SHARC Energy Taps $2.5M Fund to Meet Surging Wastewater Energy Demand

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – February 17, 2026 – SHARC International Systems Inc., a leader in wastewater energy recovery, has announced a significant financing initiative to support its rapid operational expansion. The company, known publicly as SHARC Energy, intends to raise up to $2.5 million through a private placement of convertible debentures to fuel its capacity to deliver on a rapidly growing sales order backlog.

This move signals a pivotal moment for the clean technology firm as it transitions from market development to large-scale project execution, capitalizing on the increasing global demand for sustainable energy solutions. The capital infusion, coupled with strategic leadership changes, is designed to solidify SHARC Energy's position in the burgeoning field of thermal energy recovery from wastewater.

Fueling Growth Amid Surging Demand

At the heart of the announcement is a non-brokered offering of unsecured convertible debentures, aiming for a principal amount of $2.0 million. The deal includes a 25% over-allotment or "greenshoe" option, which, if fully exercised, would bring the gross proceeds to $2.5 million. The debentures will carry an 8.0% annual interest rate, mature in three years, and will be convertible into common shares at a price of $0.125 per share.

The timing of this financing is critical. SHARC Energy disclosed that the proceeds are earmarked for working capital, specifically to fulfill its substantial Sales Order Backlog. This backlog, a key performance indicator for the company, has seen explosive growth, surging to $7.1 million as of early February 2026. This represents a staggering 109% increase from the $3.4 million reported just two months prior in December 2025, underscoring an accelerating adoption of its technology.

The composition of the backlog reveals a strategic diversification beyond the company's traditional multi-family residential base. Recent orders include high-profile projects such as a district energy system in Vancouver, a major airport on the U.S. West Coast, and a significant residential housing retrofit on Staten Island, New York. This expansion into transportation infrastructure, large-scale utility networks, and institutional projects demonstrates the widening appeal and scalability of SHARC's Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) systems.

A Strategic Leadership Realignment

Concurrent with its financial strategy, SHARC Energy is repositioning its leadership team to better execute its growth plans. Lynn Mueller, the company's founder and long-time leader, has been appointed Vice President of Business Development. This move strategically deploys Mueller's deep industry knowledge, extensive network, and technical expertise to focus exclusively on accelerating market penetration and securing new contracts.

This change follows a series of leadership evolutions, including the appointment of Michael Albertson as CEO in late 2024, which was intended to steer the company into its next phase of commercial expansion. Mueller's new role is seen as a direct effort to leverage the founder's vision to drive top-line growth.

Furthermore, the company announced that Hanspaul Pannu will vacate the title of Chief Operating Officer to allow for a future dedicated head of operations. Pannu will continue in his crucial roles as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, ensuring financial oversight and corporate governance remain robust during this period of expansion. This adjustment streamlines the executive structure, allowing for focused leadership on both the financial and forthcoming operational challenges of scaling production and project delivery.

Tapping the Untapped: The Rise of Wastewater Energy

SHARC Energy operates in a unique and often overlooked niche of the renewable energy sector: recovering the vast amount of thermal energy that is discarded in wastewater every day. The company's systems intercept warm water from drains in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings before it reaches the sewer. Using advanced heat-exchange technology, they capture this warmth and transfer it to the building's clean water supply, significantly reducing the energy needed for water heating, space heating, and cooling.

Unlike intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind, wastewater provides a consistent and predictable energy source 24 hours a day. This reliability makes it an exceptionally valuable asset for property owners and utility managers seeking to decarbonize their thermal loads and reduce operating costs. As cities and corporations worldwide intensify their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and electrify buildings, technologies like SHARC's WET systems are moving from the fringe to the forefront of sustainable design.

The company's success in securing orders for district energy systems and airport facilities highlights a growing understanding that large-scale infrastructure can become a powerhouse of recycled energy. By integrating this technology, developers and urban planners can create more resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly communities.

Navigating the Clean Tech Investment Landscape

SHARC Energy's financing comes at a time of dynamic change in the clean tech investment world. While global investment in the energy transition reached a record $2.3 trillion in 2025, venture capital for earlier-stage technology companies has faced headwinds from macroeconomic uncertainty and competition from other sectors like artificial intelligence. In this climate, growth-stage companies like SHARC are utilizing alternative financial instruments like convertible debentures to secure the necessary capital for scaling.

The terms of the debenture, particularly the $0.125 conversion price, appear strategically positioned. With the company's stock trading slightly above this price in the days leading up to the announcement, the offering presents an attractive proposition for investors, suggesting potential immediate upside upon conversion. It reflects a balance between securing capital for the company and offering favorable terms to attract investors who believe in the long-term growth story.

This capital raise is not just about funding operations; it is a vote of confidence in the company's trajectory and the viability of its technology. By successfully securing this financing, SHARC Energy will be better equipped to convert its impressive sales backlog into revenue, prove its operational scalability, and further solidify its leadership in the wastewater heat recovery market.