Since the Ford Model T started rolling off assembly lines in 1908, the internal combustion engine has been the cornerstone of mass-affordable automobiles. Our lives were changed forever. Today, we are in the midst of a new revolution. The transportation sector currently contributes approximately 30 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, several states are adopting regulations to phase out gasoline vehicles in favor of EV....
The criticality of offshore wind and the role it will play in helping achieve global net zero targets by 2050 cannot be underestimated. In 2020, global capacity was sitting at 30GW. Fast forward to 2050, and the generating capacity will have to make a colossal leap of 1,120GW if that target is to be met. There is worldwide appetite to satisfy this ambition for offshore wind capacity. By the end of this decade alone, it’s anticipated that mor....
The share of U.S. electricity generation from wind energy has grown from less than 1 percent in 1990, to about 10.2 percent in 2022. To achieve this accomplishment over the past two decades, the wind industry had to increase the rated capacity of wind turbines by 350 percent by installing turbines in 2022 with an average capacity of 3.2 megawatts. At the same time, the industry saw a 173 percent increase in the average rotor diameter to ....
In the world of zero greenhouse gas (GHG) fuels, hydrogen is tough to beat. Kermit the Frog once lamented, “It’s not easy being green”. If hydrogen could sing, that would be its refrain. When hydrogen burns, the only byproduct is water vapor. It sounds green, right? Unfortunately, we haven’t yet figured out an easy way to extract hydrogen from the natural environment. The primary means of making hydrogen affordably today involves fos....
Wind
Valery Godinez-Azcuaga
Solar
Soltec
Energy Storage
Anu Pulkkinen
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) issued a request for information (RFI) on supporting successful solar plus storage deployment serving low-income and disadvantaged communities. The goal of this RFI is to collect input on the greatest challenges to successful solar deployment and equitable distribution of its benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities amongst a wide variety of stakeholders.
State, territory, Tribal, local government agencies, utilities, solar developers and installers, solar industry organizations, subscriber management organizations, community-based organizations, financial institutions, consumer advocacy organizations, community action agencies, environmental justice organizations, community members, and other stakeholders are encouraged to respond.
Download the RFI and submit responses by February 23 at 5 p.m. ET.
U.S. Department of Energy | energy.gov/eere
A new solar array installation at Bayer’s vegetable research and development site in Woodland, CA will provide 70% of the site’s electrical energy demand.
“With this new installation, the Woodland site is the most onsite solar-powered operation within Bayer globally,” says Enrique Wehlen, Head of Sustainability, Safety, Health & Environments (SSHE) North America at Bayer.
The Woodland solar power project follows a recently completed solar installation at Bayer’s main U.S. offices in Whippany, NJ. The two new solar energy projects, each designed to reduce energy costs while promoting sustainability, will be unveiled today to employees and community leaders at local events.
Both projects align with Bayer’s sustainability commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and to have net-zero waste across its entire value chain by 2050. A key strategy to achieving Bayer’s reduction targets, which have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, is to purchase 100% sustainable renewable electricity by 2030. Bayer has put a large focus on leveraging energy efficiency and clean energy resources to achieve its robust, science-based sustainability targets. In accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, Bayer aims to continuously reduce GHG emissions within the company and along its entire value chain. Renewable energy does not produce carbon emissions as part of the electricity generation process, dramatically reducing the total GHGs emitted.
“These solar installations are a strong signal to our employees, customers and communities where we live and operate of our commitment to GHG emission reduction,” says Delf Bintakies, Global Head of Sustainability, Safety, Health & Environments (SSHE) at Bayer. “Bayer sets specific criteria for its own procurement of green energy. This includes the proximity of energy production facilities to Bayer sites, the use of new sources of generation and a focus on wind and solar power.”
About the Woodland, CA solar installation
In Woodland, Bayer worked with Enel North America to complete a 2.7 MW solar and 1 MW / 2 MWh energy storage system that will power 70 percent of the site’s electrical energy. Occupying approximately 10 of the 210 acres of company-owned property supporting agricultural research, the system utilizes ground-mounted solar panels capable of generating nearly two megawatts of electricity. Complementing the solar array is a bank of batteries serving as storage for excess power to be used to offset evening peak power demand when solar generation subsides. Eight Electric Vehicle chargers will be installed for employee use later this year. Located in a region historically prone to rolling blackouts and grid disruptions, the solar-plus-storage system will help increase Bayer’s energy and operational resilience, while also reducing its carbon footprint and demand on local energy infrastructure.
“This project is a great example of Bayer’s commitment to achieve a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030,” says Staci A Rosenberger, Woodland & San Juan Bautista Site Operations Lead at Bayer. “With this investment, we will reduce our impact on the environment and offset electrical usage during peak demand, benefiting not only our company, but surrounding communities as well.”
“The growing prevalence of extreme weather and wildfires has underscored the need for more resilient energy solutions,” said Matt Barnes, Head of Distributed Energy Solutions at Enel North America. “This project will not only increase Bayer’s energy resilience, but it will also help reduce demand on often-stressed local energy infrastructure, benefiting all energy users in the region. We’re thrilled to work with a forward-thinking, innovative partner on this project and look forward to helping Bayer achieve its sustainability targets.”
During the estimated 30-year life of the solar project, flowering cover crops, such as wildflowers, will be planted between the rows of panels for aesthetic, pollinator habitat, and soil remediation purposes.
Bayer’s Woodland site, which was established in 1972, consists of nearly 400 acres of owned and leased land. Approximately 230 plant breeders, scientists, administrators and agronomists from more than 20 different countries work at the Woodland site. At peak periods, Bayer may also employ an additional 100+ temporary workers at the site.
Woodland employees are proud of the company’s sustainability efforts and having the opportunity to make meaningful impact in the local community. Employees serve the community through active volunteer participation with local non-profit organizations as well as welcome students from surrounding schools to experience hands-on learning in the newly opened Baylab, a STEM education center. Students have opportunities to learn about sustainable agricultural practices such as integrated pest management, improved breeding methodologies, and more. In addition, the site will soon house a Bayer LifeHub, a space to support innovative sustainable agriculture and food production systems and contribute to increasing societal understanding and acceptance of new technologies transforming ag and food production systems.
About the Whippany, NJ solar installation
In Whippany, Bayer partnered with DSD Renewables (DSD) to complete a 1.7 MW ground mount solar installation that will offset approximately 25 percent of the Whippany site’s total annual usage. The installation is comprised of 3,600 modules that will follow or “track” the sun’s path from East to West each day. The design, which was completed in December 2023, helps maximize the energy the system can produce.
Throughout the development of the solar project, which began in October 2022, there were a number of design nuances, which the DSD team had to account for. Marrying form and functionality, the team strategically preserved the surrounding landscaping while optimizing solar production. This involved shifting a fence line and limiting tree removal, adding river rock to match the site’s aesthetic, and coordinating closely with the team at Bayer to ensure its on-site bee colony at Whippany, which is used for tree pollination, was not disrupted.
“This installation is the perfect example of our approach to solar development, engineering, construction, and financing,” says Dan O’Brien, Vice President of Commercial Origination at DSD. “We’re proud to have met the unique needs and nuances of the site while delivering a valuable and aesthetically fitting project for Bayer’s main U.S. offices.”
Bayer has been utilizing solar energy for over 20 years, starting with a solar installation at its North America Consumer Health R&D labs in Morristown, NJ. The recent launch of the Whippany and Woodland solar projects represents the latest renewable energy efforts by the company in the U.S., which has previously announced significant projects in this space, including its Idaho Renewable Energy Agreement with Cat Creek Energy (CCE) last year.
Bayer | www.bayer.com
Enel North America | enelnorthamerica.com
DSD Renewables | https://dsdrenewables.com/
CertainTeed, the leading North American manufacturer of sustainable building materials, announces that it has entered a strategic partnership with residential and commercial solar roofing pioneer, SunStyle. This deal signifies a notable expansion for CertainTeed, broadening its U.S. offerings to include the premium Swiss-engineered line of product. Through this partnership, CertainTeed is poised to deliver an array of industry-leading solar solutions to its customer base, including homeowners, architects, builders and more.
SunStyle has been a leader in the development of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology for more than 15 years and extends CertainTeed’s growing portfolio of solar technology offerings.
“SunStyle’s portfolio perfectly complements our existing Solstice line, which was designed to offer consumers a stylish, durable and energy-efficient solution,” said Phoebe Kwan, GM Solar Solutions at Saint-Gobain. “The company has a fantastic track record across Europe, offering beautiful solar roofs that fit so well with CertainTeed’s goal of providing dependable solar products. We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers SunStyle with this partnership and are excited about the innovative ways it will be used for future projects.”
Combining structural roofing materials with solar modules, SunStyle offers a comprehensive solar roofing system with industry-leading performance and sleek aesthetics. SunStyle solar roofing modules are installed edge-to-edge in a patented overlapping diamond dragonscale configuration, engineered for weatherproofing and strong enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. The solar roof system can be installed on single- and multi-family homes, or on commercial and industrial buildings.
Saint-Gobain, CertainTeed’s parent company, was the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of SunStyle products from 2009-2014 in Europe, exemplifying this long-standing relationship. Additionally, Saint-Gobain supplied the glass for SunStyle’s dragonscale roof project installed on a breathtaking Google facility in Mountain View, CA, completed in 2021. As the demand for solar innovation rises, SunStyle and CertainTeed share a unique position geared for future growth.
“As we began considering expanding our reach even further into the United States, we were looking for a leader in the commercial and residential construction and solar space with strong networks, while also ensuring that a deep commitment to quality manufacturing and sustainability is a business priority,” said Philippe Agafonovas, Chief Executive Officer of SunStyle. “CertainTeed checked all of those boxes and much more - the perfect fit for SunStyle. We look forward to our partnership for many years to come.”
CertainTeed | www.certainteed.com
SunStyle | https://www.sunstyle.com/
Since its debut in 2006, Solarban 70 (formerly Solarban 70XL) solar control low-emissivity (low-e) glass by Vitro Architectural Glass has reshaped how architects and designers think about sustainable construction by permitting them to meet today's ever-growing and increasingly stringent building energy codes without altering daylighting or the natural connection to the outdoors.
The introduction of Solarban 70 glass marked a significant moment in architectural glass history as it was the first product to integrate a third layer of silver into the coating, enhancing glass performance to an unprecedented level.
Today, Solarban 70 glass remains the most proven, commonly-specified triple-silver-coated low-e glass on the market, with more than 700 million square feet – about the area of Cleveland, Ohio – shipped since its inception.
“For nearly two decades, Solarban 70 glass has stretched the limits of solar control and transparency, enabling architects and designers to include large sections of transparent glass in their building designs,” said Fernando Diez, Vice President of Marketing, Vitro Architectural Glass. “In addition to its optimal clarity and energy performance, Solarban 70 glass maximizes daylighting, enhances aesthetics and increases efficiency, making it an ideal choice for sustainable design.”
Solarban 70 glass provides excellent energy efficiency without making the glass too dark or reducing the visible light transmittance (VLT) too much. This balanced combination of clarity, consistency and solar control performance is why Solarban 70 glass is the industry’s most specified triple-silver-coated low-e glass. In a one-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), Solarban 70 glass provides a VLT of 64% and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.27.
Vitro continues to refine its triple-silver coating technology, as evidenced in products like Solarban 72 glass and Solarban 70 Optiblue glass (formerly Solarban z75 glass). Solarban 72 glass was designed explicitly for Vitro low-iron glass substrates, Starphire Ultra‑Clear glass, and Acuity low-iron glass. Solarban 70 Optiblue glass has a steel blue-gray appearance that controls glare while offering superior solar control properties that support sustainable design.
Solarban 70 glass can also be combined with a full range of performance-tinted glasses from Vitro to give architects a virtually unlimited palette of color and performance options.
Vitro Architectural Glass | www.vitroglazings.com
First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTC Pink: FHYDF) (FSE: FIT) ("FIRST HYDROGEN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce gas distribution network, Wales & West Utilities (WWU) will begin trials later this month of the Company's hydrogen fuel cell powered light commercial vehicle ("FCEV"). First Hydrogen's FCEV will operate from WWU's Swansea depot, as part of the business' 1,300 fleet vehicles, which are deployed across Wales and the southwest of England. The FCEV will support network engineers to make customer call outs and undertake repair and maintenance work. The trial will showcase the Company's FCEV advantage over battery electric vehicles in range (630 km/400 mi), payload towing and fast refueling capabilities.
The FCEV is the first-of-its-kind to be deployed in Wales and supported by green hydrogen producer, Protium Green Solutions and hydrogen services company, Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions, which will help develop a hydrogen ecosystem to support WWU's operations. Allied Market Research reports the global hydrogen vehicle market was valued at US$1.5 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach US$57.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 43%.
Wales & West Utilities provides gas supply and connections to more than 7.5 million customers in Wales and southwest England. The gas distribution network is committed to developing cleaner and greener energy solutions and has recently announced a proposal to develop a major hydrogen pipeline across South Wales.
Creating a hydrogen ecosystem
Until now, First Hydrogen's FCEV trials have been located near existing hydrogen fuel stations. This trial will demonstrate how partnerships can develop refuelling in areas that lack infrastructure. Using Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions' mobile refuelling service and green H2 fuel from Protium Green Solutions, enables WWU to refuel close to its depot in Swansea rather than travelling to a public station.
Green hydrogen supplied from Protium's Pioneer 1 site in Wales is produced by electrolysis using renewable power. Pioneer 1 has been operational since early 2023 and the hydrogen it produces has already been used in several transport trials. Protium will have Pioneer 2, a second, significantly larger electrolyser, operational later in 2024 to meet the growing demand for green hydrogen in Wales and beyond.
Steve Gill, Head of Automotive at First Hydrogen, says: "We're delighted to be working with Wales & West Utilities and not only trial the vehicles in Wales but also form partnerships that will establish a local hydrogen ecosystem. The Wales & West Utilities team are hugely supportive of our vehicle development and share our belief that hydrogen could help deliver carbon-free transport. Particularly for fleets that require longer uptime, longer range and heavier payloads than BEVs can offer as well as towing capacity - 75% of Wales & West Utilities' fleet are equipped to tow yet few BEVs have suitable capability. Hydrogen is high on WWU's corporate agenda, through laying pipelines and upgrading the network in preparation for transitioning and it is exciting to see that the whole company is engaged with our trial.
"This trial will help us to learn a lot about moveable and depot-based refuelling solutions and how this technology could help bridge gaps in the UK's refuelling infrastructure network. Ultimately, our role in developing hydrogen ecosystem with partners will strengthen our service offering to fleets and accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption."
Stephen Offley, Transport Manager at Wales & West Utilities, says: "We are confident that hydrogen will play a fundamental role in delivering low-cost green energy as we move away from fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be produced from renewables in the UK, as Protium is already demonstrating, and supplied through many of the gas pipelines that we already use. We are already paving the way for the role of hydrogen in heating homes and powering industry so using hydrogen fuel to decarbonise our fleets is a logical step. Having test driven the vans at First Hydrogen's track event last year, we're looking forward to trialling the FCEV in our day-to-day operations and pioneering the use of hydrogen within our fleet. In demonstrating the practicalities of hydrogen, we want to inspire other industries and businesses in Wales and across the UK to view hydrogen as a realistic, operationally effective zero-emission solution."
Will Stinton, Director of Asset Management at Protium, comments: "This trial with Wales & West Utilities is an excellent opportunity to showcase the capability of green hydrogen, produced renewably by electrolysis, in fleet operations. Our experience in supporting transport trials has shown us that fuel cell vehicles have an important role to play in meeting zero emission targets - it is fantastic to work with an organisation like Wales & West Utilities to explore how FCEVs can decarbonise their operation. Collaborations like these are critical to accelerating hydrogen deployment, and we're excited to bring FCEVs to the roads in Wales with First Hydrogen and Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions."
Chris Foxall, CEO at Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions, says: "This trial brings together the entire hydrogen value chain and is a testament to the power of working in partnership. Hyppo is already a fleet operator of fuel cell vehicles and is delighted to see the benefits of First Hydrogen's FCEV first-hand and to assist Wales and West Utilities with its move.
First Hydrogen | https://firsthydrogen.com/
Wales & West Utilities | https://www.wwutilities.co.uk/
Protium | https://protium.green/
Hyppo Hydrogen | https://hyppo.co.uk/
KASK America announces the appointment of Devan Corum as North American Sales Manager - Safety. In this role, Corum will lead the sales team for KASK America safety helmets and accessories for the North American market.
Corum joined KASK America almost 7 years ago as an East Coast Sales Representative and soon after became the East Regional Manager. An avid sports enthusiast, and a collegiate football player, it was natural that he would transition his performance passion into the head protection category.
“I wish I knew as much about helmets when I was wearing them on the field as I do now,” said Corum. “Being with KASK has been a great journey – I have been fortunate to grow my knowledge as our product line has grown to where it is now. Today, we have one of the most advanced offers of head protection available, and it is always a great moment when you educate our audiences about the safety advantages of KASK safety helmets.”
Corum will be taking over the role of KASK Safety North American sales from Alex Dabelstein, who will assume the role of Global Head of Sales – Safety.
“This is the next logical step for Devan,” stated Fabio Cardarelli, CEO KASK America “Devan was the first sales person we hired for KASK America and has been an important part of the growth of KASK America and a leader of the sales team. It has been great to watch Devan and Alex work together over the years, and they share a common philosophy and a customer success mindset.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about Devan taking over the reins,” explained Alex Dabelstein, the new Head of KASK Safety Global Sales. “We have spent a lot of time together over the years – and with Devan you get a guy with integrity, who is continuously learning, and a competitive mindset to always do better. What else could you ask for?.”
KASK also announces the promotion of Alex Dabelstein to Global Head of Sales - Safety. In this new position Dabelstein will be responsible for continuing the growth of the KASK Safety team to support global sales.
Dabelstein joined KASK America in 2019 as National Distribution and Regional Sales Manager. He brings over 15 years of industrial and construction sales experience with a range of PPE products as well as a range of stakeholders – from manufacturers to end users.
“Alex is a natural people person and a born leader,” said Marta Beltramello, KASK Safety Sales & Marketing Director. “He has done a great job building the KASK America sales team, and we look forward to him accelerating the growth of our global sales force.”
“As we enter our 20th year as a business, we have taken the time to look back at what has made us successful,” stated Diego Zambon, KASK General Manager. “We have always had a close relationship with our customers, and as we have grown and completed a number of strategic business initiatives to support that growth, it is the time to focus even more on supporting our customers globally. Alex is the perfect person to lead this effort.”
“Over the years I have heard so many stories of how KASK helmets had saved people’s lives,” stated Alex Dabelstein. “I always think that I would travel to the ends of the earth if it would save another life. Now, I have that opportunity.”
KASK America | kask-safety.com
Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent power producers specializing in solar energy, battery storage, and carbon solutions, and Tract, a developer of master-planned data center parks, announced an exclusive collaboration agreement to marry advanced renewable projects with entitled, shovel-ready sites to enable data center operators to build green campuses more quickly while reducing development risk.
The hyperscale data center segment has played a leadership role in the energy transition through strong commitments for operations to be carbon neutral by 2030 or sooner. According to BloombergNEF, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google are amongst the largest corporate buyers of solar and wind energy in the world. As hyperscale growth continues, however, matching solar project locations and delivery timelines with data center offtake is becoming more challenging without more advanced planning and coordination. Given the scale of data center demand, matching it to renewable projects earlier in the development process improves certainty and stability for the entire system.
Silicon Ranch and Tract each bring unique capabilities and a shared vision to solve this challenge. Tract develops fully entitled, master-planned data center parks that pre-position transmission capacity, water, sewer, roads and pads to provide its customers shorter development cycles in the form of immediately usable campuses. As part of the collaboration, Silicon Ranch initiates site acquisition and interconnection processes for owned and operated utility-scale solar and battery projects—exceeding 500MW—to directly support the scale and timing of data centers on Tract campuses in Nevada and Utah.
“Silicon Ranch has deep experience supporting hyperscale data centers, with more than 2.5 gigawatts under contract with this important customer segment. We recognize their needs are evolving and are proud that this collaboration with Tract enables us to create a next generation solution that combines shovel-ready development sites with access to pre-positioned renewable generation, uniquely tailored to the needs of these customers,” said Silicon Ranch Co-Founder and CEO, Reagan Farr. “We are pleased to take this innovative step forward in collaboration with Tract, a company that shares our commitment to responsible land stewardship and productive long-term partnerships with host communities.”
“Our relationship with Silicon Ranch has developed over the past two years based on a joint recognition that delivering speed and certainty for tomorrow’s data center scale cannot rely on the processes and commercial models that have supported data center growth to date,” explained Grant van Rooyen, Tract CEO and Managing Partner. “As renewable power and data centers intersect, we need to plan strategically, with a longer time horizon in mind. With Silicon Ranch, we found a partner to build thought leadership and we look forward to collaborating with them in Nevada, Utah and beyond.”
Silicon Ranch | siliconranch.com
Tract | tract.com
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