Higher Power PV Modules Drive Up BOS Costs

Chaberton Energy invites Maryland farmers to respond to two requests for proposal (RFPs) to farm up to 27 acres of land in Montgomery County as part of an agrivoltaics initiative. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar power projects with farming activities.

This opportunity will provide selected farmers with access to land at no cost as well as compensation for vegetation management at the site. Chaberton is working with Okovate Sustainable Energy to solicit and evaluate proposals from farmers interested in using the land under and between the projects’ rows of solar panels for crop farming and/or animal grazing.

The RFPs come at a time when Maryland imports more than 40% of its electricity, leaving ratepayers exposed to volatile wholesale prices. These projects bring distributed solar closer to the communities that need it most, providing lower-cost energy to nearly 1,000 local households while supporting agricultural businesses in the area.

“These projects are among Montgomery County’s first agrivoltaics projects,” said Ryan Boswell, vice president of development for Chaberton Energy. “Everybody benefits when farmers, communities, local governments and energy developers work together toward a shared set of goals.”

The solar projects align with Maryland’s renewable energy and agricultural sustainability goals. Selected farmers will develop tailored farming plans for each site and seek the required review from the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture.

“Together we’re building out the energy network we need while keeping agricultural land productive,” said Miles Braxton, CEO and co-founder of Okovate. “This is an opportunity to provide land access to local farmers looking to expand or start their operations, while also leasing land for solar that helps meet the growing energy demand.”

Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf in Dickerson, Md., will have a generating capacity of 5.23 megawatts. It spans 19 acres, with 16 acres covered by the solar array and a 3-acre buffer zone. Approximately 10 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 13 acres are available for agricultural use.

Chaberton Solar Ramiere in Poolesville, Md., is a 3.88 megawatt project spanning 11 acres, with approximately 8 acres covered by the solar array and a 2-acre buffer zone. Approximately 5 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 7 acres are available for agricultural use.

Farmers or agricultural operators responding to the RFPs must submit a proposal that provides a clear vision for how they will utilize one or both agrivoltaics sites and outlines their approach to vegetation management, agricultural production and sustainable practices. Complete information as well as application forms are available at chaberton.com/RFP26.

Chaberton | https://www.chaberton.com/

Aspen Power, a leading distributed generation platform dedicated to building the clean energy future, announced that Jorge Vargas, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, is leaving the role. Michael Sheehan, previously Chief Operating Officer of Dimension Energy, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer at Aspen Power.

Vargas co-founded Aspen Power in 2021 and served initially as a Managing Partner and subsequently as CEO through every stage of the company's growth, from initial platform inception to raising more than $1 billion and building out a diversified distributed generation portfolio across 19 states. He will stay with the company through a 60-day transition period.

“Carlyle is proud of what Jorge and the Aspen team have accomplished since its investment in 2022, and we are grateful for his leadership and contributions in building Aspen into the platform it is today,” said Saurabh Anand, Managing Director, Carlyle. “This transition positions Aspen for its next phase of growth. Michael brings the operational discipline, commercial judgment, and industry experience needed to scale the platform and execute on the significant opportunities ahead. We remain highly committed to Aspen Power’s long-term success and to supporting the company’s continued growth.”

"Distributed solar has reshaped how communities and businesses across this country access affordable clean energy. Aspen was built to accelerate that, and what this team has delivered is something I am genuinely proud of," said Jorge Vargas, Co-Founder and outgoing CEO, Aspen Power. “The foundation is strong, the mission is clear, and I have no doubt the best is still ahead. I leave with full confidence in where this company is headed."

Sheehan brings more than 15 years of renewable energy experience. At Dimension Energy, he served as the company's first COO, overseeing operations across its 2+ GW community solar pipeline. Earlier, he served as Chief Customer Officer at BrightNight, where he led origination and commercial operations in the U.S. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at NextEra Energy Resources, where he oversaw development, construction, and operation of electric transmission assets and managed more than 6 GW of renewable and storage projects across the U.S., Canada, and Spain.

"Aspen has built an impressive platform making my focus in the near term straightforward: execute on the pipeline, strengthen partner relationships, and continue building the operational infrastructure that enables disciplined growth," said Michael Sheehan, incoming CEO, Aspen Power. “At the same time, we have an opportunity to scale this platform in a way that delivers consistent value for our partners, investors, and the communities we serve.”

Aspen Power will continue to operate as an independent power producer with a clear focus on execution, disciplined growth, and long-term value creation. The company’s development pipeline, partner relationships, and strategic priorities remain unchanged, with an emphasis on scaling a durable distributed generation platform positioned to meet growing demand for flexible, locally delivered energy solutions across the United States.

Aspen Power | aspenpower.com

PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in North American energy infrastructure development and asset ownership, is pleased to announce the Brooklyn Project has completed the execution of the Standard Small Generator Interconnection and Operating Agreement (SSGIA) for the Brooklyn ground-mounted community solar project (the "Project"). The Brooklyn project is approximately 6.86 MW in size, and the most recent news regarding the Project can be found here.

The Project has also received the necessary permits from the municipality. Given the successful completion of the SSGIA, PowerBank will now be proceeding to environmental permitting. Following the completion of the necessary permitting and approvals, PowerBank expects to begin construction activities in the Fall of 2026.

The Project is owned by AI Renewable Flow-through Fund and PowerBank is the lead developer for the Project. PowerBank has partnered with local Nova Scotia's trusted engineering firm, Trimac Engineering, to deliver the Projects. PowerBank has been at the forefront of community solar development in the United States with over 50 MW of community solar projects completed and is proud to be deploying its expertise in Canada as the community solar market develops there.

Over the lifetime of the Project, it is expected to generate approximately $3.86 Million in electricity savings for the local community in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. These savings come with the additional benefits of local job opportunities, economic growth, local educational opportunities regarding renewable energy, improved grid reliability, and emissions reductions.

Community Solar is a cornerstone of Nova Scotia's bold commitment to achieve 80% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero by 2035.

Unlike traditional rooftop systems, community solar allows renters, businesses, and homeowners to subscribe to the solar farm and receive bill credits and savings of $0.02/kWh—without installing any equipment. Project feeds directly into the local electricity grid and offers a flexible, accessible way for Nova Scotians to participate in the clean energy transition. As one of only four community solar contracts awarded under the program so far, the Brooklyn project contributes approximately 6.68 MW DC to the 100 MW AC of planned solar additions that will help reduce fossil fuel reliance and drive local economic development.

This news comes following Earth Day on April 22, observed around the world each year during the month of April, and serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable energy. The completion of the SSGIA for the Brooklyn project is a meaningful contribution to that mission — and it reflects just one milestone within a growing portfolio of projects at various stages of development. PowerBank currently maintains a 1 GW+ pipeline across North America, including projects in early and late-stage development and projects under construction. Following this Earth Day, PowerBank is proud to demonstrate that clean energy development is not simply a commitment — it is an active, measurable reality being built across communities.

The Project leverages PowerBank's proven execution capabilities and strategic partnerships. With over 100 MW of projects built and a 1+ GW development pipeline, PowerBank brings institutional-grade development expertise to Atlantic Canada. The Project's clear timeline ensures near-term EPC revenue generation, and positions PowerBank to obtain additional development contracts in the high-growth community solar market. All MW numbers presented as MW DC unless otherwise specified.

PowerBank Corporation | www.powerbankcorp.com

Radian Generation, a global partner delivering full lifecycle solutions for renewable energy assets, offers two tailored options designed to meet North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance. For clean energy sites generating 20 megawatts (MW) and above, Radian provides a comprehensive, full-service proactive offering and a “Lite” program to help Independent Power Producers (IPPs) meet the May 15 deadline. Both have been developed based on Radian’s many years of experience delivering NERC programs for larger entities and projects. Now, with the fast-approaching registration requirements, the company is aligning its offerings to meet the urgency and scale of this transition.

IPPs of these mid-sized solar, wind, storage and hybrid sites must now incorporate these NERC standards for sites that are under construction as well as fully operational power plants. This presents significant challenges, requiring the immediate development of NERC-specific policies, procedures, and training programs that historically had not been necessary.

“Today, developers are navigating a significant shift, as they will need to comply with NERC standards for their new-build 20+ MW projects. Additionally, IPPs with operational assets -- which were never designed for a NERC-regulated environment in the first place -- must move quickly to ensure compliance,” said Kellie Macpherson, EVP of Compliance and Security at Radian Generation. “In addition to our strategic, comprehensive offering for organizations that want to align their entire portfolio under a higher standard, we are also committed to meeting clients where they are today with a practical, clearly defined Category 2-focused compliance path through our Lite offering. Both approaches are built on real-world operational experience and are designed to reduce risk, close gaps, and strengthen compliance culture across the organization.”

Full NERC Category 2 Compliance Offering

For organizations seeking a more robust and scalable approach, Radian’s full-service compliance solution extends beyond current Category 2 requirements to include additional Generator Owner (GO) standards, effectively aligning with Category 1 compliance standards.

This approach establishes a higher compliance posture across assets, mitigates regulatory concerns, and ensures consistency. It also positions organizations ahead of anticipated regulatory changes, minimizing future disruption, and allowing IPPs to proactively standardize compliance frameworks across their portfolios with the added comfort of long-term risk mitigation for the investment.

“Lite” NERC Category 2 Compliance Offering

The “Lite” solution is a focused, efficient program built around the currently approved NERC Reliability Standards for Category 2 facilities. This includes full support for training, development, implementation, documentation, and regulatory filing across the 11 currently applicable standards.

This option provides a clear, present-day compliance snapshot and is ideal for organizations seeking to meet current requirements efficiently. As additional standards are approved, the program can be expanded accordingly.

Protecting our Energy Infrastructure from Cyber Threats

As the energy sector prepares for the NERC Category 2 compliance requirements, it is imperative to strengthen cybersecurity standards across distributed generation assets. While the inclusion of cybersecurity measures in NERC requirements marks an important step forward, many of the current standards lack the prescriptive rigor necessary to fully safeguard the U.S. electrical grid against evolving threats.

“The stakes are especially high for Category 2 assets, as these sites play a critical role in supporting local communities, hospitals, and essential services. In some cases, critical infrastructure operates without properly configured firewalls or other foundational safeguards, exposing them to preventable risks,” Macpherson remarked.

Radian is addressing this challenge by bringing its deep cybersecurity expertise to developers and IPPs that build, own and operate Category 2 sites. Building on its established work with Category 1 assets, Radian’s team provides comprehensive, practical solutions that go beyond minimum compliance. This includes implementing robust authentication protocols, hardening network defenses, and ensuring continuous monitoring and response capabilities tailored to the unique needs of distributed energy resources.

Helping to Build a Culture of Compliance

Across the Bulk Electric System, Radian brings extensive experience in developing and implementing NERC compliance programs. Recognizing that no two clean energy sites are alike, the company emphasizes customized program design that accounts for operational nuances.

Its team includes former control room operators, asset managers, and NERC compliance experts, providing practical, real-world insights into day-to-day operations and up-and-coming requirements.

Macpherson concludes, “With regulatory expectations continuing to evolve, Radian Generation remains committed to helping our clients navigate complexity, contain cybersecurity risks, and build sustainable compliance cultures.”

Radian Generation | https://radiangen.com/

TGS, a global provider of energy data and intelligence, announced that the world’s most extensive multi-client floating LiDAR and metocean campaign has reached its two-year milestone.

The buoys offshore Germany are equipped with a multitude of sensors, allowing detailed measurements of wind, metocean and environmental data. Collected data is streamed to shore and used to enhance decision-making to support several current and future wind lease rounds in the German Bight.

This milestone demonstrates the reliability of TGS’ wind and metocean measurement capabilities in one of Europe’s most active offshore wind markets. Since deployment, both LiDAR buoys have delivered more than 96% data availability, supporting technical, commercial and regulatory use.

The TGS multi-client approach, where multiple customers can subscribe to the same floating LiDAR and metocean data, significantly advantages offshore wind developers by reducing development costs and timelines and providing a unique, early opportunity to minimize uncertainty in future energy generation.

Operating two systems concurrently also enabled TGS to identify and quantify long-distance wake effects from neighboring wind farms, an increasingly important factor as offshore regions become more densely developed.

Several offshore wind developers are using TGS data to advance their German Bight projects. The full 24-month dataset is now available for licensing to additional developers and other stakeholders.

In addition to wind speed measurements from two floating LiDAR buoys, the TGS data package includes 12 months of critical metocean data, such as significant wave heights and ocean current profiles, acquired via Directional Waverider buoys and seabed-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers.

“TGS is committed to supporting the growth of global offshore wind energy with data and insights. High-quality wind and metocean data significantly mitigate investment risks and empower informed decisions across the wind development lifecycle,” said Ivar Slengesol, VP Wind & Metocean at TGS. “Detecting wake effects and making the data available for licensing demonstrates the value of long-term measurements.”

TGS also noted formal recognition of its floating lidar provider, Green Rebel, which achieved Carbon Trust Floating Lidar Stage 3 accreditation for the buoys used in the campaign. Stage 3 is the highest certification level and further supports the dataset’s bankability.

For more information about licensing the Germany floating lidar dataset, please contact TGS.

TGS | www.tgs.com 

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, acted as Technical Advisor to Galp on the acquisition of a 351 MW portfolio of 17 operational onshore wind farms in Spain from Helia Funds, a platform co-sponsored by Plenium Partners and Bankinter Investment. Galp is a Portugal-based integrated energy company, operating across the full oil and natural gas value chain, as well as in renewable power generation and marketing.

The transaction required a coordinated technical assessment across 17 sites operating under different contractual and regulatory frameworks. DNV conducted site inspections, operational performance reviews, energy yield assessments, turbine technology evaluations, remaining useful lifetime analyses, and permitting checks within a compressed timeline. The scope also included an evaluation of each asset’s repowering potential, which is becoming increasingly relevant as Spain’s wind fleet ages.

"Evaluating 17 individual wind farms across different technical and contractual regimes within a tight deadline demands both breadth and precision," said Brice Le Gallo, Vice President and Regional Director for Energy Systems in Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America at DNV. "The complexity is real, and that's precisely where rigorous due diligence determines whether an acquisition creates or destroys value."

For Galp, the transaction accelerates the company’s strategy to enhance and diversify its renewable generation base in the growing Iberian power market. For the Spanish market, the transaction reflects a broader dynamic: established energy companies are increasingly acquiring operational wind assets rather than greenfield projects, prioritising speed to capacity.

Repowering, the process of upgrading existing wind assets and power plants with new and more efficient technology, is an important part of this context. Spain has set a target to source 74% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, and upgrading existing wind assets is expected to play a key role alongside new capacity additions.

According to DNV’s Spain Energy Transition Outlook, installed renewable capacity in the country is projected to increase significantly by mid-century, with wind capacity reaching around 120 GW by 2050, alongside continued solar expansion. Delivering this growth will depend on progress in permitting, grid development and interconnections.

These priorities are echoed in DNV’s newly published report Spain’s path to decarbonization, which highlights that Spain’s power-sector progress - with renewables already supplying 56% of electricity - must now be matched by continued policy support for wind and solar, network upgrades, and stronger stakeholder and community engagement to integrate rising volumes of variable renewables.

The report was published ahead of WindEurope 2026 in Madrid, where the industry focused on accelerating wind deployment across the continent. Spain’s strong growth in wind and solar capacity and increasing focus on asset optimisation and repowering - trends reflected in this transaction - highlight the market momentum that was central to discussions at this key regional industry gathering.

DNV | www.dnv.com

Leading renewable energy consultancy and service provider, Natural Power has successfully supported Network Rail in securing a five-year renewable energy supply agreement, marking a significant milestone in corporate decarbonisation and the evolution of power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the UK.

(photo credit RWE)

Acting as technical advisor, Natural Power worked closely with Network Rail throughout a regulated tender process designed to identify a suitable renewable energy project capable of delivering reliable, medium-term electricity supply. The scope of Natural Power’s work included providing input into the tender design and undertaking detailed technical evaluations of multiple bidders.

Working alongside other specialist advisors responsible for commercial and legal assessments, Natural Power’s independent technical due diligence played a key role in informing Network Rail’s final decision. Following a comprehensive evaluation process, RWE was selected as the preferred supplier.

Under the agreement, renewable electricity will be supplied from the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind project, providing around 300 GWh of power annually. This will meet approximately 65% of Network Rail’s non-traction electricity demand, supporting a wide range of assets across its estate, including offices, depots and its managed stations.

Natural Power’s assessment focused on critical project delivery risks and performance considerations, including the technical capability and track record of bidders, the likelihood of projects being delivered within stated timelines, and the robustness of projected energy generation. This ensured that Network Rail could proceed with confidence that its chosen partner will meet its operational and decarbonisation objectives.

Neil Marshall, Advisory Lead for Onshore Wind at Natural Power, said: “As more corporates turn to PPAs to meet sustainability targets and manage energy costs, the need for robust technical oversight is becoming increasingly clear. Selecting a renewable energy partner is not solely a commercial decision, it requires a deep understanding of project feasibility, delivery risk, and long-term performance.

“Without appropriate technical scrutiny, corporate buyers face a range of potential risks, including project delays, underperformance in energy generation, and failure to meet decarbonisation commitments. In some cases, poorly managed projects may also introduce reputational challenges, particularly where environmental, consenting, or construction practices fall short of expectations. Natural Power is well-positioned to support organisations across sectors in navigating this increasingly complex landscape.”

Natural Power’s work with Network Rail demonstrates the value of integrating independent technical expertise into the procurement process. By identifying and mitigating risks early, corporate buyers can avoid costly delays, repeated procurement exercises, and missed sustainability targets.

The successful outcome of this project highlights a growing opportunity for corporate energy buyers to adopt a more rigorous, risk-informed approach to renewable energy procurement. By providing targeted technical advisory services - often representing a relatively small proportion of overall transaction costs - Natural Power enables clients to make informed decisions and secure reliable, high-quality renewable energy supply.

Natural Power | www.naturalpower.com