Why the West Needs to Secure Heavy Rare Earths for the Future of Advanced Manufacturing

First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQB: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully produced commercial-grade lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") 18650 format battery cells using North American-sourced critical minerals, advancing its mission to localize the LFP battery supply chain in North America.

The LFP cathode and anode materials for the First Phosphate 18650 LFP battery cells were produced using North American critical minerals from the following supply sources:

• Phosphate: High-purity phosphoric acid produced from igneous phosphate concentrate extracted from the First Phosphate Bégin-Lamarche property in Quebec, Canada and processed in the pilot installations of Prayon Technologies of Belgium, Europe.

• Iron: Iron powder produced using magnetite concentrate from the First Phosphate Bégin-Lamarche property in Quebec, Canada and processed by GKN Hoeganaes of Tennessee, USA.

• Lithium: Lithium carbonate produced by Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) from its operations in Nevada, USA.

• Graphite: Natural graphite-based active anode material produced by Nouveau Monde Graphite (NYSE: NMG) from its operations in Quebec, Canada. 

"Today we demonstrate that North America, and Quebec in particular, possess the full spectrum of critical minerals and industrial capabilities to re-onshore LFP battery cell production," said John Passalacqua, CEO of First Phosphate. "It is important to remember that LFP battery technology originated in North America. Reclaiming this leadership is essential to securing North American energy storage, mobility, data center, robotics, and defense industry infrastructure."

The production process for the First Phosphate LFP 18650 Battery cells from North American critical minerals is viewable at: http://www.firstphosphate.com/NorthAmericanBatteryCells.

LFP 18650 battery cells are versatile lithium-ion batteries that are widely used in industries such as robotics, automation, military and defense, data centers, telecommunications, medical devices, consumer electronics and electric mobility.

LFP 18650 battery cells can be found in autonomous electronic devices such as robots, drones and UAVs, power chargers, laptops, power tools, electric bicycles and scooters, solar storage devices, home energy and power backup units, flashlights, digital cameras, night vision goggles, medical diagnostic equipment, data centers, AI infrastructure and telecommunications towers.

The LFP 18650 battery cells were assembled for First Phosphate by Ultion Technologies Inc (Las Vegas, Nevada), a private battery technology company specializing in LFP battery materials and cells with development and pack assembly operations for North American applications.

The First Phosphate LFP 18650 battery cells are being unveiled today by First Phosphate CEO, John Passalacqua, at the Oreba3 International Conference on Olivines for Rechargeable Batteries in memory of John B. Goodenough, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. For additional details, please see:  https://oreba3.ca/conference-agenda.

First Phosphate | www.firstphosphate.com

The global solar energy harvesting market was valued at USD 218.6 million in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% to reach USD 521 million by 2034. As the global push toward sustainable energy intensifies, solar energy harvesting technologies are rapidly emerging as critical components in the clean energy transition. With mounting concerns over climate change, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion, solar energy continues to attract attention for its long-term viability and minimal environmental footprint. Advances in photovoltaic (PV) technology, combined with decreasing costs of solar modules and inverters, have positioned solar energy harvesting systems as practical and affordable solutions for diverse applications. 

The market is experiencing robust interest from residential users, industrial players, and governmental bodies alike, spurred by policy incentives, tax credits, and an increasing preference for decentralized power systems. Additionally, the integration of AI, IoT, and real-time monitoring capabilities into solar systems is enhancing performance and making solar energy more adaptable to dynamic user demands. This momentum is also being reinforced by the growing prevalence of microgrids and the need for off-grid solutions in remote locations.

Here are the key growth drivers of the solar energy harvesting market:

1. Government Support & Policies

Subsidies, tax incentives, and feed-in tariffs from governments worldwide encourage adoption.

Global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) boost investment and development.

 2. Rising Demand for Clean Energy

Increasing awareness about climate change*and carbon emissions drives demand for renewable energy sources, especially solar.

3. Declining Cost of Solar Technology

Technological advancements and economies of scale have led to:

• Lower costs of solar panels (PV modules)
• Cheaper installation and maintenance

4. Industrial & Commercial Adoption

Factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings are adopting solar to:

• Reduce electricity bills
• Meet ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) targets

5. Rooftop Solar Growth

Urban and rural residential sectors increasingly install rooftop solar systems, aided by:

• Net metering policies
• Smart grid integration

6. Advancement in Energy Storage

Improved battery technologies (like lithium-ion and flow batteries) allow efficient energy storage and stable solar integration with the grid.

7. Expanding Off-grid Applications

In remote or underdeveloped areas, solar is used for:

• Off-grid lighting
• Water pumping
• Microgrids and rural electrification

8. Corporate Sustainability Goals

Large corporations commit to 100% renewable energy through RE100 initiatives, significantly boosting solar investment.

9. Global Urbanization & Electrification

Rapid urbanization and rural electrification programs, especially in Asia-Pacific and Africa, increase energy needs met by solar.

Ongoing advancements in solar panel technologies and energy storage systems continue to increase overall system efficiency while significantly reducing the payback period. These innovations are accelerating the widespread adoption of solar energy across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Both government entities and private institutions remain actively involved in promoting the transition to clean energy. Coupled with the declining prices of solar components, solar harvesting systems are becoming increasingly accessible and financially viable for a wider user base. As the global appetite for renewable and self-sustaining power sources rises, the market is drawing attention from both emerging players and established industry giants seeking to expand their portfolios.

Among the key components, energy harvesting transducers are witnessing increasing demand due to their ability to convert sunlight into usable electricity even under harsh environmental conditions. Their durability and capacity to perform in extreme temperatures or rugged terrains allow solar technologies to penetrate previously unreachable markets. These transducers facilitate uninterrupted, off-grid energy generation with minimal maintenance, making them ideal for use in mobile and remote deployments where conventional systems fall short.

Wireless sensor networks accounted for a 21.1% market share in 2024, with solar energy harvesting enabling extended functionality without the need for battery replacements. This makes them highly suitable for industrial automation, environmental monitoring, and smart city infrastructure. In consumer electronics, solar-powered devices such as wearables, smartphones, and laptops offer added value through self-charging capabilities and reduced maintenance. As awareness around sustainability grows, solar-enabled consumer devices are carving out a niche in the eco-friendly tech segment.

The U.S. Solar Energy Harvesting Market reached USD 55.4 million in 2024, supported by favorable tax incentives, rebate programs, and ongoing investment in smart grid integration and solar cell innovation. Leading companies in the market-including ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ABB, Perpetua Power, Powercast Corporation, Honeywell, Texas Instruments Incorporated, and STMicroelectronics-are focusing on innovation in micro-energy technologies, compact transducer designs, and partnerships with OEMs and IoT developers to drive growth across applications such as building automation, industrial control, and connected consumer products.

GMI Insights | https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/solar-energy-harvesting-market

EOLOGIX-PING expands its proven lightning strike detection system, :EVENT LIGHTNING, with the new Add-On Xweather. This integration provides wind farm operators worldwide with deeper insights into lightning events, helping to better assess risks, reduce inspection times, and lower maintenance costs.

The Add-On Xweather is a new upgrade to the existing :EVENT LIGHTNING product, developed in cooperation with Vaisala Xweather, the global leader in lightning detection. This software upgrade integrates data from the Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) and the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), offering wind turbine operators unparalleled insight into lightning events. The system provides detailed information such as signal strength, polarity, event type, distance and rise time. Thanks to seamless integration with :EVENT LIGHTNING, it enables alert notifications and prioritized inspections, allowing for a rapid response to any potential impact from lightning strikes.

"This cooperation combines the advantages of two systems in one. :EVENT LIGHTNING combined with the Add-On Xweather improves the localization accuracy of lightning strikes. Operators can make quicker decisions about necessary inspections, saving time and increasing efficiency,” explains Thomas Schlegl, CEO of EOLOGIX-PING.

The combination of prompt lightning strike detection with additional lightning data offers wind farm operators many advantages:

• Enhanced precision: With accurate and reliable lightning data (which wind turbine is struck, and IEC 61400 parameters) enables targeted reactions and well-founded decisions. This means that only the wind turbine that has been struck needs to be inspected.
• Improved asset protection: Early detection means that damage can be addressed when it is smaller and less critical.
• Seamless integration: Add-On Xweather is integrated into existing EOLOGIX-PING systems and can be software activated.
• Extended reporting function: More comprehensive and accurate lightning data improves root cause analysis and post-incident reporting.

"By combining data from Xweather's Global Lightning Dataset (GLD360) and the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), our add-on provides comprehensive insights into each lightning event, including signal strength, polarity, event type, distance, and rise time. We now know which turbine is struck and associated IEC 61400-24 parameters", continues Thomas Schlegl.

Webinar provides insights on what to do after a lightning strike

The practical, one-hour expert-led webinar “What to do after a lightning strike: Expert guidance to minimize turbine downtime”, designed for wind turbine operators by EOLOGIX-PING, Vaisala Xweather and Weather Guard Lightning Tech, will share proven best practices to detect, respond to, and minimize lightning damage before it escalates.

Date: Thursday, July 10^th, 2025

Time: starting at 9 a.m. CDT (which is 4 p.m. CEST)

The use of solar power is an important component on the path to a climate-neutral future. Numerous households around the world already use photovoltaic systems. In the event of power outages, PV systems and storage units must be disconnected from the public grid as quickly as possible. With the 743 relay, Gruner AG offers a groundbreaking product for this and other applications that combines convincing performance with ease of use. The German relay and actuator specialist will be presenting its solutions in person at RE+ in Las Vegas.

The sun as an energy source: sustainable, clean, and free of charge. A PV system with battery storage provides additional energy independence at home. Any surplus electricity generated can be conveniently fed back into the public grid in exchange for a refund. It is no surprise that households around the world have discovered this form of clean energy for themselves – and the trend is growing.

Problems can arise when there is a power failure on the grid. This is not uncommon, especially in regions with relatively unstable grid supply. “In this case, the PV system and battery must be disconnected from the grid to prevent unwanted feed-in,” explains Patrick Spreitzer, Managing Director of Gruner AG. “Our relay type 743 is the perfect choice for such anti-islanding cases.” Whereas in the past, the grid had to be disconnected manually, the Gruner 743 relay now isolates automatically and in a very short time as soon as a power failure is detected.

The performance data speaks for itself: electrical conductivity up to 200 A, 2-pole, UL certification, with microswitch for feedback on the switching status and additional switch for manual operation – the new Gruner relay type 743 is convincing all along the line. The new relay is used, for example, in meter collar adapters as a backup switch / islanding switch. It is installed between the meter and the house distribution, allowing the Gruner relay 743 to be used as a simple plug-and-play solution for retrofitting PV/storage systems.

The new 743 relay can also be used in other applications where a backup switch enables switching between the grid and a backup power source, such as generators for residential buildings, battery storage systems, and more. Compatibility with all leading manufacturers and UL certification are compelling arguments in favor of the new relay, with which Gruner is positioning itself as a strong partner for the North American market.

Relay 743: even more compact, even more reliable

The new Gruner Relay 743 is based on the well-established Relay Type 740, but has been further optimized in certain areas. On the one hand, there is the even more compact design for more flexible integration in confined installation environments. The Gruner developers have also successfully worked on further improving mechanical reliability. The 743 relay now features a manual actuator with a more stable haptic and optimized integration of the microswitch for precise feedback and increased contact reliability.

“Our decades of experience on the one hand and close communication with our customers in North America on the other are the essential foundations for innovation at Gruner,” says Spreitzer. “This is exemplified by the new 743 relay. Even more compact and perfectly adapted to common mounting brackets, as well as even easier to install – an ideal choice for all OEMs looking for a space-saving, reliable, and UL-compliant solution. We look forward to talking to customers and interested parties in person at RE+ in Las Vegas.”

Gruner and Green Energy – a perfect fit

As a pioneer in forward-looking relay technology, Gruner AG has been a reliable solution partner for a wide range of renewable energy sectors for many years. “The areas of application are diverse,” explains Gruner Managing Director Spreitzer. “For light mobility – e-scooters, tuk-tuks, motorcycles, scooters, pedelecs – we offer powerful solutions in the 48 to 96 V range with our 853 and 854 relays. Our 753 and 754 relays are ideal for use in power distribution centres for electric vehicles. The 761 relay ensures functional safety in Li-ion starter batteries. Besides low-current applications, we also offer impressive solutions in the high-current range, such as the new 860 bank relay for the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles. In addition to the automotive industry, we are also active in other areas. For example, with our relay series for AC voltages in the range of 20 A to 120 A, which are reliably used in load management applications such as lightning control panels, home automation, and more. And we are far from reaching the end of our journey.”

Innovations for green energy in focus

Gruner AG aims to hit the ground running in the North American market with its new 743 relay. “Our customers around the world can therefore look forward to innovative relay technology from Gruner AG in the future – as always, at the cutting edge of technology and highly reliable with production sites in Tunisia and Serbia.” 

Gruner AG | www.gruner.de

Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers navigate the energy transition, announced a contract renewal with the Government of Nunavut for an enterprise asset management software subscription paired with professional services.

The Government of Nunavut has partnered with Ameresco since 2014, leveraging the AssetPlanner platform to efficiently manage thousands of assets situated across nearly 2 million square kilometers of Arctic territory. Their geographically dispersed portfolio includes over 1,200 buildings and over 2,500 vehicle and equipment assets. Each asset is managed within AssetPlanner allowing staff to effectively and efficiently manage the expansive portfolio.

Ameresco delivers industry-leading enterprise asset, energy, and facility management solutions as part of its comprehensive portfolio. The company’s proprietary AssetPlanner platform, combined with strategic advisory services, enables customers to streamline planning and budgeting, prioritize investment and optimize maintenance and energy costs. As a trusted full-service partner, Ameresco empowers organizations with actionable insights and data-driven decision making to optimize and prioritize portfolio investments.

“Our previously disparate data is captured within a single system, enabling data-informed reporting, analysis, and prioritization,” said Paul Diamond, Director, Facility Management at Government of Nunavut. “This renewal and continued investment in the AssetPlanner system and Ameresco’s advisory services will continue to provide us with critical tools to support the capital planning, tactical maintenance management, and proactive energy management of our vast portfolio.”

The renewed software-as-a-service (SaaS) contract includes a subscription to the AssetPlanner software for the territory’s portfolio and professional advisory services including robust virtual and on-site training and support package. Tracking over 3 billion square feet of real estate data, AssetPlanner is Ameresco’s signature enterprise asset management platform. Empowering customers with data-driven insights has enabled organizations to optimize operational asset performance, achieve deep energy savings and carbon reduction while reducing the ‘total cost of ownership’.

“We’ve been honored to partner with the Government of Nunavut to help them address their asset management needs to drive operational resilience,” Tim Dettlaff, Senior Vice President, and General Manager, Ameresco. “This renewed engagement will continue to provide their staff with industry-leading tools to manage their vast asset inventory and enable informed decision making to help measure risk, reliability, and resiliency across their expansive portfolio.”

Ameresco | https://www.ameresco.com/asset-planning-software-solutions/

Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. (“Oceanic”) is proud to announce a major milestone in the advancement of the offshore wind project in Hecate Strait, located just west of Stephens Island. In partnership with Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. (“CTE”), Oceanic has been jointly granted an Investigative Use Permit (IUP) for the first phase of development, targeting a capacity of 600 to 700 megawatts (MW). CTE is a 50/50 partnership of the Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations.

“This agreement brings Oceanic and CTE a major step closer to realizing Canada’s first offshore wind project,” said Mike O’Connor, President, Oceanic Wind Energy Inc.

Hecate Strait, in Northwest British Columbia, is home to one of the world’s most powerful and consistent wind resources. With Class 7 wind conditions, low shear and turbidity, average annual wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s, and a winter capacity factor of over 65%, the area offers an unparalleled opportunity to generate clean, reliable energy—especially during BC’s peak demand season.

Strategically located, the Oceanic Wind Project is uniquely positioned to deliver utility-scale renewable power to a region with growing energy needs and limited alternatives. The project could play a critical role in supporting the energy demands of the Port of Prince Rupert and the expanding industrial and resource sectors across Northwest BC.

“We look forward to working closely with Oceanic to develop this transformative project,” said Ryan Leighton, Director, Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. “This first phase will help power the region’s growth while creating long-term economic and environmental benefits.”

In addition to supporting regional development, the project will contribute significantly to Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals and reinforce British Columbia’s leadership in cost-effective, green energy generation.

Oceanic Wind Energy I https://oceanicwind.ca/

GameChange Solar, a leading global supplier of solar tracker and fixed-tilt racking technology, announced that it has signed a contract with CEEC-ZTPC to supply its Genius Tracker 1P Single Row system for the Abydos Solar PV Plant - Phase II in Egypt. Developed by AMEA Power and built by CEEC-ZTPC, the project will combine 1 GWac solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant with a 600 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). With this order, GameChange Solar's cumulative capacity in Egypt stands at nearly 3 GW; establishing the company as one of the largest solar tracker providers in the region.

"We're honored to continue our partnership with CEEC-ZTPC and support AMEA Power in delivering another transformative energy project," said Vikas Bansal, President – International, GameChange Solar. "Following the successful execution of Abydos I, a 560 MW project that has now reached commercial operation, this significant order reflects the trust we've built through strong collaboration and reliable execution. We're proud to contribute our technology and expertise to a project that's shaping the future of energy in Africa."

As one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects in Africa, Abydos-II marks a major milestone in Egypt's push to achieve 42% renewable energy generation by 2030. Commissioning of the project is scheduled for May 2026.

Spread across 20 square kilometers in the Aswan Governorate, the mega-plant is expected to generate around 3,000 GWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 500,000 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1 million tonnes each year.

GameChange Solar | www.gamechangesolar.com