Controlled Liquid Hydrogen Storage: The backbone of decentralized energy

ECL and PowerCell Group AB (publ) announced a strategic partnership to deploy industrial-grade hydrogen fuel cell power across ECL's AI data center platform. The agreement comprises a firm purchase order for PowerCell PS190 fuel cell systems, alongside a separate non-binding memorandum of understanding between ECL and PowerCell for approximately 300 MW of additional hydrogen fuel cell capacity as ECL expands its FlexGrid data center footprint. The partnership is underpinned by PowerCell's industrial partnership with Bosch, its manufacturing partner and largest shareholder, which provides the manufacturing foundation to deliver at industrial scale.

Initial deployment begins at ECL's 35MW CSC-1 campus in Santa Clara, California, where containerized PowerCell fuel cell systems will integrate into ECL's FlexGrid microgrid architecture alongside grid power, natural gas and battery storage. The deployment expands on an existing PowerCell deployment at ECL's MV-1 facility in Mountain View, California, where hydrogen has been used as the primary power source for more than two years.

“We evaluated multiple fuel cell technologies under real operating conditions over two years at our MV-1 facility before selecting PowerCell and Bosch,” said Yuval Bachar, founder and CEO of ECL. “This is not a pilot or a proof of concept. We are deploying these PowerCell PS190 units with the operational data to back it up, and we are signing an MOU for an additional 300 MW because the demand from AI operators for power in constrained markets far exceeds what any single grid connection can deliver.”

PowerCell, which spun out of the Volvo Group, brings more than 25 years of fuel cell experience and over one million hours of field data across automotive, marine and stationary power applications. Bosch, PowerCell's largest shareholder and strategic manufacturing partner, provides large-scale production capability and U.S.-based service infrastructure to support ECL deployments.

“ECL is among the very few operators who not only run hydrogen in production but understand how to orchestrate it intelligently alongside storage and other energy sources as one integrated system,” said Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Group. “Our firm order for PowerCell PS190 systems, alongside our broader non-binding MOU, sends a clear signal that hydrogen-powered AI data centers are moving from first-of-kind toward industrial scale.”

Bosch supports this scalable approach by providing the industrial manufacturing foundation. The company also delivers the local North American service needed to integrate these hydrogen systems into core data center infrastructure. “Bringing hydrogen fuel cells to industrial scale requires more than strong technology; it requires manufacturing discipline, predictable quality and dependable lifecycle support,” said Thilo Müller, Senior Vice President Fuel Cell Business at Bosch. “Bosch is proud to bring that industrial foundation to the partnership with PowerCell and ECL. Our goal is to turn promising technology into reliable, long-term infrastructure.”

PowerCell's Distributed Master Controller platform will integrate with ECL's Lightning real-time management system to manage dynamic load balancing across fuel cells, batteries, the grid, and natural gas at each FlexGrid site.

ECL is accepting tenant inquiries for AI infrastructure deployments in 2027-2028. 

ECL | www.ecldc.com

PowerCell | www.powercellgroup.com

Bosch Power Solutions | https://www.manufacturing-co-intelligence.com/

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a ten-year optimised maintenance agreement with Midwest Energy, a customer-owned cooperative, located in Hays, Kansas, United States. The agreement covers the 104 MW Goodman Energy Center, located in Ellis County, operating with natural-gas fuelled Wärtsilä 34SG engines. The plant primarily serves as a flexible balancing power plant, responding to fluctuations in load and non-dispatchable generation, to support the regional power grid. The agreement order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2026.

“Maintaining operational efficiency is critical to our ability to provide reliable power to our customers in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP),” says Aaron Rome, Vice President of Energy Supply, Midwest Energy. “The Goodman facility utilizes Wärtsilä engines as the prime mover, so it makes sense to have the OEM provider plan, supervise, and support all required major maintenance activities associated with those engines.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Wärtsilä will provide field services, spare parts, remote support, control system patching, and assist with maintenance planning. Also included is Expert Insight, Wärtsilä’s unique digital predictive maintenance product that enables customer support to be delivered proactively by Wärtsilä Expertise Centres.

“Wärtsilä’s long-term service agreements are designed to deliver tangible benefits to the customer. They help facilities maintain operational efficiency, ensuring reliable power for communities and businesses. As a key element of Wärtsilä’s Lifecycle services, these agreements also support improved asset performance, reduced operational risk and greater long-term predictability,” comments Kees de Grijs, General Manager, Business Development, Agreements and Upgrades, North America at Wärtsilä Energy. “The support we provide encompasses the company’s technology, software, service expertise, and our thorough understanding of installations on a system level. This enables customers to take a more proactive approach to operations, optimise maintenance planning, and make informed decisions across the asset lifecycle.”

Midwest Energy is a customer-owned electric and natural gas cooperative, serving 92,000 electric and natural gas customers in 40 counties in central and western Kansas. 

Wärtsilä Energy | www.wartsila.com/energy

EVelution Energy LLC ("EVelution Energy"), a U.S. critical minerals company developing America's first commercial-scale, solar-powered cobalt metal and cobalt sulfate processing facility, announced that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has nominated the Yuma County census tract encompassing the Company's planned $450 million facility for successor designation as a Rural Qualified Opportunity Zone under the federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 ("OZ 2.0") program.

Upon certification by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the nomination is expected to make qualifying investments in the project eligible for enhanced Rural Opportunity Zone tax incentives beginning January 1, 2027, further strengthening the project's long-term investment framework as EVelution Energy advances permitting, financing and construction.

The nomination represents another significant milestone in the systematic de-risking of one of the more advanced domestic critical minerals processing projects currently under development in the United States.

“We are grateful to Governor Hobbs, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Yuma County Economic Development Corporation, and Yuma County’s elected leadership for their continued support,” said Navaid Alam, President & CEO of EVelution Energy. “This nomination strengthens the long-term investment framework for America’s first commercial-scale, solar-powered cobalt processing facility and advances a project designed to support U.S. defense readiness, domestic manufacturing and critical minerals supply-chain resilience. It also demonstrates that nationally significant industrial development can proceed alongside responsible environmental stewardship.”

Supporting Long-Term Investment Through Opportunity Zone 2.0

The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, which takes effect on January 1, 2027, builds on the original Opportunity Zone framework by introducing enhanced tax incentives designed to attract long-term private investment to economically disadvantaged communities, particularly in rural areas. For nationally significant industrial projects such as EVelution Energy's planned cobalt processing facility, these enhanced incentives are intended to encourage additional private capital, job creation and long-term economic development.

Investments made prior to January 1, 2027, will continue to qualify under the existing OZ 1.0 framework, which provides deferral of eligible capital gains and potential exclusion of post-investment appreciation for long-term holdings.

OZ 2.0 provides enhanced incentives intended to attract long-term private capital to qualifying rural Opportunity Zones. Subject to applicable federal tax requirements, qualifying investments in rural Qualified Opportunity Zones beginning January 1, 2027 may be eligible for:

• Rolling five-year capital gains deferral
• Potential permanent exclusion of appreciation on qualifying Opportunity Zone investments held for the required period
• A 30% increase in tax basis for eligible Rural Opportunity Zone investments
• Accelerated depreciation deductions
• Potential elimination of depreciation recapture upon disposition of qualifying investments

Together, these incentives strengthen the long-term investment framework supporting EVelution Energy's $450 million cobalt processing facility and other strategically important rural industrial projects.

Advancing Project Development and Economic Impact

EVelution Energy’s $450 million Yuma County project is expected to generate approximately $1.2 billion in annual economic activity across the State of Arizona and support the creation of more than 6,200 direct, indirect and induced jobs over the life of the project. Located in a rural Qualified Opportunity Zone, the project is designed to bring long-term industrial investment, skilled employment and supply-chain activity to a rural part of Arizona targeted for economic development and community revitalization.

Workforce Development and Community Investment

EVelution Energy is working with Arizona Western College (AWC) to develop the first Critical Minerals Hydrometallurgical Processing Training Program in the United States, expected to be offered at AWC’s Wellton Manufacturing Training Center in Yuma County. The program is intended to prepare local workers for skilled jobs in critical minerals processing and advanced manufacturing while supporting the facility’s long-term workforce requirements.

Best-in-Class Sustainable Processing Facility

EVelution Energy’s facility is being designed to minimize its environmental footprint through on-site solar generation and battery storage, closed-loop water management, no on-site tailings storage and off-site disposal of process residues at a licensed facility. The closed-loop system is designed to recycle approximately 70% of process water, positioning the project among the most water-efficient critical minerals processing facilities under development in North America.

Continued Project De-Risking and Strategic Alignment

The nomination for successor designation builds on a series of previously announced milestones that collectively continue to de-risk the development of EVelution Energy’s project, including:

• Receipt of zoning approvals and Special Use Permits for both the planned cobalt processing facility and the project's 28 MW solar and battery energy storage facilities
• Strategic feedstock supply frameworks, long-term commercial offtake arrangements and continued advancement of export credit agency financing initiatives supporting future project development
• Commencement of construction of the project’s 28 MW solar facility

Together, these developments reflect continued progress across permitting, construction, financing and commercial development, positioning the project as one of the most advanced efforts to establish secure domestic cobalt processing capacity in the United States, aligned with U.S. defense industrial base priorities and broader national supply chain security objectives.

Construction of the planned cobalt processing facility is expected to commence in early 2027, with completion targeted by the end of 2029.

EVelution Energy | www.evelutionenergy.com

The Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that renewable electricity generation grew by 9.8% in 2024 — significantly higher than the growth rate recorded in 2023.

Non-renewables continued to fall behind with an increase of 1.4% over the same period. Overall, renewables accounted for 31.7% of the electricity generation globally in 2024, totaling 9 836 terawatt hours (TWh). 

Drawing on IRENA’s roadmap, the incoming COP31 Presidency of Türkiye has announced a global electrification target of 35% of final energy demand by 2035 as part of its Action Agenda. The newly released power generation data clearly show that achieving this ambition would require renewables to increase their share in global electricity generation from 31.7% in 2024 to 78% by 2035 — around 2.5 times today’s level.

Commenting on the new dataset, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “The world is rallying behind electrification as a cornerstone of the energy transition, with renewable electricity as its driving force. Growing support for global electrification reflects a shared recognition that clean electricity strengthens energy security, resilience and competitiveness. This will require renewable electricity generation to expand at an unprecedented pace over the next decade —around 2.5 times today's level. Technologies are available, the economics are compelling. Now we must swiftly shift from fossil fuels to clean electricity across buildings, transport and industry.”

Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) added: “Every nation at COP30 agreed unanimously that the global transition is now ‘irreversible’ and this new data is powerful new evidence. With renewable power generation clocking its fastest growth ever, the shift to clean energy is charging ahead, because it’s now cheaper, safer and faster-to-market, in stark contrast to this year’s ongoing fossil fuel cost chaos – driving inflation painfully higher for every economy, millions of businesses and billions of households. But despite this vast progress, the shift to clean energy is still far from fast or inclusive enough, and many vulnerable nations need significant support, making full and timely delivery of all climate finance pledges essential.”

Today’s renewable generation data also confirms the dominance of solar and wind power. In absolute terms, Asia led the world in renewable electricity generation in 2024, producing 4 589 TWh (14.3% increase) driven by all technologies with growth being particularly strong across solar and wind.

Europe produced 1 758 TWh (up by 7.2%), driven by increases in solar and hydropower. North America generated 1 535 TWh (5.8% increase), and South America generated 1 047 TWh (2.9% increase) reflecting increases across all technologies.

Eurasia produced 411 TWh (up by 11.9%). Africa generated 227 TWh (5.7% increase) across all sources except for geothermal energy. Oceania generated 138 TWh (3.4% increase). The Middle East followed with 76 TWh, representing the highest regional growth rate of 17.3%. Lastly, Central America and the Caribbean generated 55 TWh (5.8% increase).

IRENA’s latest statistics also include some minor revisions to the 2025 installed renewable capacities reported in March 2026. 

Annual renewable capacity additions have increased notably over the past 25 years, reaching an unprecedented peak of 693 GW in 2025. The revised figures show that at the end of 2025, renewable capacity accounted for 5.2 TW, or 49.5% of the global total.

The share of renewables in total capacity expansion in 2025 was 85.7%, down from 92.7% in 2024.  Despite a decrease in the share of renewables in total capacity expansion, the overall positive trend in installed capacity confirms that renewable deployment continues to outpace non-renewable growth.

Read the full Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 including the Highlights Document.

Check out IRENA’s dashboards with more renewable energy data per country and technology.

IRENA | https://www.irena.org/

Hydrogen is a crucial industrial feedstock, with global demand reaching nearly 100 million tonnes annually. However, most hydrogen production today remains fossil fuel-based, primarily through steam methane reforming (SMR) and coal gasification (CG). Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, offers one of the most promising pathways for reducing emissions associated with hydrogen production and supporting wider industrial decarbonization efforts. In the new “Green Hydrogen Production & Electrolyzer Market 2027-2037: Technologies, Players, Forecasts” report, IDTechEx forecasts that the global green hydrogen market may reach US$166 billion by 2037, representing a CAGR of 48%.

Despite increasing policy support and ambitious project announcements across major markets, green hydrogen currently accounts for less than 1% of global hydrogen production. Significant expansion of renewable power generation, alongside continued policy support and infrastructure development, will be required for green hydrogen to achieve widespread adoption over the coming decade.

Green hydrogen economics are the primary barrier for wide adoption

The green hydrogen sector has experienced a challenging period in recent years. Numerous announced large-scale projects have been delayed, scaled back, or cancelled, including Air Products' Massena project in New York, US and BP's HyGreen Teesside project in the UK. Developers face challenges associated with weak offtake demand and evolving policy frameworks, particularly in markets such as the US, where shifting policy priorities in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have increased uncertainty for project developers. At the same time, electrolyzer manufacturers have massively expanded production capacity in previous years, resulting in substantial manufacturing overcapacity across major regions.

The fundamental challenge lies in the economics of green hydrogen production. The cost of green hydrogen production is five to ten times higher than conventional grey hydrogen depending on regions. Renewable electricity costs represent the largest contributor to hydrogen production costs, while electrolyzer capital expenditure also has a significant impact on project economics. Improving system efficiency, reducing equipment costs, and increasing operating utilization are critical to improving cost competitiveness.

This report provides a detailed analysis of green hydrogen economics, including breakdowns of key capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational expenditure (OpEx) contributors, alongside a detailed assessment of electrolyzer stack and balance-of-plant (BoP) components and their impact on overall hydrogen production costs. The report also covers key market trends and analysis of the electrolyzer supply chain and leading OEMs.

Electrolyzer technology landscape and market outlook

Four key electrolyzer technologies are currently competing within the green hydrogen market. Alkaline electrolysis (AEL), proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEMEL), and anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEMEL) operate at low temperatures, while solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) represent a high-temperature approach.

Each technology offers different advantages in terms of cost, efficiency, material requirements, operating characteristics, and technology readiness levels (TRLs). AEL is currently the most commercially mature technology, benefiting from low capital costs, established manufacturing supply chains, and proven long-term operation. PEMEL offers higher power densities, rapid response times, and greater operational flexibility, making it particularly attractive for integration with intermittent renewable energy.

On the other hand, AEMEL has emerged as one of the most promising emerging electrolyzer technologies, combining the low-cost material advantages of AEL with the dynamic flexibility of PEMEL. Meanwhile, SOEC technology offers the highest efficiency potential through the high-temperature operation, creating opportunities in industrial sectors where waste heat is readily available and offer synthetic fuel production pathways in the future.

IDTechEx forecast of the green hydrogen market for 2027 and 2037, segmented by technology. Source: IDTechEx.

IDTechEx forecasts the global green hydrogen market will reach US$166 billion by 2037. AEL and PEMEL are expected to remain the dominant technologies throughout the forecast period, supported by their technological maturity and established supply chains. However, the strongest growth is expected from AEMEL and SOEC technologies. As both technologies mature and address current technical limitations, their adoption is expected to accelerate significantly over the forecast period. AEMEL is likely to benefit from improvements in membrane durability and system lifetime, while SOEC is well positioned to establish a market niche in high-temperature industrial sectors where its efficiency advantages can be leveraged.

IDTechEx’s “Green Hydrogen Production & Electrolyzer Market 2027-2037: Technologies, Players, Forecasts” report provides a comprehensive analysis and benchmarking of electrolyzer technologies, alongside granular ten-year forecasts for electrolyzer installation capacity (GW), green hydrogen production capacity (Mtpa), and market value (US$ billion), segmented by technology, application, and region.

Green hydrogen outlook

Despite current manufacturing overcapacity and ongoing project development challenges, IDTechEx believes the long-term outlook for green hydrogen remains positive. Green hydrogen is a heavily policy-driven market, with strengthening regulatory frameworks across major regions continuing to support project development. Key developments include China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and recent improved clarity around RED III implementation in Europe. In parallel, project pipelines are maturing, and industrial demand for low-carbon hydrogen is expected to increase substantially over the coming decade. Together, IDTechEx expects the green hydrogen market to experience sustained long-term growth.

For more information on the Green Hydrogen Production & Electrolyzer Market 2027-2037 report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Electrolyzer, or for the full portfolio of hydrogen-related research available from IDTechEx, see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/Hydrogen. 

IDTechEx | www.idtechex.com

Across applications including energy, large-scale infrastructure, and shipyards, projects are becoming more complex and demanding. Work environments are harsher, spaces more constrained, and deadlines increasingly tight. In these conditions, the role of the crane is also evolving. Project managers are recognizing that standard tower cranes are sometimes not enough, as few jobs fit neatly within predefined parameters. That means success increasingly depends on how well cranes can be adapted to meet specific challenges.

To maximize utilization, owners must unlock a crane’s full potential, enabling it to operate efficiently in unique locations and under demanding conditions.

Manitowoc Lift Solutions responds to the growing need for tower cranes to perform beyond standard parameters. Introduced more than a decade ago, the service reflects Manitowoc’s commitment to a customer-centric approach — supporting Potain owners from purchasing through the full lifecycle of their equipment. By combining engineering expertise, field experience, and product support, Lift Solutions helps customers adapt different Potain models for specific applications, improving efficiency, extending utilization, and enabling machines to perform reliably in complex or non-standard lifting scenarios.

“Customers are demanding more from every tower crane in their fleet,” said Bernard Ecabert, Lift Solutions manager for tower cranes at Manitowoc. “Working closely with them before a crane arrives on site is critical to the success of today’s complex jobsites — and that’s exactly the role of Manitowoc Lift Solutions. It allows constraints to be addressed early and ensures the machine is configured as the right solution for the job.”

Overcoming challenges

In practice, this can involve developing tailored components, defining lift procedures, modifying crane configurations, or creating project-specific load charts. The goal is not to replace standard equipment, but to extend its capabilities, allowing cranes to take on a wider range of tasks safely and efficiently.

For example, in France, Manitowoc Lift Solutions installed a Potain tower crane at a shipyard for vessel construction and maintenance. It included a special gantry with a staircase and elevator system for the operator. The gantry is controlled via the on-board CCS (Crane Control System) to enable smooth travel along rails, allowing the crane to move seamlessly between dry docks, even with a load on the hook. Lift Solutions also added a number of ergonomic features, including lights, a camera system, VHF radio communications, and a customized seat.

“At Manitowoc, we see the delivery of a crane as just the beginning of the relationship with our customers,” said Bernard Ecabert. “That perspective shapes how we support crane owners — with the expertise, technologies, and services they rely on to push performance further. Through Lift Solutions, we work alongside customers to solve complex lifting challenges and help them maximize the value of their equipment over its entire lifecycle.”

Manitowoc | https://www.manitowoc.com/

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has completed technical due diligence (TDD) for Asset management companies Aberdeen Investments and DigitalBridge in relation to the acquisition of Equans Infra & Mobility B.V., an established electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure business in the Netherlands.

The transaction, announced publicly in May 2026, will see the asset-based e-mobility activities of Equans transferred to a new entity controlled by Aberdeen Investments and DigitalBridge. The platform will operate under the new name Velian and is positioned to support the continued growth of scalable and reliable EV charging infrastructure across public, commercial and logistics segments in the country.

As EV charging becomes an increasingly important asset class for infrastructure investors, technical due diligence is playing a more central role in investment decisions. Investors are seeking greater visibility into the quality, performance and long-term viability of charging platforms, including their hardware, software, grid connectivity and operational capabilities.

DNV’s technical due diligence provided an independent assessment across a range of specialist areas, including charging hardware and asset condition, software platforms and data systems, grid connection capacity and resilience, operations and maintenance strategies, organizational capabilities, environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, cybersecurity exposure and technical considerations within commercial agreements.

A key focus of the work was the interface between technical performance and contractual arrangements. This included assessing how asset ownership, operational responsibilities, maintenance obligations and performance expectations are reflected in agreements, and how these factors influence risk allocation and long-term scalability.

Jasjeet Singh, Project Sponsor and Technical Advisor, Energy Systems at DNV said: “As EV charging infrastructure attracts growing mainstream investment, investors are seeking deeper technical confidence in how charging assets integrate across networks and how these complexities are reflected in contracts and operational responsibilities. DNV’s role was to provide an independent assessment of the charging platform, helping investors understand key technical risks, operational considerations and potential opportunities associated with the asset.”

The assessment highlighted both risks and opportunities relevant to the investment case, with particular attention given to the interaction between physical assets, software systems, grid infrastructure and operational processes. These interfaces are becoming increasingly critical as charging networks scale from asset deployment to long-term infrastructure operation.

Hari Vamadevan, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, UK and Ireland, Energy Systems at DNV said: “This transaction reflects the growing importance of EV charging infrastructure in the energy transition. For investors, the key question is no longer simply whether assets have been deployed, but whether the platform is technically robust, cyber-secure and capable of scaling in a constrained and evolving energy system.”

The acquisition underlines increasing investor focus on transport decarbonization and the role of EV charging infrastructure in enabling the energy transition. DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook 2025forecasts that EV market share will accelerate sharply in the 2030s, with electric vehicles expected to account for 50% of global new passenger car sales by 2032.

DNV | www.dnv.com