Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Validation testing marks major product readiness milestone ahead of early 2026 field installation at Southern Company’s test site in Wilsonville, Alabama

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Inlyte Energy, a manufacturer of iron-sodium battery energy storage systems, announced it has successfully completed a factory acceptance test of its first field-ready battery at its facility near Derby, UK, witnessed by representatives from Southern Company, one of the largest energy providers in the United States. The test demonstrated the performance and integration readiness of Inlyte’s battery storage system—combining advanced sodium metal chloride cells, inverter and control electronics—a major milestone on the company’s path to commercialization.

Global demand for energy storage is accelerating rapidly, with the industry projected to expand from $70 billion in 2025 to more than $150 billion by 2030. The U.S. Department of Energy projects that reaching a future U.S. grid requires more than 225 gigawatts of long-duration energy storage (LDES) by 2050—far beyond what current lithium-ion technologies can economically deliver. For electrical utilities and their customers, LDES is essential to maintaining reliability, improving resiliency during extreme weather and reducing long-term costs. Breakthroughs like Inlyte’s iron-sodium batteries are critical to closing this gap. The tested system represents the world’s largest sodium metal chloride battery cells and modules ever constructed, capable of storing over 300 kilowatt-hours of energy each.

“To win the future we need abundant and secure supplies of energy in the U.S., and at the same time we need to make costs go down, not up,” said Antonio Baclig, CEO of Inlyte Energy. “We can’t do that by building the same thing as China. We need to make better technologies, with batteries that are fundamentally lower cost, safer, and longer lasting. By leveraging a breakthrough in the use of iron in the proven sodium metal chloride battery, Inlyte can scale rapidly.”

During the factory test, Inlyte’s battery achieved 83% round-trip efficiency, including auxiliaries, which is competitive with high-performance lithium-ion and well above the 40 to 70% range typical for other LDES technologies. Southern Company’s research and development team witnessed the test firsthand, observing the system’s performance and integration—a key milestone in project acceptance. Following the successful test, Inlyte’s first energy storage systems will be installed at Southern Company’s Energy Storage Test Site in Wilsonville, Alabama in early 2026.

“Energy storage is essential for creating a reliable and flexible energy grid,” said Steve Baxley, Southern Company energy storage and use research and development manager. “As the grid evolves toward longer-duration storage, developing solutions that are both low-cost and safe is critical to ensuring affordable, dependable service for customers. Inlyte’s successful system test represents a meaningful step in validating the iron-sodium battery technology for future applications. We look forward to continuing our research collaboration with Inlyte as this technology moves close to real-world deployment.” 

With technical readiness proven and customer demonstrations in motion, Inlyte is now advancing toward U.S. manufacturing and commercialization. The company is finalizing site selection for its first domestic production facility in 2026. To accelerate this move, Inlyte recently announced a strategic partnership with HORIEN Salt Battery Solutions—the world’s largest and most experienced producer of sodium metal chloride batteries, with more than 25 years of commercial deployment across a range of applications, including critical power, remote industry, and battery energy storage. Together, the companies will leverage HORIEN’s proven manufacturing expertise and Inlyte’s system integration capabilities to bring domestically produced sodium battery systems to market, with commercial deliveries planned for 2027.

For more information, please visit www.inlyteenergy.com.

About Inlyte Energy

Inlyte Energy delivers breakthrough iron-sodium battery technology enabling safe, sustainable, and domestically produced short- and long-duration energy storage. With simple ingredients—iron and salt—and innovative design, Inlyte is reshaping energy storage, enhancing resilience, and supporting electricity growth worldwide. Inlyte’s modular battery design makes it ideal for utilities, industrial facilities, data centers, and critical infrastructure seeking reliable and resilient power storage solutions. For more information, visit: www.inlyteenergy.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inlyte-energy-completes-factory-acceptance-test-of-first-full-scale-iron-sodium-battery-storage-system-302639131.html

SOURCE Inlyte Energy, Inc.

Students and educators attend and perform at Toyota sponsored live events in Atlanta and Los Angeles

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Music has the power to transform lives, providing young people with inspiration to create and thrive. That’s where music education and programs play a critical role for young people in diverse communities.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/conill_toyota/9371751-en-toyota-donation-music-education-nonprofit-program-music-will

Toyota recently partnered with nonprofit, Music Will, the largest nonprofit music program in the U.S., and made a donation of $75,000 to further support their commitment to aspiring young artists.  The organization delivers hands-on, culturally responsive music education to more than 1,000,000 students in thousands of public schools nationwide.

“It’s been a pleasure working and connecting with students through music which is a universal connector,” shared Kaitlin Marie Pennell, Sr. Analyst, Toyota. “Supporting emerging artists has been part of what Toyota has been doing for so many years, and it’s exciting when we see it come to life through partnerships with rising artists like ELA Taubert and through our work with festival partners that provided great real-life experiences for students from Music Will who took part in these opportunities.”

The partnership with Music Will took students from the classroom to immersive performances at festivals and a live concert.  Participating students performed at two Toyota sponsored festivals including ONE Musicfest in Atlanta, Georgia and Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles, California.  In addition, students from Verdugo Hills High School had a chance to meet and chat with rising Latin GRAMMY winning artist, ELA Taubert, who shared her musical journey with them in addition to giving them a behind the scenes look at her concert in Los Angeles. 

“We’re so grateful to Toyota for investing in our mission and giving kids an experience of a lifetime,” said Janice Polizzotto, Chief Growth Officer, Music Will. “We’re incredibly proud of our students and teachers who continue to inspire us with their creativity, confidence, and ambition. These young musicians are a glimpse of the rising artists shaping the future – and it’s exciting to know Toyota is helping support that next generation. We can’t wait to see what grows from this new partnership and the possibilities ahead.”

Toyota continues to champion music discovery by sponsoring festivals and supporting emerging artists. By working with festivals like ONE Musicfest, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival and sponsoring rising talent like ELA Taubert on her musical journey, these efforts help continue forging positive and impactful connections through music for fans and artists.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. 

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

About Music Will
Music Will’s mission is to transform lives by transforming music education. Through its innovative modern band curriculum, Music Will expands student participation in school music programs and helps drive long-term academic, social, and emotional growth. Since 2002, the organization has provided teacher training, curriculum, and instruments to over 6,000 schools across all 50 states, reaching more than 1.8 million students to date.

The program’s roots go back to 1996, when a classroom teacher in East Palo Alto, CA, began offering free guitar lessons to his students to fill the gap left by the absence of a music program at his school. What started in one elementary classroom has since grown into a national movement, expanding to more than 1,000 school districts nationwide. By 2030, Music Will aims to reach 11 million students annually through its nationally scaled programming.

Media Contacts:

Sam Mahoney
Toyota Motor North America
980-900-8573
samuel.mahoney@toyota.com

Delia López
Conill for Toyota
424-239-4078
delia.lopez@conill.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-strengthens-its-commitment-to-music-discovery-with-donation-of-75-000-to-music-will-302638627.html

SOURCE Toyota

345 tons of hotel amenities recycled by Sands China and community partners since 2014

MACAO, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sands China mobilised 330 team members together with volunteers from the University of Saint Joseph, sustainability nonprofit Sustaincia, Oxfam in Macau, and the Youth Volunteers Association of Macao to assemble 30,000 hygiene kits for international social enterprise Clean the World Thursday at The Venetian^® Macao’s Cotai Expo. It marks the 12th consecutive year that Sands China has partnered with local social service organisations to support the Clean the World initiative.

A total of 26,000 emergency response hygiene kits will be delivered to the Philippines, while 4,000 will be distributed to 11 Macao NGOs and three charitable and educational institutions in Hong Kong. The kits provide essential hygiene supplies to families in need and promote the concept of resource recycling to younger generations.

After hotel guests check out, Sands China collects used soap for Clean the World to recycle. Through a remanufacturing process, soap is sanitised and repurposed, extending the life of hotel supplies that would otherwise be discarded as unnecessary waste. Besides soap, each kit contains shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a card with an encouraging message from Sands China and Clean the World in a reusable non-woven bag.

“Sands China is proud to have been the first integrated operator in Macao to partner with Clean the World to produce hygiene kits,” said Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd. “Since 2014, we have continuously responded to our parent company’s call to action, participating in this meaningful initiative for 12 consecutive years. By leveraging our resources, we give back to Macao while extending a helping hand internationally. To date, we have worked with our community partners to prepare more than 415,000 kits to support vulnerable groups in Macao and neighbouring regions, helping prevent the spread of disease and promoting environmental protection through recycling. Sands China is grateful to Clean the World for their collaboration over the years, and sincerely thanks our team members and community partners for their dedication and selfless contributions in advancing global health and environmental sustainability.”

Shawn Seipler, founder and chief executive officer of Clean the World, said: “It’s truly inspiring to witness Sands China and the Macao community come together once again to support families in need. By assembling 30,000 hygiene kits, we’re not just providing essential supplies, we’re delivering hope, dignity, and the power of collective action. Every kit is a testament to the compassion and generosity of volunteers, partners, and Sands China. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of thousands across Macao and beyond.”

Sands China’s support of Clean the World is part of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the Sands ECO360 global sustainability strategy.

About Sands China Ltd. 
Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian^® Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, The Parisian^® Macao and The Londoner Macao^®. The Company also owns and operates Sands^® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, the Londoner Theatre and the Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Sands Cares
A firm believer in the importance of corporate social responsibility, Sands China Ltd. engages with the local Macao community as a part of Sands Cares – the charitable giving programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. Sands Cares integrates the company’s philanthropic work worldwide in four key areas: financial giving, community problem solving and collaboration, in-kind donations, and team member volunteerism.

Key areas of Sands Cares in Macao include the Sands Cares Ambassador programme for volunteering in the local community; charitable contributions to NGOs and community organisations; and sponsorship of community events.

For more information, please visit www.sands.com/sands-cares/.

About Clean the World
MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
Clean the World, an affiliate of Clean the World Global, is a global leader in environmental and social impact solutions, which aims to make the world a better place by diverting soap bars and plastic amenities that the hospitality industry would otherwise discard from landfills and recycling the soap into new bars. By doing so, Clean the World helps reduce pollution, save water and decrease the carbon footprint of thousands of hotels globally, while helping improve the lives of women, children, and communities globally by donating new soap bars to global NGOs, such as The WASH Foundation.

With over 8,300 participants in its Global Hospitality Recycling Program, and more than 1.4 million hotel rooms processed daily, Clean the World has already diverted over 31.5 million pounds of waste from landfills and donated over 115.7 million bars of recycled soap since its inception in 2009.

To learn more about Clean the World and its global impact, please visit https://cleantheworld.org.

Media contacts:
Corporate Communications, Sands China Ltd.
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo 

Jesse Chiang
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: jesse.chiang@sands.com.mo

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sands-china-and-community-volunteers-assemble-30-000-hygiene-kits-for-annual-clean-the-world-initiative-302639295.html

SOURCE Sands China Ltd.

What’s on the menu? Kids are hungry for classic favorites, international flavors, and a whole lot of fun!

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From surprising combinations to craveable comfort foods, kids are shaping the future of school dining with adventurous appetites and purposeful choices. Today’s students are fueling up with meals that balance fun, flavor, and function, and they’re bringing creativity and curiosity to every bite.

Leveraging the latest generational insights from Chartwells and their market research and analytics partner E15, Gen Alpha and Gen Z are redefining what school meals should deliver: bold flavors, balanced nutrition, and a connection to the world around them. This year’s food trends for kids reflect exactly that, showcasing the foods, formats, and experiences students love most.

“We’re seeing incredible excitement from students about food,” said Chef Peter Gilhooly, Senior Vice President – Culinary, Chartwells K12. “From global influences to interactive, on-the-go options, kids are embracing food as an experience that connects their taste buds to their values.”

Chartwells K12’s top 10 food trends for kids in 2026 are:

1. Pizza Party – It’s official: 98% of students list pizza as their favorite food, but not any old slice. From whole-grain crusts to veggie-loaded toppings, today’s pizza gets a nutritious twist. Whether it’s classic pepperoni, Nashville Hot Chicken, or a Nut-Free Pesto Spinach Flatbread, pizza remains the ultimate unifier for Gen Alpha’s love of comfort and customization.
2. Brunch All Day – Eggs are more than breakfast; they’re a Gen Alpha staple. Students are craving breakfast-for-lunch options, making brunch-inspired menus a major trend. Think Bacon and Cheddar Egg Bites, Chorizo Egg Bowl, and Dragon Fruit Banana Bowl, all featured in Chartwells’ ‘Bloom into Breakfast’ promotional campaign launching in school cafeterias this spring.
3. Turn Up the (Sweet) Heat – Sweet meets spicy in a flavor combo kids can’t resist. From Chicken and Waffles with Spicy Peach Compote and a Honey BBQ Sriracha Chicken Grain Bowl to Chili Lime Watermelon Salad, this trend reflects the growing “flavor curiosity” noted in generational research, a balance of boldness and fun that helps students explore flavor profiles at their own pace.
4. That’s a Wrap – Portable is powerful! With 68% of kids saying they want food they can take on the go, wraps, tacos, and handhelds are ruling lunch lines. Chartwells highlights how variety and mobility meet, serving options like a Ham, Egg & Cheese Burrito, Jamaican Beef Hand Pies, and a Santa Fe Turkey & Cheddar Wrap.
5. Sip, Sip, Hooray – Influenced by café culture and Gen Z’s beverage obsession, students are sipping on Watermelon Aqua Fresca and Dragon Fruit Boba Tea. With Starbucks named a top Gen Alpha destination, our cafeterias are embracing kid-friendly versions that blend flavor, hydration, nutrition, and flair.
6. Chicken Reimagined – Still a top food for kids, chicken is getting a playful reboot with the relaunch of Chickendipity, Chartwells’ culinary concept featuring fun twists for nuggets, tenders, and more with flavorful dipping sauces like Honey Lime Buffalo Sauce, Southwest Cilantro Ranch, and Korean BBQ. This trend taps into the popularity of dipping and dunking, making mealtime interactive and fun for all ages.
7. Passport to Flavor – Gen Alpha’s curiosity about other cultures shines through their food choices. With new countries and regional flavors joining the Global Eats program lineup later this year, students can explore world cuisines in approachable ways, from Korean Style Bulgogi Chicken Tacos to Mexican Pork Pozole, connecting their love of flavor to cultural exploration.
8. Eyes on the Fries – Potatoes, the No. 1-ranked side dish among both generations, are back in every form: mashed, roasted, and crinkle-cut. They’re also getting creative upgrades like Potato Poppers and a Crispy Popcorn Chicken and Mashed Potato Bowl, tying in sauces and toppings that bring comfort with a twist.
9. Power Up Your Performance – Students are seeking protein-packed and macro-friendly foods that fuel their performance. Gen Z and Gen Alpha prioritize health and energy, and Chartwells’ Power Up program is expanding with menu items like a Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowl and Banana Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats, packed with protein, whole grains, and produce that support active days and focused minds.
10. Plant-Forward and Planet-Friendly – Sustainability is no longer a bonus; it’s an expectation. With 60-70% of Gen Alpha students eating plant-based meals each week, Chartwells continues to lead with plant-forward entrees like a comfort food classic Sweet Potato and Black Bean Vegetarian Chili, or Butternut Squash Enchiladas. Using locally sourced produce and hosting programs like Chartwells Farmers Markets bring food origin stories to life for kids.

View the full list of 2026 Food Trends for Kids video.

These trends are powered by Chartwells AI: Appetite Intelligence platform, an insights initiative that combines data from E15 research and daily student feedback to shape what’s served in cafeterias nationwide. By translating generational insights into action, Chartwells continues to create meals that meet kids where they are, and where they’re going next.

About Chartwells K12
Chartwells K12’s goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 18,000 associates in 4,800 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education, and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Media Contact: Jonathan Squibb, Director of Communications, jonathan.squibb@compass-usa.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chartwells-k12-serves-up-the-top-10-food-trends-for-kids-in-2026-302638774.html

SOURCE Chartwells K12