The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

CleanCounts, a nonprofit with the industry leading environmental attribute certificate (EAC) tracking platform for voluntary and compliance claims of renewable energy projects across North America, announced James Critchfield as the Head of Registry & Market Integrity. In his role, Critchfield will lead the development and governance of high-fidelity registries that safeguard transparency and trust across clean-energy and carbon markets. CleanCounts shared the news on Critchfield joining the team from Aspen Energy Forum, where the nonprofit is taking part in discussions on decarbonization and renewable energy strategies.

Critchfield joins CleanCounts after spending two decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he was an authority on energy-attribute certificates, registry architecture, and greenhouse-gas accounting, advising Fortune 500 companies, state regulators, and international bodies. Most recently, Critchfield scaled the EPA’s Green Power Partnership from its infancy to hundreds of organizations, pushing annual voluntary green-power procurement to more than 100 billion KWh annually and catalyzing nearly 19 GW of new renewable capacity nationwide.

“CleanCounts has advocated for standards in the renewable energy market and the environmental attribute tracking industry to drive better decision making by corporate buyers and provide transparency for regulators,” said James Critchfield, CleanCount’s Head of Registry & Market Integrity. “I look forward to stepping into this new role to bring my experience to support CleanCounts’ continued reputation as the true validator for environmental markets.”

CleanCounts, formerly known as M-RETS, tracks generated energy outputs across North America, enabling market participants to place a dollar value on the environmental benefits of renewable energy and renewable thermal outputs. Through rigorous validation of the environmental benefits, verifiable data, and unbiased third-party verification, CleanCounts is now North America’s leading platform to obtain, transfer, or retire renewable energy certificates (RECs), renewable thermal certificates (RTCs), and alternative energy certificates (AECs).

“James Critchfield’s work in the federal government to support tracking system infrastructure for clean energy in the United States has led to the development of next generation tracking capabilities that feature the granularity needed for market transparency,” said Benjamin Gerber, CEO of CleanCounts. “With James joining our executive team, we look forward to engaging stakeholders throughout North America for conversations about how a continuity-first, climate-aligned, and tech-forward clean energy registry can create benefits for, and strengthen trust in, both the voluntary and compliance markets.”

Prior to joining CleanCounts full time on August 21, Critchfield will join an upcoming webinar with senior leaders from Singularity Energy and EnergyTag titled, How Western States Can Achieve Grid Decarbonization, on August 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET. The energy industry leaders will discuss how granular energy data and verified certificates can enable the hourly electricity accounting needed to drive investment and deployment of decarbonization technologies for an around-the-clock clean grid. Those interested in attending can register here.

CleanCounts | www.cleancounts.org

Addressing a critical gap in infrastructure for electric trucking along one of America’s busiest freight highways, public charging infrastructure developer and operator Greenlane is establishing its second commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging corridor connecting Southern California to Phoenix via Interstate 10. The corridor expansion is supported by a new strategic partnership with Windrose Technology, a pioneering electric truck original equipment manufacturer (OEM), which has validated the viability of long-haul electric trucking through successful single-charge journeys from Colton, next to San Bernardino in the Inland Empire, to Phoenix. Looking ahead, Windrose plans to manufacture 2,000 electric trucks in 2026 and scale up to 10,000 in 2027 globally—unlocking a new era of freight movement, powered by Greenlane’s expanding public charging network.

“Our second corridor was strategically selected to best support the carriers and shippers who keep our economy moving,” said Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO of Greenlane. “Windrose's remarkable achievements during testing demonstrate that our high-performance charging network can handle the most demanding freight operations, giving us confidence that this I-10 corridor will serve as a critical backbone for zero-emission freight. By establishing charging infrastructure along key transportation arteries, we're providing the foundation fleets need to scale their electric operations.”

The corridor is one of several planned routes as the company works to develop a nationwide network of commercial EV charging for medium- and heavy-duty fleets. The second corridor includes the recently opened flagship Greenlane Center in Colton, next to San Bernardino in the Inland Empire, as well as new sites to be developed in Blythe, California, and Greater Phoenix, Arizona.

Windrose's R700 Class 8 electric semi successfully completed single-charge journeys from Greenlane's Colton location to both Buckeye, AZ, near Phoenix (I-10 corridor) and Las Vegas (I-15 corridor) with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 74,420 pounds. The Phoenix route represents a particularly significant milestone, as the nearly 300-mile journey with near-maximum payload demonstrates the real-world capability of electric trucks for demanding long-haul freight operations. These single-charge hauls follow successful interoperability testing at the Colton site, where the Windrose R700 Class 8 electric truck achieved a peak charge rate of 772 kW with its dual-gun charging technology, exhibiting Greenlane's ability to support rapid turnaround times essential for freight operations.

“Achieving nearly 300 miles with a GCWR of 74,420 pounds on a single charge with 12% battery left proves that electric long-haul trucking isn’t just theory—it’s proven real-world performance,” said Wen Han, founder and CEO of Windrose Technology. “This is what happens when innovative vehicle platforms meet world-class charging infrastructure. Our next step is to prove diesel parity in the United States, Europe, Oceania and South America, as we have already proven in China.”

Under a new strategic partnership, Windrose will utilize Greenlane’s flagship center in Colton as its base of operations for several vehicles and to power its R700 electric truck for pilot customers along the I-15 and I-10 freight corridors. One of the first customers on these routes will be Nevoya, a next-generation electric trucking carrier focused on helping shippers and third-party logistics carriers transition to electric transportation. Nevoya plans to operate battery-electric trucks along the I-15 and I-10 corridors, with the Greenlane Center in Colton serving as a base for charging and driver support.

“Greenlane's I-10 charging network creates the infrastructure breakthrough that electric trucking needs—and Nevoya is positioned to capitalize on it,” said John Verdon, Chief Commercial Officer at Nevoya. “As we launch operations on the I-10, this partnership allows us to demonstrate that long-haul electric trucking is not just possible—it’s practical, scalable, and the future of freight.”

In April, Greenlane opened its first flagship charging center in Colton, California, featuring more than 40 high-speed chargers, including 12 pull-through and 29 bobtail lanes for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs), amenities such as restrooms and wifi, carports, 24/7 security, and additional offerings like office space and parking.

Greenlane Infrastructure | www.drivegreenlane.com

Windrose Technology | www.windrose.tech

Nevoya | nevoya.com

Chartwell Marine, a trusted pioneer of next-generation vessel design, has announced the delivery of Prosperous 6, a new high-performance crew transfer vessel, as part of a strategic partnership with Pacific Radiance, a leading owner and operator of offshore vessels in APAC. The vessel has already successfully completed sea trials, achieving over 25 knots at 85% engine load, which demonstrates that it is highly fuel-efficient. During a bollard push test, the vessel delivered over 17 tonnes of bollard push, and when operating at 20 knots, the vessel used approximately 20% less fuel than competitor vessels of an equivalent length. In addition, the vessel features a light lightship displacement, enabling payloads of up to 35 tonnes.

The performance of the vessel has provided Pacific Radiance with the confidence to continue its build program with Chartwell Marine. The Brevity Class CTVs are already in high demand in APAC, with one delivered, five ordered, and strong interest from offshore wind leaders, such as Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

Andy Page, Managing Director of Chartwell Marine, said: “We’re very excited to deliver our highly capable Brevity Class CTVs with Pacific Radiance for offshore wind operations across APAC. The region’s offshore wind industry is facing rapid growth and needs to hit ambitious capacity targets. Our Brevity vessel has been developed following years of CTV design and build experience, and we’re thrilled to see this vessel class being widely praised and adopted by the offshore wind industry in APAC.

Jacky Chen, General Manager at Pacific Radiance, said: “Chartwell’s Brevity Class CTVs – and designs more broadly – are renowned throughout the offshore wind industry for their reliability and performance, especially in challenging environments. We’re excited to work with Chartwell Marine to bring these highly capable CTVs to APAC’s offshore wind industry, which is growing at a rapid rate.”

Chartwell Marine’s Brevity Class CTVs have been specifically adapted to meet the challenges facing APAC’s offshore wind industry. The vessels are loadline compliant and engineered with large superstructures to support multiple crews and technicians. The vessel designs can also be built anywhere in APAC, using local content and employees.

Last year, Chartwell Marine expanded into APAC with the hire of Fabien Lecuona, who is spearheading the firm’s growth across the region from a new office in Singapore. From this new base, Chartwell Marine is able to provide a first-class service for clients and build long-term partnerships that support the expansion of the offshore wind industry across APAC.

Chartwell Marine | http://www.chartwellmarine.com/

Pacific Radiance | https://www.pacificradiance.com

The German start-up SkyWind Energy, based near Hanover, is the first manufacturer worldwide to achieve full certification—i.e., performance, energy yield, safety, and long-term durability—for a micro wind turbine. These wind turbines are so small that they can easily supply environmentally friendly wind power from the roof of a house or a cell phone tower. 

This success was made possible by a patented rotor technology that the company’s founder Fritz Unger presented at the famous German “Jugend-forscht” (Young Reseachers) competition back in 2009 and has been continuously developing ever since. The now certified “SkyWind NG” wind turbine (RRP: €2,478) is about the size of a satellite dish and delivers a certified annual production of 615 kWh – around 20% of the electricity requirements of a single-family home. 

The tests were conducted in one of the most demanding test fields in the world, located in the US state of Utah. The process, which no other manufacturer had previously been able to complete successfully, took over two years and cost more than €250,000 (290,000$US). In its press release dated August 6th, the International Code Council therefore described the first successful completion of certification as an absolute “milestone for micro wind turbines.” 

Over 10,000 SkyWind systems have already been installed in the last five years. Projects in 100 countries have repeatedly demonstrated the versatility of this small system: houses and halls rely on the proven generator from Germany for their power supply, as do radio towers, ski lodges, and research stations. 

Company founder Fritz Unger believes that the technology is now on the verge of a breakthrough. Not only are more and more private customers opting for private wind turbines, but large-scale projects are also in the works. For example, a 60-meter-high 5G radio tower made of wood recently received TÜV approval—powered solely by photovoltaics and micro wind power. Progress is also being made for industrial customers, as many commercial structures like high-bay warehouses offer excellent wind conditions. A tax incentive worth 30% of the purchase price, available through the Inflation-Reduction-Act for certified turbines only, is also expected to help growing demand in the important US market. 

SkyWind Energy | https://www.myskywind.world/

Northern Sun Energy, a leader in turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects, proudly announces the appointment of Kevin Ritzmann as Vice President and Managing Partner. With over eighteen years and two gigawatts of extensive expertise in renewable energy, construction management, and strategic operations, Ritzmann will help guide the company's growth and position it at the forefront of integrated clean energy solutions across the eastern U.S.

Ritzmann’s deep knowledge of utility-scale solar & battery energy storage system construction will expand Northern Sun Energy’s ability to deliver efficient, high-performance installations. He will oversee strategic initiatives to scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments, optimize operations, and strengthen partnerships with developers, subcontractors, and suppliers.

“I’m honored to join Northern Sun at such a pivotal time,” said Ritzmann. “The opportunity to expand our footprint while integrating cutting-edge energy storage with utility-scale solar is a challenge I’m passionate about. I’m especially focused on optimizing our self-perform electrical field delivery services to improve efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness across every project.  Our team is committed to delivering quality, innovation, and reliability—and I’m excited to help lead that effort.”

“Kevin’s leadership and vision are exactly what Northern Sun Energy needs as we continue to scale our utility-scale BESS and solar capabilities,” said Chris Balogh, President of Northern Sun Energy. “His strategic insight and operational acumen will be essential to advancing our mission and meeting the growing demand for affordable, resilient energy.”

Northern Sun Energy has earned a reputation for delivering tailored EPC solutions with full turnkey execution. Ritzmann’s appointment signals a bold step forward as the company expands on its energy storage experience to complement its solar offerings and support grid reliability. 

Northern Sun Energy | northernsun.energy

Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, generated approximately 13,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy during the first six months of 2025, enough electricity to power about 2.4 million U.S. homes. The power generated from Avangrid’s growing portfolio of energy projects demonstrates the company’s recognition of critical U.S. power needs and its commitment to investments that supply reliable and affordable energy for American homes and businesses, helping to achieve U.S. energy dominance and meet surging demand growth.

“Avangrid is leading the way to help meet the nation’s growing demand for electricity, driven in large part by the rapid expansion of data centers,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “As we expand our investments in U.S. generation and grid infrastructure, we are strengthening American energy independence and powering long-term economic growth. We will continue working with our many stakeholders to bring new projects online, ensuring families and industries across America have access to safe, reliable, and affordable power.”

Avangrid has more than 10.5 Gigawatts (GW) of energy generation capacity, with 80 operating power plants stretching from coast to coast. Earlier this year, the company announced commercial operations at three new solar projects in Texas, California, and Ohio, representing about 600 Megawatts (MW) of new capacity. This helped boost Avangrid’s solar energy production by 125% compared to the first six months of 2024. Since 2015, Avangrid has increased its generating capacity by 66 percent.

Avangrid currently has 10 projects providing more than 1.5 GW of energy to data centers and the leading companies in technology and AI. The company has five more projects, totaling nearly 700 MW, currently under construction, helping these companies meet their urgent need for power.

In March 2025, Avangrid announced plans to invest an additional $20 billion in U.S. electrical grid infrastructure by 2030. This reflects the critical need to invest in energy infrastructure to meet growing demand, as well as the United States’ position as a top investment priority for Avangrid and Iberdrola.

Avangrid’s success has contributed to Iberdrola’s global production surpassing 66,000 GWh for the first half of 2025, a 2.3% increase compared to the same period from last year. Furthermore, Avangrid helped Iberdrola’s global generation capacity exceed 57,000 MW this year.

Avangrid | http://www.avangrid.com

Nayax Ltd. (Nasdaq: NYAX; TASE: NYAX), a global commerce enablement and payments platform designed to help merchants scale their business by simplifying payments and maximizing loyalty, announced a strategic partnership to provide embedded payment solutions for Autel Energy, a trusted pioneer in electric vehicle (EV) charging technology with a growing footprint across 35 major markets in North America and Europe.

Autel is among the fastest-growing global suppliers of electric vehicle charging equipment (EVSE) and a leader in the smart energy sector. In 2024, the company’s new energy charging business reported a significant year-over-year revenue growth of 53%. Together, Nayax and Autel will address rising global demand for seamless, scalable charging infrastructure by pairing Autel’s high-performance AC/DC charger lineup, cloud-based management tools, and global service network with Nayax’s flexible payment infrastructure to enable faster deployment for operators and a more convenient payment experience for end-consumers.

Under the agreement, Autel will embed Nayax payment solutions directly into an estimated 100,000 EV chargers set for deployment across North America and Europe by the end of 2026.

“We’re excited to partner with Autel to bring embedded payments to one of the fastest-growing EV charging platforms in the world,” said Yair Nechmad, CEO and Chairman of Nayax. “Our collaboration helps Autel serve more EV drivers, and simplify operations with chargers that are payment-ready from day one.”

“Autel is growing fast, and we needed a global payments partner that could grow with us,” said Yukin Zhang, Deputy GM of Autel Digital Power Co., Ltd. “Nayax gives us the scale, flexibility, and infrastructure to offer a complete solution that makes charging easier for site owners and more convenient for drivers.”

Nayax | www.nayax.com

Autel Energy | https://autelenergy.com/global