Why I'm Excited for 2026 and Continuing the Momentum Built in the Last 4 Months of 2025
A letter from Sesame Solar's CEO and Co-Founder, Lauren Flanagan
As we look toward 2026, we’re excited to continue our momentum and commitment to innovating mobile power solutions. While 2025 presented macroeconomic challenges in the form of inflation, tariffs, and trade barriers, we progressed our technology with a steadfast determination that energy resilience from mobile power is a global imperative. And through this unwavering resolve, we developed new products and partnerships to make our Mobile Nanogrids smarter, more reliable, more powerful, and even more innovative.
In September, Sesame Solar acquired all the assets of our key hydrogen storage partner, Harnyss LLC, including a deep patent portfolio. The addition of this breakthrough technology strengthened our ability to safely transport hydrogen by land, sea or air, storing it as a very low pressure solid that can be paired with hydrogen generation, fuel cells, solar power, and battery storage—a cornerstone for self-generating, mobile power with multiple forms of backup power and no fuel supply chain required.
As an example use case, we’re very proud of our Perimeter Security and Surveillance Nanogrid deployed at White Sands Missile Range for the Army Corps of Engineers. It’s been running unmanned 24/7 since December 14, 2024 with zero power outages. Imagine a 5kW generator running nonstop for a year with no outages, no fuel added, and no crew to fuel it!
In October, Sesame Solar partnered with Heven AeroTech, the leading manufacturer of hydrogen-powered drones, to launch the first Mobile Drone Refueling Nanogrids (DRNs). As Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) continue to play an increasing role in homeland defense and warfighting, we created a complete solution to enhance energy resilience and sustainment for the US military and our allies. Sesame’s Mobile DRN solution combined with Heven AeroTech’s Z-1 drones that can stay aloft for 10 hours, enables extended operations for 6 months or more in contested or remote environments with no external fuel supply chain required. The Sesame Mobile DRN is shipped with 10kg of solid state hydrogen enabling 100 flight hours as an immediate operations buffer before more hydrogen is produced. This means that Z-1s can be airborne in minutes and continually refueled as the Sesame DRN is moved around the edge. Heven’s Z-1 was recently certified as a Blue UAS by the Defense Innovation Unit, and will be able to be sold via the G-TEAD marketplace, newly launched to help our military buy millions of drones over the next few years. Huge congratulations to Bentzion Levinson and the Heven AeroTech team who just closed a $100 million Series B round at a $1 billion valuation! The round was led by strategic investor, IonQ, the quantum computing leader. Heven’s drones equipped with quantum computing will have state-of-the-art drone-to-drone communications, and be able to navigate in GPS denied environments. The hydrogen-powered Z-1 offers the ultimate in endurance, low thermal and audio signatures, and communications. We recognized Heven’s leadership and actively sought a partnership to complement our purchase of the Harnyss hydrogen storage technology.
A personal highlight for me was participating in the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) RCA16 in Tampa at the end of October–an 18-month planning session compressed into 5 days. Our team’s assignment was to provide a detailed plan for energy sustainment of forward expeditionary bases of 50-250 warfighters for 30 days or more with no fuel resupply. This was a great learning experience and a tremendous networking opportunity. I am confident Sesame’s Nanogrids and hydrogen storage technology will become part of the SOCOM mobile microgrid systems.
In November, we began beta testing VueNanoTM—our fullstack, software platform for collecting and aggregating telemetry data from our Mobile Nanogrids. VueNano provides a live and historical dashboard on Nanogrid performance including kW produced, kW consumed, kgs of CO2 saved, gallons/dollars of diesel fuel saved as well as weather data, status checks on all energy components, and overall system health. With unified telemetry from diverse systems, Vuenano is positioned to apply AI and machine learning (ML) where they deliver measurable operational and financial value. VueNano also enables predictive maintenance. While its initial application is for remote monitoring and data aggregation, future versions will power automated operations. VueNano could be the foundation for a SaaS company serving the renewable energy industry, however Sesame is keeping VueNano as our “Secret Sauce.” We will launch the product commercially in Q1, 2026.
In December, we deployed a second Sesame Nanogrid at the Army Corps of Engineers’ ERDC Test Lab in Champaign, IL where it will be tested for future forward expeditionary use. And we will have completed the order of several Security Nanogrids for the US Marines deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. Other notable deployments in 2025 include cities and counties such as the City of Ann Arbor that is using its Mobile Nanogrid for backup power, emergency response, events, and community engagement; a mobile warming/cooling, communications and emergency response Nanogrid at the Islamic Center of Detroit; our first utility, San Diego Gas and Electric, is using its Nanogrid for emergency response, hydrogen power education, and community engagement; and we closed our first Tribal Nation, who will be using their Mobile Nanogrids for security, emergencies, backup power to a Nature Center, and for Tribal events. Another large Tribal Nation contract is pending—we received the notice of award.
Sesame’s Mobile Nanogrids are Made in the USA. We are strongly committed to American reindustrialization and recently expanded into our 38,000 sq foot factory in Jackson, MI. We source parts and services as locally as we can—most from Michigan and the Midwest. We are actively building our supply chain and Team Sesame to meet the growing demand for military and commercial applications.
Our commitment to People. Planet. Profits. is the core of what we do at Sesame Solar. It sounds simple, but is a profoundly challenging mantra:
Our People, Sesame team members, customers, partners, suppliers, investors, and community are our most valuable assets.
Our mission is to help governments, military, and large organizations save lives and increase energy resilience while preserving and protecting the Planet for future generations.
Profitable operations allow us to continue to innovate.
A huge thank you to the extraordinarily talented Team Sesame who made a successful 2025 possible. Onward and upward to a momentous 2026!
Lauren Flanagan
Co-Founder & CEO
Sesame Solar Inc.
Turnkey Nanogrids. Solutions Inside.®
PEOPLE. PLANET. PROFITS.
