The urgent need to accelerate solar installations across the United States stands at the forefront of the nation's commitment to significantly decarbonize the energy grid in the fight against climate change. Achieving this ambitious target necessitates a concerted effort to overcome the existing barriers to rapid expansion. Streamlining the installation process, improving regulatory frameworks, and standardizing product names and specifications a....
As the world rapidly electrifies, the demand for clean, scalable, and cost-effective energy storage is skyrocketing. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind offer an abundant and sustainable supply of power, much of their potential remains untapped due to one major challenge: storage. The inability to store and distribute renewable energy efficiently results in enormous daily losses. The good news is that this problem has a solution: c....
Despite generally widespread support for clean, renewable energy, a growing number of solar, wind, and battery storage projects are being met with resistance at the local level. In fact, community opposition has become a leading cause of delays and cancellations, with a recent study revealing that roughly one-third of wind and solar projects are scrapped due to pushback — and nearly half experience delays of six months or mor....
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A new report from Guidehouse Research evaluates the market for Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) globally.
Efforts to electrify medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) have focused on those with predictable routes and enough downtime to return to a depot for charging. However, long-haul trucks, multi-shift vehicles, and those without access to private charging are harder to electrify. Solving this challenge requires new charging solutions. The MCS—a new standard in development—will provide up to 3.75 megawatts (MW) of continuous power, enabling ultra-fast charging for these vehicles. According to a new report from Guidehouse Research, as standardization occurs and the number of BE-MHDVs on the road grows, MCS sales and revenue are expected to increase. By 2033, the revenue from MCS is expected to reach $18.9 billion globally.
“For long-haul trucking, vehicles that are used for multiple shifts in a day, and vehicles without access to depot or private charging to have a successful transition to becoming battery electric (BE)-MHDVs, they must have both fast charging and an adequate public charging network,” says Jason Pandich, research analyst with Guidehouse Research. “BE-MHDVs and MCS have a symbiotic relationship, so increasing one enables the other to grow.”
Driving BE-MHDVs are government policies to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, government incentives, and the lower total cost of ownership (TCO) of a BE-MHDV compared to an internal combustion engine vehicle. Increasing the number of BE-MHDVs will encourage more deployments of MCS to serve the growing population, according to the report.
The report, Megawatt Charging System, provides an overview of the market for MCS by examining the technology, its recent standardization process, and the use cases it is best suited for. It also analyzes the drivers and barriers having an impact on the technology’s growth. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Research website.
Guidehouse Research | guidehouseresearch.com
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q2 2025 edition of The 50 States of Solar. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with a focus on net metering, distributed solar valuation, interconnection rules, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential demand and solar charges, financial incentives, and third-party ownership.
The report finds that 48 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, took some type of distributed solar policy action during Q2 2025 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions continuing to address net metering policies (68), community solar policies (48), and residential fixed charge or minimum bill increases (39). A total of 252 distributed solar policy actions were taken during Q2 2025, with the most actions taken in Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey.
Q2 2025 Policy Action on Net Metering, Rate Design, and Solar Ownership
The report identifies three trends in solar policy activity taken in Q2 2025: (1) states initiating studies into the valuation of distributed energy, (2) states supporting consumer protection measures for third-party owned systems, and (3) states adjusting and expanding property tax incentives for solar energy.
“This quarter, the value of distributed energy and solar across the country piqued the interest of state policymakers and regulators as they continue to refine their distributed generation compensation programs, with a number of states undertaking studies to provide insight into this value,” observed Cleo Carter, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “These studies will evaluate the potential costs and benefits associated with distributed generation, and provide recommendations on how those characteristics should be valued.”
The report notes the top five distributed solar policy actions of Q2 2025:
“As solar deployment continues across the country, decision-makers aimed to advance consumer protection for third-party owned systems this quarter,” noted Caitlin Flanagan, Policy Analyst at NCCETC. “Lawmakers implemented new consumer protection provisions and instigated investigations into consumer protection issues regarding solar leases, power purchase agreements, and other third-party financing and ownership structures.”
View the 50 States of Solar Q2 2025 Quarterly Report Executive Summary
View and Purchase the 50 States of Solar Q2 2025 Quarterly Report
NC Clean Energy Technology Center | http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu
In a joint effort to make battery recycling more accessible to Albertans, South Country Co-op has officially launched the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program - powered by Call2Recycle Canada - across all its retail locations. This initiative marks a major milestone, as South Country Co-op becomes the first Co-op in the Co-operative Retailing System to implement the program province-wide.
The partnership officially began in May 2025, with 24 South Country Co-op sites across 19 communities in southern Alberta now serving as active battery collection points. From gas bars and hardware stores to food retail locations, the Co-op's wide-reaching presence provides convenient access for residents to dispose of their used household batteries safely.
"At South Country Co-op, our purpose is Enriching Lives and Communities," says Heather Smith-Schenkey, HSE Manager. "By joining forces with Call2Recycle, we're making it easier for our members and customers to make environmentally responsible choices every day, right where they shop."
The battery recycling initiative reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and community safety. Through in-store collection boxes and educational point-of-purchase (POP) materials, the program helps prevent used batteries from ending up in landfills or causing safety hazards when improperly disposed of.
This collaboration builds on Call2Recycle Canada's ongoing efforts to expand its Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program, which officially launched in Alberta in April 2025. By partnering with trusted local retailers like South Country Co-op, Call2Recycle is increasing battery collection accessibility in urban and rural areas.
"We're proud to support South Country Co-op as they lead the way in battery stewardship within the Co-operative Retailing System," says Joseph Chung, VP Account Management at Call2Recycle. "This is a great example of how local Co-ops can drive meaningful environmental action in their communities while inspiring others across Alberta to do the same."
Call2Recycle and South Country Co-op hope this success story encourages more retail Co-ops and grocery partners to join the movement and help build a cleaner, safer Alberta.
For more information on how to recycle your household batteries, visit www.call2recycle.ca or stop by your local South Country Co-op store.
South Country Co-op | www.southcountryco-op.crs
Call2Recycle Canada | www.call2recycle.ca
Vestas is proud to announce the following order as part of our Q3 order intake:
Vestas | www.vestas.com
Tandem PV, a leader in next-generation solar technology, announced a $4 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to help accelerate the path to commercialization of its ultra-efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar panels. As Tandem PV expands domestic manufacturing, its technology offers a cost-effective, scalable solution for decarbonization and U.S. energy independence.
The award will fund extensive third-party testing and validation of the company’s panels, designed to be among the world’s most powerful and durable, to demonstrate their readiness for widespread deployment.
“This award accelerates our durability testing to bring us closer to delivering a new standard for clean energy and delivering high-efficiency solar that’s proven, reliable, and ready for the market,” said Colin Bailie, Founder and CTO, Tandem PV. “We’re grateful to the California Energy Commission’s leadership in investing in the technologies that will power the country’s clean energy future.”
Tandem PV’s solar panels stack a thin layer of perovskite, a powerful light-absorbing material, on top of conventional silicon solar cells. This dual-layer approach increases power output and reduces the cost of solar energy. The company’s panels currently achieve 28% efficiency and are 30 percent more powerful than the average silicon solar panel.
With this new grant funding, Tandem PV will partner with independent labs and technical institutions to rigorously assess its panels’ performance in real-world conditions, including their long-term durability, environmental resilience, and energy yield. The testing will build on the company’s internal results, which already show industry-leading efficiency and decades-worth of projected stability in the lab.
This is Tandem PV’s second major grant within a year. In late 2024, the company was awarded $5.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance the manufacturing and commercialization of its tandem panels as part of the DOE’s thin-film solar initiative.
“California has long been a global leader in solar innovation, and we’re proud to be part of the next chapter,” said Scott Wharton, CEO of Tandem PV. “This support from the CEC signals strong momentum for tandem solar technology and helps ensure that the next wave of clean energy breakthroughs are developed and manufactured here in the U.S.”
Tandem PV | https://www.tandempv.com
Mangrove Lithium announced a major expansion initiative to address North America’s growing need for secure, reliable lithium refining. The new facility will be capable of producing 20,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium, enough to power over 500,000 electric vehicles annually. To anchor demand for the new facility, Mangrove has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple leading U.S. battery gigafactories. These agreements cover offtake for 20,000 tonnes per annum of battery grade lithium—demonstrating the market’s trust in Mangrove’s refining technology and operational readiness.
“These MoUs reflect the accelerating interest from global customers who recognize Mangrove as a strategic partner in securing lithium supply,” said Saad Dara, CEO and founder of Mangrove Lithium.
Annie Liu, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at Mangrove, added “Having negotiated deals for automakers like Tesla and Ford, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to have a reliable Western lithium supply chain—and that’s exactly what Mangrove delivers.”
The new plant will integrate spodumene concentrate processing, extending Mangrove’s electrochemical processing flowsheet upstream. This marks a critical step toward reshoring parts of the lithium value chain that are currently dominated by Chinese processing infrastructure.
“The fragility of the global lithium supply chain is growing every day,” said Dara. “Mangrove is building the foundation for a self-reliant, scalable, and sustainable North American lithium future.”
Earlier this year, China proposed an export ban on key lithium processing and extraction technologies—reinforcing the urgency for localized alternatives. Since the majority of lithium is currently processed in China, these restrictions pose a significant risk to global supply chains, making domestic capabilities like Mangrove’s increasingly vital. Mangrove’s feedstock and product flexible electrochemical refining technology not only cuts costs, but it reduces the carbon footprint of the supply chain, eliminates waste production, and brings lithium refining where it is needed most.
Construction is already underway at Mangrove’s first commercial facility in Delta, British Columbia, following a successful $35 million USD funding round. The project remains on track to begin operations by the end of the year, with capacity to produce enough lithium annually to support approximately 25,000 electric vehicles.
Mangrove Lithium | www.mangrovelithium.com
Envision Energy, a global leader in smart renewable energy solutions, and FERA Australia, a dedicated Australian renewable energy developer, announced an agreement to collaborate on the delivery of large-scale hybrid renewable energy projects across Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM). The agreement, signed during the Australia Energy Wind Conference in Melbourne, marks the first initiative of its kind in Australia, establishing a framework to develop projects with the potential to deliver up to 1 GW of wind generation capacity and 1.5 GWh of battery energy storage. This milestone reflects growing confidence in Envision's integrated technology platform, which combines advanced wind turbines, next-generation containerized battery systems, grid-forming power conversion systems (PCS), and the company's proprietary Hybrid Power Plant Controller (HPPC).
"This collaboration represents a major step forward in demonstrating how hybrid wind and storage solutions can unlock new possibilities for Australia's energy future," said Kane Xu, SVP and President of International Product Line of Envision Energy. "We are honored by the trust FERA Australia has placed in our technical capabilities across wind, storage, and grid integration, and we look forward to delivering projects that set new benchmarks for clean, flexible power."
"Partnering with Envision Energy marks an exciting milestone in our pursuit of large-scale renewable projects in Australia. Integrating wind power and energy storage in a hybrid project, will constitute an excellent model for future initiatives." said Sebastiano Falesi, Head of FERA Australia and Member of the Board of Directors of the FERA Group. "The rapid advancement of renewable energy projects is crucial for supporting Australia's transition to zero-carbon energy. Envision's cutting-edge technology and deep global expertise assure us that we have a reliable partner capable of helping us achieve new standards in performance and reliability."
The partnership will launch with a pilot project in Victoria, featuring Envision's full converter wind turbine, grid-forming battery storage, and advanced HPPC technology in a grid-connected hybrid plant. This project will serve as a showcase for how hybrid systems can enhance grid reliability and unlock new value streams, while demonstrating Envision's strong commitment to the Australian market and a shared aspiration to set new benchmarks in renewable energy innovation.
By combining FERA's local development expertise with Envision's proven global track record, the two companies aim to accelerate Australia's transition to a sustainable energy system.
Envision Energy | https://www.envision-group.com/
Alternative Energies Jul 15, 2025
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