Legal

The Spanish authorities have arrested 23 people and recovered 8.5 tons of stolen copper linked to a theft ring targeting PV plants in Andalusia, Extremadura and Ávila. The Civil Guard dismantled the network through Operation Kupfer, part of a broader crackdown on copper theft in the country’s solar sector.

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has criticized Borussia Dortmund’s decision to install 11,000 JA Solar panels on its stadium roof, citing the supplier’s exclusion from the US market over alleged links to forced labor. JA Solar responded to these accusations stating that SolarPower Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) previously investigated its supply chain and found that it didn’t violate the SSI Principles

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Katherine Vinnicombe, Managing Director BESS at Italy’s Innovo. She says that women entering renewables today have a smoother path than it was a decade ago, although still far from equitable. “Recognizing your presence in decision-making discussions is essential. It normalizes diversity for those who follow,” she states.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Elodie Colliard, director of Switzerland’s Green Giraffe. She explained she encountered her fair share of gender-based assumptions and biases. “While the disparities remain obvious and women are still a minority, I take comfort in seeing more of us join the industry, bringing our skills and perspectives to the table,” she states.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Josef Kastner, the CEO of Austria-based Nexun. He says professional decisions must be based on ability, not gender. “Societal expectations influence leadership styles, but fairness is non-negotiable. Everyone deserves the same rights and opportunities,” he states.

Pakistan’s net-metering solar capacity surpassed 4 GW in 2024, marking significant growth in its solar market ahead of upcoming changes to the program later this month.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Miriam Rodríguez, President of Spain’s Electra Energy S. Coop. She says one of the most striking inequalities she encountered throughout her career was the difference in salaries between men and women in similar roles, the gender pay gap. “At one point, I discovered that a male colleague at my same business level was earning a higher salary. Fortunately, he realized the unfairness, and the salaries were adjusted,” she states.

In the first anniversary of the series and International Women’s Day, Women in Solar+ Europe, WiSEu, gives voice to Emiliano Bellini, News Director at pv magazine, to reflect on the topics and the impact of the series. He says the series features diverse real experiences of women in the renewable energy sector, engaging readers as each story offers a unique perspective. Emiliano highlights that the series emphasises the importance of mentoring for all genders and showcases women’s assertiveness and struggles with imposter syndrome. Emiliano advocates for refinement and the need to evolve DEI while freeing language in debates to allow for open conversations without fear of offense, encouraging growth from mistakes.

Researchers studying decommissioned wind and solar farms in Italy, Spain, Venezuela, and Argentina have found that weak regulations risk leaving more abandoned assets in their wake.

First Solar has sued JinkoSolar in a US federal court in Delaware, claiming that the Chinese manufacturer infringed upon US Patent No. 9,130,074, which is related to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar technology.