Embracing New Fire Safety Standards for BESS

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released the following statement from Anne Reynolds, ACP Vice President for Offshore Wind, after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for Avangrid’s New England Wind 1 and 2 offshore projects located 20 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts: 

“This is another significant milestone in advancing offshore wind energy. The nearly 2,000 megawatts of energy produced from Avangrid's two projects will power nearly 1 million homes, create 9,200 jobs, and allow for $8 billion in direct investment across the region. This decision furthers the renewable energy infrastructure New England needs to meet electricity demands, strengthen the grid, and provide clean air for its citizens. ACP commends BOEM’s continued commitment to offshore wind as an important and critical source of energy for the country’s future.”

American Clean Power Association | https://cleanpower.org/

Emeren Group Ltd ("Emeren" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL), a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator, announced a Development Service Agreement ("DSA") partnership for a state-of-the-art portfolio comprising five Battery Energy Storage Systems ("BESS") in Italy with PLT energia Srl ("PLT"), one of the largest independent Italian groups active in the energy sector from wind and photovoltaic sources. This transaction marks a significant milestone in the development of an impressive 394 MW BESS portfolio.

Yumin Liu, CEO of Emeren Group, commented, "We are excited to partner with PLT energia Srl, whose vision and strategy align seamlessly with Emeren's commitment to sustainability. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to develop innovative battery storage projects both in Italy and globally, further demonstrating our efforts to expand our BESS business."

Stefano Marulli, CEO of PLT energia, added: "PLT actively pursues a project portfolio with the right balance of technologies. With the current growth in renewable energy, which is expected to continue in the coming years, Battery Storage will play a key role in the installation of new renewable plants and the stability of the power grid. This is why we believe this agreement is the perfect complement to our current development pipeline, both photovoltaic and wind, especially in the US market and Emeren the right partner thanks to its professional and technical experience as well as market knowledge."

Emeren Group | www.emeren.com

PLT energia Srl | www.pltenergia.it

TGS, a global leader in energy data and intelligence, today launched a new chapter in its 43-year history. The company is excited to announce the completion of the merger with PGS, a new Executive team and a Capital Markets Day on 29 August 2024. This announcement positions TGS as the foremost data and services company across the energy value chain.

"This is more than a merger of two companies," said Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS. "It's a blending of strengths, uniting our robust financial performance, exceptional customer service, operational excellence, cutting-edge technology and innovation. Our new executive team is poised to drive forward these advancements with a fresh strategic vision, ensuring that our combined expertise translates into greater value for our customers and shareholders; while our new brand identity captures our commitment to being a strategic partner for energy companies worldwide, providing the insights and solutions needed for today and anticipating the challenges of tomorrow."

Capital Markets Day, 29 August 2024, Oslo:

The merger of TGS and PGS forms a powerhouse in the energy sector, enhancing its capabilities to support energy exploration and production on a global scale. As the industry evolves, TGS is ideally positioned to serve the entire energy market with more comprehensive, advanced solutions. This integration will enable the Company to leverage a wider pool of technological resources and expertise, significantly boosting its operational efficiency, innovation and customer engagement strategies. TGS leadership will present more information on the vision for the new Company at a Capital Markets Day, to be held in Oslo on 29 August 2024.

The New TGS Executive Team:

The newly formed executive team at TGS combines the strengths and expertise of both companies, bringing together a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to enhance the Company's operations. The team comprises:

• Kristian Johansen, Chief Executive Officer (Houston) – Bringing extensive leadership and industry expertise, Kristian continues to drive TGS’ strategic initiatives, steering the company towards new opportunities and enhanced operational excellence within the energy market.
• Sven Borre Larsen, Chief Financial Officer (Oslo) – With over 20 years of experience in financial management within the energy sector, Sven will continue to oversee financial strategies that enhance our market leadership and support sustainable growth.
• Rob Adams, EVP Operations (Oslo) – With over 25 years of experience in the seismic industry, including leadership roles in PGS new ventures, processing, and operations, Rob will oversee project delivery and operational excellence for the company’s offshore operations and data acquisition technologies.
• Whitney Eaton, EVP Sustainability and Communication (Houston) – With over 15 years of legal and leadership experience within compliance, sustainability, HR and IT, Whitney will continue to drive forward TGS’ sustainability and communication strategies and lead the marketing, sustainability and compliance teams.
• Wadii El Karkouri, EVP Imaging and Technology (Houston) – With over 25 years of leadership experience in the energy and technology industries, including SLB and AWS, Wadii will drive innovation and technological advancements in seismic processing, data analytics and digitalization across the company.
• David Hajovsky, EVP Multi-client (Houston) – Bringing over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, David has held various leadership roles within both TGS and PGS and will continue to oversee and drive TGS’ global multi-client strategies and initiatives.
• Carel Hooijkaas, EVP New Energy Solutions (Houston) – With over 25 years of experience in the oilfield services and equipment industry, including as CEO of Magseis Fairfield, Carel will lead TGS’ New Energy Solutions covering wind, solar and CCS, as well as 4C Offshore and Prediktor.
• Nathan Oliver, EVP Contract (Houston) – With a career spanning over three decades in the energy sector, including leadership roles in multi-client, contract and imaging across the globe, and most recently leading PGS’ entire Sales and Services organization, Nathan will drive TGS’ contract acquisition strategies and initiatives.
• Kristin Omreng, EVP People and Culture (Oslo) – Bringing nearly 20 years of HR and Organizational Development experience, managing and developing global organizations in the energy industry, including at Aker Solutions and PGS, Kristin will lead initiatives that enhance TGS’ people and culture strategies.
• Tana Pool, EVP Legal (Houston) – With vast legal experience through her work as General Counsel in both the energy and construction industries and prior to that with several global law firms, Tana will continue to provide strategic legal guidance to support TGS’ operations and growth.

The New TGS Brand Identity:

TGS also unveiled its new brand identity. The redesigned TGS logo represents a blend of heritage, innovation, and financial strength. It maintains elements from the PGS brand, symbolizing the Company’s ongoing leadership in technology and operational excellence. The new visual identity supports TGS’ mission to deliver a wide variety of energy data and solutions that meet current demands while foreseeing future needs.

"Our refreshed brand identity signifies a strategic evolution in our journey," Johansen added. "It combines our historical strengths with a progressive outlook, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the energy sector. We're excited to launch this new chapter with a clear vision and a strengthened commitment to our stakeholders."

TGS | www.tgs.com

Reference is made to the joint stock exchange announcement on 18 September 2023 by TGS ASA ("TGS" or the "Company," OSE: TGS) and PGS ASA ("PGS," OSE: PGS) regarding the combination of the two companies (the "Merger"), as well as the announcements on 25 October 2023 and 1 December 2023 regarding, respectively, the execution of the definitive merger agreement and approval by the extraordinary general meetings. Reference is also made to subsequent announcements, including on 11 June 2024 whereby all conditions for completion of the Merger were confirmed satisfied.

TGS and PGS are pleased to confirm that the Merger has now been formally completed.

Completion of the Merger has been registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises. As a result, and following the issuance of the merger consideration shares to the former shareholders of PGS, the new share capital of TGS is NOK 49,068,323.25 divided on 196,273,293 shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 0.25. 

Pursuant to and in accordance with Article 1(5)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "EU Prospectus Regulation") and the European Commission’s delegated regulation (EU) 2021/528 of 16 December 2020, TGS has prepared an «exempted document» in connection the Merger and the listing of the consideration shares issued thereunder. The exempted document will be made available on the Company's web site, www.tgs.com. 

As announced on 20 June 2024, the TGS consideration shares will be delivered to the eligible former PGS shareholders on 4 July 2024. In addition, the former PGS shareholders will receive a compensation of NOK 0.20419 in cash per each former PGS share held, as per the terms of the Merger. The cash compensation will be paid on 9 July 2024.

TGS | www.tgs.com

SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (“SolarEdge”) (NASDAQ: SEDG), a global leader in smart energy technology, announced that its technology has been selected by Rutgers, the State  University of New Jersey, as part of an innovative research and demonstration program to explore the potential of dual use  agrivoltaics (the combination of agricultural production and solar energy generation simultaneously on the same land) for farmers across the state.

Rutgers research will assist the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program that will be administered by the NJBPU. The pilot program is a three-year, 200 MW agrivoltaics initiative with the goal of exploring the feasibility and benefits of agrivoltaics. The pilot program is a collaborative effort including the NJBPU, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the State Agricultural Development Committee, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program.The results and data from the research program will be used to inform the establishment of a permanent Dual-Use Solar Program in New Jersey. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program includes three sites, each using a different panel mounting method to investigate the impact on agricultural production and electricity generation:

• Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick has vertically mounted bifacial panels and will be used for the production of forage crops and beef cattle grazing (170 kW_DC installed and grid-connected)
• Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown has single-axis trackers and will be used for hay production(94.5 kW_DC installed and 82.4 kW_DC grid-connected)
• Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton has single axis trackers with both single-wide and double-wide rows of panels and will be used for the production of vegetable and staple crops. (255 kW_DCinstalled and 48.6 kW_DC grid-connected)

At each site, the research will evaluate electricity output, using Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) for the measurement and analysis of energy production. 

“Agrivoltaics is a fast-growing and hugely exciting sector that provides a solution for many of the business challenges that farmers are facing today – from managing rising energy costs to moving to more sustainable production. However, we are still at the start of this journey. The aim of our research is to develop knowledge that will help to establish practices that can help improve both the sustainability and viability of farms through safe and regulated adoption of solar energy. We are excited to be working with SolarEdge to achieve these goals,” said Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, Director for Resource and Economic Development and Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Bertrand Vandewiele General Manager of SolarEdge in North America, said: “Agrivoltaics is a perfect example of a real ‘win-win’. This practice allows for expanded solar development to address climate change, without the land-use challenges often associated with ground mounted solar developments. It can also provide benefits for farmers, allowing a stable revenue stream and protection against climate hazards. In the U.S., there are more than 500 Agrivoltaics sites, producing a total of 9 GW of solar energy. These numbers are likely to grow as interest in Agrivoltaics has been greatly expanding, as indicated by the increase in support and funding for this sector. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s funding for Agrivoltaics more than tripled from 2021 to 2022.

Farmers are able to move to more sustainable and profitable production without substantially reducing space for growing crops – in fact agrivoltaics can potentially boost the production of certain shade-tolerant crops by providing protection from direct sunlight, while the cooler temperature below the panels reduces water evaporation. Meanwhile, the end consumer can feel good about choosing produce from sustainable farms. Through this collaboration with Rutgers University, we look forward to playing our part in helping to advance the adoption of more sustainable and profitable farming practices.”

Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program | https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/agrivoltaics-research.html 

SolarEdge | solaredge.com 

EPI Group, the leading provider of geoscience and geophysical technical services to the energy industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Clarke as the Managing Director for Sustainable Energy Services. 

Lee has over 25-years’ experience in both consulting and executive roles in the international energy industry and global consulting firms. He will leverage his renewable energy development and advisory experience and the collective expertise and skills of EPI Group’s consulting team, to drive value for EPI Group’s customers. 

Lee’s experience in international markets will support the expansion of EPI’s services to clients across its core and emerging markets.  He will use his broad leadership experience to support the company’s growth ambition and help all parts of the industry in its energy transition journey. 

Lee joins EPI Group from ERM, the sustainability advisory firm, where he most recently served as Global Managing Partner for Renewables, and before that was Chief Operating Officer for specialized expert services firm The Renewables Consulting Group.  He has also served as an executive in the power sector. 

Lee Clarke, newly appointed MD Sustainable Energy Services of EPI Group said: 

“I am absolutely delighted to join an incredible team at EPI Group, at a pivotal time, as we look to accelerate and deepen the support that we provide our customers on their journey to net zero. 

I’ve spent much of my career working with teams of technical experts, helping clients understand and prepare for major risks and opportunities.  With deep technical expertise, it is clear that EPI Group is uniquely positioned to support our clients with projects in this crucial period of transition.” 

Andy Smart, CEO of EPI Group said: 

“On behalf of the team at EPI Group, I am delighted to welcome Lee.  His in-depth understanding of global renewable energy markets will be a huge asset to EPI Group as we continue to expand and help customers to navigate the evolving energy landscape.  His passion for sustainable energy projects will be instrumental in supporting EPI Group as we continue to grow and diversify our range of services. 

I look forward to working with Lee as we further enhance the sustainable trajectory of EPI, augmenting our renewable energy and environmental services for our clients.” 

EPI Group | https://www.epigroup.com/

Maritime Partners, LLC ("Maritime Partners"), a leading provider of maritime financing solutions primarily focused on Jones Act vessels, has completed the successful acquisition of e1 Marine LLC ("e1 Marine"), a pioneer in hydrogen generation technology for the marine sector.

e1 Marine provides clean energy technologies, including advanced methanol-to-hydrogen generation products, which provide an alternative, cleaner fuel source for marine vessels. The technology comes from Element 1 Corp., a leading developer of advanced hydrogen generation systems supporting the fuel cell industry.

"This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Maritime Partners' commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation," said Bick Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Maritime Partners.  "The integration of e1 Marine's cutting-edge methanol-to-hydrogen technology with Maritime Partners' extensive industry expertise promises to revolutionize marine power applications and pave the way for a greener future."

Utilization of the e1 Marine generation technology by Maritime Partners is already underway. In May, Maritime Partners signed a Design Basis Agreement ("DBA") with the U.S. Coast Guard for its M/V Hydrogen One towboat, a first-of-its-kind vessel to use the new, cleaner technology which converts stored methanol into hydrogen onboard the vessel.

"As the licensor of compact, scalable, and energy efficient methanol-to-hydrogen technology to e1 Marine, Element 1 Corp looks forward to fully supporting Maritime Partners and e1 Marine in their effort to revolutionize marine propulsion," said Dave Edlund, co-founder and CEO of Element 1 Corp. "The commitment of Maritime Partners to environmental stewardship, combined with their capability to execute, are truly impressive and Element 1 is proud to be part of the team."

As the maritime industry continues to seek ways to decarbonize, Maritime Partners believes this technology has the potential to greatly reduce emissions and increase fueling efficiency while also providing a model for cleaner energy use.

"Maritime Partners is strongly committed to developing and utilizing sustainable, clean energy solutions, as the entire maritime industry continues to seek alternative fuel options that are cleaner, greener and more efficient," said Dave Lee, Maritime Partners' VP of Technology & Innovation. "The acquisition of e1 Marine and the development of Hydrogen One are integral parts of that ongoing commitment."

Maritime Partners | www.maritimepartnersllc.com

e1 Marine | www.e1marine.com 

Element 1 Corp. | www.e1na.com