Neglected PV Maintenance Fuels Fire Risk

TurnOnGreen, Inc. (OTC: TOGI) (“TurnOnGreen”) announced a strategic relationship with Kinseth Hospitality Companies (“KHC”) to deploy guest-facing electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Kinseth’s managed and owned properties. The collaboration is designed to standardize charging hardware, software, and service across the portfolio, intended to improve guest convenience, support corporate sustainability goals, and expand access to reliable EV charging infrastructure across the Midwest.

TurnOnGreen will be providing a turnkey program to Kinseth Hospitality, including site assessment, design/engineering, commissioning, networking, 24/7 driver support, and site host support. Initial deployments prioritize upgrading and expanding existing EV charging infrastructure with high-powered networked Level 2 chargers (7–19 kW) for overnight guests and visitors, with new Level 2 EV charging infrastructure to follow. Select DC fast-charging is under evaluation for highway-adjacent hotels serving day-use and transient drivers.

“EV drivers often select a hotel based on the availability of charging options, and they expect reliable, easy-to-use charging where they stay,” said Marcus Charuvastra, President of TurnOnGreen. “By pairing our proven power and charging platform with Kinseth’s operational excellence, we believe this provides a scalable template for each hotel in the portfolio to create consistency across various markets - improving the guest experience while creating a durable ancillary revenue opportunity.”

“After exploring EV charging options from multiple EV companies, we determined to partner with TurnOnGreen. Many companies are difficult and complicated to work with. TurnOnGreen’s service has proven, in our experience, to be best in class from site evaluation, technical guidance, network support and payment system,” said Les Kinseth, President of Kinseth Hospitality Companies.

TurnOnGreen | https://www.turnongreen.com/

Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced expanded support for virtual power plants (VPPs) across Europe. Enphase products now enable advanced energy market steering smart grid features like one-minute data streaming, instant alerts for VPP events and system maintenance, and home solar curtailment to support grid constraints. Enphase is also expanding its support for controlling heat pumps and electric vehicle (EV) chargers through expanded partnerships with leading energy providers.

Over the past year, Enphase has rapidly scaled its VPP presence across Europe, with participating system deployments growing by more than tenfold. Thousands of homes in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), and Belgium are now connecting their Enphase Energy Systems with IQ Batteries to smart tariff programs, providing greater grid flexibility while unlocking new value for energy consumers. Enphase is now expanding its VPP support with new features in top European markets:

• One-minute data streaming. Enphase now offers real-time, push-based telemetry updates every minute for eligible systems, where partners can subscribe to the data streams, reducing latency compared to traditional pull-based APIs. This feature provides grid services partners with detailed energy and power data – including solar production, consumption, battery status, and grid import/export – enabling faster, smarter participation in energy markets. The feature is available as an add-on for a monthly fee per site.
• On-demand data for VPP events and system maintenance. Enphase now supports on-demand access to data for system and device errors, enabling partners to pull data and address issues quickly and efficiently. This allows faster response times, better customer service, and enhanced internal monitoring and analytics systems.
• Home solar curtailment to support grid constraints. Enphase now enables partners to remotely limit or pause solar production through the VPP API, helping stabilize the grid during periods of excess generation or negative electricity prices. This capability is already in use across parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Integrated control of heat pumps and EV chargers. Enphase now enables VPP partners to remotely manage major household loads – including EV chargers and heat pumps – through the VPP API when paired with the Enphase IQ® Energy Router. This integration helps shift energy use to times when renewable supply is abundant or grid demand is low.

“By connecting Enphase devices to Kraken, we can manage millions of customer assets like solar, batteries, and EVs in real time, turning everyday technology into a powerful force for the grid,” said Wren White, general manager of residential flexibility at Kraken, the global operating system managing the world's largest VPP of residential assets. “With smarter control and instant data, we can move at grid-speed, deliver greater value to customers, and accelerate the shift to a cleaner, more affordable energy future.”

“More and more of our customers want solar systems that work harder and smarter for them and the grid,” said Maarten Kuchen, lead operations at NextEnergy, a supplier of dynamic energy and grid-steering of home batteries in the Netherlands. “Enphase’s VPP tools, like real-time data streaming and solar curtailment, are giving us new ways to design smarter, more future-ready steering systems.”

“Since the beginning of our strategic partnership with Enphase, we have been working intensively on a reliable steering function for flexumers with Enphase installations,” said Sebastian Mahlow, managing director at ison GmbH, a smart energy software provider in Germany. “The intelligence behind the battery management system is self-learning and fully automated. Flexumers will benefit from this without having to compromise on comfort.”

“AI from ison combined with the strong Enphase-API plays a key role for LichtBlick,” said Eduard Gerloff, director of B2C at LichtBlick, a leading energy provider in Germany. “The AI learns and predicts the individual behavior of the system which allows us to turn all installed flexumer devices into a virtual power plant. The new price-driven battery charging function is already available to all LichtBlick customers with an Enphase battery and a dynamic LichtBlick tariff.”

“Virtual power plants are critical to building a resilient, flexible energy future,” said Sabbas Daniel, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy. “We’re proud to support our partners with the advanced tools they need — from one-minute telemetry and instant notifications to load control of heat pumps and EVs — so they can optimize energy use, support the grid, and unlock more value for their customers.”

Homeowners with IQ Battery 5Ps and Enphase’s advanced home energy management software can enroll in VPP programs with select energy providers in Europe. For more information about Enphase’s advanced energy management offerings, see announcements for Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Belgium. Enphase expects to continue expanding its VPP offering into more markets throughout Europe this year.

Enphase Energy | https://enphase.com/

Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE), a global leader in power solutions, and Brookfield announced a $5 billion strategic partnership to implement a reimagined future for AI infrastructure. This partnership marks the first phase of a joint vision to build AI factories capable of meeting the growing compute and power demands of artificial intelligence.

AI factories require infrastructure that tightly integrates compute, power, data center architecture, and capital. Bloom Energy’s fuel cells deliver reliable, scalable and clean onsite power that can be rapidly deployed without legacy grids. Brookfield brings world-class expertise in infrastructure development and financing. Together, the two companies are redefining how AI factories are built and powered.

At the center of the new partnership, Brookfield will invest up to $5 billion to deploy Bloom’s advanced fuel cell technology. The two companies are actively collaborating on the design and delivery of AI factories globally, including a site in Europe that will be announced before the end of the year.

“AI infrastructure must be built like a factory—with purpose, speed, and scale,” said KR Sridhar, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bloom Energy. “Unlike traditional factories, AI factories demand massive power, rapid deployment and real-time load responsiveness that legacy grids cannot support. The lean AI factory is achieved with power, infrastructure, and compute designed in sync from day one. That principle guides our collaboration with Brookfield to reimagine the data center of the future. Together, we are creating a new blueprint for powering AI at scale.”

“Behind-the-meter power solutions are essential to closing the grid gap for AI factories,” said Sikander Rashid, Global Head of AI Infrastructure at Brookfield. “Bloom’s advanced fuel cell technology gives us the unique capability to design and construct modern AI factories with a holistic and innovative approach to power needs. As the world’s largest AI infrastructure investor, this partnership adds a powerful new tool to our global growth strategy, especially in a grid-constrained market environment.”

Over the next decade, foundational models and generative AI are expected to drive ongoing demand for power. According to experts, power demand from AI data centers in the United States is expected to grow exponentially and surpass 100 gigawatts by 2035. Fuel cells have become a key solution for this issue and the partnership between Bloom Energy and Brookfield is designed to address this supply gap.

Bloom Energy has already deployed hundreds of megawatts of its fuel cell technology to data centers, powering some of the world’s most critical digital infrastructure through partnerships with American Electric Power (AEP), Equinix, and Oracle.

This partnership will form Brookfield’s first investment in its dedicated AI Infrastructure strategy focused on investing in large AI factories, power solutions, compute infrastructure, and strategic capital partnerships. The strategy builds on Brookfield’s track record of over $100 billion invested in digital infrastructure globally.

Brookfield has over $550 billion of critical assets and services operating across the U.S. Today’s announcement follows recent investments in leading U.S. energy, utility and digital infrastructure businesses including Compass Datacenters, Duke Energy Florida, Colonial Enterprises and Hotwire Communications, as well as a landmark agreement to supply Google with up to 3GW of hydro power in the U.S.

Brookfield Asset Management | https://www.brookfield.com/

Bloom Energy | https://www.bloomenergy.com/

In a proactive step toward enhancing community safety and emergency response coordination, Consumers Energy is supporting Emergency Response Solutions (ERS) International as they host a specialized training session for first responders.

The weeklong training organized by ERS International, scheduled from Oct. 13 to 17, will bring together firefighters from across the state to gain hands-on experience with critical infrastructure, safety protocols and emergency response procedures. Firefighters will spend 2 days during the latter half of the week dedicated to utility emergency response practices at Consumers Energy's Marshall Training Center. This collaboration underscores the vital relationship between utilities, communications and first responders in protecting public safety during severe weather or other emergencies.

"Our crews and emergency responders often work side-by-side during storms, fires, and other emergencies," said Norm Kapala, vice president of grid operation restoration, and work management at Consumers Energy. "By training together, we strengthen our shared understanding and improve our ability to respond quickly and safely."

Consumers Energy's Marshall Training Center offers a controlled environment where firefighters can learn how to safely navigate utility equipment, recognize electrical hazards and learn fall protection techniques.

"This partnership is a win for everyone," said Dave Van Holstyn, programs director at ERS International. "It helps ensure first responders are prepared to respond effectively and safely when utility infrastructure is involved."

Consumers Energy supports several training initiatives as part of our commitment to investing in community resilience through education, collaboration and innovation. Earlier this year, the first ever Michigan State Police Fire Investigation training was hosted at Flint Gas City through a collaborative effort between Consumers Energy, Fire Findings and the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation Unit. This training included over 30 participants who engaged in interactive activities to identify gas theft, leak sources and explosion risks.

Consumers Energy | https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential

Ecobat, a global leader in battery recycling, announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell its battery recycling and specialty lead operations in the United Kingdom to funds advised by Splitstone Capital LLP, a U.K.-based private equity firm. The transaction encompasses Ecobat's facility in Matlock, the largest battery recycling plant in Europe, as well as the company's lead sheet mill in Welwyn Garden City.

"We are pleased to announce the sale of our U.K. operations," said Tom Slabe, President and CEO of Ecobat. "Upon completion, this transaction – along with the previously announced divestitures in France, Italy, Germany, and Austria – will mark Ecobat's exit from the European lead market.  This strategic transition positions us to focus on our U.S. and lithium-Ion battery recycling operations.  Ecobat will continue to pursue additional opportunities to maximize value for shareholders beyond these transactions."

The transaction is expected to close by late-2025, pending regulatory approvals.

Rothschild & Co is acting as financial advisor and White & Case as legal advisor to Ecobat on the transaction.

Ecobat | https://ecobat.com/

Splitstone Capital LLP | https://www.splitstonecapital.co.uk/

Daikin Manufacturing México (DMMX), a subsidiary of Daikin Industries, Ltd., the world’s leading global supplier of advanced air conditioning and heating solutions, announced the completion of a 1.2 megawatt-DC (MW DC) rooftop solar project with ForeFront Power, a leading developer and asset manager of commercial and industrial-scale solar energy and storage projects.

The new solar energy arrays, located on the rooftops of DMMX’s two newest production plants in the Millennium Industrial Park in San Luis Potosí, each have a capacity of 624 kW-DC and will , provide a total installed capacity of 1,250 kW-DC and generate approximately 1,180,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable electricity annually—enough to power over 160 homes each year.

“Expanding our solar capacity in San Luis Potosí is a strategic step toward realizing Daikin’s Environmental Vision 2050 of achieving carbon neutrality across our business by mid-century,” said Miguel Medina, DMMX Senior Plant Director, Residential Business. “These projects with ForeFront Power demonstrate how manufacturers in Mexico and around the world can take control of their energy costs and reduce supply chain emissions.”

Building on the success of an existing 500 kW solar project at one of its initial San Luis Potosí facilities, Daikin Manufacturing Mexico sought to procure additional solar energy capacity to advance Daikin’s global sustainability goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy efficiency. Daikin Manufacturing Mexico collaborated with ForeFront Power to identify opportunities for renewable energy adoption at its growing San Luis Potosí complex. ForeFront Power conducted a comprehensive assessment of DMMX’s energy requirements at its four San Luis Potosí production plants and developed two new rooftop solar systems atop two of the plants.

The clean, renewable energy produced by the rooftop solar arrays will help DMMX reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 900 tons per year, which is equal to over 880,000 pounds of coal burned. The added clean energy is also a net positive for local air quality, with its carbon offset equivalent to removing 180 gas-powered passenger vehicles from the road each year.

“This project with Daikin Manufacturing Mexico showcases the power of renewable energy to drive both environmental and business benefits for companies across the Mexican private sector,” said Dr. Ruben Fontes, CEO of ForeFront Power. “It’s been an honor to work with DMMX to help maximize the impact of their solar investment in San Luis Potosí and make significant progress toward their broader sustainability goals as a global organization.”

The project was delivered at no upfront cost to Daikin Manufacturing Mexico. Through a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), ForeFront Power owns and maintains the system, while DMMX purchases the electricity at a fixed, lower rate than the utility for electricity, ensuring long-term budget predictability and protection from utility rate increases.

Daikin Industries | www.daikin.com

ForeFront Power | https://www.forefrontpower.com

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier celebrated the completion of Baltimore County government’s first large-scale ground-mounted solar array on the 213-acre closed Parkton Landfill site. It is expected to lower the County’s electricity costs over the long term, reduce its carbon emissions and repurpose an underutilized site for beneficial reuse.

“This project shows how Baltimore County can turn yesterday’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities,” said County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “We are cutting costs for taxpayers and making investments that benefit our communities for decades.”

Clean, Green, Cost-Efficient Energy
The project will account for about 11 percent of the County government’s annual electricity consumption, lowering current and future energy costs.

The projected first-year annual electricity production is 8,220,710 kilowatt hours. According to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Equivalencies Calculator, this expected solar generation will reduce the equivalent GHG emissions of: 

• 621,480 gallons of gasoline consumed
• 1,151 homes electricity usage for one year
• 14,064,876 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle

The seven-megawatt system project consists of four large-scale arrays featuring a total of 15,000 ballasted ground-mounted photovoltaic panels.

Baltimore County’s Chief Sustainability Officer Greg Strella reflected, “Adding another large source of solar electricity to power our County’s facilities reflects our community’s values of making smart investments that take care of the health of our community and environment.”

Through a power-purchase agreement with TotalEnergies, who owns and operates the system, the County has locked in reduced electricity costs, which will insulate the County from escalating electricity costs for the entire 25-year contract term with renewal options up to 33 years.

“We're honored to once again partner with Baltimore County on a landmark solar project for the community," said Eric Potts, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Distributed Generation USA. “This installation is a powerful example of transforming underutilized assets into productive resources, further demonstrating how it is possible to achieve both significant cost savings and ambitious sustainability goals for the County.”

Upon the anticipated completion of the Hernwood Landfill ground-mounted solar project by 2028, the County expects to generate an equivalent of 55% of its electricity production from renewable power.

TotalEnergies | https://totalenergies.com/