The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) welcomed three manufacturing member companies and one associate member company to its membership. Together, NEMA’s more than 300 member companies are ensuring that our nation’s grid, transportation, buildings, and industrial systems are safe, reliable, and efficient. 

With the addition of manufacturing members Hyosung HICO, Ltd., Milwaukee® Tool, and SWARCO McCain, as well as associate member Integrated Power Services (IPS), Inc., NEMA gains new momentum in its mission to build a more connected, resilient, innovative future powered by electricity. 

• Hyosung HICO, Ltd.: Leading producer of high-voltage power transformers and other advanced transmission and distribution (T&D) equipment critical to a safe, reliable, and efficient electric power grid, including energy storage systems, flexible AC transmission systems, DC solutions, and gas-insulated switchgear.
• Milwaukee® Tool: Global manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, hand tools, accessories, and storage solutions for professionals in the construction, manufacturing, and maintenance industries, and inventor of the technology that enables the use of lithium-ion batteries in power tools.
• SWARCO McCain: Producing advanced traffic control products, services, and solutions, including cabinets, controllers, signals, and signs, to not only enable the growth of our transportation system, but optimize for improved traffic volume and safety outcomes.
• IPS: Providing single-source capabilities to improve the reliability of critical electrical infrastructure through services including in-shop manufacturing, engineering, technical field services, and asset management. 

“Our membership represents innovative companies that are advancing our increasingly electrified economy through their products, services, and technologies,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “Our newest members highlight the breadth and influence of the electroindustry, delivering expertise that spans the mobility and grid sectors to industrial automation. I’m thrilled to work with them to advance our leadership in standards development, technological innovation, and electrification.” 

“Joining NEMA further demonstrates HICO's commitment as a manufacturer to building not just the grid of today, but the resilient, reliable, and sustainable grid our future demands. At HICO, we are committed to ensuring that every step forward enhances reliability, prioritizes safety, and meets the long-term needs of future generations. We look forward to collaborating with NEMA and its members to help shape an energy future that is smarter, stronger, and built to last,” said Jason Neal, President of Hyosung HICO, Ltd. and Senior Executive VP, HICO America.  

“We are proud to join NEMA and look forward to working alongside industry leaders to advance standards and drive innovation in the traffic industry. At SWARCO McCain, collaboration is at the heart of how we deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable mobility solutions. Partnering with NEMA provides an incredible opportunity to shape the future of traffic management through shared expertise and a unified commitment to excellence,” said Jimi Meshulam, CEO, SWARCO McCain. 

“For over 100 years, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry with innovative technologies and products that redefine performance, productivity, and safety for the professional construction trades. Joining NEMA represents a pivotal step as we continue to innovate and advance in the power equipment and electrification sectors. We look forward to collaborating with NEMA’s community of leading electrical manufacturers to power a more resilient and electrified future in Wisconsin and across the globe,” said Milwaukee Tool. 

“In a rapidly changing industry, IPS is committed to understanding and contributing to the shape of its future. We are at an inflection point with the electrification of our industries, and as members of NEMA, IPS looks forward to sharing our aftermarket expertise to help shape policy, standards, and the future of industrial services,” said IPS CEO John Zuleger. 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association | makeitelectric.org 

Qcells, an industry-leading solar manufacturer and provider of complete clean energy solutions, announced it is now the first and only polysilicon-based solar manufacturer to achieve Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)’s Low Carbon Solar standard. Qcells obtained EPEATstatus last year, but, after years of work, hit its stringent low-carbon threshold, which awarded Qcells with this exciting distinction. EPEAT is a globally recognized, premier ecolabel for electronics and other technologies that validatessustainable production practices, making it easier for customers to select low-carbon, environmentally friendly solutions.

In a massive step forward for sustainability in the solar industry, Qcells has achieved Low Carbon status for two products, including a residential solar panel and a community, commercial and industrial (CCI) panel, both assembled at its Dalton, Georgia manufacturing facility. This comes after Qcells achieved initialEPEAT registration on these two panels in June 2024. This means that:

• Qcells’ EPEAT registered modules have a ~73% lower carbon footprint [or lower carbon intensity] than imported solar products from China. 

• In comparison to an average utility-scale 100 MW solar PV project, a same-size PV project with Qcells’ EPEAT registered panels would have 37% lower emissions for the same power output. This means Qcells’ EPEAT registered solar panels are 37% more sustainable than a global standard solar panel. 

“At Qcells, we want our solar products to be the most sustainably built products on the market,” said Kelly Weger, Senior Director of Sustainability at Qcells. “After more than two years of collecting extensive data, we’re excited to see our products meet EPEAT’s rigorous standards. We remain fully committed to manufacturing complete clean energy solutions and building a sustainable future.”

As only 30% of solar products are expected to be able to meet the minimumcriteria to achieve the EPEAT ecolabel, Qcells leads the way as the first domestic manufacturer to provide EPEAT-registered residential solar panels. Qcells is proud to be a domestic manufacturer of solar panels in the U.S. and plans to continue expanding its number of products on the EPEAT registry manufactured at its Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia manufacturing facilities.

EPEAT registration is a thorough process that measures social and environmental impacts of products from extraction to end of life. The lifecycle-based criteria areadjusted as sustainability standards evolve. EPEAT registered products, including Qcells’, are listed on the Global Electronic Council’s EPEAT registry, where customers with ambitious sustainability goals can easily find Qcells’ solar products. Ultimately, EPEAT’s online registry helps to drive supply chain improvements by simplifying the procurement of sustainably manufactured low-carbon solar panels.

Qcells | http://us.qcells.com/

GE Vernova completed the sale of an onshore blades factory in Goleniów near Szczecin, Poland, previously owned by LM Wind Power, to Vestas. This follows the agreement signed on 15 May 2025 and the successful completion of all necessary regulatory approvals.

LM Wind Power CEO, Hanif Mashal, said: “We are pleased to complete the transfer of this facility to Vestas. This transaction enables us to simplify our business and reinvest the capital into core EU manufacturing facilities producing GE Vernova wind products to better serve our loyal customer base in the region.”

GE Vernova has a total installed base of approximately 57,000 turbines and nearly 120 GW of installed capacity worldwide. Committed to its customers' success for more than two decades, its product portfolio offers the next-generation high-powered turbines at scale that drives decarbonization through high-quality, affordable, and sustainable renewable energy.

GE Vernova | https://www.gevernova.com/

An international research team of photovoltaics scientists has taken a crucial step toward the industrialization of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells. They demonstrated that passivation of the perovskite top cell is possible in combination with textured silicon bottom cells featuring large pyramid size, which are the current industry standard for solar cells. Additionally, they discovered that the passivation affects the entire perovskite layer – unlike silicon, where surface treatment only influences the upper layers – leading to further efficiency improvements. The PV researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), University of Freiburg and Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE presented their technological and scientific innovations for the passivation of perovskite top cells in the journal Science. The full paper can be accessed for free at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx1745. 

Perovskite silicon tandem solar cells consist of a perovskite top cell and a silicon bottom cell. They represent the next major technological advancement in photovoltaics, as silicon solar cell development is approaching its physical maximum efficiency of 29.4 percent for converting sunlight into electricity.

For large-scale production of these tandem solar cells, using a standard silicon solar cell for the bottom cell would be advantageous, as their manufacturing processes are already well established. These solar cells are textured to increase their surface area, enhancing efficiency, but this texturization also complicates the deposition of the perovskite layer. Achieving high-quality surface passivation of the perovskite top cell on the pyramid-like surface had not yet been accomplished.

“So far, effective passivation has not been fully harnessed on textured perovskite silicon tandem solar cells, with prior success largely confined to flat-front architectures. But we have now managed excellent passivation by depositing 1,3-diaminopropane dihydroiodide on the uneven perovskite surface,” said Dr. Oussama Er-Raji, the lead author of the paper and a scientist at Fraunhofer ISE. The passivated tandem solar cells achieved a conversion efficiency of up to 33.1 percent, with an open-circuit voltage of 2.01 volts.

The scientists also observed that the passivation of the perovskite top cell improved the conductivity and thus the fill factor of the cell. They proved that this improvement is due to a deep field effect resulting from the passivation. In silicon solar cells, the passivation acts only close to the surface, whereas in perovskite solar cells, the surface treatment impacts the entire absorber, enhancing its bulk properties.

“This realization provides a solid foundation for all future research in this area,” said Prof. Stefaan De Wolf, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Applied Physics at KAUST. “It enhances our understanding of the processes occurring in the top cell while converting light into electricity, enabling scientists to leverage this knowledge to develop better tandem solar cells.”

“Surface passivation of solar cells is not just a nice-to-have feature; it is an essential booster for their efficiency and stability,” adds Prof. Stefan Glunz, Professor of Photovoltaic Energy Conversion at the University of Freiburg and Director of the Photovoltaics Division at Fraunhofer ISE. “For today’s silicon solar cells, surface passivation was the key for high efficiencies in industrial production, and it is encouraging that the PV industry will benefit from these positive effects for perovskite silicon tandem solar cells as well.”

The researchers’ findings build on work in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project MaNiTU as well as the projects PrEsto and Perle, both funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE | https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en

Green Rain Energy Holdings Inc. (OTC: GREH) (“Green Rain” or the “Company”), a clean-energy company dedicated to reshaping the future of sustainable power, today confirmed that it is in advanced negotiations for a landmark renewable energy project in Southern California.

The project envisions the development of a next-generation solar energy installation, strategically positioned on a 4.2-acre semi-rural property in San Diego County. The site is owned by a well-known African American author, whose commitment to sustainability and community wellness complements Green Rain’s mission to deliver transformative energy solutions that generate both economic returns and social impact.

A Unique Intersection of Energy, Community, and Vision

The initiative will combine renewable power production with community-focused amenities, representing a first-of-its-kind project in the region. The property is being designed as an eco-retreat and wellness hub, complete with resort-style accommodations, organic farming, recreational amenities, and teaching kitchens – all powered and supported by renewable energy.

Preliminary negotiations include:

• A solar generation facility designed to deliver reliable, clean electricity to the grid while offsetting on-site demand.
• Battery storage systems that provide resiliency, peak-shaving, and backup power.
• Potential solar carport installations, maximizing usable space and blending function with sustainability.
• Participation in SDG&E’s low-income assistance program, dedicating a portion of power to reduce utility costs for disadvantaged families.
• Flexible financial models, including land lease agreements, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and joint ventures, designed to optimize shareholder value.

Positioning for Growth in a Multi-Billion Dollar Market

California is targeting 100% renewable energy by 2050, and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) remains one of the fastest-growing markets for distributed renewable power. With demand for solar and storage solutions at record highs, Green Rain believes this negotiation marks the beginning of a transformational growth phase for the Company.

“This project positions Green Rain at the forefront of the clean-energy transition in one of the nation’s most competitive renewable energy markets,” said Alfredo Papadakis, CEO of Green Rain Energy Holdings Inc. “We are not only pursuing profitability – we are demonstrating how renewable energy can uplift communities, support California’s clean-energy mandate, and establish a blueprint for future developments nationwide.”

Strategic Synergy with Community Development

The property itself is undergoing parallel developments, including a resort-style main house, additional dwelling units for medical professionals, off-grid tiny homes for short-term rental, and organic farming initiatives aimed at community empowerment and food sustainability.

By integrating a large-scale solar component, the project will become a showcase for how renewable energy can power modern living, economic opportunity, and environmental responsibility all on a single site.

Next Steps

The Company stressed that while negotiations are progressing, no definitive agreements have been executed at this time. However, management views the discussions as a catalyst that could drive substantial near-term growth opportunities, both for Green Rain Energy Holdings Inc. and its shareholders.

Green Rain Energy | https://greenrainenergy.com/

The solar industry's performance gap has long cost developers time, money, and credibility. GroundWork Renewables launches the STACK Framework, a five-layer methodology designed to remove uncertainty from the entire solar project lifecycle, from resource assessment to performance analytics.

The STACK Framework is the foundation of full-stack solar intelligence, a new category GroundWork is defining to close the industry's long-standing "certainty gap." By aligning measurement, validation, and analysis across every stage, STACK helps developers, EPCs, and asset owners reduce risk, pass capacity tests, and protect long-term asset value.

"Solar can't run on guesswork," said Ann Will, CEO of GroundWork Renewables. "With STACK, we turn solar performance into a science. Every decision is backed by proven data, so our clients can defend results, secure financing, and operate with certainty."

The five layers of the STACK Framework:

• Site Characterization – Start with truth, not assumptions
• Testing – Validate what matters before it fails
• Assurance & Accreditation – Trust your data. Prove your process
• Certainty Analysis – State the certainty. Get on the same page
• Key Performance Insights – Act with confidence. Plan with precision

By replacing disconnected tools and reactive troubleshooting with a proactive, lifecycle-spanning standard, the STACK Framework sets a new bar for operational excellence. It builds on GroundWork's 15+ years of expertise in MET data, PV module testing, and solar performance analytics — all backed by its ISO-certified processes.

The STACK Framework will make its public debut at RE+ 2025 in Las Vegas, September 8–11. Attendees can explore the methodology firsthand and see how certainty compounds across projects and portfolios. Visit GroundWork Renewables at RE+ Booth V7951 or learn more at grndwork.com.

GroundWork Renewables | https://grndwork.com/

Louth Callan, a leading power infrastructure construction firm, announced the mechanical completion of the Mousam River Solar Project, a 28-megawatt (MW) facility located in Sanford, Maine.

As the project's construction partner, Louth Callan delivered all site civil, structural, and electrical works. Mechanical completion confirms that all major construction activities are finalized, and the project is now transitioning to commissioning and energization.

"Mechanical completion of the Mousam River Solar Project demonstrates Louth Callan's ability to deliver complex power infrastructure on time and to the highest industry standards," said Nick Sylvestre, Managing Member of Louth Callan. "We are proud to contribute to the expansion of Maine's renewable generation capacity while reinforcing our reputation as a trusted partner in the delivery of large-scale power infrastructure."

In addition to advancing renewable energy projects like Mousam River, Louth Callan recently announced new divisions within the company expanding into the construction of traditional power facilities, transmission and substation work and geothermal plants. This strategic growth reflects the firm's commitment to providing end-to-end infrastructure solutions across diverse energy technologies, ensuring reliable power delivery while supporting the transition to a more sustainable and resilient grid.

The Mousam River Solar Project will soon begin producing clean, reliable electricity for thousands of homes and businesses across the region. Beyond its environmental benefits, the project generated significant local employment and subcontracting opportunities throughout the construction phase.

This achievement strengthens Louth Callan's position as a leader in the construction of utility-scale renewable and power infrastructure projects across the United States.

Louth Callan | https://louthcallan.com/