The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

Nuvve Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: NVVE), a global leader in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and grid modernization, announced that its Board of Directors has approved the initial purchase of up to $3 million in Hype tokens, reflecting the company’s continued commitment to blockchain-enabled infrastructure, and its belief in the transformative potential of the Hype ecosystem.

“This move is not just about crypto, it’s about where our industry is going and how Nuvve intends to lead it,” said Gregory Poilasne, CEO of Nuvve. “The Hype blockchain offers real-world applications that align with our roadmap and global expansion including but not limited to the smart energy ecosystem.”

DeFi Technologies (Nasdaq: DEFT) (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) announced last week it will manage Nuvve's HYPE treasury strategy through its newly launched DeFi Advisory business line. This marks the first step in a bold new blockchain-driven growth initiative.

The strategic investment aligns with Nuvve’s broader business objectives and is supported by the company’s recently filed $300 million shelf registration. In addition to enhancing Nuvve’s treasury strategy, the company views the integration of Hype blockchain as a long-term driver of innovation and value creation across a variety of applications including energy.

Hype token, launched in 2021 by a consortium of decentralized infrastructure developers, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Layer 1 blockchain ecosystems supporting scalable, energy-efficient smart contracts. Hype is designed to power next-generation applications across industries, from renewable energy to mobility, finance, and beyond.

Nuvve | www.nuvve.com

SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG), a global leader in smart energy technology, and Solar Landscape, the leading U.S. commercial rooftop solar developer, announced an agreement for the supply of SolarEdge's U.S.-manufactured solar technology for over 500 commercial rooftop projects across multiple states, to be built in 2025 and 2026. SolarEdge's domestically manufactured solar technology enables developers like Solar Landscape to meet demand for U.S.-manufactured solutions while optimizing project timelines through a localized supply chain.

The collaboration will focus on accelerating solar deployment across large-scale commercial and industrial rooftops, which remain a largely untapped resource for distributed generation (DG) solar. SolarEdge's advanced technology enables efficient installations on a wide range of commercial rooftops, generating more power from the available space.

"Generating electricity on commercial rooftops and distributing it into the grid is America’s most shovel-ready energy option," said Solar Landscape’s co-founder and CEO Shaun Keegan. "Our partnership with SolarEdge allows us to rapidly and efficiently deploy solar across a diverse array of commercial and industrial rooftops. Their U.S.-manufactured technology gives us the reliability and performance we need while meeting domestic content requirements for our projects."

"We are proud to partner with Solar Landscape to accelerate the adoption of commercial solar across America," said Naama Ohana, Chief Commercial & Industrial Division at SolarEdge. "Our domestic manufacturing facilities have already created approximately 2,000 American jobs while ensuring a resilient supply chain for our partners. This collaboration demonstrates how American innovation and manufacturing is helping to address the nation’s growing energy needs while strengthening local economies."

In 2024 Solar Landscape leased 40 million square feet of commercial rooftop space in the U.S. The company aims to deploy enough solar capacity to power 80,000 households. Solar Landscape now has over 80 partners that own over 2 billion square feet of commercial real estate nationwide.

SolarEdge | www.solaredge.com

Solar Landscape | www.solarlandscape.com

Swift Current Energy announced that it has added to its board of directors three new independent non-executive directors. Booga Gilbertson, most recently COO of Puget Sound Energy, will serve as Swift Current Energy Board Chair and Martin Crotty, most recently EVP of Asset Optimization at EDF Renewables, and Chris Fallon, formerly President of Duke Energy Renewables (now Deriva Energy), will serve as independent non-executive directors.

The three new board members bring over 80 years of energy experience and will support Swift Current Energy's continued growth as a leading independent power producer. Also serving on the Swift Current Energy Board of Directors are Eric Lammers, CEO of Swift Current Energy, Matt Birchby, President of Swift Current Energy, Lisa Crutchfield, Independent Director, Neil Doherty, Executive Director at IFM Investors, and Remy Verot, Investment Director at IFM Investors.

Eric Lammers, Co-founder and CEO of Swift Current Energy, said, "We are delighted to welcome Booga, Martin, and Chris to our board of directors. Over the last nine years we have built a strong company that has successfully produced 2.2 GW of operating power projects in key markets and developed an even greater pipeline of energy projects. Expanding our board with values-aligned individuals will only increase our reach and effectiveness as we navigate policy changes and step up to meet accelerating energy demand."

Neil Doherty, Executive Director, Infrastructure at IFM Investors, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Booga, Martin, and Chris to the Swift Current Energy Board. Their deep industry expertise crafted over decades of leadership in the power and renewables sector will be invaluable as Swift Current Energy continues to trailblaze a path for clean energy. Each brings a proven track record of execution that will strengthen the Swift Current Energy Board and support our long-term growth."

Since its founding in 2016, Swift Current Energy has commercialized 2.2 GWac of energy projects, including its 800 MWdc Double Black Diamond Solar project. Today, Swift Current Energy owns and operates 1.1 GWac of solar and wind energy projects across Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas.

Swift Current Energy | https://swiftcurrentenergy.com/team/

Ecosuite, a leading provider of grid-interactive software for distributed energy resources (DERs), has been selected alongside project partner, Ecogy Energy, to participate in the District of Columbia Public Service Commission's (DCPSC) Solar Aggregation and Advanced Inverter Pilot Project. The pilot is a part of DCPSC's broader PowerPath DC initiative aimed at creating a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy system for the District.

Through this groundbreaking pilot, Ecosuite will provide secure, digital infrastructure to leverage dynamic advanced inverter attributes and enable other real-time, two-way communication and control across Ecogy-owned sites in Washington, D.C. The pilot will demonstrate these capabilities across an array of DERs including solar PV, building load flexibility, battery energy storage and EV charging stations. This effort aims to increase solar hosting capacity, reduce interconnection costs, and demonstrate the value of DERs as flexible grid assets.

"This pilot shows what's possible when open-source innovation meets public policy and utility leadership," said Joel Santisteban, CEO of Ecosuite. "We're excited to demonstrate how flexible DER assets can be securely aggregated to enhance grid reliability and lower costs across the District."

The project is being carried out in close collaboration with PEPCO, the region's electric utility and Exelon subsidiary, and guided by a diverse Governance Board representing community, environmental, and industry stakeholders.

The outcomes of the pilot will help inform future grid planning and interconnection policy. By demonstrating that advanced DERs can increase resiliency and support decarbonization, while benefiting ratepayers, the pilot has the potential to scale across the District and beyond.

Ecosuite | ecosuite.io

Ecogy Energy | ecogyenergy.com

Arevon Energy, Inc., a leading American energy developer, owner, and operator, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the company's 200 megawatt (MW)/400 megawatt-hour Peregrine Energy Storage Project in operation in San Diego. Peregrine Energy Storage is Arevon's fifth completed utility-scale energy storage facility in California and bolsters Arevon's position as a leader in battery storage development and operations.

Developed and owned by Arevon, the $300 million Peregrine Energy Storage Project, which Arevon announced as fully operational in June, is located in the Barrio Logan community. Peregrine Energy Storage employed more than 90 personnel at peak construction and is disbursing long-term property tax benefits estimated to total more than $28 million over the life of the project. Peregrine stores electricity for use during high demand intervals and can provide power for up to 254,000 homes for two hours per day, reducing the risk of brownouts and blackouts. The facility features modern lithium iron phosphate batteries which are the safest technology on the market. Arevon's number one priority is the safety of those who live and work in its project areas, and the company is proud to have safely operated its energy storage facilities in U.S. communities since 2021.

The ribbon-cutting event held this week was attended by the project's partners, local business owners, and other community members and celebrated the collaborative efforts to bring the facility into operation. Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Arevon, delivered the opening remarks, followed by Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego; Chris Cate, President and Chief Executive Officer at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Fernando Hernandez, Principal at Perkins K-8 School. Brenda Solorio, Director of Community Relations at Arevon, served as the event's master of ceremonies.

Throughout the speaking program, Arevon emphasized the project's role in strengthening energy security and stabilizing the electric grid when under stress and also acknowledged the community support to advance California's renewable energy goals, specifically through San Diego's Climate Action Plan (CAP). San Diego's CAP, established in 2015 and updated in 2022, has established a community-wide goal of net zero by 2035, committing San Diego to an accelerated trajectory for greenhouse gas reductions.

"Energy storage is key to delivering reliable clean energy when San Diegans need it most," said Mayor Gloria. "Projects like Peregrine help stabilize our grid, reduce outages, and move us away from fossil fuels. We're building a cleaner, more sustainable future for all of us — and I thank Arevon for being a partner in that effort." 

"Mayor Gloria and his administration are strong proponents of renewable energy and battery storage, and their support has been vital in getting this project over the finish line," said Smith. "Energy storage is the cornerstone of a resilient and modern electric grid, and I am proud that Arevon's Peregrine Energy Storage Project is now contributing to San Diego's Climate Action Plan and more broadly, to California's renewable energy targets."

California-headquartered Rosendin and EPC Services were the project's construction contractors. Southern California Edison (SCE) is purchasing Peregrine's Resource Adequacy capacity under a long-term agreement to help support the state's reliability needs. SCE is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal, and Southern California.

As the long-term owner of the Peregrine Energy Storage Project, Arevon is committed to supporting the local community and its worthy initiatives and has previously engaged with the following organizations:

• Father Joe's Villages, supporting the organization's work to provide housing and comprehensive care and resources for homeless individuals to help them on their path to long-term success; the Arevon team also volunteered at the facility on July 28, ahead of the ribbon-cutting event
• Barrio Logan College Institute, sponsoring STEM education programming and scholarships for first-generation college students
• Perkins K-8 School, going toward STEM-related educational field trips and to deserving students and families in the Barrio Logan community
• Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego, sponsoring three consecutive years of the Police Softball Del Pickney Memorial World Series game with proceeds supporting memorial scholarships and emergency relief aid for local deputies and their families

"Arevon and their team's generous contributions of necessary funding and time, including volunteering at our campus and more than $10,000 in donations, will go far to help hundreds of our neighbors leave homelessness behind for good," said Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO at Father Joe's Villages. "Arevon's commitment to being a good neighbor for our entire community is clear. We look forward to our continued partnership." 

Arevon | arevonenergy.com

T&H Farms, a family-owned farm, announced the successful sale of clean energy tax credits generated by a rooftop solar installation on its poultry houses. The transaction was facilitated by Concentro, which sourced the corporate tax credit buyer and provided comprehensive diligence and legal support throughout the deal.

The 590 kW solar array will generate significant energy savings for the North Carolina farm, owned by third-generation farmers. The project was developed by RED Renewables, who has strong experience in agricultural solar development.  In addition to the federal tax credits, the project received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), as well as financing from Rabo AgriFinance.

"We're proud to support agrivoltaics projects like T&H Farms that help working farms significantly reduce their energy bills through clean energy adoption," said Inigo Rengifo Melia, CEO of Concentro. "Tax credits combined with REAP grants present a powerful opportunity for farms across the U.S., many of which are well suited for co-location of solar without changing land use. With REAP grants covering up to 50% of project costs and tax credits accounting for another 30-40%, farms can access solar with minimal investment."

"This solar project helps us offset rising energy costs and provides us the flexibility to pursue additional initiatives that benefit the quality and efficiency of our operation," said Logan Hoffner, one of the owners of T&H Farms. "Good stewardship of the natural resources we are afforded directly benefits our business in the present, while also building towards a more sustainable operation for our future generations. We're grateful to our partners for their efforts in completing this project."

Concentro | www.concentro.io

Hydrogen will play a crucial role in driving the green transition with demand expected to surge in the coming decades. Around 60 governments have adopted hydrogen strategies, while the number of planned projects is already exceeding 1,500 globally compared to around 200 in 2021 – an increase of around 600%. To realize these projects, a total investment volume of US$680bn until 2030 may be needed, according to the Hydrogen Council and McKinsey, which will trigger a greatly increased demand for insurance to protect against risks as this investment is activated. Europe is leading the way by far with 617 planned projects and the highest total investment announced at $199bn.

While the potential of hydrogen is undoubtable, there are still challenges and headwinds to overcome. The potential size and scope of the hydrogen economy will depend on a range of factors including the evolving political, trade, and economic environment, as well as demand. Policymakers and regulators need to address costs for the development of the infrastructure, so that scaling up at a competitive level towards other energy sources is possible. Across all industries, stringent safety measures will be vital to manage hydrogen's inherent risks. This is where the insurance industry comes into play. According to Allianz Commercial's latest risk report Hydrogen: Opportunities, Uses and Risks in the Energy Transition, as hydrogen becomes integrated into the global economy, insurers can expect to see a significant increase in demand for coverage, with Allianz Commercial expecting the insurance market for hydrogen project coverage to grow to over US$3 billion in premiums by 2030. 

“Insurers have a key role to play in the development of the hydrogen economy, enabling investment and innovation, and providing risk management advice and guidance. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing within this industry are essential for developing best practices and building expertise. By addressing these multi-faceted challenges, the insurance sector can support the growth of the hydrogen economy and help facilitate the transition to net-zero emissions,” says Anthony Vassallo, Global Head of Natural Resources at Allianz Commercial.

Hydrogen offers great potential, but also challenges and risks

While it holds much promise and has been used in the chemical and refinery sectors for many decades, with risks such as fire, explosion and embrittlement being already well-known, the integration of hydrogen into other industries brings a range of challenges with currently planned mega projects requiring a scale-up of risk management. Energy production facilities will involve hydrogen storage and high-temperature combustion, which can lead to leaks and explosions. In transport, applications like hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will also face risks of hydrogen embrittlement and leaks. Port operators, bunkering facilities and fuel handlers will need to manage highly flammable and cryogenic hydrogen fuels, bringing accident and contamination risks. 

“Evolving technologies always pose challenges such as raising the risk of serial losses, where a common fault requires the replacement of equipment across a project or multiple projects. For example, a large hydrogen production facility could involve hundreds of electrolyzers, with the same design replicated at multiple plants. Serial defect claims have already been seen with wind turbines, leading to large losses for companies and insurers. Meanwhile, as the hydrogen industry scales up, supply chains may come under increasing pressure, with the risk of capacity constraints, and delays for replacement parts,” adds Harald Dimpflmaier, a Regional Head of Natural Resources at Allianz Commercial.

Risk management and mitigation are crucial for hydrogen projects

Given hydrogen’s unique properties and high combustibility, ensuring safety throughout the value chain is crucial. Analysis of hydrogen-related incidents shows that undetected leaks can easily lead to explosions. Equipment design, maintenance and training can help prevent the escape of flammable hydrogen gas, while the risks of ignition can also be reduced by locating hydrogen facilities in the open. Embrittlement risks can be managed using hydrogen-compatible materials and specifically designed resistant coatings.

In addition to preventing incidents, organizations can take steps to limit the extent of property damage, business interruption, and third-party liability. Buildings and facilities should be designed and constructed to withstand natural hazards, fire and explosion, and limit damage to adjacent property and equipment. Robust hydrogen leak detection and isolation systems are also paramount. Human error is also a common factor in large losses. Operational, safety, emergency procedures, and training should be frequently updated, including having robust and well-rehearsed plans in place for accidental releases.

“Given the wide reach of the hydrogen value chain and its potential uses, the implications for insurance could be far-reaching, touching on multiple sectors and lines of business over the next decade. However, from an exposure and potential claims perspective, product lines such as Energy, Natural Resources and Liability are likely to see the biggest impact from hydrogen risks over the next five to 10 years, followed by Property and Marine,” explains Vassallo.

Allianz Commercial | https://commercial.allianz.com/