Higher Power PV Modules Drive Up BOS Costs

Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) (OTCQB: SUNXF) (FSE: 6330) ("Stardust Solar" or the "Company"), a globally expanding renewable energy company supporting the installation, development, training, and deployment of residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar solutions across international markets, announced the launch of a new franchise territory serving the Greater Halifax and Dartmouth region of Nova Scotia.

The new territory will be operated by Sheldon Bixby of Pevco Electric Inc., a well-established electrical contractor in the region. Operating as Stardust Solar Halifax, the new franchise expands Stardust Solar's presence in Atlantic Canada while strengthening the Company's growing North American installation network.

The Halifax Regional Municipality is the largest population centre in Atlantic Canada, with more than 480,000 residents across the Halifax-Dartmouth metropolitan area. The region's growing population, rising electricity costs, and strong solar fundamentals make it an increasingly attractive market for renewable energy adoption.

Nova Scotia receives approximately 1,800-2,000 hours of sunshine annually, while solar installations in the Halifax region can generate approximately 1,073 kWh of electricity per kilowatt of installed solar capacity each year, making solar energy both practical and economically viable for homeowners and businesses. Combined with electricity rates around $0.18/kWh and full retail net-metering programs, solar systems in the region can achieve payback periods of approximately 8-11 years, positioning Halifax as one of the stronger solar return-on-investment markets in Canada.

"Expanding into the Halifax-Dartmouth market represents another step forward in Stardust Solar's strategy to scale renewable energy solutions across North America," said Mark Tadros, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stardust Solar Energy Inc. "Atlantic Canada offers a strong opportunity for solar adoption, supported by rising electricity costs, favorable net-metering frameworks, and growing demand for energy independence."

"Our franchise model combines experienced local operators with Stardust Solar's national training, brand, and operational platform," Tadros added. "This approach allows us to scale solar deployment efficiently while building recurring revenue through franchise royalties, equipment supply relationships, and long-term customer engagement. Expanding into markets like Halifax supports our strategy to grow a distributed network of solar installation partners as we continue our global expansion."

Sheldon Bixby, Owner of Pevco Electric Inc. and new operator of Stardust Solar Halifax, highlighted the opportunity for solar growth in Nova Scotia.

"The Halifax and Dartmouth region is experiencing steady population growth and increasing energy demand, and more homeowners and businesses are looking for ways to control their electricity costs and transition to clean energy," said Bixby. "Partnering with Stardust Solar allows us to combine our local electrical expertise with a nationally recognized solar brand, accredited training programs, and proven installation systems. With Nova Scotia's strong net-metering policies and rising electricity prices, we are confident solar adoption will continue to accelerate across the region."

The Halifax territory marks another step in Stardust Solar's strategy to expand its installation network and build a diversified renewable energy platform. As electrification and digital infrastructure drive rising global electricity demand, distributed solar will play an increasingly important role in strengthening energy resilience. Through expansion into markets with strong solar fundamentals, Stardust Solar continues to scale its installation network, training programs, and solar infrastructure development platform.

Stardust Solar Energy I www.stardustsolar.com

Alectra Utilities plans to invest approximately $28.6 million in capital renewal and system enhancement projects across Brampton in 2026, supporting reliable electricity service, accommodating continued growth and strengthening the city’s local electricity grid.

Brampton is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario, with increasing demand for electricity driven by new housing, business development and the growing use of electric vehicles. The planned work for 2026 focuses on renewing deteriorating infrastructure, meeting growing electricity demand and modernizing the grid to ensure safe and reliable service for customers.

“Brampton continues to grow at a rapid pace, and reliable electricity is essential to supporting that growth,” said Chris Hudson, Senior Vice President, Network Operations and Safety, Alectra Utilities. “This investment will strengthen critical infrastructure, help reduce the risk of outages and enable us to respond faster when service disruptions occur.”

Renewing deteriorating infrastructure to improve reliability

Alectra will continue renewing equipment nearing the end of its useful life to strengthen day-to-day reliability for homes and businesses, including $9.4 million to replace aging infrastructure such as poles, transformers and switchgear.

Expanding the grid to support new customers and development

To keep pace with population growth and new development, Alectra will invest $600,000 to connect new customers across Brampton.

Modernizing the grid for faster restoration

Alectra will invest in upgrades that improve how quickly crews can identify issues and restore power, including a $6.2 million investment to modernize substations and deploy new automated devices by replacing outdated controllers with automated switches, improving restoration speed during disruptions. An additional $1.0 million will be invested to deploy additional automated devices that enable faster response to grid disturbances and help minimize the impact of outages.

Upgrading underground cable to reduce disruptions

Alectra will also invest $6.0 million to replace and rehabilitate underground cables using cable injection technology, extending cable life and helping prevent outages.

Alectra’s investment in Brampton is part of a coordinated, multi-year approach to strengthening electricity infrastructure across the communities it serves.

Alectra | alectrautilities.com/improvingreliability

ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions announced the launch of two new offerings: ChargePoint Premier Care and the ChargePoint Support Portal. These services will deliver a world-class customer experience for charging providers. ChargePoint Premier Care offers personalized services with a dedicated expert committed to optimizing your charging operations. The ChargePoint Support Portal is a self-service hub designed to give station owners the visibility, control, and knowledge to resolve issues more efficiently.

“Premier Care and Support Portal bookend ChargePoint’s service offerings for charger management,” said JD Singh, Chief Customer Experience Officer at ChargePoint. “Premier Care allows businesses to streamline operations with our industry-leading team, whereas the Support Portal makes operations easy and intuitive for those who prefer to fully manage their own charger base.”

Premier Care is a “white glove” service for customers with a large charger base or an intricate set of operational needs, effortlessly delivering operational efficiency. With this service, customers receive revenue reports, proactive tracking, and full-service network optimization. A dedicated ChargePoint expert will provide case management, support with charger configurations, produce detailed reporting and more.

Initially included with all ChargePoint Cloud Plan Subscriptions, the new Support Portal aims to simplify technical assistance by minimizing process management and dependance on support queues. Key capabilities of the portal include:

• Comprehensive case management: Users can create and manage support cases as well as track parts and labor progress directly within the portal.
• Enhanced analytics: The Support Portal provides access to case analysis tools and downloadable custom reports.
• A robust knowledge database: Easy access to how-to guides and troubleshooting steps.

ChargePoint Premier Care and the ChargePoint Support Portal are now available, joining ChargePoint Assure and ChargePoint Safeguard Care in the company's portfolio of support solutions. Learn more about ChargePoint support services HERE.

ChargePoint | https://www.chargepoint.com/

ION Minerals (ION or the Company), a leading private holder of brine-borne lithium mineral interests in North America, highlights significant expansion across its diversified lithium resource portfolio in the United States and Canada.

ION has strategically expanded its acreage footprint through disciplined acquisitions, targeted leasing, and focused geological evaluation. The Company now controls just over 280,000 mineral acres across three project areas, positioning ION as a premier developer of lithium resources critical to the North American battery supply chain.

Project Area 1: East Texas – Smackover Formation

ION controls nearly 50,000 mineral acres strategically located between Tetra Technologies’ Evergreen Brine Unit and Standard Lithium’s Reynolds Brine Unit in Southwest Arkansas and Standard Lithium’s Franklin Project in East Texas, where reported resource densities range from 47–60 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) per acre.

The acreage establishes a commercial-scale position within one of North America’s most actively advancing brine development corridors, benefiting from strong regional resource validation, established brine production history, and increasing commercial momentum in adjacent projects.

Project Area 2: Texas Panhandle – Brown & White Dolomite Formations

In the prospective Texas Panhandle region, ION also controls nearly 65,000 mineral acres, where internal analysis of public and proprietary data estimates as much as 2.4 million tonnes of LCE in place.

The position sits within a nearly 500,000-acre Area of Interest and provides a path to large-scale commercial development potential.

Project Area 3: Saskatchewan – Duperow Formation

ION recently acquired just over 165,000 mineral acres in Southeast Saskatchewan, establishing a significant position in the rapidly emerging lithium brine play targeting the Duperow Formation.

Based on preliminary geological data and independent analog assessments, the Saskatchewan acreage is estimated to contain as much as 2.5 million tonnes of LCE potential. The project targets multiple productive benches within the Duperow Formation, with drilling and testing currently slated to begin in Summer 2026.

“With this portfolio expansion, we have materially strengthened our position as a scaled, diversified, lithium developer, and advanced our mission to responsibly unlock lithium resources that will help fuel the North American battery supply chain,” said Justin Love, Chief Executive Officer of ION Minerals. “The newly acquired Saskatchewan – Duperow position complements our existing strategic landholdings in the Texas Panhandle and Texas Smackover, placing ION among a select group of developers across the continent with meaningful scale and asset diversification.”

Lithium remains foundational to electric vehicle batteries, grid storage systems, and broader electrification initiatives. U.S. and Canadian policymakers continue to emphasize domestic critical mineral development as a matter of economic and energy security. ION’s just over 280,000-acre land position across Saskatchewan and Texas provides exposure to large-scale brine systems in jurisdictions aligned with long-term domestic supply chain development.

ION Minerals | https://ionminerals.com/

SOLARCYCLE, a technology-based solar recycling company, has entered into an exclusive recycling services agreement with Prologis, a global logistics real estate company and a large operator of rooftop solar systems. 

The agreement covers the recycling of end-of-life solar panels and related equipment across Prologis’s U.S. portfolio. Prologis has more than 1 gigawatt of installed solar and battery storage capacity across its properties. 

By establishing a single recycling provider, the companies aim to create a consistent process for handling retired solar assets at scale. The arrangement is expected to provide SOLARCYCLE with a predictable volume of materials, allowing for more efficient facility planning and investment in recycling technology. The company said this can improve material recovery rates and reduce processing costs over time. 

“Prologis has set the standard for distributed solar deployment at scale,” said Suvi Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder of SOLARCYCLE. “This agreement allows us to plan around one of the largest rooftop solar portfolios, which helps us drive operational efficiencies, improve our technology and continue reducing costs toward landfill parity. This is the type of win-win feedback loop needed to meaningfully scale circular infrastructure and support the next generation of facilities.” 

Prologis has backed SOLARCYCLE through its strategic investment arm, Prologis Ventures, which focuses on early- and growth-stage companies building technologies across supply chain and transportation, proptech and construction and energy and sustainability. The company said the agreement addresses a growing operational need to manage aging solar equipment and reduce landfill disposal as its installed base continues to expand. 

“We’ve built one of the largest distributed solar portfolios in the country, and managing it responsibly requires a full lifecycle approach, from development through end of life,” said Alta Yen, Head of Energy, U.S., Prologis. “This partnership reflects a deliberate strategy to scale efficiently while putting consistent, high-quality solutions in place as our portfolio continues to mature.” 

The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward managing the full lifecycle of solar infrastructure. As early generations of distributed solar systems begin to reach end of life, owners are facing increasing pressure to establish reliable, cost-effective recycling solutions and demonstrate responsible materials handling. 

Under the agreement, recovered materials will be processed for reuse within domestic supply chains, supporting efforts to reduce waste and recover valuable components from solar equipment. 

SOLARCYCLE | www.solarcycle.us

First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company")  announces that further to the February 23, 2026 news release, the Company has amended and expanded the binding Letter of Intent (the "LOI") with Exodus Actuation Solutions Inc. ("RoboticsCo") to include exclusive worldwide rights to develop and advance a patented mobile robotic unmanned ground vehicle (the "UGV") designed for autonomous and remote robotic operations. Unmanned Ground Vehicles are considered ground-based drones, operating without an onboard human through remote control or autonomous systems to handle security surveillance, AI enabled ground military operations, dangerous sites or load management on land. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming ground-based drone defense systems (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems) from passive monitoring tools into active, autonomous, and rapid-response networks. Key applications include AI-driven sensor fusion, target recognition, and autonomous interception to combat the increasing threat of drone swarms and high-speed threats.

The UGV will be powered by a hybrid design with solar, battery and hydrogen fuel cell delivering extended runtime, low noise operation and zero-emission. The UGV will be built on a durable modular chassis which is usable in any terrain and designed to support a wide range of payloads. It will feature eight articulated semi-robotic legs equipped with integrated leg-wheel assemblies. The hybrid leg-wheel architecture allows the platform to roll efficiently on smooth surfaces while maintaining the stability of continuous 4-point contact, with the traction and terrain-handling capability of a legged robot. This design enables the UGV to efficiently navigate uneven environments where conventional wheeled or tracked carts and delivery robots often struggle. 

Drones as a Service ("DaaS") is an on-demand or subscription-based model that allows businesses to leverage aerial and ground drone technology, including hardware, software, and certified pilots, without the high capital expenditure of purchasing and maintaining the equipment themselves. This model is rapidly expanding to provide tailored solutions for agriculture, military, construction, and infrastructure monitoring. Precedence Research reports that the current drone services market is valued at US$20.2 billion estimated to grow at a CAGR of 24.04% to US$142.2 billion by 2035. With global defense spending exceeding $2 trillion annually, growing interest in robotic systems for logistics, inspection, and hazardous operations could represent a significant driver of future robotics deployment. (https://www.precedenceresearch.com/drone-services-market)

Mounted above the robotic chassis is a modular cargo platform with multiple versatile applications that are easily interchangeable. The functions are designed for military field support such a drone launch and refueling platform, transport, equipment, security, tools, emergency packages, or other heavy items. The system is intended to function as a mobile robotic drone assistant capable in a wide range of logistics, such as campus and facility operations including security, construction sites, and last-mile delivery and emergency situations.

The platform is expected to support both autonomous and user-assisted operating modes, allowing the robot to follow a user, operate via remote control, or navigate predetermined routes. By combining robotic mobility with cargo transport capability, the system aims to reduce manual labour requirements and reduce power consumption in environments where materials must be moved frequently across varying terrain. The useful platform allows for use in academic research, industrial automation, defense research programs, and autonomous navigation testing. 

Balraj Mann, CEO of First Hydrogen commented: "We believe hybrid robotic mobility platforms represent an emerging category within the broader robotics and automation sector, enabling new applications in logistics, infrastructure maintenance, and industrial & defense operations. The UGV drone strategy of Drones-as-a-Service builds on the Company's hydrogen-as-service business model."

The Company will have exclusive worldwide rights to advance the UGV towards commercialization, including the development of a viable commercial design and defined application for the technology within a two year period ("Development Milestone"). Upon successful completion of the Development Milestone First Hydrogen shall have exclusive worldwide rights from the remaining life of the UGV patent to develop, commercialize and exploit the UGV, subject to a 1% royalty on gross sales of products the incorporate the UGV patent. First Hydrogen will bear all cost of development and will own 100% of the intellectual property, inventions, developments, improvements, products, software, designs, data, know-how, and other work product created, conceived, or developed in connection with the UGV. 

First Hydrogen | https://www.firsthydrogen.com/robotics/

Kempower, Windrose, and EV Realty recently announced a successful charge using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) at EV Realty’s San Bernardino, California Powered Properties truck charging hub. This is a concrete step toward commercial availability of MCS charging as a real, working solution for fleet operators in North America.

MCS enables higher charging speeds and increased operational flexibility for fleet operators. Future heavy-duty trucks are increasingly expected to incorporate MCS charging capabilities, with Windrose and Tesla being among the first to offer the technology in the United States.

To unlock benefits of this new technology for fleet operators, interoperability testing is essential to ensure that trucks, charging hardware, and backend communication systems all work together as expected.

“MCS is similar to what the USB type-C has done to the consumer electronics industry. Based on the ISO15118-20 ethernet communication, it allows for both much faster flow of electrons but also much more secure exchange of information,” said Windrose Chief Executive Officer Wen Han. “This is the key step to universalizing high-power charging globally. Windrose is particularly invested in this technology, because our product is a global one that serves Europe, North America, South America, and Asia Pacific, and we expect all of these markets to be embracing MCS over time”.

As new trucks come to market with longer range and with MCS charging capabilities, there will be a growing need for MCS-capable charging infrastructure that works across vehicle manufacturers in real world operations.

"This milestone of the first successful MCS charging session in North America with Kempower hardware marks a major step for heavy-duty charging in the region, demonstrating real-world interoperability and reliable delivery,” said Kempower VP of Markets and Products Jed Routh. “The collaboration with EV Realty makes this possible, positioning Kempower’s reliable, flexible charging solutions to support the continued electrification of heavy-duty transport in North America.”

EV Realty’s charging hub features a 1,200 kW Kempower Power Unit connected to two Kempower Mega Satellite (MCS) dispensers, capable of delivering up to 1.2 MW and 1,500 A of continuous output. Combined with liquid-cooled cable technology, the system is designed to support sustained high-power charging and enable efficient turnaround for heavy-duty electric fleets.

“MCS is a potential game changer for fleets looking to reduce dwell times and improve the efficiency of their operations. Fleets are excited about the trucks but have questions about where they will be able to charge,” said Suncheth Bhat, Chief Commercial Officer at EV Realty. “We are building sites that can serve any heavy-duty truck, including those utilizing MCS. This test confirms that we will be ready for real-world MCS charging when the trucks hit the road later this year.”

EV Realty’s site, with Kempower charging hardware, is set to open next month, and Windrose is already starting deliveries to U.S. customers in California and Texas.

Kempower | kempower.com

Windrose | www.windrose.ai

EV Realty | www.evrealtyus.com