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South 8 Technologies (South 8), a California-based advanced battery company, announced the execution of a funding agreement under the PowerForward Battery Manufacturing Grant Program, administered by CALSTART with support from New Energy Nexus (NEX), UC Berkeley Labor Center and funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC).
PowerForward is California’s market-accelerating, $67 million grant program designed to attract and retain zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) battery manufacturing in California, create high-quality jobs, generate positive economic impacts for local communities, and contribute to California’s goal of zero-emission transportation.
South 8 has developed a liquefied gas electrolyte (LiGas®) platform that differs fundamentally from conventional lithium-ion electrolytes. LiGas batteries deliver enhanced safety, industry-leading low-temperature performance, fast-charging capability and longer cycle life, enabling lithium-ion batteries to operate reliably across a wide temperature range while maintaining performance, addressing key challenges facing ZEV adoption. LiGas also enables a fully domestic electrolyte supply chain, as its gases are manufactured in the United States at industrial scale and readily available, reducing exposure to foreign supply-chain risk.
Under the executed agreement, South 8 will expand its current San Diego headquarters to support its growth to scale LiGas electrolyte production to 100 MWh and lithium-ion cell production to 2 MWh annually. Battery cells produced in the project will be supplied to South 8’s defense, aerospace, and mobility customers. Customers receiving South 8 battery cells will include global automotive manufacturers in support of development and qualification programs.
“We’re excited to scale production of our advanced LiGas electrolyte and high-performance, resilient battery cells,” said Jungwoo Lee, CEO of South 8 Technologies. “Expanding our San Diego operations is a critical step in strengthening the domestic battery supply chain in support of our customers in defense, aerospace, and zero-emission vehicle deployment.”
“PowerForward was created to scale battery production in California while delivering skilled jobs and economic benefits to local populations in support of the state's zero-emission transportation goals. South 8’s innovative project in San Diego reflects the program’s goals of building a robust domestic supply chain, strengthening in-state battery manufacturing, and advancing technologies that support zero-emission transportation. We’re proud to support their work,” said Phoebe Bisnoff, Deputy Director of Battery Manufacturing at CALSTART.
The PowerForward grant solicitation was released on April 5, 2024. Following a competitive evaluation process, CALSTART issued a Notice of Proposed Awards identifying applicants recommended for funding based on technical merit, manufacturing readiness, economic impact, and alignment with California’s ZEV and workforce objectives. South 8’s project was selected as part of this competitive process and reflects the company’s continued investment in California-based manufacturing infrastructure and advanced battery technology development.
South 8 Technologies | south8.com
PowerForward | powerforwardgrant.org
Wind technicians climb hundreds of vertical feet inside turbine towers, often multiple times a day. The physical demand of those repeated climbs accumulates over time, creating fatigue, increasing strain, and introducing additional risk across already complex operations. Sky Climber Renewables built the Vertical Assist System (VAS) to address those conditions directly, changing how that work is done and who bears the physical cost of it.
The VAS was engineered from the ground up around how technicians actually work in the field. Rather than adapting legacy designs, the development process centered on real-world tower conditions, direct input from operators and field teams, and patented innovations focused on reliability, safety, and long-term usability.
The system made its public debut at the 2026 ACP Operations, Maintenance & Safety (OMS) Conference in Orlando, where operators, OEM partners, and service providers engaged with the VAS firsthand. The response from industry professionals reflected a clear recognition of the problem the system is designed to solve.
Engineered for Safety and Durability
A key innovation is the system’s cam-free overspeed protection, engineered to function reliably under rigorous operating conditions while eliminating components that can snag, bind, or become obstructed.
The VAS also integrates soft start and stop drive technology, delivering controlled acceleration and deceleration that improves ride quality, reduces mechanical stress, and increases technician confidence during use.
The system includes several purpose-built features developed to address conditions technicians encounter on every climb:
Each feature reflects a focused engineering approach, solving practical challenges while improving both safety and usability inside the tower environment.
Executive Perspectives
“Our industry depends on the people who climb these towers every day to keep wind fleets operating safely and efficiently. The VAS reflects our commitment to improving the working conditions of the technicians who power the clean energy industry.”
The Vertical Assist System is protected by U.S. Patent No. 12,460,432, with additional patents pending.
Sky Climber Renewables | https://skyclimber-re.com/
Stellar Solar Commercial, one of the most experienced residential and commercial solar and battery installers in Southern California and Michigan since 1998 and a consistent winner of the San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll for Best Solar Company, recently added another sizeable project to its commercial solar portfolio. The Parkway Club Apartments in El Cajon, California, feature 1,767 Canadian Solar panels that now power 267 apartment units. The San Diego-area commercial solar project brings solar to non-homeowners, a segment of the population that Stellar Solar Commercial has worked to help access the same benefits of solar power as homeowners through its growing multifamily portfolio.
Stellar Solar founding partner and Vice President of Operations Brian Grems emphasized the importance of project diversity within the company's commercial division.
"Our residential division has focused exclusively on homeowners for the past 28 years, so the ability to offer the benefits of solar to renters through our commercial multifamily projects is something we are proud to be a part of with Parkway Club parent company Bridge Investment Group Holdings, who approached us with this opportunity," Grems said. "With the expansion of the commercial solar industry comes projects like this that can distribute the benefits of solar and battery storage to a wider range of beneficiaries."
Stellar Solar Commercial works with executive management and facilities managers to craft energy solutions tailored to the unique needs of each business.
While the company takes pride in its multimegawatt installations, it also values smaller commercial projects that help small- and medium-sized businesses increase profitability. With the addition of commercial solar batteries to most installations, the return on investment is even greater, making solar a smart investment for many businesses. Stellar Solar was among the first commercial solar installers in the country to introduce battery storage to solar systems and has maintained that leadership position.
Stellar Solar offers no-pressure commercial and residential solar and battery quotes for home and business owners interested in reducing energy costs and maintaining a steady power supply. Commercial solar quotes are also available for businesses, nonprofits, schools and faith-based organizations.
Stellar Solar | www.stellarsolar.net
Chanani Group is proud to announce the launch of CM EV Services LLC, a new venture dedicated to developing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Southern California. The initiative marks a significant step forward in supporting the region's transition to clean transportation.
CM EV Services has partnered with Motive Energy, one of the largest solar and energy infrastructure providers in the United States. Motive Energy's Sustainable Solutions division will serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner for all initial projects as well as ongoing system integration and operational support.
Initial Charging Hub Developments in Torrance
Development is currently underway on three EV charging hub locations in Torrance:
Each site will include:
Expanding into Solar & Sustainable Hospitality
In addition to public charging infrastructure, Chanani Group is collaborating with Motive Energy on the installation of solar and EV charging systems at Bluestem Hotel, further integrating renewable energy into its hospitality and commercial portfolio.
Leadership Perspective
"This initiative is about more than infrastructure—it's about building for the future of our communities—supporting cleaner transportation, energy independence, and long-term sustainability."
Motive Energy | https://www.motiveenergy.com/
Energy Dome, a leading provider of innovative capacity solutions for AI infrastructure, and New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (NUAI), a developer and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure and integrated power assets, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deploy Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery Plus technology at NUAI’s Texas Critical Data Centers (TCDC) site, located in Odessa.
The MOU establishes a framework for the parties to assess how Energy Dome’s proprietary technology, based on its patented CO2 Battery system, will support NUAI’s planned deployment of large-scale power capacity to meet the energy demand of its AI-optimized 1GW+ data center. Key priorities include maximizing speed to power, reducing reliance on constrained grid interconnection timelines, ensuring the high levels of availability required for mission-critical data center operations, and supporting lower-emissions power generation.
Claudio Spadacini, Founder and CEO of Energy Dome, said:
“AI is redefining energy systems and accelerating the need for reliable, always-available power for data centers and the grid. This collaboration further confirms Energy Dome’s unique positioning as a leading technology platform for the deployment of firm capacity and true 24/7 clean energy solutions, purpose-built for next-generation AI infrastructure. We look forward to working with our customer NUAI to support their ambitions to deploy cutting-edge, rapidly deployable data centers and turn this vision into a shared success.”
Charlie Nelson, President and Chief Operating Officer, said:
“We are excited to be working with Energy Dome on deployments at our assets. As we continue to scale our behind-the-meter power infrastructure at TCDC, Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery Plus technology addresses three key areas: lowering delivered energy costs, helping manage the inherent variability between data center load profiles and our on-site generation fleet, and reducing the carbon intensity of our power generation. The ability to capture waste heat and flexibly dispatch stored energy provides additional operational flexibility for AI workloads. We look forward to expanding our deployment of this technology across our portfolio and note Energy Dome’s recent announcements with leading hyperscalers as a testament to the progress of their platform.”
About Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery Plus Technology
Energy Dome's CO2 Battery Plus technology is designed to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of gas-fired generation by integrating energy storage with waste heat recovery. When deployed alongside Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs), the system has the potential to increase available power output, improve operational flexibility and reduce emissions, supporting the requirements of large-scale AI and data center workloads.
The CO2 Battery technology stores electricity by compressing CO2, and in the traditional CO2 Battery configuration, both pressure and heat generated during the charge phase are retained separately by design, with the heat stored in a dedicated thermal storage system for later use during the discharge phase. By contrast, in the CO2 Battery Plus configuration, the system uses direct waste heat from the OCGT(s)’ exhaust during the discharge phase, instead of storing it beforehand. By replacing stored heat with directly supplied waste heat, the system greatly improves efficiency, enables combined-cycle-like performance, and is more cost-efficient. The CO2 Battery Plus can operate across three distinct modes:
Charge Mode
During low-demand hours or periods of excess renewable production, power is used to compress gaseous carbon dioxide, which is then stored in its liquid form in standard pressure vessels.
Discharge Mode (SuperBoost)
During peak-demand hours, the liquid carbon dioxide is evaporated and heated using heat from the gas turbine(s) exhaust(s), driving an expander and thereby running the CO2 Battery turbine, providing additional power comparable to that of an additional gas turbine of the same type, hence more than doubling its output (>100%).
Generation Mode (Boost)
The CO2 Battery compressor and turbine run simultaneously, with no net mass transfer between the gas and liquid carbon dioxide storage. The gas is looping in a closed cycle, increasing the net power output of the gas turbine by up to 25%.
https://youtu.be/UzeB5aab4_Y
Video: The CO2 Battery Plus Process
Energy Dome | energydome.com
New Era | www.newerainfra.ai
FlexGen Power Systems, LLC ("FlexGen"), a leading provider of battery energy storage software and services, announced it has acquired Clean Energy Services CES LLC (“CES”), a leading provider of battery energy storage system (BESS) and utility-scale solar (PV) services. The acquisition will create an integrated model that accelerates FlexGen’s project delivery, enhances system performance, and strengthens long-term asset reliability for customers.
It will support industry-leading system availability by adding CES’s commissioning and lifecycle service teams, while expanding FlexGen’s OEM partner program to include CES’s authorized service provider (ASP) capabilities, complementing the existing software-focused OEM relationships. In addition, CES’s solar servicing expertise enhances the FlexGen HybridOS Solar PPC offering, enabling more comprehensive support for solar and hybrid assets.
“Demand for reliable, high-performance power is accelerating, and customers need partners who can deliver at scale,” said Kelcy Pegler, CEO of FlexGen. “The addition of CES strengthens our service platform and reinforces our leadership in energy storage technology. By pairing best-in-class lifecycle services with HybridOS and Solar PPC, FlexGen is positioned to deploy faster, operate better, and deliver sustained value for our customers.”
Co-founded in 2022 by Ahmad Atwan and Constantine Triantafyllides, CES will now operate as CES, a subsidiary of FlexGen. All existing CES customers will continue to receive services from CES without disruption or change. In addition, existing CES customers will have the opportunity to leverage FlexGen HybridOS®, the energy management system (EMS) with controls, analytics, and data access in a single platform, serving as the brain of the battery.
“Strong execution in the field is critical to minimizing downtime and maximizing long-term system performance,” said Ahmad Atwan, CEO of CES. “CES has achieved a market leadership position in battery storage services by focusing on reliable speed of service delivery and optimizing asset performance. FlexGen and CES have been strong partners for years, and this transaction enables us to deliver more robust solutions across a complementary set of customers and markets.”
CES will continue to operate its remote operations center (ROC) in Houston, Texas, for over 1GW of solar and 4.5GWh of batteries, while FlexGen will maintain its ROC in Durham, providing 24/7 monitoring, root-cause analysis, and field service dispatch.
FlexGen brings over 15 years of integration experience and consistently delivers industry-leading 98% system availability.
FlexGen | https://www.flexgen.com
Tigo Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYGO) (“Tigo” or “Company”), a leading provider of intelligent solar and energy software solutions, announced that the Company has collaborated with solar industry partners to donate the solar system for the most recent St. Jude’s Dream Home in California’s Coachella Valley. The 2026 Coachella Valley St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway house includes a 3.8kW Tigo EI Inverter donated by Tigo, Tigo TS4-A-O MLPE devices donated by Greentech Renewables, and expert installation provided by GOAT Solar. The 5.72kW system features simple expansion options for batteries, a generator, and more as part of the Tigo GO Optimized ESS (Energy Storage System).
“This was a great project for a great cause, and I think this house will have a very happy owner in addition to making a difference for St. Jude’s,” said Nate Lewis, CEO and owner at GOAT Solar. “I’ve worked with Tigo products for nearly a decade, and it was fun to work together on this worthy cause with this group of companies."
“It was great to have the opportunity to support the important work St. Jude’s is doing right here in the Coachella Valley,” said David Petta, Manager at Greentech Renewables, Coachella Valley at Greentech Renewables, Coachella Valley. “Beyond supporting this organization, we are obviously also happy about standing behind and promoting the solar industry.”
“Supporting this project was made possible by an outstanding group of companies getting together,” said James Dillon, chief marketing and customer experience officer at Tigo. “By working with high quality organizations such as GOAT Solar and Greentech Renewables, we are able to use our solar solutions to help make an impact for the families served by the St. Jude's community.”
For more information about solar in the Coachella Valley, contact GOAT Solar here. For technical information about Tigo products, click here for MLPE solutions and here for residential inverters and batteries. To purchase Tigo products through Greentech Renewables, click here.
Tigo Energy | www.tigoenergy.com
Alternative Energies Mar 30, 2026
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