Navigating the Complex Landscape of Energy Storage Permitting

Dynamic Ratings, a global provider of intelligent monitoring solutions for electrical power equipment, proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Sussex, Wisconsin. The new space marks a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and commitment to advancing grid reliability and asset management solutions for utilities and other critical industries.

Investing in Customer Success

The celebration event, held on November 12th, welcomed customers, vendors, community members, and employees to tour the new building and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests enjoyed guided facility tours, product demonstrations, and a lunch reception highlighting the company’s dedication to innovation and customer partnerships.

The celebration event, held on November 12th, welcomed customers, vendors, community members, and employees to tour the new building and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests enjoyed guided facility tours, product demonstrations, and a lunch reception highlighting the company’s dedication to innovation and customer partnerships.

“This new facility represents more than just additional space—it’s an investment in the future of Dynamic Ratings and our customers,” said Tony Pink, General Manager. “It allows us to expand our capabilities, enhance collaboration among teams, and continue developing advanced monitoring solutions that help our customers improve reliability, safety, and performance.”

To commemorate the milestone, Dynamic Ratings produced a drone video capturing the construction journey from groundbreaking to grand opening. The video showcases both the exterior and interior build process, providing a unique behind-the-scenes look at the transformation:

Watch the video here 

As part of the event, Dynamic Ratings launched a holiday toy drive to support local families in need. Attendees were encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to contribute to the collection box located in the building’s lobby—a reflection of the company’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and giving back.

Dynamic Ratings | https://www.dynamicratings.com/

Abraxas Power Corp. (the “Company” or “Abraxas”) announced that mobilization, coastal works, and land reclamation activities have officially commenced on the supporting islands for Project Solar City, the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development in the Maldives and the country’s inaugural 100-megawatt floating-solar project. The start of works follows the successful issuance of the Environmental Approval for the Project, authorizing the commencement of physical implementation activities.

The initiation of reclamation works marks a key project milestone, enabling the preparation of essential support infrastructure for the floating-solar platform and associated SEZ components. With early works now underway, Project Solar City has formally transitioned from planning into full-scale implementation.

Located approximately four kilometres offshore from Hulhumalé, Project Solar City will deploy a large-scale floating-solar platform interconnected to the national grid via submarine cable. As a fully additional renewable-energy asset, the Project will supply new clean-power capacity to the Maldives and serve as anchor infrastructure for a broader mixed-use SEZ framework that supports economic diversification beyond tourism.

Total project investment is expected to exceed USD 100 million and the total SEZ investment is expected to exceed USD 187 million. Project Solar City is expected to materially contribute toward achieving the Maldives’ national goal of generating 33% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Regulatory milestones achieved to date include the issuance of the first project permit in April 2024, the SEZ Permit in February 2025, the Environmental Approval in November 2025, and the signing of the Investment Agreement on 1 July 2025, formally designating Project Solar City as the Maldives’ inaugural SEZ development.

The Project is being developed by APM SPV Pvt Ltd, the dedicated project company and majority owned and managed by Abraxas.

“The commencement of coastal works and land reclamation for Project Solar City marks a transformative moment for both Abraxas and the Maldives,” said James Colter Eadie, Chief Executive Officer of Abraxas. “Securing the Environmental Approval and beginning reclamation activities demonstrate the Project’s strong technical foundations and the steady regulatory progress behind it. This is the country’s first SEZ development and its first floating-solar project at national scale. Once commissioned, the Project will help the Government achieve its NDC target of 33% renewable-energy integration while significantly improving foreign-currency resilience and national energy security by reducing exposure to global fuel commodity markets."

Abraxas acknowledges the strong collaboration with national stakeholders that has enabled the Project to progress to this stage and reiterates its commitment to delivering Project Solar City to the highest technical, environmental, and operational standards.

Abraxas Power | https://www.abraxaspower.com/

ComEd presented a $930,000 electric vehicle (EV) rebate check to West Aurora School District 129, helping provide funding to electrify the district’s school bus fleet. The school district, together with its partners Highland Electric Fleets and Blue Bird, has added 27 EV school buses and 28 EV chargers to support student transportation. This investment makes the district one of the largest electric school bus fleets operating in ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory, and one of the largest recipients of an EV school bus rebate through ComEd’s Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan.

“ComEd is proud to fund electrification projects like West Aurora School District 129’s and hundreds of others across the region, as our customers and communities take steps toward a lower carbon future,” said Gil Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd. “EV rebates are helping reduce the upfront costs while also bringing us closer to achieving the state’s energy and climate goals.”

Since the launch of ComEd’s EV rebate programs in February of 2024, ComEd has awarded nearly $130 million in EV rebate funding in 354 northern Illinois zip codes—helping fund more than 8,700 EV charging ports and over 2,700 fleet electric vehicles. Eighty percent of the rebates paid have gone to low-income customers or organizations located in, or primarily serving, low-income and Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs).

The new electric buses will reduce emissions in the community and provide a quieter, more comfortable experience for students, drivers and the surrounding community. West Aurora is committed to improving operational efficiency and environmental performance across its schools.

“West Aurora is proud to lead with actions that strengthen our schools and our community,” said Dr. Angie Smith, SD129 Associate Superintendent of Operations. “From energy efficiency to transportation, these investments reduce emissions, improve air quality and create a healthier environment for students, staff and families across our district.”

Funding for fleet EVs, including school buses, and related infrastructure is an essential step to reducing barriers to EV adoption. ComEd’s EV rebate programs are a requirement of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), a landmark climate law passed in Illinois aiming to put 1 million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. Currently, there are over 150,000 EVs registered in Illinois, with nearly 90 percent operating in ComEd’s service territory, up from 19,000 registered EVs in northern Illinois in 2019.

“Reaching Illinois’ goals for a cleaner transportation future depends on advancing fleet electrification plans, including school bus fleets, to reduce tailpipe emissions throughout our state,” said Megha Lakhchaura, EV Officer for the state of Illinois. “West Aurora School District 129 is leading by example in their fleet electrification efforts, thanks to initiatives like the ComEd EV rebate and the Clean School Bus programs. The work of programs like this are making transportation electrification more accessible for all northern Illinois businesses and communities.”

Electrifying transportation—especially vehicle fleets—can create tangible benefits for all communities and families across northern Illinois, including health benefits in communities which have traditionally borne the brunt of climate change and air pollution. ComEd’s EV related rebates will continue into 2028, designed to support business and municipalities as they transition to electric fleets in Illinois. Projects located in, or primarily serving, low-income areas or EIECs will be eligible for higher rebate amounts and will continue to receive more than 50 percent of ComEd’s EV rebate budget.

“Reducing emissions from vehicles, especially heavy-duty vehicles like school buses, is one of the most effective steps we can take to improve air quality and public health in Illinois,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health Association. “ComEd’s continued support of transportation electrification funding is allowing businesses, communities and school districts like West Aurora to achieve their electrification goals and help eliminate pollution and create cleaner air for all our communities.”

“The Environmental Law & Policy Center celebrates West Aurora School District 129’s launch of its new electric school bus fleet. This transition to zero-emission buses will bring healthier, quieter rides for students, their drivers and the neighborhoods these buses serve,” said Genevieve Kwan, Illinois Government Affairs Representative at the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We’re thrilled to see this partnership come to life—leveraging federal and ComEd funding, and Highland Fleets’ expertise—to build what may now be the largest electric school bus fleet in northern Illinois. We’re also excited to see these buses support the grid when they’re not performing their critical job of safely transporting student, enabling the district to send power back to the grid and receive compensation for that service.”

"These kids and drivers will no longer breathe in tailpipe emissions. These buses will not release tailpipe emissions throughout the community. And the partnership between the school district, Highland Electric Fleets and ComEd ensures these buses will charge at times that are most beneficial to the local grid,” said Tim Farquer, founder and administrative lead of Bus2Grid. “In addition, when fully charged, these new buses hold more than 4 megawatts of stored energy. That's the equivalent of over 300 Tesla Powerwalls. That makes us equally excited to see this partnership unlock the potential for these school buses to export energy and reduce constraints on the local grid. This project reflects everything Bus2Grid stands for, and we couldn't be more happy for our friends at West Aurora, Highland Electric Fleets and ComEd for working together to pull this off. I can't wait to see more and more of these projects deployed around the state."

To help customers connect to the benefits of EVs, ComEd offers various resources including, the ComEd EV Toolkit, EV Ambassador Program, EV Readiness program, EV Load Capacity Map, Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Service Provider Network, EV Dealership Network and more.

ComEd | https://www.comed.com/

Gridware announced a $55 million Series B strategic growth round led by Tiger Global and Generation Investment Management to accelerate deployment of its continuous grid monitoring technology globally. The round also continues support from existing investors Sequoia Capital, Convective Capital, Fifty Years, True Ventures, Lowercarbon, and Y Combinator.

Gridware’s pole‑mounted Gridscope system enables Active Grid Response (AGR) by measuring mechanical, electrical, and environmental signals and enabling real-time understanding of grid conditions—identifying hazards as they emerge. By pinpointing the location and identifying the cause of outages, AGR positions line crews to respond quickly and safely, and before disaster occurs. Gridware’s solution empowers utilities to restore power faster, and in some cases prevent failures all together, ultimately strengthening the resilience of our grid.

“Our work with U.S utilities shows how real‑time visibility and cost‑effective fault identification can meaningfully improve the way distribution grids operate,” said Tim Barat, Co‑Founder and CEO of Gridware. “We’re now seeing global interest in this more modern approach to grid operations. The latest funding allows us to continue to support utilities in the U.S. while also preparing for international deployments.”

In the U.S., Gridscopes have been deployed on tens of thousands of poles, and the company’s utility partners collectively serve approximately 40 percent of electricity customers nationwide. One partner, Duquesne Light Company (DLC) in Pittsburgh, Pa., recently earned the 2025 Charles Steinmetz Top Innovator in Network or Grid Operations Award from Public Utilities Fortnightly (PUF) following its initial roll-out with Gridware.

“Gridware’s unique approach to real-time grid monitoring strongly supports Duquesne Light Company’s core mission to deliver safe, reliable power to our customers. After a successful pilot phase, we deployed 1,700 additional Gridscope devices across the Pittsburgh region for greater visibility into grid conditions – helping us respond to issues with increased precision and speed,” said Josh Gould, Director of Advanced Grid Solutions and Strategic Planning, DLC.

More frequent disruptions from extreme weather, while also trying to manage affordability during upcoming working sessions with utilities and regulators in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, Gridware will explore how its AGR technology can support faster restoration, increased safety, and long‑term reliability across Europe’s distribution networks.

“Utilities worldwide are facing similar pressures: increasing demand and aging infrastructure,” said Barat. “Operators are looking to improve reliability without costly system overhauls. Gridware is well positioned to help.”

Generation Investment Management, based in London, highlighted the global relevance of Gridware’s platform.

“Gridware solves a critical need for low-cost, real-time grid observability, enabling grid resiliency through a true systems-level solution,” said Dave Easton, Partner, Growth Equity, Generation Investment Management. “However, Gridware does not just help the grid rise to the challenges it faces, we believe it can also help us build an energy system that works better for everyone, including providing for safer communities and more equitable power consumption.”

This latest funding enables the company to expand its manufacturing capacity and scale deployment operations while strengthening its operating model to best align with the utility industry’s multi‑year programs and regulatory processes. It is steadily ramping hiring across engineering functions—hardware, firmware, software, data science, machine learning, and applied research—to continue rapid innovation of existing and emerging technologies.

For information on career opportunities, visit www.gridware.io/careers.

Gridware | www.gridware.io

When Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica with 195-mile-per-hour winds in October 2025, power grids collapsed and water systems failed across the island. But high in the Cockpit Country mountains, one machine refused to quit.

A solar-powered atmospheric water generator deployed by AWG Contracting kept turning humid air into clean drinking water for the autonomous Maroon community of Accompong, producing nearly 400 gallons daily while conventional infrastructure lay in ruins.

"We designed this technology to do one thing — save lives," said Moses West, founder of AWG Contracting and the engineer behind the innovation. "Hurricane Melissa tested every limit of our engineering. The fact that the machine kept producing water when everything else failed shows what renewable resilience really means."

"Despite being flipped and battered by hurricane-force winds that overturned steel containers weighing 30,000 and 16,000 pounds, the AWG survived," said Chief Richard Currie, State of Accompong. "Within 48 hours, once the units were righted, the system was back online—producing clean, drinkable water powered entirely by the sun. That is not only a technological triumph—it is a humanitarian victory."

"Despite being flipped and battered by hurricane-force winds that overturned steel containers weighing 30,000 and 16,000 pounds, the AWG survived," said Chief Richard Currie, State of Accompong. "Within 48 hours, once the units were righted, the system was back online—producing clean, drinkable water powered entirely by the sun. That is not only a technological triumph—it is a humanitarian victory."

Operating entirely on solar energy, the MWF system survived the Category 5 storm. When Melissa's winds overturned the 40-foot container housing the generator and its solar array, local technicians, working with remote guidance from the AWG Contracting team, dried electrical compartments, replaced minor components, and restored full operation within hours.

The Accompong installation is the only atmospheric water system in Jamaica powered solely by renewable energy, and now stands as living proof that decentralized, off-grid infrastructure can endure extreme weather while providing life-saving resources.

A Growing Legacy of Water Security

From Flint, Michigan, to Puerto Rico and Jackson, Mississippi, the AWG Contracting has delivered safe water where conventional networks collapse. The Foundation's atmospheric-water technology is now viewed by global adaptation planners as a vital model for building resilience against climate-driven droughts, contamination, and storm damage.

"If we can make water in a hurricane, we can make it anywhere," West added. "This technology gives communities control over the most basic resource on earth: using nothing but sunlight and air."

The system emits no carbon, uses no chemicals, and requires no pipeline or groundwater extraction: a portable, sustainable blueprint for humanitarian and emergency response worldwide.

AWG Contracting | https://awgcontractingus.com/

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has upgraded its hydrogen-powered heavy-duty internal combustion engine (H₂-ICE) with a state-of-the-art turbocharger. The upgrades have significantly improved performance across the board, making the engine competitive with current long-haul diesel engines focused on fuel economy while maintaining near-zero tailpipe emissions

In 2023, SwRI converted a traditional natural gas-fueled internal combustion engine to run solely on hydrogen fuel with minimal modifications. It was integrated into a Class-8 truck as part of the Institute’s H₂-ICE project to demonstrate a cost-efficient hydrogen-fueled engine as an option for zero-tailpipe carbon dioxide heavy-duty transportation.

The new turbocharger unit increases the truck’s already solid performance by increasing peak torque from 1,494 to 1,760-foot pounds (lb-ft) and peak power from 370 to 440 horsepower (hp). Modern long-haul heavy-duty engines range from 1,450 to 1,850 lb-ft and range between 400-500 hp.

“Upgrading this driven turbocharger gave us the airflow needed to continue improving the engine’s performance,” said Chris Bitsis, assistant director of SwRI’s Powertrain Systems Engineering Department, who oversees combustion research programs. “For instance, in addition to the torque and horsepower gains, the engine’s peak efficiency has also improved to 44.0%, which is class-leading for a spark-ignited engine. The torque and power ratings are comparable with diesel trucks focused on fuel economy currently on the road with the bonus of near-zero tailpipe emissions.”

Hydrogen engines often struggle to maintain the airflow necessary during fast acceleration to eliminate preignition and minimize NO_X emissions. SwRI addressed this challenge by working with a commercial supplier that engineered the new turbocharger to SwRI’s specifications. The turbocharger shaft is mechanically linked to the crankshaft through a variable drive, allowing it to provide the necessary boost pressure on-demand.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of SwRI’s hydrogen combustion engine program and provides further evidence of the technology’s readiness,” Bitsis said. “We are excited to continue pushing this technology forward for a sustainable future.”

The Class 8 demonstration vehicle was developed as part of SwRI’s Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H₂-ICE) consortium. SwRI continues helping the automotive and transportation industries understand and address technical challenges in developing clean and efficient hydrogen vehicles. The consortium’s completed Class 8 H₂-ICE demonstration vehicle offers the long-haul trucking market another zero-greenhouse gas option. Learn more at H₂-ICE2.

“I am proud of our team at SwRI for demonstrating that there is a high efficiency, zero-emission transportation solution available to help reduce CO₂ and criteria pollutants,” said Daniel Stewart, Vice President of SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division. “The U.S. has the engine factories and supply chains necessary to put this technology into production today.”

SwRI has a multidisciplinary team dedicated to Hydrogen Energy Research initiatives to deploy decarbonization technologies across a broad spectrum of industries. Learn more at SwRI Hydrogen Energy Research.

For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/markets/automotive-transportation/automotive/hydrogen-powered-vehicles/hydrogen-internal-combustion-engine-2-h2-ice2-consortium.

Southwest Research Institute | www.swri.org

Russelectric, A Siemens Business, a leading manufacturer of power control systems and automatic transfer switches, offers its robust and reliable Emergency Power System which provides backup power during a utility power loss. The paralleling switchgear systems offer redundant programmable logic controller (PLC) controls and manual backup capability. Trusted by the largest critical facilities in the world, the Russelectric Emergency Power System has been used by renewable energy facilities. 

Complete systems are custom designed and fully manufactured by Russelectric. All systems are UL listed and can incorporate such sophisticated control functions as peak shaving and load curtailment. Russelectric paralleling systems incorporate dual, redundant, hot synchronized PLCs for system control. The unique system design allows manual start and synchronization of generator sets if automatic controls malfunction. Discrete switches, meters and control devices are standard to allow manual control capability in the event that both system PLCs fail.

Designed for maximum safety and operating simplicity, the systems are supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)-capable. A 23-inch LCD HMI touchscreen display enables operators to view system one-line diagrams, alarms, and setpoints. 

Load demand sensing determines the number of engine generators in operation based on the loading. The system permits first priority loads to transfer to the connected engine generator set, while delaying the transfer of lower priority loads until additional generator capacity has been connected. Lower priority loads then transfer to the emergency power system as generator sets are added to the bus.

Russelectric | www.russelectric.com