Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Mastercard: Inclusive India Is Innovating AI To Create Economic Opportunities – and Why It Matters to the World

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published by Mastercard

By Manu Chopra and Shamina Singh

In India, there is a subtle but tangible shift in the digital economy. In a society of diverse languages and communities, questions of informal work, uneven access to opportunity and who remains unseen come to the fore. That’s why a growing number of organizations are re-thinking their approach to digital solutions. There is momentum around building technologies with inclusion as a foundational principle, which is reshaping how economic growth is achieved and how its benefits are distributed.

This moment is not new. The 2025 Findex shows that hundreds of millions have come online through inexpensive smartphones. Digital systems now sit at the intersection between people, work, welfare and markets.

Technology at the edges of everyday life

At the same time, the rapid rollout of 5G networks across India is beginning to reshape the speed, volume, and intensity with which digital services are delivered—bringing low-latency internet connectivity into sectors, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

In India, these forces converge with intensity. They bring long-standing inequalities into sharper focus, even as they create new opportunities for participation. Now is the time to shape systems and leverage innovation to incentivize inclusion – something that Indian social enterprises are achieving at scale.

While the digital economy needs to be underpinned by strong infrastructure, trust and usage can be a challenge. Across India, local intermediaries, ranging from field agents to community organizers to self-help groups and small entrepreneurs, play a decisive role in how digital systems are understood and taken up. It is in these relationships that inclusion is worked out in practice at the community – creating jobs and new livelihoods in an era of emerging technologies and bolstered by familiarity and function.

Local actors, local innovation

From this context, a dense and varied ecosystem has emerged. Civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises are treating digital systems as assets that can be adapted to local conditions. They understand participation in the digital economy as something that hinges on language, dignity, and the ability to earn and learn on terms that feel fair.  Social sector startups, such as Frontier Markets and Haqdarshak center the rural user as agents of change by connecting markets, government schemes, and financial services to typically underserved, rural communities. India has become a hot bed for social and economic innovation that focuses on making technology work for the underserved.

One avenue to economic opportunity for underserved communities is the work being done by Karya, which is leveraging AI to create pathways for people from low-income communities to take part directly in the digital economy. Over a hundred thousand workers across India, equipped with just a smartphone, have found fair work opportunities in contributing to datasets that encompass the linguistic diversity of the country.

Simply said, AI systems and solutions can become more inclusive while providing a pathway to meaningful economic opportunities. In collaboration with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (CFIG), this model can scale to other regions and countries where there is opportunity to build inclusive digital systems of their own.

As data-driven technologies reshape economies across the world, the stakes of these questions continue to rise. Decisions about who generates value, who becomes visible to systems, and who gains from economic growth are increasingly embedded in the ability to access and engage with the digital economy.

The work unfolding in India points towards a trajectory in which digital ecosystems enable markets, create space for dignified work, and treat contributors with respect. Inclusive innovation, in this sense, will be a vital pathway to creating economic progress for all.

Shamina Singh: founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the EVP for Sustainability at Mastercard.

Manu Chopra: founder and chief executive officer of Karya

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Mastercard: Inclusive India Is Innovating AI To Create Economic Opportunities – and Why It Matters to the World

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published by Mastercard

By Manu Chopra and Shamina Singh

In India, there is a subtle but tangible shift in the digital economy. In a society of diverse languages and communities, questions of informal work, uneven access to opportunity and who remains unseen come to the fore. That’s why a growing number of organizations are re-thinking their approach to digital solutions. There is momentum around building technologies with inclusion as a foundational principle, which is reshaping how economic growth is achieved and how its benefits are distributed.

This moment is not new. The 2025 Findex shows that hundreds of millions have come online through inexpensive smartphones. Digital systems now sit at the intersection between people, work, welfare and markets.

Technology at the edges of everyday life

At the same time, the rapid rollout of 5G networks across India is beginning to reshape the speed, volume, and intensity with which digital services are delivered—bringing low-latency internet connectivity into sectors, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

In India, these forces converge with intensity. They bring long-standing inequalities into sharper focus, even as they create new opportunities for participation. Now is the time to shape systems and leverage innovation to incentivize inclusion – something that Indian social enterprises are achieving at scale.

While the digital economy needs to be underpinned by strong infrastructure, trust and usage can be a challenge. Across India, local intermediaries, ranging from field agents to community organizers to self-help groups and small entrepreneurs, play a decisive role in how digital systems are understood and taken up. It is in these relationships that inclusion is worked out in practice at the community – creating jobs and new livelihoods in an era of emerging technologies and bolstered by familiarity and function.

Local actors, local innovation

From this context, a dense and varied ecosystem has emerged. Civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises are treating digital systems as assets that can be adapted to local conditions. They understand participation in the digital economy as something that hinges on language, dignity, and the ability to earn and learn on terms that feel fair.  Social sector startups, such as Frontier Markets and Haqdarshak center the rural user as agents of change by connecting markets, government schemes, and financial services to typically underserved, rural communities. India has become a hot bed for social and economic innovation that focuses on making technology work for the underserved.

One avenue to economic opportunity for underserved communities is the work being done by Karya, which is leveraging AI to create pathways for people from low-income communities to take part directly in the digital economy. Over a hundred thousand workers across India, equipped with just a smartphone, have found fair work opportunities in contributing to datasets that encompass the linguistic diversity of the country.

Simply said, AI systems and solutions can become more inclusive while providing a pathway to meaningful economic opportunities. In collaboration with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (CFIG), this model can scale to other regions and countries where there is opportunity to build inclusive digital systems of their own.

As data-driven technologies reshape economies across the world, the stakes of these questions continue to rise. Decisions about who generates value, who becomes visible to systems, and who gains from economic growth are increasingly embedded in the ability to access and engage with the digital economy.

The work unfolding in India points towards a trajectory in which digital ecosystems enable markets, create space for dignified work, and treat contributors with respect. Inclusive innovation, in this sense, will be a vital pathway to creating economic progress for all.

Shamina Singh: founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the EVP for Sustainability at Mastercard.

Manu Chopra: founder and chief executive officer of Karya

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Posted in UncategorizedTagged

Mastercard: Inclusive India Is Innovating AI To Create Economic Opportunities – and Why It Matters to the World

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published by Mastercard

By Manu Chopra and Shamina Singh

In India, there is a subtle but tangible shift in the digital economy. In a society of diverse languages and communities, questions of informal work, uneven access to opportunity and who remains unseen come to the fore. That’s why a growing number of organizations are re-thinking their approach to digital solutions. There is momentum around building technologies with inclusion as a foundational principle, which is reshaping how economic growth is achieved and how its benefits are distributed.

This moment is not new. The 2025 Findex shows that hundreds of millions have come online through inexpensive smartphones. Digital systems now sit at the intersection between people, work, welfare and markets.

Technology at the edges of everyday life

At the same time, the rapid rollout of 5G networks across India is beginning to reshape the speed, volume, and intensity with which digital services are delivered—bringing low-latency internet connectivity into sectors, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

In India, these forces converge with intensity. They bring long-standing inequalities into sharper focus, even as they create new opportunities for participation. Now is the time to shape systems and leverage innovation to incentivize inclusion – something that Indian social enterprises are achieving at scale.

While the digital economy needs to be underpinned by strong infrastructure, trust and usage can be a challenge. Across India, local intermediaries, ranging from field agents to community organizers to self-help groups and small entrepreneurs, play a decisive role in how digital systems are understood and taken up. It is in these relationships that inclusion is worked out in practice at the community – creating jobs and new livelihoods in an era of emerging technologies and bolstered by familiarity and function.

Local actors, local innovation

From this context, a dense and varied ecosystem has emerged. Civil society organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises are treating digital systems as assets that can be adapted to local conditions. They understand participation in the digital economy as something that hinges on language, dignity, and the ability to earn and learn on terms that feel fair.  Social sector startups, such as Frontier Markets and Haqdarshak center the rural user as agents of change by connecting markets, government schemes, and financial services to typically underserved, rural communities. India has become a hot bed for social and economic innovation that focuses on making technology work for the underserved.

One avenue to economic opportunity for underserved communities is the work being done by Karya, which is leveraging AI to create pathways for people from low-income communities to take part directly in the digital economy. Over a hundred thousand workers across India, equipped with just a smartphone, have found fair work opportunities in contributing to datasets that encompass the linguistic diversity of the country.

Simply said, AI systems and solutions can become more inclusive while providing a pathway to meaningful economic opportunities. In collaboration with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (CFIG), this model can scale to other regions and countries where there is opportunity to build inclusive digital systems of their own.

As data-driven technologies reshape economies across the world, the stakes of these questions continue to rise. Decisions about who generates value, who becomes visible to systems, and who gains from economic growth are increasingly embedded in the ability to access and engage with the digital economy.

The work unfolding in India points towards a trajectory in which digital ecosystems enable markets, create space for dignified work, and treat contributors with respect. Inclusive innovation, in this sense, will be a vital pathway to creating economic progress for all.

Shamina Singh: founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the EVP for Sustainability at Mastercard.

Manu Chopra: founder and chief executive officer of Karya

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

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ION Storage Systems Announced Successful Customer Qualification of Cornerstone™ Cell Performance, Becoming the First U.S. Solid-State Battery Tech Company to Achieve This Milestone

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

ION’s Cornerstone™ Cells will start production at its Maryland facility with expected expansion as production ramps

BELTSVILLE, Md., March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ION Storage Systems, Inc. (ION) announced today the successful customer qualification of its Cornerstone™ Cell performance. This marks ION as the first US solid-state battery technology company to achieve customer qualification for its cell performance, a remarkable achievement after the recent announcement of shipping sample cells to leading industrial, consumer electronic, and automotive companies.

 

“This is a defining milestone for ION and for the solid-state battery industry,” said Jorge Diaz Schneider, chief executive officer of ION Storage Systems. “We are the first US company to have passed performance qualification with our customer using our Cornerstone cells and plan production to start here in Maryland. We are excited about the new technologies we are unlocking and look forward to talking to more customers, helping them innovate without the restrictions of lithium-ion batteries.”

ION’s chief technology officer, Dr. Greg Hitz, added, “Bringing a solid-state, anodeless battery out of the lab and into the real world is a company-defining moment for ION. We are validating the ‘ION way’ by delivering a 100% solution for our customer and enabling an application with otherwise unmet requirements. Our unique combination of high-temperature stability and performance characteristics stands alone in the battery market. This achievement is a testament to our team’s persistence, focus, and commitment to full customer solutions. I am immensely proud of the work that got us here.”

Diaz Schneider continued, “Our strategy of commercializing in applications where our technology delivers immediate value, versus pursuing EVs first, is paying off. We are following the successful footsteps of lithium-battery technology: starting in new, innovative, high-value devices and growing to larger applications in the future.”

This demand will initially be fulfilled using ION’s Beltsville, Maryland facility, which is undergoing expansion. Production is expected to commence in 2026 supported by ION’s new sintering furnace installation. Future production demand is expected, necessitating scaled, offsite production with planning already underway.

About ION Storage Systems, Inc.

ION Storage Systems, Inc. is the only solid-state battery technology that enables solid-state performance with no pressure or swell, delivering performance, safety, and durability. Focusing on a wide range of energy storage applications, ION’s patented, three-dimensional ceramic design offers a sustainable approach to next-generation energy storage. Built on a scalable, modular ceramic structure, ION’s technology is ready to meet the demands of an increasingly electrified world. Learn more at www.ionstoragesystems.com.

Media Contact
Robert Whittlesey
 (240) 384-6020
410035@email4pr.com
www.ionstoragesystems.com


ION Storage Systems


ION Storage Systems

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SOURCE ION Storage Systems

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UpperHills: 2026 Spartan Race Shenzhen Station Kicks Off, Injecting Greater Bay Area Vitality into APEC

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

SHENZHEN, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On March 7, 2026, the globally renowned Spartan Race launched its new season in Shenzhen’s Bijiashan Park. The Event features a KIDS Race(March 7–8) , followed by the SPRINT, SUPER and HURRICANE HEAT for adults (March 17–18). Additionally, the Tough Mudder Kids event will take place at the same venue on April 18–19, continuously injecting fresh sports energy into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA).

As the host city of APEC 2026, Shenzhen’s introduction of this international sporting event into its urban core vividly embodies APEC’s vision of sustainable urban development and high-quality living.

UpperHills: 2026 Spartan Race Shenzhen Station Kicks Off, Injecting Greater Bay Area Vitality into APEC

Held annually in over 42 countries and regions worldwide, Spartan Race stages more than 250 events each year, attracting over ten million participants to date. More than just a race, it represents a spirit and a lifestyle.

The recently concluded Kids Race in Shenzhen drew over 6,000 young participants, highlighting the new generation’s fearless spirit. For the second consecutive year, Bijiashan Park—strategically located in downtown Shenzhen and seamlessly connected to the international eco-lifestyle hub, UpperHills—serves as the venue. The park is a key node in Shenzhen’s “Five Parks Linked” Project and a model example of the innovative “Park + Commercial” urban development concept.

For this event, UpperHills used its “Park + Town + Street + Mall” model to offer one-stop services for Spartan warriors of all ages and their families. After crossing the finish line, participants can walk directly via a skybridge into UpperHills, where they enjoy exclusive Spartan-themed discounts at numerous dining, accommodation, leisure, and retail outlets—including the Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen.

Thanks to its prime location, fashion-forward DNA, and rich cultural-sports programming, UpperHills has become a premier lifestyle and travel destination for residents of the GBA and global visitors alike. From March 27 to April 6, the Flower Show 2026 will be held at Bijiashan Sports Park, while the 2026 International Exotic Plants Show & Sale returns to UpperHills—adding vibrant touches of nature and artistry to the spring season and potentially driving visitor numbers to new highs.

As an iconic Shenzhen landmark and key showcase of GBA culture, UpperHills leverages global cultural, sports, and entertainment events to create integrated, immersive experiences—helping build a high-quality, livable, and vibrant GBA lifestyle circle and showcasing Shenzhen’s openness and urban dynamism to the Asia-Pacific as a pioneer demonstration zone.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/upperhills-2026-spartan-race-shenzhen-station-kicks-off-injecting-greater-bay-area-vitality-into-apec-302709473.html

SOURCE UpperHills

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CVS Health Boosts CVS Pharmacy Customer Generosity To Address Food Insecurity

Posted on by sHq_LoGiNz

WOONSOCKET, R.I., CVS Pharmacy® customers donated more than $3 million last year to support local food banks across the country, and CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) is boosting the overall contribution to support Feeding America. The in-store campaign, hosted at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, gave customers a simple and impactful way to contribute to the movement to end hunger in their own communities. CVS Health and its Foundation has also committed over $2 million in 2025 to address food insecurity, continuing a long history of supporting community access to nutritious food.

“Food insecurity is a complex issue that looks different in every community—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” said Jenny McColloch, VP of Sustainability and Community Impact at CVS Health. “Thanks to our customers, we’re able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of people in America through our in-store fundraising campaign. Beyond that, we continue to support organizations that are working every day to increase access to nutritious food – investing in local solutions that meet people where they are and help address the unique needs of each community.”

With 9,000 pharmacies across the country, CVS Health is committed to helping friends, families, and neighbors by improving health and simplifying care. In addition, the company’s philanthropic actions help strengthen American communities.

Every dollar raised by CVS Pharmacy customers goes directly to a local food bank in the Feeding America network. The success of this initiative is a testament to the generosity and commitment of CVS Pharmacy customers, who continue to play a vital role in helping neighbors access the nutritious food they need. Since 2020, in-store fundraising campaigns have raised and donated more than $60 million for Feeding America.

“Hunger is a challenge we can overcome by working together,” said Lauren Biedron, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “At a time when many families across the country are facing uncertainty and managing tough choices such as balancing food with other essentials, we are grateful for long-standing partners like CVS Health who understand this urgent need to address the hunger crisis. Together, we can ensure stability for our neighbors facing hunger, so they have access to the food and resources they need to thrive.”

In addition to the fundraising opportunity provided by CVS Pharmacy, since 2024, CVS Health and its Foundation has also awarded over $4 million in local grants to support organizations nationwide that address food insecurity, improve access to nutritious food and expand medically tailored meal services. These grants are designed to strengthen and scale solutions that go beyond addressing hunger alone – tackling the broader social and health-related drivers of food insecurity. A few recent grants include:

  • $500,000 to Feeding America to enhance Meal Connect, its food rescue platform that reduces waste and increases access to nutritious food by connecting donors with local food banks and agencies.
  • $235,000 over two years to Community Servings for the Food is Medicine Accelerator program, a national initiative led by the Food is Medicine Coalition and partners to refine, replicate, and scale the medically tailored meal (MTM) model in communities.
  • $100,000 to Meals on Wheels of Mercer County, NJ, providing general operating support to help the organization better meet the evolving needs of the individuals and communities it serves.
  • $100,000 to Keep Growing Detroit, supporting its Garden Resource Program, which promotes urban gardening and provides tools and resources to family, school and community gardens.

Explore CVS Health’s work to combat food insecurity and improve health outcomes.

###

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company building a world of health around every consumer, wherever they are. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including highly rated Medicare Advantage offerings and a leading standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase fair access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living, and employment.

We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit www.FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

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Complimentary Webinar: Scaling Tech‑Enabled Rainwater Harvesting for Verified Water Positive Outcomes

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Complimentary Webinar:

Scaling Tech‑Enabled Rainwater Harvesting for Verified Water Positive Outcomes

Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 8:30 AM PST (11:30 AM EST)

Register Here

Join SCS Global Services for an in-depth look at how rainwater harvesting has evolved from a niche sustainability initiative into a scalable water stewardship solution. Rainwater is a renewable resource, and harvesting it turns a variable local flow into a usable supply when designed with adequate storage, demand matching, digital tech, and basin context in mind. When designed effectively, these systems reduce reliance on stressed water sources, mitigate runoff and flooding, and create climate-resilient local supply.

Deployed strategically across portfolios, rainwater harvesting becomes a repeatable tool for managing water risk and strengthening basin resilience. Through the partnership of rainwater implementation experts, Heart Water and water project development platform, Aqua Positive, companies can design high-impact projects that deliver shared value, benefiting both business operations and surrounding communities.

As scrutiny of these water claims increases, impact must be measurable and defensible. Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) provides a transparent, standardized method to quantify, attribute, and compare water benefits across projects and geographies. Independent verification by SCS Global Services transforms water stewardship investments into credible, disclosure-ready evidence that supports robust, auditable water-positive claims.

Featured Speakers:

  • William Sarni (Earth Finance) 
    An expert on the evolving water finance and disclosure landscape
     
  • Alejandro Sturniolo (Aqua Positive)
    Discussing water project development and VWBA methodology
     
  • Belal Elbanna (Heart Water) 
    Highlighting tech-enabled rainwater harvesting at a portfolio scale
     
  • Lauren Enright (SCS Global Services) 
    Providing insights into the necessity of third-party verification for disclosure-ready evidence

Why Attend?

Rainwater harvesting is no longer a niche initiative; it is a repeatable solution for climate resilience. Through collaboration between implementation experts and project developers, companies can now design high-impact projects that deliver shared value. This webinar will provide a clear path from project design to credible, audit-ready water-positive claims.

Join us to explore how rainwater harvesting, VWBA, and third-party verification work together to turn water ambition into verified impact.

REGISTER HERE

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Analyst, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

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PowerBank Approved for $1,965,579 USD from NYSERDA for Jordan Rd 1 Solar Project and Project Receives NYSDEC Brownfield Approvals

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Incentive payment awarded under the NYSERDA’s NY-Sun Program

TORONTO, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) (“PowerBank” or the “Company), a leader in distributed solar energy, battery storage, and clean energy infrastructure across North America, is pleased to announce that its 7 MW Jordan Rd 1 community solar project (the “Project“) located on privately-owned brownfield lands in Skaneateles Falls, New York has been approved for up to $1,965,579 USD in incentives through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) NY-Sun Program. The Project is also expected to qualify for up to an additional $1,576,520 in NY-Sun incentives through the Inclusive Community Solar Adder. The Project received its municipal approvals, previously announced here. 


PowerBank Logo (CNW Group/PowerBank Corporation)

PowerBank is also pleased to annouce that the Project has received its brownfield-specific environmental approvals to operate from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

The NY-Sun Program is a public-private partnership that aims to drive growth in the solar industry and make solar technology more affordable for all New Yorkers. Led by NYSERDA, the program provides incentives and financing to expand solar adoption for homes, businesses, and communities, while supporting local job creation and advancing the state’s clean energy goals.

The Jordan Rd Project is expected to deliver enough energy to power approximately 875 homes annually. Once constructed and operational, following receipt of financing and final permits, the Project will be operated as a community solar project. Community solar is a solar photovoltaic system interconnected directly to the local electricity grid via distribution lines. Once the system is placed into service by the utility and generating electricity, clean energy from the site feeds into the local power grid. Depending on the size and number of panels the project has, dozens or even hundreds of renters, homeowners and electricity customers can save money from the electricity that is generated by the project. By subscribing to a project, a homeowner earns credits on their electric bill every month from their portion of the solar that’s generated by the project, accessing the benefits of solar without installing panels on their home. This allows homeowners to realize a reduced cost per kW/hour from the power they consume versus standard utility rates.

PowerBank’s proven expertise, with over 100 MW of completed projects and a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, underpins the project’s execution. Strategic partnerships and institutional-grade development capabilities position PowerBank to deliver reliable, high-impact renewable energy solutions.

The Project advances New York’s path to 10 GW of solar by 2030. The State leads the United States in community solar capacity, having achieved the New York State Climate Act 6 GW solar goal in the fall of 2024.

There are several risks associated with the development of the Project. The development of any project is subject to receipt of a community solar contract, receipt of required permits, the availability of third-party financing arrangements for the Company and the risks associated with the construction of a solar power project. In addition, governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar power, which could result in future Project no longer being economic. Please refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” for additional discussion of the assumptions and risk factors associated with the Project and statements made in this press release.

About PowerBank Corporation

PowerBank Corporation is an independent renewable and clean energy project developer and owner focusing on distributed and community solar projects in Canada and the USA. The Company develops solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects that sell electricity to utilities, commercial, industrial, municipal and residential off-takers. The Company maximizes returns via a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple leading North America markets including projects with utilities, host off-takers, community solar, and virtual net metering projects. The Company has a potential development pipeline of over one gigawatt and has developed renewable and clean energy projects with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts built. To learn more about PowerBank, please visit www.powerbankcorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information ‎within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking ‎statements”) that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events. ‎Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, ‎objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the ‎use of words or phrases such as “will likely result”, “are expected to”, “expects”, “will ‎continue”, “is anticipated”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimated”, “intends”, “plans”, “forecast”, ‎‎”projection”, “strategy”, “objective” and “outlook”) are not historical facts and may be ‎forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties ‎which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in ‎such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release ‎contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company’s expectations regarding its industry trends and overall market growth; the Company’s growth strategies the expected energy production from the solar power project mentioned in this press release; the number of homes expected to be powered; the expected savings for local residents; the receipt of additional project incentives; and the size of the Company’s development pipeline. No assurance ‎can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking ‎statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These ‎statements speak only as of the date of this news release.‎

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In making the forward looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including but not limited to: obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; that regulatory requirements will be maintained; general business and economic conditions; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and services offered by the Company’s competitors; that the Company’s current good relationships with its service providers and other third parties will be maintained; and government subsidies and funding for renewable energy will continue as currently contemplated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company’s expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under “Forward-‎Looking Statements” and “Risk ‎Factors” in the Company’s most recently completed Annual Information Form, and other public filings of the Company, which include: the Company may be adversely affected by volatile solar power market and industry conditions; the execution of the Company’s growth strategy depends upon the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements; the Company’s future success depends partly on its ability to expand the pipeline of its energy business in several key markets; governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar and battery storage power; general global economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations; the Company’s project development and construction activities may not be successful; developing and operating solar Project exposes the Company to various risks; the Company faces a number of risks involving Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) and project-level financing arrangements; any changes to the laws, regulations and policies that the Company is subject to may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power; the markets in which the Company competes are highly competitive and evolving quickly; an anti-circumvention investigation could adversely affect the Company by potentially raising the prices of key supplies for the construction of solar power projects; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; a change in the Company’s effective tax rate can have a significant adverse impact on its business; seasonal variations in demand linked to construction cycles and weather conditions may influence the Company’s results of operations; the Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or have access to external financing; the Company may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future; the Company is subject to risks from supply chain issues; risks related to inflation and tariffs; unexpected warranty expenses that may not be adequately covered by the Company’s insurance policies; if the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, it may not be able to compete effectively in the renewable energy market; there are a limited number of purchasers of utility-scale quantities of electricity; compliance with environmental laws and regulations can be expensive; corporate responsibility may adversely impose additional costs; the future impact of any global pandemic on the Company is unknown at this time; the Company has limited insurance coverage; the Company will be reliant on information technology systems and may be subject to damaging cyberattacks; the Company may become subject to litigation; there is no guarantee on how the Company will use its available funds; the Company will continue to sell securities for cash to fund operations, capital expansion, mergers and acquisitions that will dilute the current shareholders; and future dilution as a result of financings.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any ‎forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or ‎otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it ‎is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such ‎factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to ‎differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-‎looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by ‎this cautionary statement.‎

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powerbank-approved-for-1-965-579-usd-from-nyserda-for-jordan-rd-1-solar-project-and-project-receives-nysdec-brownfield-approvals-302709090.html

SOURCE PowerBank Corporation

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SLR Acquires Geobiota

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SANTIAGO, Chile, March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – This strategic acquisition strengthens market trust, amplifies impact, and expands influence across our Latin American region. With Geobiota, SLR enhances its technical consultancy practice by combining nearly 400 highly skilled specialists with real-world experience and creating one of the largest pure-play environmental consulting firms in Chile. This acquisition reinforces SLR’s long‑term commitment to Latin America and to clients operating across the region’s most critical mining markets, including Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico – building a dedicated, end‑to‑end sustainability centre of excellence in the region, uniting strategic advisory, technical expertise, and data-driven foresight into an integrated experience that empowers clients to make informed decisions, de‑risk operations, and seize emerging opportunities across the value chain.

Mauricio Venturin, SLR’s Regional Managing Director for LATAM, commented “The acquisition of Geobiota is a strategic move that enables us to deliver more comprehensive and specialized solutions. Together, we strengthen our ability to support clients in meeting ESG challenges and advancing toward sustainable projects, consolidating SLR as the leader in integrated environmental consulting in the region.”

Geobiota brings a multidisciplinary team of environmental engineers, ecologists, agronomists, sociologists, and forestry specialists. The company’s strong track record of long-standing client relationships and technical excellence is fully complementary to SLR’s existing business in LATAM. This synergy has already been proven through major projects, such as Conexión Kimal–Lo Aguirre, Chile’s first high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, which showcased technical alignment and strong, shared delivery culture, scientific rigor, and client engagement.

Carlos Prado, Geobiota’s General Manager and owner, said: “Joining SLR allows us to combine our expertise in biodiversity and ecological restoration with the global reach and technical strength of a leading firm. This alliance will enable us to continue delivering value to complex projects and contribute to sustainability in key sectors such as mining and energy.”

– Ends –

 

For further information please contact: Gonzalo Huerta, Head of Marketing (LATAM), SLR: gonzalo.huerta@slrconsulting.com

 

Notes to editors:

About SLR

SLR is a leading global environmental and advisory consultancy, with a team of 4,500+ talented professionals operating from a network of offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

Our purpose – Making Sustainability Happen – means delivering outcomes that are grounded in evidence, shaped by experience, and built to last. Our team of scientists, engineers, economists, data modellers, and technicians work across our clients’ full sustainability journeys, from strategy through to on-the-ground project planning, execution and ongoing operations, all supported by robust data and science-based modelling.

Guided by our philosophy of Rational Sustainability, SLR specialises in the energy, mining, finance, industry & technology, government & infrastructure, and built environment sectors. Operating across more than 50+ technical disciplines, we’re helping a growing base of business, regulatory and government clients navigate the ever-shifting context of sustainable business.

Find out more: www.slrconsulting.com

 

About Geobiota

Geobiota provides specialized consulting services and solutions in the areas of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources. Geobiota’s experience is based on the design and implementation of environmental technologies for the development of energy, mining, industrial, forestry, infrastructure projects, and wildlife management.

Find out more: www.geobiota.com

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Mining for key energy-transition minerals is not a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions, ICMM research finds

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New global dataset puts mining and metals emissions in perspective as demand for energy transition minerals grows

LONDON, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, ICMM publishes its new Global Mining & Metals Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Dataset, alongside an insights report that provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date picture of how the mining and metals sector scope 1 and scope 2 emissions contribute to global GHG emissions[1].

Global Mining & Metals Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Dataset

Key findings:

  • Mining for minerals important for the green energy transition and sustainable development is not a major source of GHG emissions.
    – Non-coal mining represented just 0.54% of global GHG emissions in 2024.
    – By comparison, fugitive emissions from coal, which must be phased out to meet global climate goals, accounts for 2.46% of global GHG emissions.
  • In total, scope 1 and 2 emissions from mining (3%) and metal processing (8%) in 2024, position the sector as the sixth largest source of global GHG emissions, contributing less than the power generation, transport and agriculture sectors and about as much as all other industrial processing activities.
  • Steel and aluminium production, along with coal mining, were the largest sources of GHG emissions overall, together responsible for 93 per cent of sector scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024.
  • Demand for steel and aluminium, which are important for infrastructure underpinning the green transition, is forecast to increase in the coming years
    – Decarbonising steelmaking and aluminium smelting represent the most significant opportunities for sector-level decarbonisation
  • Approximately 80% of the sector’s global scope 1 and 2 emissions originate in Asia, reflecting both the concentration of primary mines and processing facilities for most global commodities in the region.

By combining facility-level data from 1,700 facilities across 14 commodities representing 87% of global production, and modelling emissions using regional commodity-level averages for the remaining (13%) production volume, the dataset captures an industry-wide total of scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024. The dataset is designed for high–level sector and regional insights only and is not suitable for benchmarking companies or assets, or for assessing corporate progress against targets. In contrast to corporate-level data, this dataset offers an industry-wide picture, explores regional and commodity-specific emissions profiles and allows comparison of mining and metals GHG emissions with emissions from other major industries. The findings offer important context at a time when demand for minerals and metals is rising rapidly to support the global energy transition and the infrastructure and urbanisation needs of a growing population.

As the world progresses towards the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, demand for minerals and metals is projected to grow significantly, reflecting the sector’s essential role in building clean technologies. At the same time, producing these materials is energy-intensive, which means the mining and metals industry is both a contributor to GHG emissions and a key enabler of the energy transition. By publishing this dataset – the second in a planned series of data-backed reports – ICMM’s intention is to strengthen our collective understanding of the mining and metals sector’s contribution to GHG emissions and support informed decision-making for policymakers, investors and all relevant stakeholders.

Dr Emma Gagen, Director of Data and Research, ICMM: “Despite our sector’s importance to the energy transition, up-to-date, publicly available and industry-wide data has been lacking, contributing to the circulation of misleading estimates. ICMM’s Global Mining & Metals GHG Emissions Dataset provides data and data-driven insights to underpin more informed dialogue about the sector’s contribution to global GHG emissions while providing the building blocks for sustainable development and the global energy transition.

“Like all large-scale datasets, this one will evolve, but establishing a transparent, industry-wide baseline is a necessary starting point. Inferred implications from the Dataset are provided separately from the data itself to allow others to be curious and make their own judgements. We invite all interested stakeholders to engage with the data, provide feedback or supplementary data to help improve its coverage, and collaborate with us further.” 

Notes to editors

Like all large-scale datasets, the data has limitations based on boundaries we have set for quality control and will evolve through further collaborations. Certain refining stages (e.g., gold, silver, cobalt, platinum group metals, lead) and some gases (e.g., hydrofluorocarbons, SF₆) are excluded due to data limitations. See the Limitations section of our report for further information.

This Dataset and report are part of ICMM’s wider Global Mining Data Project that aims to significantly improve the quality and accessibility of industry-wide information by building robust, transparent data that can inform policy and advance wider discussions about mining and metals’ evolving role in sustainable development.

Methodology

To prepare the dataset we partnered with Wood Mackenzie who used a proprietary method aligned with the GHG Protocol to calculate facility-level emissions for approximately 1,700 facilities that they have sufficient information on and to model the emissions from the production gap not covered by facility-level information. For the facility-level emissions, data was not aggregated from public sources; it was calculated so as to ensure a consistent method across the dataset. This facility-level modelling approach is distinct from corporate GHG inventories prepared by individual mining companies under the GHG Protocol, which are compiled at the organisational level based on operational control and materiality, and for scope 2 emissions, typically determined using both location-based and market-based methods.

Wood Mackenzie calculated the coverage of their facility-level data by comparing production volumes from these facilities with global production volumes for each of the 14 commodities that are included in our analysis. Facility–level modelling covers ~87% of production for the 14 commodities; the remaining ~13% was approximated using regional commodity averages. Facility-level data will not be made public in the dataset or the report, as it is Wood Mackenzie’s proprietary data. However, it was used to allow us to estimate scope 1 and 2 emissions for the missing global production volume that was not covered with their facility-level calculations.

Please see the Methodology section of the Report for further details. 

About ICMM

ICMM stands for mining with principles. We bring together a third of the global metals and mining industry, along with key partners to drive leadership, action and innovation for sustainable development, ultimately delivering a positive contribution to society. Through collaboration, ICMM member companies set the standard for responsibly produced minerals and metals in a safe, just and sustainable world.

[1] The dataset is a modelled, sector–level estimate, not an aggregation of company–reported inventories. It is not intended to infer corporate progress towards decarbonisation targets, or asset level performance.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2927456/ICMM.jpg

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SOURCE ICMM

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