27/09/2026-Solar & BESS Investment News & People's Move
USA News
Illinois Solar Project Adapts to Local Site Constraints
Cultivate Power has energized the Bowes Solar project, a 22-acre community solar development in Elgin, Illinois. The project’s design was adapted to accommodate several site constraints, including nearby railroad tracks, wetlands and existing power infrastructure.
Rather than treating these features as barriers, the project team adjusted the solar array layout to make efficient use of the available land while maintaining appropriate setbacks and infrastructure considerations. The project demonstrates how community solar developers can optimize project designs around challenging sites and existing infrastructure. Bowes Solar adds another community-scale renewable energy asset to Illinois’ growing solar market.
B2U and LG Energy Solution Partner on Battery Repurposing
B2U Storage Solutions and LG Energy Solution (LGES) have partnered to explore grid-scale energy storage opportunities using repurposed electric-vehicle batteries. The collaboration will combine B2U’s patented battery-repurposing technology with LGES’s battery supply to extend the useful life of EV batteries before recycling.
The companies are targeting utilities, energy storage developers and large commercial energy users, including data centers. The partnership aims to provide more cost-competitive battery energy storage systems while creating additional economic value from used batteries. The initiative highlights the growing role of battery repurposing in supporting large-scale storage deployment and improving the economics of energy storage.
NYSERDA Approves 1.7 GW of Renewable Energy Projects
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has approved 21 large-scale clean energy projects totaling approximately 1.7 GW of new capacity. The portfolio includes eight bulk energy storage projects totaling 950 MW and 13 renewable energy projects providing more than 719 MW of generation.
The storage projects range from four to eight hours in duration and are expected to strengthen grid reliability across regions including New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley and western New York. The projects are also expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs and attract over $3.7 billion in private investment.
Pisgah Energy Adds Solar to Asheville Affordable Housing
Pisgah Energy has completed five rooftop solar systems for Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), an Asheville, North Carolina nonprofit focused on affordable housing. The installations are located at MHO’s Star Point Apartments and Lakeshore Villas, bringing renewable energy to six of the organization’s multifamily affordable housing communities.
The five systems total 212 kW and use SEG solar panels and SolarEdge inverters. They are expected to generate more than 300,000 kWh of electricity annually, helping reduce operating costs for the properties. The projects demonstrate how rooftop solar can support both sustainability objectives and long-term affordability in multifamily housing.
PureSky Energy Launches Illinois Community Solar Project
PureSky Energy has begun commercial operations at McLean 1 Community Solar in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, its first solar project in the state. The 1.98-MW DC community solar project was developed through the Illinois Solar for All program and is dedicated entirely to income-eligible households.
Participating subscribers receive guaranteed savings equivalent to 50% of the value of their solar credits. The project also incorporates pollinator-friendly land management practices designed to support biodiversity. PureSky’s development highlights the role of community solar in expanding access to renewable energy while delivering direct utility savings to low- and moderate-income households.
NorthStar Clean Energy Powers On 120-MW Michigan Solar Project
NorthStar Clean Energy has completed the 120-MW Hart Solar Project in Oceana County, Michigan. The utility-scale project is expected to generate enough electricity to serve more than 21,000 homes. Executive Energy Services and the Michigan Public Power Agency have signed power purchase agreements covering portions of Hart Solar’s output.
The project also created more than 300 construction jobs and is expected to provide additional local tax revenue. Hart Township received approximately $600,000 through Michigan’s Renewables Ready Communities Award Program for community improvements. The project demonstrates the economic and infrastructure benefits that can accompany large-scale solar development.
Europe News
InoBat Advances Toward Nasdaq Listing Through SPAC
Slovak battery energy storage systems (BESS) manufacturer InoBat is progressing toward a potential Nasdaq listing through a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) affiliated with New York-based private equity firm Bain Capital.
The transaction is intended to provide InoBat with access to US capital markets as it expands its battery manufacturing and energy-storage activities. The company is developing battery technologies and solutions for applications including grid-scale energy storage. The proposed listing highlights continued investor interest in battery technology and energy-storage companies as global demand for flexible grid infrastructure increases.
Gulermak Secures £35 Million for UK Solar Project
Gulermak Renewables has secured £35 million (US$46.3 million) in debt financing from German lender NORD/LB for its 48-MW Hanningfield solar project in Essex, England. The financing will support construction of the company's first UK solar project, with commercial operations scheduled for August 2027.
The project has secured a 20-year Contract for Difference through the UK's Allocation Round 7, covering its future generation. Energy trading company ElectroRoute will provide route-to-market services for 10 years. The project represents a significant step in Gulermak's expansion of its European renewable-energy portfolio.
Langa Secures Financing for 18-MWh Réunion Island BESS
French renewable-energy developer and power producer Langa International, together with its majority-owned subsidiary Corexsolar International, has secured financing from BPCE for an 18-MWh battery energy storage system on Réunion Island. The project will add flexible storage capacity to the island's electricity system, supporting the integration of renewable generation and improving grid flexibility.
Energy storage is particularly important for island grids, where balancing supply and demand can be more challenging because of limited interconnection with larger electricity networks. The financing marks another step in Langa's development of renewable-energy and storage infrastructure across overseas French territories.
Energiequelle Sells French Subsidiary to H2air
German renewable-energy developer and operator Energiequelle has sold its French subsidiary, Energiequelle SAS, to French renewable-energy company H2air. The subsidiary has a development pipeline of approximately 500 MW of renewable-energy projects.
The transaction strengthens H2air's project portfolio in France while allowing Energiequelle to adjust its activities in the French market. The pipeline provides H2air with additional opportunities to develop renewable generation and expand its presence across the country. The deal reflects continued consolidation among European renewable-energy developers as companies seek to build scale and strengthen project pipelines in established clean-energy markets.
Peoples Move
David Wagner – Senior Director, Renewable Construction - Miller Bros.
David Wagner serves as Senior Director of Renewable Construction at Miller Bros., where he is focused on construction activities within the renewable energy sector. His role involves overseeing renewable construction operations and supporting the delivery of large-scale energy projects.
As renewable generation continues to expand across the U.S., construction leadership is increasingly important for coordinating project execution, contractors, schedules and field operations. Wagner’s position places him within the renewable construction leadership landscape, making his role relevant to market mapping of companies and professionals involved in solar and other clean-energy infrastructure projects.
Douglas R. Merrill DSL – Vice President, Substations - Irby Construction Company
Douglas R. Merrill serves as Vice President – Substations at Irby Construction Company, with responsibility centered on substation-related infrastructure and operations. Substations are a critical component of utility-scale renewable projects because they connect generation assets to the broader electrical grid.
Merrill’s leadership role is therefore relevant to the transmission, electrical infrastructure and renewable-energy construction market. His position at Irby places him within the senior leadership group supporting complex power infrastructure projects. His expertise is particularly relevant to projects involving grid interconnection, substations and high-voltage electrical systems supporting renewable generation and energy-storage developments.
Sergio Villarroel – Director of Project Execution -Renewable Acres
Sergio Villarroel is Director of Project Execution at Renewable Acres, focusing on the execution and delivery of renewable-energy projects. His role sits at the intersection of project management, construction coordination and renewable project development, supporting projects as they progress from planning toward implementation.
Project-execution leadership is particularly important in the renewable sector, where developers must coordinate engineering, procurement, construction, contractors, schedules and commercial requirements. Villarroel’s position provides insight into Renewable Acres’ project delivery activities and makes him a relevant professional for tracking renewable-energy construction and project-execution leadership across the U.S. market.
Katie O. – Director of Origination -Clean Field Power
Katie O. serves as Director of Origination at Clean Field Power, with a role focused on identifying and developing new renewable-energy opportunities. Origination is an important function within clean-energy companies, involving activities such as identifying potential projects, markets, partners and commercial opportunities.
Her position indicates involvement on the front end of the renewable project lifecycle, before projects move into detailed development, financing and construction. As Director of Origination, Katie contributes to Clean Field Power’s efforts to build its development pipeline and identify opportunities within the evolving renewable-energy market.
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