Solar+Storage
Leeward Renewable Energy | October 13, 2023
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has achieved key milestones in its Big Plain Solar, GSG Wind, and White Wing Ranch Solar projects, marked by the signing of Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements (REPAs) with Verizon Communications Inc. These developments comprise the completion of the 196 MW Big Plain Solar facility in Madison County, Ohio, the repowering of the GSG Wind project in Lee and Lasalle Counties, Illinois, and the commencement of construction at the White Wing Ranch Solar facility in Yuma County, Arizona, anticipated to become operational in the second half of 2024. The GSG Wind project is set to create approximately 180 construction jobs and aims for a December 2023 operational date.
Jason Allen, LRE’s Chief Executive Officer, said,
LRE is thrilled to reach these significant project milestones with Verizon as we continue to develop innovative renewable energy solutions to meet their needs and sustainability goals.
[Source – Business Wire]
Today’s announcement underscores LRE’s unwavering commitment to advancing the energy transition in the U.S. and making a substantial, positive impact in the communities where the company operates, added Jason.
These three renewable energy projects - Big Plain Solar, GSG Wind, and White Wing Ranch Solar - will have a combined capacity of nearly 450 MW, contributing significantly to Verizon's sustainability objectives. Additionally, this aligns with Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC's overarching growth strategy, designed to solidify the company's status as a leading renewable energy provider in the United States. With aspirations to reach approximately 10 gigawatts (GW) of operating and contracted capacity by 2026, this strategic expansion underscores LRE's commitment to environmental sustainability and clean energy solutions.
Each Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) initiative is thoughtfully tailored to cater to local communities' unique requirements while fostering economic growth and environmental benefits. The commitment to sustainable practices extends beyond power generation. At Big Plain Solar, LRE's collaboration with Clark State College reflects a dedication to preparing the next generation of leaders for careers in the renewable energy industry. At GSG Wind, LRE's environmental commitment is evident in its pledge to recycle or repurpose 100 percent of the decommissioned wind turbine blades. In the case of White Wing Ranch Solar, innovative land management strategies are being pursued to support the renewal of native desert ecosystems, underscoring LRE's dedication to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
About Leeward Renewable Energy
Leeward Renewable Energy is a forward-thinking renewable energy enterprise committed to shaping a sustainable future. With ownership and operation of a diversified portfolio of 26 wind, solar, and energy storage facilities spanning the United States, totaling approximately 2,700 megawatts of generating capacity, LRE is at the forefront of advancing clean energy solutions. Their active engagement in developing and contracting new renewable energy projects underscores their dedication to growth and innovation in the sector. The company embraces a holistic, full-lifecycle approach to project management underpinned by a long-term ownership model and an unwavering culture driven by purpose. This culture is centered on creating value for community partners while safeguarding and enhancing the environment. As a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of Canada's most extensive defined pension plans with C$127.4 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2023, LRE combines financial strength with a vision for a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape.
Read More
Solar+Storage
Enfinity Global | September 25, 2023
Enfinity Global Inc., a prominent player in the renewable energy sector, has announced its acquisition of 546 MW of solar assets currently under development from CS Energy in the State of Colorado. This strategic move represents a significant step forward in Enfinity's ongoing efforts to execute its long-term business strategy within the United States. Moreover, this acquisition exemplifies the value Enfinity brings to developers, who regard the company as a trusted partner capable of aligning capital and accessing the global supply chain, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in terms of cost efficiency and reliability.
The acquired portfolio comprises three solar projects in Colorado, a highly appealing solar market that has mandated 100% renewable energy generation by 2050. This portfolio complements Enfinity's existing development footprint within the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and will be seamlessly integrated into the company's in-house development processes and team. It is anticipated to yield an annual recurring EBITDA of approximately $59 million with investment-grade counterparties. Construction of these projects is slated to commence within the next two years, and once operational, they will generate 1,054 GWh of clean electricity annually—enough to power up to 57,000 US households and equivalent to removing 101,500 cars from the road.
Enfinity Global stands as one of the fastest-growing independent renewable energy power producers, boasting a global portfolio exceeding 17 GW, which includes 7.3 GW of energy storage assets and 1 GW of operational assets. Within the United States, Enfinity Global manages a portfolio of 400 MW and operates 28 solar PV power plants across California, Idaho, and North Carolina. Furthermore, the company possesses 6 GW of solar and storage assets in various stages of development throughout the country. Over the past year, Enfinity has successfully secured $380 million of capital in the United States, further solidifying its market position.
Enfinity continues to fortify its presence in the market by leveraging its fully integrated platform, deploying operational expertise across the entire renewable energy value chain, and extending its international footprint.
About Enfinity Global
Enfinity Global Inc. is a leading US-based renewable energy and sustainability services firm established in 2018. The company has a portfolio of 17 GW of renewable energy production and storage projects, encompassing operational assets, projects under construction, and those in various stages of development. With a global presence spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia, Enfinity aims to play a substantial role in the transition to a net-zero carbon-sustainable economy. Enfinity's leadership team, recognized as one of the most experienced in renewables globally, brings over $37 billion of financing experience within the renewable energy sector and a track record of developing and acquiring over 15 GW of solar and wind assets.
About CS Energy
CS Energy is an industry-leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm specializing in renewable energy. The company designs and builds optimized projects in solar, energy storage, and emerging energy industries. With a successful track record of designing and installing over 1.5 GW of solar and 470 MWh of energy storage projects across the United States, CS Energy is a trusted partner for solar developers, independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, off-takers, suppliers, and landowners. As part of American Securities, a leading US private equity firm, CS Energy leverages strong industry relationships to streamline project development, reduce costs, and create value for all stakeholders in the long term.
Read More
Energy
Powur PBC | September 11, 2023
Powur PBC, a pioneering platform-based company dedicated to simplifying the journey toward clean energy adoption, has unveiled significant enhancements to its sales enablement and project fulfillment platforms just ahead of its grand annual event for solar sales professionals, Powur World. The company is poised to elevate its sales enablement and project fulfillment platforms, primarily catering to the requirements of solar sales professionals and enterprises. This enhancement encompasses the launch of its integrated Powur Vision proposal system and incorporating advanced enterprise features, along with expanded lead nurturing capabilities, into its platform functionalities.
In pursuit of delivering a fully integrated sales experience for solar professionals and businesses, Powur is launching its proprietary proposal system, Vision, seamlessly integrated into the Powur platform. Previously available in a beta versionin select markets, Vision is now accessible in over 20 states where Powur operates.
As the energy market evolves and solar sales become more intricate, companies aiming to incorporate solar solutions into their offerings or enhance existing solar sales capabilities are increasingly searching for cost-effective, user-friendly sales enablement and fulfillment platforms that enable them to focus on sales instead of back-office tasks and logistics. Powur is responding to this demand by enhancing its enterprise product suite with customizable compensation and margin controls, boosting project profitability.
The team assignment and staff override functionalities help facilitate smoother project management and incentivize team members. Furthermore, recent updates to the enterprise product suite, such as co-branding and an open API, empower companies to establish their own brand identity while leveraging Powur's administrative prowess, procurement power, and top-tier training and enablement resources.
Powur, already equipped with crucial sales enablement features, is fortifying its platform with enhanced lead acquisition, communication, nurturing, and tracking capabilities to boost closing rates. These newly introduced features empower solar organizations and sales professionals to consolidate their pre-and post-sales activities within a single, cost-effective platform, all the while elevating project visibility and control.
At Powur World, an impressive assembly of nearly 1,000 dedicated and skilled solar sales professionals gathered from September 6th to 9th, 2023, to fortify their sales acumen and deepen their understanding of the industry, market dynamics, and product and financing intricacies. Leaders in the solar energy sector, including Enphase, SPAN, Sunnova, SolarEdge, Sungage, Unirac, and Qcells, actively participated in this event. The event's keynote speaker was Robert Richman, co-creator of Zappos, renowned for crafting an unparalleled employee and customer service experience under the Zappos brand.
Earning a consistent place on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies for four consecutive years, Powur remains committed to expanding its platform by continually introducing new features, technologies, services, installers, and sales professionals. Powur's platform-centric business model allows for the swift integration of cutting-edge technologies while mitigating risks and costs. By offering premium, cutting-edge clean energy solutions, Powur empowers individuals to gain greater control over their energy consumption through fully customized clean energy solutions for their homes.
About Powur PBC
Powur PBC, founded in 2014 and headquartered in California, is a leading platform-based company dedicated to accelerating the widespread adoption of solar energy. It stands as the world's first 100% virtual residential solar company in the cloud. Leveraging its innovative platform model, the company possesses the agility required to swiftly respond to the dynamic demands of an ever-evolving solar landscape. At the heart of Powur's mission lies a commitment to making solar energy accessible and affordable to homeowners. The company's unique model ensures cost-effective and tailored solar solutions for homeowners and empowers its extensive network, which comprises thousands of independent sales professionals and regionally specialized installation partners, fostering collaboration and driving progress toward a sustainable energy future.
Read More
Energy
Business Wire | October 25, 2023
SEW, a global leader in AI-Powered Connected Customer (CX) and Workforce (WX) Experience Industry Cloud Platforms, announces its acquisition of GridExchange, a cutting-edge Transactive Energy software platform, from Alectra Utilities Corporation.
GridExchange empowers energy consumers to transition from passive users to proactive prosumers, leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels, battery storage, and EV (Electric Vehicles). Through a secure and user-friendly Customer Experience (CX), GridExchange facilitates seamless exchanges of energy, driving a reduction in greenhouse gas CO2 emissions, lowering energy costs, and strengthening grid resiliency.
stated Deepak Garg, CEO and Founder of SEW.
At SEW, we are shaping a clean and sustainable energy future. The acquisition of GridExchange aligns perfectly with our vision and strategy of an intelligent, resilient, and sustainable energy ecosystem. Our journey towards a sustainable future begins with empowering and educating individuals and businesses alike to actively participate in the energy revolution," emphasized Deepak Garg. "By integrating GridExchange into our SEW connected platform, we are not only driving cleaner energy transition and adoption but also revolutionizing the way people and communities engage with their energy consumption.
[Source:Business Wire]
GridExchange’s web and mobile application allows utilities to engage customers with DERs, optimizing grid operations by managing peak load and maximizing GHG reduction. Customers, in turn, have the flexibility to contribute excess energy or adjust consumption patterns in exchange for financial incentives and loyalty rewards redeemable at local businesses.
Brian Bentz, President and CEO of Alectra, emphasized, "Our development of GridExchange, which helped to enable non-wires alternative pilots in our service territory, illustrates our commitment to enabling customers to participate in local energy markets. We are pleased that SEW will now be taking this platform to a global market.”
Key benefits of the SEW-GridExchange platform include
Empowering Energy Choices: Customers can harness the potential of existing DERs, transforming into proactive contributors to the energy ecosystem.
Reducing GHG Emissions: The incentivization of clean energy usage through GridExchange leads to a notable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Enhancing Grid Planning: The platform unlocks and optimizes DER values, increasing grid flexibility and resiliency; and contributes to integrated system planning with non-wires alternatives, reducing or deferring overall energy system costs.
Advocating for Policy Change: The initiative motivates regulators to propose standards and policies that pave the way for a cleaner energy future. GridExchange’s innovative application also demonstrates the following objectives
Leveraging cutting-edge transactive energy technology to facilitate DER participation in grid services and accurately track energy generation and consumption's GHG impact.
Incentivizing customers who own or operate DERsl by providing valuable grid services.
Introducing a pioneering customer rewards program, where points earned are redeemable for a range of goods and services from participating merchants.
SEW is committed to building a resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem through the integration of advanced technologies like AI, ML, and IoT. With over 1.2 billion users and adoption by 410+ utilities worldwide, SEW is at the forefront of driving the transition towards an intelligent energy future.
This landmark acquisition not only signifies a major stride towards sustainable energy, but also underscores SEW's commitment to pioneer a greener future through advanced technology. SEW's mission is to engage, empower, and educate billions of people worldwide to conserve energy and water. Now, with the addition of GridExchange, SEW is poised to take sustainability to new heights.
About Alectra Inc.
Alectra Inc., through its subsidiary Alectra Utilities Corporation, serves approximately one million homes and businesses across an 1,800 square kilometers service territory comprising 17 communities including Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Brampton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Guelph, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Rockwood, St. Catharine’s, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. The Alectra family of companies includes Alectra Inc. (Mississauga), Alectra Utilities Corporation (Hamilton) and Alectra Energy Solutions (Vaughan).
About SEW
SEW, with its innovative and industry-leading connected cloud platforms, delivers the best Digital Customer Experiences (CX) and Workforce Experiences (WX), powered by AI, ML, and IoT Analytics to the global energy, water, and gas providers. At SEW, the vision is to Engage, Empower, and Educate billions of people to save energy and water. We partner with businesses to deliver platforms that are easy-to-use, integrate seamlessly, and help build a strong technological foundation that allows them to become future ready.
Read More