The Critical Role of Silicon Metal in America's EV Market

The Detroit 2030 District has announced the beneficiaries of its EV Charging Station program, which rolled out last November. The program is installing ten electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at member buildings, including several houses of worship in underserved Detroit neighborhoods. This initiative marks a significant step forward in reducing carbon emissions from transportation in the city.

"We are proud to be able to provide this benefit to our Detroit 2030 District building owners and expand access to EV charging in the city of Detroit, especially to six of our house of worship members located in neighborhoods where access to transportation may be difficult," said Peggy Matta, Detroit 2030 District EV Charging Program Manager.

The program is designed to address Detroit's growing demand for reliable and accessible EV charging solutions. The Detroit 2030 District has partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to bring this program to its members.

"Pastor Isaiah Pettway and the congregation of Beth Eden are elated to be chosen to receive a Level 2 EV charger at no cost for our congregation," said Sonya Bennett, Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church. "It is our prayer to offer this green initiative to anyone who may need its utilization at a fair rate for the community."

The Detroit 2030 District is also partnering with other like-minded Detroit-based nonprofits, including NextEnergy, Powering Michigan, Michigan Clean Cities and DTE Energy, to make this program a reality.

"Michigan Clean Cities and NextEnergy are elated to see additional EV charging infrastructure installed across the city. The heart of our work is rooted in equity, so as EV use and accessibility continue to grow for Detroiters, doubts about range and access to close, reliable charging can begin to subside," said Lauren Mixon, Community Engagement Liaison, with Michigan Clean Cities and NextEnergy. "We're proud to provide technical support to this program through the national EMPOWER project. Initiatives like this ensure the growth of EV charging and manufacturing and create equitable benefits for communities across our state."

The Detroit 2030 District program aims to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. With over 500 buildings enrolled, totaling more than 67 million square feet, the program is making headway toward its mission of reducing carbon from the built environment at a large scale. 

Detroit 2030 District offers its members free education, resources, and assistance with benchmarking their buildings' energy and water usage. Benchmarking helps building owners and managers manage energy, water consumption, and transportation emissions and comply with the City of Detroit Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance. The ordinance was adopted in November 2023 and took effect October 1, 2024.

For more information about Detroit 2030 District and tickets to the Annual Kickoff Party & Fundraiser on January 30, 2025, at the historic Roostertail, visit 2030districts.org/Detroit.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) outlines recommendations that could increase the recycling and reuse of decommissioned wind energy equipment and materials to create a more circular economy and sustainable supply chain. Among other findings, the research reveals that existing U.S. infrastructure could process 90% of the mass of decommissioned wind turbines. However, the remaining 10% will need new strategies and innovative recycling methods to achieve a more sustainable wind energy industry. This research will help guide over $20 million in investments previously announced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance technologies that address this gap.

 “The U.S. already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully sustainable domestic wind energy industry is well within reach,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Innovation is key to closing the loop, and this research will help guide national investments and strategies aimed at advancing technologies that can solve the remaining challenges and provide more affordable, equitable, and accessible clean energy options to the American people.”

The Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems report provides an assessment of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) needs and gaps in existing wind energy-related supply chains to support the transition to a more sustainable and circular U.S. wind energy industry. 

A team of researchers, led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with support from Oak Ridge National Laboratoryand Sandia National Laboratories, developed the report. The first of a suite of reports, this part provides DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) with short-, medium-, and long-term RD&D priorities along the life cycle of wind energy systems. 

The effective reuse and recycling of wind system components, parts, and materials will rely on a combination of measures, including: 

• Improved end-of-life decommissioning collection and scrap sorting practices. 
• Strategic siting of recycling facilities. 
• Expanded and improved recovery and recycling infrastructure. 
• Substitution of hard-to-recycle and critical materials with more easily separable and affordable materials, improved component designs and manufacturing techniques, or the development of modular system components. 
• Optimized properties of recovered materials for second-life applications. 
• Greater access to wind energy waste streams and the equipment required to disassemble wind energy components. 

Towers, foundations, and steel-based subcomponents in drivetrains offer the greatest potential currently to be successfully recycled, whereas blades, generators, and nacelle covers are likely to prove more difficult. Recovering critical materials and alloying elements from generators and power electronics, such as nickel, cobalt, and zinc, will be crucial in establishing a circular economy for wind systems. 

Short-term strategies for decommissioning include promoting blade production using more easily recyclable thermoplastic resins and reusing these resins in cement production. Thermoplastic-based blade recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis and chemical dissolution, could be viable medium- and long-term options. Other medium- and long-term solutions include high-yield techniques for separating compounds found in power electronics and hybrid methods for recycling permanent magnets. 

Regional factors—such as material demand, disposal fees, transportation distances, and an available skilled workforce—will play vital roles in ensuring the success and cost-competitiveness of recycling wind energy components

DOE | https://www.energy.gov/wind

Orange EV, the leading manufacturer of 100% electric terminal trucks, announced the addition of Olivier Roubi as Vice President of Rental and Leasing and Dr. Zouhair Lazreq as Vice President of Engineering. These appointments underscore Orange EV's commitment to strengthening its leadership team as it continues to drive innovation and growth in the zero-emission electric vehicle market. 

Olivier Roubi, Vice President of Rental and Leasing 

Roubi brings over 25 years of experience in automotive and commercial vehicle fleet management across the United States and Europe. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Sales at B-ON, a manufacturer of fully electric delivery trucks, where he successfully led teams supporting logistics operators transitioning to electric fleets. 

In his new role, Roubi will focus on expanding Orange EV’s short-term rental and long-term lease programs. These initiatives will include customized rental solutions that allow customers to experience pure-electric terminal trucks before committing to long-term ownership, while simplifying the process and enhancing the customer experience. By advancing these offerings, Roubi aims to provide flexible solutions that better serve Orange EV’s growing customer base and strengthen its market leadership. 

“I’m very excited to join Orange EV and help customers accelerate their CO2 footprint reduction and reduce operational cost by providing them with flexible and competitive short-term rental and long-term lease offers for their yard truck operations,” said Roubi. 

Dr. Zouhair Lazreq, Vice President of Engineering 

Dr. Lazreq joins Orange EV with a distinguished career spanning aerospace, consulting, and automotive industries. He previously served as Vice President, Global Engineering for Bridgestone Americas, leading the engineering function for Firestone Airide. His career also includes leadership roles at Ford Motor Company and Dana, overseeing engineering and operations for more than 120 facilities, in 26 countries. 

Dr. Lazreq holds a Ph.D. in Acoustics and Vibrations from the University of Technology of Compiègne, France, and a master's in engineering management from Wayne State University. He combines deep technical expertise with a passion for empowering teams and fostering innovation. 

“Joining Orange EV felt natural because of its technical leadership and commitment to sustainability,” said Dr. Lazreq. “I’m excited to build on the team’s strengths, enhance internal processes, and support a thriving team that drives our mission forward.” 

With the added expertise of Olivier Roubi and Dr. Zouhair Lazreq, Orange EV will continue to deliver the industry’s best-engineered terminal trucks, offering a turnkey solution that simplifies deployment and maximizes customer success. 

Orange EV | https://orangeev.com/

Height safety leader, Guardian, proudly announces the promotion of Kevin Gee to Chief Marketing Officer and USA Chief Revenue Officer. Since joining Guardian in March 2024 as Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin has been instrumental in advancing product innovation, enhancing industry engagement, and solidifying Guardian’s 360-degree height safety brand strategy. In his expanded role, Kevin will now also oversee USA sales, drive customer and end-user-centric partnerships, and spearhead revenue growth initiatives.

“I am extremely excited and honored to continue my career growth with Guardian and look forward to achieving new heights in 2025 and beyond.” said Kevin. “We have an exciting year ahead filled with a host of new products, commercial initiatives, and a renewed focus on working with our commercial and end-user partners to keep delivering disruptive innovation.”

With over 12 years of leadership in strategic product development and marketing within the tool and construction industries, Kevin brings a proven track record of driving success. Prior to Guardian, he played a pivotal role at Milwaukee Tool, leading global teams in developing and commercializing cutting-edge cordless tools and equipment, an experience that has equipped him with the expertise and vision to drive growth and innovation at Guardian.

We are excited for the future under Kevin’s leadership as we build on our commitment to delivering innovative, industry-leading height safety solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners.

Guardian | guardianfall.com

EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), a leading renewable energy developer and a top-five renewable energy owner and operator in the United States, unveiled Sandrini I & II Solar Energy Park (Sandrini I & II) today in Kern County.

The two-phase solar energy park includes the 200 megawatt (MW) Sandrini I, which has a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Shell Energy North America (SENA), and 100 MW Sandrini II, which has a 15-year PPA with Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). Both phases of the project were commissioned in Q4, 2024.

Generating enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 76,000 California homes each year, Sandrini I has already disbursed more than $510,000 in tax payments to local governments since 2023. This has strengthened the local community by enhancing schools, roads, and other essential services. Additionally, approximately $15 million will be paid to local landowners, who lease a portion of their land to house the solar energy park’s infrastructure. Sandrini I & II employed more than 200 workers during construction and will create several permanent operations positions.

Power from Sandrini II will provide over a third of the total annual electric need for customers of RCEA’s community choice energy program. RCEA supplies more than 90% of the electricity for Humboldt County on California’s rural north coast. Completion of Sandrini II marks a large step toward RCEA meeting its goal of supplying 100% renewable energy to its customers by 2030.

RCEA is one of 25 community choice aggregators (CCAs) now serving communities in California. Sandrini II adds to 8,000 MW of new clean energy resources brought online to date by California’s CCAs. An additional 10,000 MW of new clean resources are in contract with these CCAs and are currently under development or construction. The CCAs’ clean energy projects collectively support over 36,000 construction jobs across California and the West.

The construction and ongoing operations of Sandrini I & II will continue to aid in local spending and support of small businesses - namely restaurants, hotels, and retailers - located near the project. Both phases of the solar energy park also yield environmental benefits, including saving more than 381 million gallons of water each year compared to the amount of water that conventional generation sources would need to produce the same amount of capacity. These water savings, in turn, will help aid Kern County’s water conservation goals.

EDPR NA is a clean energy leader in California, currently operating six renewable energy projects in the State, totalling 488 MW of capacity. Its projects include three phases of the Rising Tree Wind Farm, two phases of the Lone Valley Solar Park, and the Windhub A Solar Park. EDPR NA’s California portfolio also boasts several other solar parks and battery storage facilities, including the recently completed 200 MW solar and 40 MW storage Scarlet Solar Energy Park.

EDPR NA | www.edpr.com/north-america

Expansion at the beginning of the year: NeXtWind, the leading provider of optimized energy hubs using existing onshore wind farms in Germany, has acquired twelve wind farms located in western, northern and eastern Germany. Their current generating capacity of 140 MW will be expanded by NeXtWind to well over 300 MW through repowering and further optimizations. The Berlin-based company thus increases its total repowering capacity of renewable energy to 1,400 MW, which is equivalent to substituting approx. 1.5 nuclear power plant reactors. Therefore, NeXtWind will be able to supply around 1 million households in Germany with green electricity every year.

NeXtWind is acquiring the wind farms in a share deal from Nadara, one of the largest Independent Power Producers (IPP) of onshore wind farms in Europe. The wind farms were built between 2007 and 2011 and therefore have a high repowering potential using technology advancements of the past 15 years.

“This acquisition is a huge milestone for NeXtWind, and also a further step for the energy transition in Germany,” said Lars Meyer, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of NeXtWind. “We are building the next generation of flexible energy infrastructure to drive the transition to a decarbonized, decentralized, and digitalized energy system that meets the growing demand for clean power from energy-intensive applications such as AI, as well as the electrification of mobility and the heating sector.”

2024 has been a breakthrough year for NeXtWind – in terms of underlying assets, repowering potential and team growth. The company has expanded its repowering capacity to 1.4 GW. The portfolio currently consists of 230 (previously 160) wind turbines in 37 wind farms. The optimized wind farms will generate several times more energy. NeXtWind is aiming for a generation potential of 3,000 MW by 2028.

NeXtWind focuses on optimizing existing wind energy sites with outdated turbines, replacing the turbines with more efficient ones, and expanding the sites through constructive and trustful cooperation with the local communities to install additional turbines on the site. By co-locating complementary and flexible technologies, the energy output can be further increased and managed. Previously focused on northern and eastern Germany, the footprint is now being strengthened in western Germany.

NeXtWind was advised on this transaction by Augusta & Co (Buy-Side advisory), Watson Farley & Williams and AKD (Legal), PricewaterhouseCoopers (Finance & Tax), TÜV SÜD (Technical & Yield), Marsh (W&I), Enervis (Market) and AON (Insurance).

NeXtWind | www.nextwind.com