Energy Transition in Motion (Week of April 18, 2025)

Lithium-sulfur battery maker Lyten has started producing battery-grade lithium-metal foil using U.S.-made lithium alloys and U.S.-sourced lithium-metal in a move to bolster the domestic battery supply chain.

Having already fully localized the supply chain for its sulfur cathode, the California-based company’s focus is now on localizing the supply chain for its lithium-metal anode.

“To build a U.S. battery industry, we must solve the supply chain challenge. We have already eliminated the need for nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite with our lithium-sulfur battery, allowing us to focus on local supply and production of lithium,” Lyten co-Founder and CEO Dan Cook said April 16 in a news release. “Lyten will be the only battery manufacturer in the U.S. shielded from tariffs and critical minerals risk.”

The steps were taken as the U.S. works to lower its dependence on foreign countries for critical minerals. The global supply chain for critical minerals, including processing and refining, is currently dominated by China. Critical minerals such as lithium are used for battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle batteries and satellites among other uses.

President Donald Trump ordered an investigation on April 15 into how imports of critical minerals and their derivatives could affect national security.

Lyten said it partnered with Pennsylvania-based Creative Engineers to design and build the lithium metal alloy ingot manufacturing equipment. Lyten sourced its lithium-metal feedstock from a facility in the Eastern U.S.

The lithium alloys are being converted into proprietary lithium-metal foils in custom-built extrusion and rolling equipment at Lyten’s San Jose, California, manufacturing facility, according to a press release. The foil then drops into the company’s lithium-sulfur battery manufacturing lines.

“Lithium is abundantly available across the United States, but the capacity to process lithium into battery grade materials is extremely limited in the U.S.,” said Celina Mikolajczak, chief battery technology officer at Lyten. “Being able to design and process our own lithium-metal alloys and foils is a game changer and puts Lyten at the front edge of U.S. battery manufacturing, especially for next generation Lithium-Sulfur battery technology.”

Lyten uses sulfur in its batteries, replacing mined minerals such as nickel, manganese, cobalt and iron. Sulfur, the company said, is abundantly available and less reliant on global supply chains that are dominated by China.

Here’s a roundup of some other renewable energy news.

Biofuels

Vision RNG Closes Nearly $29MM Sale of Tax Credits Generated by RNG Project

Renewable natural gas developer Vision RNG on April 15 said it closed a $28.8 million sale of investment tax credits associated with its Laurel Ridge landfill gas-to-energy facility in Kentucky.

Developed in partnership with solid waste services company Waste Connections, the facility captures methane emissions from the Laurel Ridge Landfill in Corbin and converts them into pipeline-quality RNG. Vision RNG said the project is expected to produce approximately 450,000 MMBtu of RNG annually, enough to power more than 8,000 homes, and mitigate the equivalent of more than 30,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

“We’re proud to have closed another successful tax credit transaction in support of our growing portfolio,” said Vision RNG CFO Kevin Johnson. “The proceeds from this sale will allow us to further invest in projects that deliver both strong environmental and economic returns.”

CRC-IB served as financial adviser and Holland & Knight served as legal adviser to Vision RNG.

Energy storage

ForeFront Power, Fresno Complete Large Commercial Solar, Battery Storage Portfolio

ForeFront Power and the Fresno’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) on April 17 marked the near completion of a portfolio of renewable energy projects that includes what is being called the largest municipal commercial solar and battery system in the U.S. to date, according to a news release.

The three solar energy and smart battery storage projects have a combined capacity of 28 megawatts (MW) dc. The behind-the-meter portfolio will produce enough electricity annually to power 6,000 homes, the news release states.

“The DPU sites are unique in their scale as well as their impact,” said ForeFront Power CEO Ruben Fontes. “By generating and storing clean power on site, DPU reduces its reliance on costly grid electricity and can pass those savings back to ratepayers. Moreover, the batteries installed at each site ensure that energy is always available to power the City’s essential infrastructure.”

The projects include the 19.6-MW system at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which is “the largest commercial solar and battery system in the U.S. to date,” the release states. The other two projects are located at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility and the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility.

Each site features ground-mounted solar modules with single-axis tracker technology.

The portfolio is owned and operated by ForeFront Power, which will charge DPU a fixed, below-market rate for electricity as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement, according to the news release.

Strata Clean Energy Breaks Ground on Project in Arizona

Strata Clean Energy marked the start of construction of its 150-MW energy storage project in Arizona with a groundbreaking event, the company said April 17.

The 600 megawatt-hour Justice Energy Storage facility in Maricopa County is expected to deliver four hours of battery capacity capable of powering about 24,000 homes when it goes online in 2026, Strata said in a news release.

“This project underscores our long-term commitment to enabling a resilient, decarbonized energy future,” said Tiago Sabino Dias, chief commercial officer at Strata Clean Energy. “Justice will help Arizona move closer to its clean energy goals while supporting the economic vitality of the region.”

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Geothermal

Shell Taps Fervo Energy for Geothermal Power

Geothermal power producer Fervo Energy has lined up Shell Energy as the first offtaker to receive electrons from the company’s flagship Cape Station geothermal power project being developed in Utah, according to a news release.

Fervo said it signed a 15-year power purchase agreement on April 15 with Shell Energy North America for 31 MW of geothermal power to serve Shell’s retail load customers starting in 2026.

Cape Station is the world’s largest enhanced geothermal system project underway, according to Fervo. The project, which is being developed in phases in Beaver County, will have an annual capacity of 500 MW, an increase from the previously reported 400 MW due to “breakthroughs” in Fervo’s well design and field development strategy, the company said.

“This agreement demonstrates that Fervo is stepping up to meet the moment,” said Dawn Owens, vice president and head of development and commercial markets at Fervo. “As customers seek out 24/7 carbon-free energy, geothermal is clearly an essential part of the solution.”

Fervo utilizes techniques and technology commonly used in the oil and gas sector to harness heat from belowground, transforming it into electricity. The company said it is able to generate more megawatts per well, having increased casing diameter, optimized well spacing using fiber optic sensing and implemented staggered bench development.

Cape Station is now fully contracted with the agreement with Shell. Other companies that have secured agreements for geothermal power from Cape Station include Southern California Edison and Clean Power Alliance, according to the release.

Hydrogen

Plug Power, Olin JV Commission Hydrogen Liquefaction Plant in Louisiana

A joint venture (JV) between Plug Power and Olin Corp. called Hidrogenii has commissioned a 15 metric-ton-per-day (t/d) hydrogen liquefaction plant in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, Plug Power said April 17.

“This Louisiana plant, a milestone in expanding our U.S. hydrogen network, bolsters our financial position by leveraging a dependable, cost-effective hydrogen source, reducing our reliance on third-party suppliers,” Plug CEO Andy Marsh said.

The facility, which will lift Plug’s total production capacity to 40 t/d, will liquefy hydrogen produced by Olin for trailer shipments across the U.S., according to the release.

The two companies formed the JV in 2022 as part of a broader strategy to scale a green hydrogen network in the U.S.

Olin CEO Ken Lane said the JV aligns with “Olin’s value-first approach to build on our existing leading positions through high-value adjacencies or bolt-ons that align with our capital allocation framework.”

LIFTE H2 Completes Hydrogen Refueling Station for Open Grid Europe

PX Group’s LIFTE H2 has delivered a hydrogen project featuring a refueling station for Open Grid Europe’s KruH2 hydrogen pilot project in Krummhörn, Germany, according to an April 14 news release.

The hydrogen refueling station includes a dual compressor system that pressurizes the hydrogen, a buffer storage tank that holds up to 300 bar of hydrogen and two large hydrogen storage tanks. The electrolytic hydrogen is produced on-site with a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer powered by nearby wind farms, the release said.

PX Group CEO Geoff Holmes called the delivery a major step forward in the company’s energy transition journey.

“Through LIFTE H2, we are extending our presence beyond our established markets in the U.K., Norway and the U.S., and actively shaping the future of clean energy across Europe,” Holmes said. “This milestone underscores our ambition to be a driving force in hydrogen infrastructure and a trusted partner in key strategic regions.”

Industry Groups in Oman, Netherlands, Germany Strike Green Hydrogen Deal

Major industrial groups from Oman, the Netherlands and Germany have signed an agreement for the development of the world’s first liquid hydrogen import corridor, Tata Steel Nederland said on April 16.

The corridor will link the port of Duqm in Oman, the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and key logistics hubs in Germany, including the port of Duisburg, the Dutch arm of the Indian steel maker said in a statement. It aims to enable the import of green hydrogen to Europe.

“This partnership reflects Oman’s commitment to playing a leading role in the global green hydrogen economy, while strengthening ties with Europe to support its sustainable clean energy transition,” Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals Salim Nasser Al Aufi said.

Oman has been investing to support its decarbonization targets, with the aim of producing at least 1 million tons of renewable hydrogen a year by 2030, according to a report published by the International Energy Agency in 2023.

The sultanate “is on track to become the sixth-largest exporter of hydrogen globally, and the largest in the Middle East, by 2030,” the report states.

The agreement was signed by 11 parties during a visit by the sultan of Oman to the Netherlands. It includes several infrastructure projects along the corridor, notably export and import facilities in the ports of Duqm, Amsterdam and Duisburg, as well as pipe and rail networks for the transport of gaseous and liquid hydrogen.

Solar

DTE Energy Breaks Ground on Solar Park Energizing Ford Motor Co

DTE Energy has started construction on its Cold Creek Solar Park in Detroit, having lined up Ford Motor Co. as a customer for 650 MW, the renewable energy producer said April 15.

The solar park will be the first of several DTE parks developed to help the auto company hit its goal of using 100% carbon-free and renewable energy at its Michigan manufacturing facilities.

“We’re excited to be on this clean energy journey with Ford to fulfill its electricity needs with affordable, Michigan-made renewable energy,” said Matt Paul, president and COO of DTE Electric. “Our customers—whether they are large manufacturers like Ford, or hometown businesses, or families—are telling us they want more renewable energy, and we will continue to develop and deliver it to them.” 

Ford’s power purchase is part of DTE’s CleanVision MIGreenPower program, described by DTE as a “voluntary renewable energy program that enables business and residential customers to attribute their electricity use to Michigan-made renewable energy while funding the development of new solar and wind parks, such as the new array now under construction near Coldwater.”

Cold Creek is expected to be complete in 2026.

EDF Renewables Closes Financing for California Solar, Storage Project

EDF Renewables North America and partner Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure said on April 16 that they closed financing for a 375-MW Desert Quartzite Solar+Storage Project in Riverside, California.

The project, which has a 150-MWac/4-hour battery energy storage system, began operations in 2024 with a 20-year power purchase agreement in place with the Clean Power Alliance. Desert Quartzite is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the power needs of more than 163,000 average California homes, EDF said.

Long-term debt financing for the project was provided by KfW IPEX-Bank, MUFG Bank Ltd, Export Development Canada, Korea Development Bank and four other participating banks, EDF said in the release.

“This financing marks the first project leverage application in the United States for EDF Renewables in over a decade,” EDF said.

Additional details about the financing deal were not disclosed in a press release.

TPG Takes Altus Power Private As $2.2B Acquisition Closes

Global asset manager TPG has closed its approximately $2.2 billion acquisition of commercial-scale clean power provider Altus Power, turning the public company private.

Connecticut-based Altus Power announced in early February it agreed to be acquired through the TPG Rise Climate Transition Infrastructure strategy. The transaction’s close was announced April 16. Altus Power stock stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange before trading began April 16.

“As demand for power continues to rise, businesses, utilities and communities are desperate for scalable, grid-enhancing solutions that generate incremental power in locations where it’s needed,” said Altus Power CEO Gregg Felton. “We expect this partnership to strengthen our ability to deliver clean energy faster and at greater scale, positioning Altus to lead the next phase of clean energy expansion.”

The all-cash transaction, which included outstanding debt, was made through the TPG Rise Climate Transition Infrastructure strategy. Altus Power stockholders will receive $5 cash, without interest and minus applicable withholding taxes, for each share of Altus Power Class A com common stock owned immediately prior to the closing of the transaction, according to the news release.

Altus, a full-service solar power company, said it owns and operates 990 MW of solar generation assets across 25 states.

Moelis & Company served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal counsel to Altus Power. PJT Partners served as financial advisor with Kirkland & Ellis as legal counsel to TPG Rise Climate.

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Wind

Soluna Signs Land Agreements for Texas Data Center Powered by Wind

Data center developer Soluna Holdings on April 15 said it has signed land agreements for two parcels of landed needed to build Project Kati in Texas.

The 166-MW data center will be powered by electricity produced by the Las Majadas wind project co-owned by EDF Renewables North America and Masdar Americas in Willacy County, Texas. The data center, which will power advanced computing applications, will be built near the wind farm’s substation.

One parcel of land under contract is expected to be used for bitcoin mining operations and the other parcel for artificial intelligence, Soluna said in a news release. The data center will be developed in two phases, starting with the 83-MW Phase 1.

“We’ve entered into the agreements necessary to secure the land we need to build this strategic project,” said Soluna CEO John Belizaire. “We believe this milestone sets the stage for construction, investment and innovation, and we’re now ready to move from vision to execution. Project Kati will be a cornerstone of our strategy to scale sustainable Bitcoin and AI infrastructure.”

Last week Soluna said it had signed a term sheet to power its new 120-MW Project Hedy data center co-located with a 200-MW wind farm in South Texas.

Germany’s Wind Sector on Track for Record Approvals, Installations in 2025

Germany approved more than 4,000 MW of new onshore wind power capacity and added more than 1,000 MW in new installations in the first quarter of 2025, an industry lobbyist group said on April 16, signaling a potential record year for the sector.

New onshore wind power installations rose 40% on the year in the first three months of 2025 while new approvals hit a record for a first quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter in which the 4,000 MW threshold was reached for approvals, according to the BWE wind power association.

“With its strong first quarter, 2025 is already showing the potential to become a record year for new installations and approvals,” BWE head Baerbel Heidebroek said in a statement.

The boost is pushed by Germany’s drive for decarbonization and to cut dependency on imported fossil fuels, accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Over the past three years, Germany's outgoing government passed several laws to remove renewable energy expansion obstacles and accelerate project approvals as it aims to cover 80% of the country's electricity needs with renewables by 2030.

Heidebroek said there is enough approved capacity—around 28 gigawatts—to supply this year’s upcoming subsidy auction rounds, with a significant share coming from Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Citing Pause in Wind Projects, Fugro Cuts Outlook, US Jobs

Dutch geodata firm Fugro on April 15 said it started reducing its U.S. workforce and scaling back operations there after warning its sales and earnings would miss earlier forecasts because of volatile markets and lack of new U.S offshore wind projects.

The company, which provides geotechnical, survey, subsea and geosciences services, said it has already divested assets and cut more than 100 jobs in the U.S. because of deteriorating market environment, group CEO Mark Heine told reporters.

“The shift in the U.S. political landscape has led to a pause in new offshore wind projects. Furthermore, the highly volatile market environment is now impacting Fugro’s business in other regions as well,” the company said in a statement.

“We see some scope reductions of projects and award decisions taking longer, exacerbating the typically slow start to the year,” it said.

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Hart Energy Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.