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The urgent need to accelerate solar installations across the United States stands at the forefront of the nation's commitment to significantly decarbonize the energy grid in the fight against climate change. Achieving this ambitious target necessitates a concerted effort to overcome the existing barriers to rapid expansion. Streamlining the installation process, improving regulatory frameworks, and standardizing product names and specifications a....
As the world rapidly electrifies, the demand for clean, scalable, and cost-effective energy storage is skyrocketing. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind offer an abundant and sustainable supply of power, much of their potential remains untapped due to one major challenge: storage. The inability to store and distribute renewable energy efficiently results in enormous daily losses. The good news is that this problem has a solution: c....
Despite generally widespread support for clean, renewable energy, a growing number of solar, wind, and battery storage projects are being met with resistance at the local level. In fact, community opposition has become a leading cause of delays and cancellations, with a recent study revealing that roughly one-third of wind and solar projects are scrapped due to pushback — and nearly half experience delays of six months or mor....
The energy industry is in the midst of massive change, exacerbated by a new administration and an alarming increase in demand that has characterized the past few years. Many industry experts are closely watching the Trump administration’s rhetoric, policies, and legislation to understand what the future energy landscape may look like. However, even during this transitionary period, there are several new opportunities for battery energy stora....
Energy Storage
Schaltbau North America
Solar
Vineet Mittal
Solar
Sun Ballast
Technology group Wärtsilä has successfully completed large-scale testing of its proprietary Active Ignition Mitigation System (AIMS). AIMS is engineered to mitigate potential flammable gas build-up during an abnormal thermal scenario within battery energy storage systems (BESS). With this milestone, Wärtsilä becomes one of the first BESS integrators to demonstrate the effectiveness of an integrated explosion control system.
In July, Wärtsilä conducted a series of three rigorous full-system tests in the United States. Each test simulated worst-case thermal runaway scenarios within Wärtsilä’s Quantum2 containerised BESS enclosure. During the tests, a flammable gas blend, representative of UL 9540A CATL 306Ah cell-level testing, was released at multiple internal locations over a two-minute period. The tests were witnessed by a major US-based utility, a fire alarm vendor, and a third-party consultant. Across all three tests, AIMS successfully prevented uncontrolled deflagrations and structural deformations, allowing the Quantum2 system to remain fully intact with no compromise to enclosure integrity. The tests validated the system’s ability to maintain safety and functionality under extreme conditions.
“AIMS is more than just a technical upgrade – it represents a paradigm shift in energy storage safety,” said Mishaal SyedNaveed, Product Manager, Fire Protection at Wärtsilä Energy Storage. “We believe true safety starts well before gases build up as a result of thermal runaway. With AIMS, we are pioneering technology to help our customers manage BESS risks before they escalate.”
Advancing beyond reactive containment, Wärtsilä’s AIMS technology takes a pioneering approach by deliberately igniting flammable gases before they accumulate. AIMS uses sparker systems in combination with door-mounted deflagration panels to safely ignite flammable gases at the earliest stage of a thermal event. This early intervention prevents significant off-gas build-up and reduces the likelihood of deflagration panel activation.
“This test is a first-of-its-kind in the industry, and a powerful testament to the leadership of our fire safety experts,” said Tamara De Gruyter, President of Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä. “We’re not only rethinking how storage systems are built, we’re also actively collaborating with first responders, emergency personnel, customers, consultants, and other stakeholders to engineer a robust system and best equip our partners to act when it matters most.”
During the testing, Wärtsilä collected visual, temperature, static and dynamic pressure, and UV/IR data, which will be used to continue the company’s commitment to energy storage innovation and community safety. These rigorous tests and industry-leading safety investments align with Wärtsilä’s ongoing effort to not only meet, but exceed, evolving safety and regulatory standards. The company partners with its customers to offer integrated support across its products and lifecycles to ensure full compliance across global markets.
Wärtsilä Energy Storage | www.wartsila.com/energy
Affordable Wire Management (AWM), a leading provider of utility-scale PV Cable Management Systems (CMS) and wire management solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), announced the launch of the
company’s Gen 5 Arden Hanger. Building on the success of the previous versions, the Gen 5 Arden Hanger offers a reengineered design that improves strength by 20%, reduces material by 10%, and significantly lessens Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costs associated with typical plastic hangers.
Arden has been designed from the beginning for efficient installation, which reduces field labor time and lowers overall BOS (Balance of System) costs. As with AWM’s other product lines, the Gen 5 Arden Hanger is manufactured with durable metal alloys, boasting optimal corrosion resistance and a 90+ year lifespan.
Gen 5 Arden Hanger benefits include:
“The Arden Hanger is the cornerstone of our CMS, and with the Gen 5 Arden Hanger, we’ve raised the bar once again,” said Scott Rand, CEO and Co-founder of AWM. “It integrates design enhancements from customer feedback, improves strength and optimizes ampacity. This new release underscores AWM’s continuous innovation cycle—refining core products that have become industry standards, while extending lifespan and performance to meet the requirements of modern utility-scale PV power plants.”
The Arden Hanger is AWM’s most widely deployed solution, now installed across tens of gigawatts of projects.
Affordable Wire Management | https://affordablewm.com/
Affordable Wire Management (AWM), a leading provider of utility-scale PV Cable Management Systems (CMS) and wire management solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), announced the launch of the first of its kind Bonded Bonsai. AWM’s Bonded Bonsai offers bespoke designs for multiple use cases, and ensures a secure, slippage-free fit that is electrically bonded while extending reliability for decades.
AWM’s Bonded Bonsai Hangers - now offered with higher standards than any other product on the market - build on the company’s proven Bonsai offerings. Bonsai Hangers are easy to install, as no tools are required, and they can be assembled using one hand. They are an effective, resilient and safety-first solution for solar string management, designed to exceed modern grid-scale solar power plant requirements.
“AWM developed this iteration following feedback from our EPC and developer partners. This new offering is rated for electrical bonding standards, which has long been sought after by the industry. Moreover, the Bonded Bonsai underscores our standard of excellence, as we adhere to rigorous bonding requirements, even though they are not technically required by current product certifications,” remarked Scott Rand, CEO and Co-founder of AWM. “The Bonded Bonsai demonstrates our ethos of delivering customer-centered solutions with value-engineering discipline. I am proud of our team for their contributions.”
Bonded Bonsai benefits include:
“Given that utility-scale solar projects are rated for nearly 40 years, ALL of the components in those projects should conform to the highest industry standards and properly function for that long. AWM’s commitment is to make sure the practices and codes we follow go above and beyond, mitigating risks in all possible areas,” remarked Dan Smith, CTO and Co-founder of AWM.
Affordable Wire Management | https://affordablewm.com/
WAGO is introducing three functional safety I/O modules to be used with WAGO’s PFC controllers. These new 750 Series modules have four safe inputs along with either two safe outputs at 10 A/24 VDC, or four safe outputs at 2 A/24 VDC each. The power outputs operate in both bipolar (high-side/low-side switching) and unipolar (common potential on one side of the load) modes. The module monitors short circuits, cross circuits, and 24 V power supply from separate sources.
The modules contain internal logic that can be programmed with WAGO’s I/O-CHECK and Safety Editor software. Using these modules, safety-related applications up to SIL3/PLe can be implemented without the need for a safety PLC. These modules have been evaluated by UL in compliance with the UL/CSA 61010-1, UL/CSA 61010-2-201 and UL 121201, and CSA-C22.2 No. 213 standards.
WAGO | www.wago.us
Gripple, an award-winning manufacturer of time-saving BOS products for the solar industry, unveils its newest innovation in above-ground cable management at RE+ 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 8-11. Attendees are invited to Booth #V10330 to see Gripple’s game-changing new high-capacity cable management system in action and to gain insights directly from Gripple industry experts. Gripple is also scheduled to host information sessions at the RE+ Innovation Theater stage Thursday, September 11, from 9:30 to 9:55 AM and 10:00 to 10:25 AM.
Setting a new benchmark in installation speed and reliability, Gripple’s newest cable-management system leverages a robust twin catenary structure that forms a rigid, fence-like support, minimizing sway and reducing sag for exceptional ground clearance and cable security even in harsh weather conditions. The extremely durable hanger components are engineered from UV-stabilized, glass-filled nylon 66, delivering high strength, heat and corrosion resistance, and electrical insulating properties for a service life exceeding 30 years. The system’s best-in-class load rating allows for significantly wider spans between hangers, which greatly reduces material costs and labor requirements versus typical systems currently on the market.
The hangers can be installed onto the catenary in 5 seconds, with a simple snap fix mechanism that prevents any lateral movement, significantly streamlining the installation process and enhancing overall system security. Time-trials also show that up to 100 ft. of 750kcmil cable can be installed per minute, making it up to 50% faster than other catenary systems. The system accommodates up to 24 runs of 1000kcmil cable, handling high-capacity requirements with ease while avoiding potential derating through proper cable separation.
Gripple’s new system delivers a true breakthrough in cable management, providing a hassle-free, cost-effective, and code-compliant solution designed to tackle even the most demanding cable management challenges. Attendees are encouraged to visit Booth #V10330 to connect with Gripple’s expert team and discover first-hand how they can transform their next project.
Gripple | www.gripple.com
Boeing [NYSE: BA] unveiled a 3D‑printed solar array substrate approach that compresses composite build times by up to six months on a typical solar array wing program from print to final assembly. This represents a production improvement of up to 50% when compared to current cycle times.
Flight‑representative hardware has completed engineering testing and is progressing through Boeing's standard qualification path ahead of customer missions.
"Power sets the pace of a mission. We reached across our enterprise to introduce efficiencies and novel technologies to set a more rapid pace," said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. "By integrating Boeing's additive manufacturing expertise with Spectrolab's high‑efficiency solar tech and Millennium's high‑rate production line, our Space Mission Systems team is turning production speed into a capability, helping customers field resilient constellations faster."
The first 3D-printed solar arrays will fly Spectrolab solar cells aboard small satellites built by Millennium Space Systems. Both non-integrated subsidiaries are part of Boeing's Space Mission Systems organization.
Beyond the arrays themselves, Boeing's approach enables a parallel build of the complete array, pairing a printed, rigid substrate with flight-proven modular solar technologies.
By printing features such as harness paths and attachment points directly into each panel, the design replaces dozens of separate parts, long‑lead tooling, and delicate bonding steps with one strong, precise piece that is faster to build and easier to integrate. It is built upon the foundation of Boeing's qualified additive, flight-proven materials and processes.
"As we scale additive manufacturing across Boeing, we're not just taking time and cost out, we're putting performance in," said Melissa Orme, vice president, Materials & Structures, Boeing Technology Innovation. "By pairing qualified materials with a common digital thread and high‑rate production, we can lighten structures, craft novel designs, and repeat success across programs. That's the point of enterprise additive, it delivers better parts today and the capacity to build many more of them tomorrow."
Across the Boeing portfolio, the company has incorporated more than 150,000 3D‑printed parts, yielding significant schedule, cost, and performance benefits. This includes more than 1,000 radio-frequency parts on each Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite currently in production and multiple small‑satellite product lines with fully 3D‑printed structures.
The new array approach is designed to scale from small satellites to larger platforms, including Boeing 702‑class spacecraft, targeting market availability for 2026.
By printing the panel's structure and built‑in features, Boeing can assemble the array in parallel with cell production. Robot‑assisted assembly and automated inspection at Spectrolab further reduce handoffs, improving speed and consistency.
Boeing | https://www.boeing.com/
Sol Systems, an independent power producer (IPP) committed to building, owning, and operating domestic clean energy infrastructure that benefits local communities, announced that Great Bay Renewables (GBR) has made an initial commitment of approximately $80 million in interconnection letters of credit (LCs) supporting Sol's MISO portfolio. The revolving facility will be used to post refundable milestone deposits to MISO and, subsequently, to support readiness deposits in PJM.
"Interconnection is a bottleneck for U.S. clean energy deployment," said Richard Romero, Chief Financial Officer, Sol Systems. "This facility lets us scale more efficiently by posting deposits with letters of credit rather than cash, so we can advance a broader, de-risked portfolio for our customers and capital partners. Great Bay Renewables understands today's queue realities and structured a solution that meets the moment."
Frank Getman, CEO of Great Bay Renewables, said, "The capital required for grid interconnection security is one of the largest impediments to energy project development. At Great Bay, we specialize in creating innovative financial solutions to solve these complex problems. Our interconnection financing frees up our partners' balance sheets, enabling companies like Sol Systems to deploy their resources efficiently to build the projects that accelerate the growth of American industry."
Non-cash-collateralized LC capacity has historically been reserved for large, credit-rated platforms. By partnering with GBR, Sol gains balance-sheet efficiency comparable to the industry's largest players while continuing to invest in rigorous upfront engineering and site selectivity. This non-cash-collateralized LC capacity enables Sol to advance a greater number of high-quality interconnection positions without tying up cash, supporting a larger, more diversified pipeline and accelerating deployment as projects mature.
Sol Systems | https://www.solsystems.com/
Great Bay Renewables | https://www.greatbayrenewables.com/
Solar Sep 15, 2025
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