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Women In Tech
Melissa Brushwood, SPHR, has stepped into her new role as Director, HR Systems & Administration at CORT, reinforcing the company’s commitment to modernizing its people infrastructure. In her new position, Melissa will lead HR systems and administrative operations, focusing on strengthening HR technology platforms, driving process efficiency, ensuring compliance, and enabling data-driven people operations to support organizational effectiveness. She brings…
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Aztec Group has appointed Akbar Sheriff as its new Chief Client Success Officer and Chief Operating Officer, marking a strategic addition to the firm’s Executive…
TD Bank has appointed Kiran Vuppu as its new U.S. Chief Information Officer, marking a strategic move to strengthen its technology leadership and accelerate digital…
Sustainability
Fortis Renewable Energy BV has signed a mandate letter with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the…
Zeeco, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Applicot Corporation, reinforcing its presence in the Japanese domestic market and enhancing localized…
As electricity demand continues to rise across the United States, policymakers and utilities face mounting pressure to expand generation capacity…
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STEM & AUTOMATION
ABB Robots Empower the Next Generation of Automation Experts in Argentina
At Escuela Técnica Roberto Rocca, students are gaining hands-on experience with ABB robots.
Interview
WOMEN SPECIAL
The Gender Gap in Tech: Why Are There So Few Women in Coding?
A study by Dr. Siân Brooke (LSE) explores gender disparity in coding, its causes, and its impact on tech innovation
CUSTOMER STORIES
How Snowflake’s New CEO Plans to Scale the $50.96B Giant
Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy shares his plan to scale the $50.96B giant.
ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION
Inside a High-Performance ABB Robotics Hall – Where Automation Powers the Future
A fascinating look at advanced ABB industrial robots in action
INTERVIEW
Lowe’s talent stack is shaping the future of omnichannel retail
A look at Lowe’s innovative approach to omnichannel retail...
AI & ROBOTICS
Ubtech’s Walker S2 Enters Full-Scale Industrial Deployment
The AI takeover is no longer sci-fi. Ubtech’s Walker S2 humanoid robots are moving into real factory environments with autonomous battery swapping .
AI & ROBOTICS
Large Behavior Models Power the Next Evolution of Atlas
In a collaboration between Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Boston Dynamics, researchers are building language-conditioned.
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An engineer's guide to understanding the state
Sustainable Development Report 2025
Financing the Future
Global Progress Report 2025
Sustainable Banking and Finance Network
Biotech’s Massive Compute Shift
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Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2025
Corporate Sustainability
Grand Challenge R&D Priorities for U.S. Government
AI Inference
Technology Report 2025
AI leaders are extending their edge.
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Fortis Renewable Energy BV has signed a mandate letter with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the potential financing of the 342 MW (270 MWp solar + 72 MWh storage) Sremska Mitrovica Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project in Serbia.
The agreement initiates a structured finance process and due diligence for the provision of long-term debt to support the large-scale renewable energy development.
A Flagship Renewable Project in the Western Balkans
Located in Sremska Mitrovica, approximately 80 km northwest of Belgrade, the project is expected to become Serbia’s largest photovoltaic solar installation and one of the largest in the Western Balkans.
Beyond its scale, the project represents a major step in strengthening Serbia’s energy security, advancing decarbonization goals, and aligning the country’s energy framework with broader European climate policies.
The development will integrate:
- 270 MWp photovoltaic solar capacity
- 72 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS)
Together, the hybrid solution is designed to provide grid stability, improve renewable integration, and support long-term resilience of the national energy system.
Environmental and Energy Impact
Once operational, the Sremska Mitrovica project is expected to:
- Generate more than 365 GWh of clean electricity annually
- Supply power to over 105,000 homes per year
- Prevent approximately 182,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually
This emissions reduction is comparable to planting nearly nine million trees each year, underscoring the project’s significance within the European Green Transition.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with commissioning targeted for the first quarter of 2028.
Strategic Importance and Regional Growth
Sremska Mitrovica, built on the site of the ancient Roman capital of Sirmium, has long served as a strategic gateway between Belgrade and Central Europe. The development of one of the region’s largest solar power plants positions the city as a modern hub for sustainable growth while preserving its historic significance.
Fortis Energy highlighted the importance of collaboration with the EBRD in mobilizing private capital, supporting market stability, and advancing sustainable infrastructure across the Western Balkans. The project is also expected to meet international environmental and social sustainability standards, reinforcing its bankability and long-term viability.
Fortis Energy’s Long-Term Vision
Headquartered in Amsterdam, Fortis Energy is a Turkish-origin renewable energy developer with regional offices in Istanbul (MEA) and Belgrade (CEE). The company currently operates over 200 MW of renewable assets and is advancing more than 500 MW of new investments planned for 2026–2027.
With ambitions to become a global green baseload independent power producer (IPP), Fortis continues integrating solar, wind, energy storage, and sustainable infrastructure across Europe.
Zeeco, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Applicot Corporation, reinforcing its presence in the Japanese domestic market and enhancing localized support for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) customers across the region.
The acquisition was finalized on January 13, 2026, marking a significant step in Zeeco’s global growth strategy.
Strengthening a Long-Standing Partnership
Applicot has operated as an official licensee of Zeeco for more than 35 years, supplying combustion equipment for capital projects throughout Japan and internationally. By bringing Applicot fully into the organization, Zeeco combines the company’s established market presence with its own global resources, manufacturing capabilities, and advanced combustion technologies.
“Bringing Applicot fully into the Zeeco family marks an exciting milestone in our growth strategy,” said Darton Zink, President and CEO of Zeeco. “This acquisition reinforces our commitment to providing localized expertise backed by global capabilities.”
Susumu Morita, Managing Director of Applicot, described the integration as a natural progression in a decades-long relationship, creating expanded opportunities for both employees and customers.
Expanding Capabilities Beyond Flare Systems
Historically, Applicot’s core business has focused on flare systems. Under Zeeco’s ownership, the company’s portfolio will expand to include a broader range of combustion and environmental solutions, delivering enhanced value across refining, petrochemical, LNG, power, pharmaceutical, biogas, and other industries.
Zeeco’s product portfolio includes ultra-low-NOx burners, flare systems, thermal oxidizers, vapor control technologies, process heaters, combustion electronics, aftermarket solutions, and global field services. The company’s solutions are designed to help customers reduce emissions, optimize operational efficiency, and meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Global Infrastructure and Technology Leadership
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Zeeco operates as a privately held company with more than 3,000 employees and over 30 global locations. The company executes thousands of projects annually and operates the world’s largest combustion research and testing facility at its 250-acre Global Technology Center campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
With the acquisition, Applicot will remain a trusted brand in Japan as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zeeco, continuing to serve customers with local expertise supported by global technical resources.
As electricity demand continues to rise across the United States, policymakers and utilities face mounting pressure to expand generation capacity efficiently and cost-effectively. A new analysis from The Pew Charitable Trusts highlights an underutilized solution—Surplus Interconnection Service (SIS)—that can accelerate new energy deployment by leveraging unused grid capacity at existing power plants.
Unlike traditional interconnection processes that can take an average of five years, SIS enables new generation or storage projects to come online within months by sharing established grid access points.
The Interconnection Challenge
Before delivering electricity to consumers, new power plants must complete a complex interconnection approval process. Projects enter a queue where grid operators conduct detailed studies, determine infrastructure upgrades, and approve maximum generation capacity measured in megawatts (MW). While this safeguards grid reliability, it significantly delays project deployment.
However, many existing power plants do not operate at full capacity year-round. This underutilized grid access presents an opportunity. Surplus Interconnection Service allows new energy resources—often solar arrays or battery storage systems—to colocate at existing facilities and use that unused capacity, effectively bypassing the traditional interconnection queue.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized broader SIS use in 2018, permitting power plants larger than 20 MW to apply for surplus interconnection additions.
How SIS Expands Energy Generation
SIS offers flexible applications across various energy sources. For example, natural gas “peaker plants,” which operate only during high-demand periods, can integrate solar installations to maximize grid usage throughout the year. Similarly, solar farms that generate electricity only during daylight hours can incorporate battery storage or wind resources to provide power during nighttime or low-sun periods.
This approach enhances overall asset utilization while improving grid efficiency and energy reliability.
Key Benefits for Consumers and Utilities
Surplus Interconnection Service provides several measurable advantages:
- Accelerated energy deployment: SIS supplements traditional interconnection queues, bringing new capacity online more rapidly.
- Reduced land disruption: Projects are colocated with existing plants, minimizing the need for new land development.
- Improved reliability: Combining generation and storage resources increases system flexibility and operational stability.
- Lower congestion and consumer costs: Utilizing unused interconnection rights reduces grid bottlenecks and helps stabilize electricity prices.
- Avoided transmission investments: Additional power can be delivered without constructing costly new transmission lines, which often require years to complete.
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