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Subsequent Events
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2022
Subsequent Events  
Subsequent Events

Note 20. Subsequent Events

Groton Project – Commercial Operations Achieved at 6 MW

On December 16, 2022, the Company declared and, per the terms of the Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement between the Company and CMEEC entered into on that date (the “Amended and Restated PPA”), CMEEC agreed that the Groton Project is commercially operational at 6 MW. As of December 16, 2022, the Groton Project will be reported as a part of the Company’s operating generation portfolio. The Amended and Restated PPA allows the Company to operate the plant at a reduced output of approximately 6 MW while a Technical Improvement Plan (“TIP”) is implemented over the next year with the goal of bringing the platform to its rated capacity of 7.4 MW by December 31, 2023. In conjunction with entering into the Amended and Restated PPA, the Navy also provided its authorization to proceed with commercial operations at 6 MW.  The Company paid CMEEC an amendment fee of $1.225 million and will incur performance guarantee fees under the Amended and Restated PPA as a result of operating at an output below 7.4 MW during implementation of the TIP. Although the Company believes it will successfully implement the TIP within approximately one year and bring the plant up to its nominal output of 7.4 MW, no assurance can be provided that such work will be successful. In the event that the plant does not reach an output of 7.4 MW by December 31, 2023, the Amended and Restated PPA will continue in effect, and the Company will be subject to ongoing performance guarantee fees as set forth in the Amended and Restated PPA.

In addition, as previously disclosed, in August 2021, the Company closed on a tax equity financing transaction with East West Bancorp, Inc. (“East West Bank”) for the Groton Project. East West Bank’s tax equity commitment totals $15 million. In connection with the initial closing, the Company drew down $3.0 million. Under subsequent amendments, the terms of East West Bank’s remaining investment commitment of $12.0 million were modified such that East West Bank will now contribute $4.0 million on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Groton Project achieving commercial operations, rather than contributing the full $12.0 million when the Groton Project achieves commercial operations. In conjunction with the amendments, the Company agreed to pay aggregate fees of $0.5 million, which were paid upon the Company declaring commencement of commercial operations of the plant on December 16, 2022.

With the declaration of commercial operations, East West Bank’s investment in the project has been reclassified as a non-redeemable noncontrolling interest as of December 16, 2022.

Amendment No. 3 to Joint Development Agreement with EMTEC

On December 19, 2022, the Company and EMTEC entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Joint Development Agreement between the Company and EMTEC, effective as of December 1, 2022 (such amendment, “Amendment No. 3” and such agreement, as amended, the “EMTEC Joint Development Agreement”). In Amendment No. 3, the Company and EMTEC agreed to further extend the term of the EMTEC Joint Development Agreement such that it will end on August 31, 2023 (unless terminated earlier) and to further increase the maximum amount of research costs to be reimbursed by EMTEC from $50.0 million to $60.0 million. Amendment No. 3 is intended to (i) allow for continuation of research that would enable the parties to finalize data collection in support of the project gate decision to use the developed technology in a Company fuel cell module demonstration for capturing carbon at ExxonMobil’s Rotterdam facility, (ii) allow for the continuation of the development, engineering and mechanical derisking of the Generation 2 Technology fuel cell module prototype, and (iii) allow for studying the manufacturing scale-up and cost reduction of a commercial Generation 2 Technology fuel cell carbon capture facility.