, and MHX hosts the site and provides the charging and switchgear infrastructure.

Carson is the gold standard. The data and operating strategies developed there are expected to transfer to commercial freight charging hubs across California and to the hydrogen refueling stations that will sit alongside them. Sanalife Energy has built E360 as the energy management platform for what comes next: electrification, hydrogen, and the mixed-fuel sites that bridge them.

Sanalife Energy | https://www.sanalifeenergy.com/

Electric Truck Research and Utilization Center | etruc.org 

PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: PBK) (Cboe CA: PBK) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in independent energy development and asset ownership in North America, is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary Abundant Solar Power Inc. has executed an Operations and Maintenance Services Agreement (the "Agreement") with Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) ("Honeywell" or "HON") to provide operations and maintenance services for a 21 MW portfolio of three projects named SB 13-1, SB 13-2, and SB-14 (the "Projects"). The Projects are built on an industrial brownfield owned by Honeywell, which is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Projects have been moved from Honeywell International Inc. to Honeywell Aerospace Inc., following the planned spinoff of Honeywell Aerospace on June 29, 2026.

The Agreement outlines the roles, responsibilities, and performance standards governing the long-term management of the Projects. It establishes requirements for routine inspection, maintenance, repair, and operational monitoring to ensure the Projects function effectively and in compliance with applicable regulations. The Agreement also defines reporting obligations, cost responsibilities, and coordination protocols between the parties, while setting clear expectations for environmental protection, safety, and system reliability over the term of the Agreement.

PowerBank's President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew van Doorn commented, "Securing the O&M agreement on the Honeywell portfolio is a natural extension of the work our team has been executing from day one. When you develop, permit, build, and commission a project, you know it better than anyone, and that knowledge is exactly what makes for reliable long-term operations. This agreement reflects the strength of our full-cycle platform, and the trust Honeywell has placed in PowerBank to deliver not just megawatts, but lasting performance."

In September 2023, the Company completed the sale of the Projects to Honeywell and entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC") agreement to build the Projects through to commercial operation. The Agreement follows the announcement of the successful commissioning of the SB 13-2 project.

The Agreement for the portfolio of Projects with Honeywell demonstrates PowerBank's vertically integrated business model, offering services across development, EPC, and Operations and Maintenance to provide megawatts of power. Having now developed and constructed over 100 megawatts of clean energy projects across North America, with a pipeline exceeding one gigawatt, PowerBank is increasingly well-positioned to serve not only traditional utility and community solar offtakers, but also the rapidly growing demand for reliable, on-site power generation driven by AI compute infrastructure and modular data centers.

PowerBank | www.powerbankcorp.com

New Energy Equity, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE Inc., along with community leaders and Harlem School District officials and students gathered in Machesney Park, IL on June 24, 2026, to celebrate the energization of a new 5.5 MW community solar project.

Operated by New Energy Equity on land owned by the school district, this community solar project will generate 8.3 million kWh of clean energy annually—enough to power 1,002 Illinois homes. Local ComEd customers can also enroll in community solar and receive credits on their electricity bill generated by their share of a community solar project, reducing their electricity costs.

For Harlem School District, the partnership creates meaningful benefits without requiring taxpayer-funded construction costs. By leasing district-owned land and enrolling in community solar as a subscriber to the project, Harlem will receive annual lease payments and utility bill credits for 25 years that help offset energy costs across its 9 schools serving local students.

In addition to the environmental impact, the event also celebrated a new scholarship program funded by New Energy Equity which will award $10,000 annually in scholarships to Harlem School District students for the 25-year life of the solar project, totaling a quarter-million-dollar investment in local students. Four seniors from the Class of 2026 at Harlem High School were recognized at the ceremony for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements.

"We're very proud of this project at New Energy Equity because of all the positive benefits it delivers," said Kyle Marchesseault, VP of Marketing. "It delivers benefits for the school district in the form of lease revenue and electricity bill savings. It benefits four deserving, accomplished students through scholarships. And it provides more energy for the local community at a time of rising electricity demand."

Guest dignitaries at the energization ceremony included State Representative Maurice West II (IL 67th District), Mayor Steve Johnson of the Village of Machesney Park, and Harlem School District Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough.

"Today we celebrate more than the completion of a project, we celebrate the beginning of a transformative partnership between our school district and New Energy Equity," said Superintendent Yarbrough. "This collaboration represents what can happen when organizations come together with a shared vision for the future. It is a partnership that will have a lasting impact, not only on our schools but also on our students, our community, and future generations."

The event concluded with a ceremonial switch flip to signify the official activation of this community solar project.

New Energy Equity | https://www.newenergyequity.com/

Farmblox announced the launch of its COP-R-LOCK security platform for the electric vehicle charging industry, bringing real-time theft detection and remote monitoring technology to charging infrastructure increasingly targeted by copper thieves across the United States.

Originally developed to help farmers combat rising agricultural crime, COP-R-LOCK leverages Farmblox's field-proven sensor network to detect suspicious activity and instantly alert operators, even in remote locations with limited connectivity. Following strong adoption in agriculture, the platform increased protected areas by more than 2,200% between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026, while COP-R-LOCK deployments grew by more than 300,000% in just six months across operations nationwide.

The COP-R-LOCK system uses Farmblox's remote automation and monitoring platform to track infrastructure activity in real time. If cable tampering, enclosure breaches, or suspicious activity are detected, an alarm sounds on-site and operators receive immediate alerts through Farmblox's mobile and desktop app, enabling rapid response.

The launch comes as copper theft emerges as a growing challenge for EV charging operators. Across California and other states, thieves are increasingly targeting charging cables for the copper inside, leaving stations unusable and creating costly repairs for network operators. Industry reports indicate that thieves often recover only a small amount of scrap copper from each cable, while operators can face repair costs exceeding $8,000 per charger, not including lost revenue and customer frustration while stations remain offline.

The challenge has become particularly visible in California, where charging stations throughout the Los Angeles area have experienced repeated cable theft incidents. In many cases, drivers arrive expecting to charge their vehicles only to find chargers disabled, creating disruptions for both EV owners and charging network operators. As EV infrastructure expands nationwide, protecting charging assets has become increasingly critical to maintaining reliability and consumer confidence.

Copper's increasing market value – up 49% in just 18 months – combined with the rapid growth of charging infrastructure nationwide, has made EV charging sites an attractive target for theft. Many charging locations operate unattended around the clock, making it difficult for operators to identify incidents until significant damage has already occurred.

The company developed COP-R-LOCK in collaboration with crime expert Bobby Rader, who has spent more than 15 years investigating infrastructure and rural infrastructure crime.

"Copper theft is no longer just a problem for farms and industrial facilities. It's becoming a real threat to the reliability of EV charging infrastructure," said Nathan Rosenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Farmblox. "The same challenges we saw in agriculture exist in EV charging networks: remote assets, limited oversight, and the potential for enormous secondary losses from a single theft event. Our goal is to give operators real-time visibility and immediate alerts so they can stop incidents as chargers go offline and drivers are impacted."

Farmblox | https://www.farmblox.com/

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, projects that around half of all new solar installations will include battery storage by the mid-2030s, up from roughly 6.6 per cent today, with solar-plus-storage capacity growing a hundredfold by 2049. As that shift accelerates, the digital systems that manage how energy is stored, dispatched, and traded are becoming as critical as the hardware itself.

Solar-plus-storage projects become more widespread, and developers, operators, and equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face growing operational complexity, from interconnection bottlenecks and stricter grid requirements to evolving electricity markets and cybersecurity obligations.

To help address these challenges, GreenPowerMonitor (GPM), a DNV company, is expanding its digital Energy Management System (EMS) and Hybrid EMS solutions for solar, storage, and hybrid renewable energy projects. The platforms are designed to help developers and OEMs navigate increasingly complex technical, commercial, and regulatory environments, including cybersecurity requirements such as those introduced under the EU's NIS2 directive. The digital solutions support over 400 communication protocols, integrate with SCADA systems and GPM's Horizon cloud monitoring platform, are certified to IEC 62443 and ISO 27001 standards, and are backed by 24/7 support – allowing for the optimisation, control, and operation of renewable energy and hybrid assets.

"The solar-plus-storage surge is inevitable, but only if the industry can solve real-world bottlenecks such as grid access, cyber risk, and revenue uncertainty," said Juan Carlos Arévalo, executive vice-president and director of Digital & Data Solutions, Energy Systems at DNV. "GPM combines proven EMS technology with DNV's independent assurance and grid-code expertise, giving OEMs and developers the confidence to scale without compromising security or compliance."

The need for flexible energy management solutions is growing alongside investment in solar and storage. DNV's Energy Industry Insights 2026 found that 49 per cent of Asia-Pacific respondents plan to increase investment in energy storage, while markets such as Chile and Australia continue to rapidly expand deployment. As developers navigate increasingly diverse grid codes, market structures and regulations, GPM's hybrid architecture is designed to support these varying operational environments through a single platform.

DNV | www.dnv.com

Two critical community facilities in Marin County have taken major steps to safeguard residents during power outages, reduce costs, and ease strain on the electric grid. The Dance Palace Community and Cultural Center in Point Reyes Station and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County in San Rafael have each installed new battery storage systems that provide clean backup power, lower energy costs, and support a healthier, more reliable grid. Both projects were completed with zero out-of-pocket costs from the organizations through $150,000 in funding from MCE’s Energy Storage Program and the Marin Community Foundation.

“I'm excited to see these two projects realized to further our community resilience and lessen dependence on the grid,” said Mary Sackett, Marin County District 1 Supervisor and MCE Board Director. “MCE has reinvested more than $12 million into Marin County initiatives that support community members most impacted by climate change.”

MCE has supported the installation of behind-the-meter batteries across 90 commercial and residential projects. Funding for the projects includes a $750,000 grant from the Marin Community Foundation, more than $1 million in MCE program incentives to reduce customer out-of-pocket costs, and over $1 million in incentives from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Self-Generation Incentive Program.

“Adding battery storage offers our community a new level of safety,” said Claire Burns, Executive Director of the Dance Palace. “During outages, people turn to us for information, connection, and support. Thanks to our partnership with MCE and the Marin Community Foundation, we’ll be able to keep our doors open when our community needs us most.”

The Dance Palace, a nonprofit community center serving as a cultural and emergency gathering hub for West Marin, completed installation of a new 41 kilowatt-hour solar and battery storage system paid entirely with nearly $100,000 from MCE and the Marin Community Foundation.

“It’s remarkable what we can do as local partners when we come together with a shared vision of strengthening our communities,” said Patti D’Angelo, Senior Program Director at the Marin Community Foundation.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County in San Rafael will now be able to maintainoperations and support the thousands of people it serves each year even during power outages with its new 27 kilowatt-hour battery storage system. The project was also fully funded with more than $55,000 in MCE and Marin Community Foundation funding and was installed by local nonprofit GRID Alternatives, which supports a just energy transition by providing job-training to the local workforce. MCF provided additional support with a bridge loan to GRID Alternatives so the project can access reimbursable federal incentives.

“This isn’t just an ordinary facility upgrade, it’s a commitment to reinforcing our community’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover,” said Christine Paquette, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County. “This is particularly true for the children, adults, and seniors we serve who are most impacted by disruptions and emergencies.”

These projects bring benefits beyond emergency preparedness. Each day, the batteries charge using onsite solar energy. In the evening, when electricity is most expensive and the grid is most strained, the facilities draw from their batteries. With battery storage, these facilities can reduce electricity usage from the grid during peak energy hours, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Other projects co-funded by MCE and Marin Community Foundation include the San Francisco- Marin Food Bank’s San Rafael facility, Marin Community Clinics’ Novato campus, Bolinas Community Center, Sage Lane Affordable Senior Housing, Stinson Beach Firehouse Protection District, and Stinson Beach Community Center. These installations build on a growing network of resilience projects across MCE’s four-county service area that have added battery storage to support essential services.

MCE | https://mcecleanenergy.org/