‘Women with young children are frequently expected to prove they are prioritizing work’
This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Alba Sande, lawyer at Spanish law firm ASande Legal. She states that, despite progress, women remain underrepresented in the renewable energy industry. “As a woman and a mother, I have often encountered the unspoken assumption that professional ambition must take a backseat to family life, a bias rarely applied to men,” she says.
New York City seeks $20 million from Radiant Solar over consumer fraud
The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has filed an administrative lawsuit against Radiant Solar alleging deceptive sales, fraudulent lending practices, and repeated code violations tied to residential solar installations.
US court dismisses challenge to Silfab Solar factory in South Carolina
A York County circuit court judge has dismissed a resident-led lawsuit seeking to halt construction of Silfab’s PV module assembly plant, ruling that the plaintiff lacked standing and failed to exhaust administrative remedies.
EU opens probe into Bulgaria compensation award to foreign investor
The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation to assess whether a €61 million ($71.6 million) arbitration award in favor of Malta-based ACF Renewable Energy is compatible with EU State aid rules.
U.S. government cuts $83 billion in loans, reversing energy transition funding
The U.S. Department of Energy moved to de-obligate or revise billions in financing for clean energy projects while prioritizing natural gas and nuclear power.
‘I would encourage women to be attentive to how men address each other’
This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Melodie de l’Epine, Senior Project Manager/ Head of Research & Innovation at France’s Becquerel Institute. She says that ncouraging men to shift from strict hierarchy to informal exchanges fosters more equitable rapport. Women can benefit from noticing how men address each other and consciously joining in, since subtle forms of address strongly shape power perceptions.
First Solar wins key round in TOPCon patent dispute
The U.S. federal patent office rejected separate challenges from JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar and Mundra Solar to invalidate intellectual property that First Solar claims is fundamental to the manufacturing of crystalline silicon solar cells.
‘True leadership comes from listening’
This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Bárbara Linares Turnkey Engineer Director Iberia & Latam at Sunotec Iberia. She says diverse and inclusive teams in the renewable energy sector drive innovation, resilience, and long-term success by combining technical expertise with collaboration, empathy, and clear communication. “I have encountered subtle biases, particularly in international and multicultural environments. At times, there was scepticism linked to being a young woman, assumptions that I was not the decision-maker, or complex discussions being directed toward male colleagues,” she states.
Canadian Solar wins U.S. patent litigation against Maxeon
The patent infringement case was related to an unspecified TOPCon solar cell technology.
Australian solar installer fined $6,000 over unsafe battery installs
A solar installation company has been fined $9,000 by an Australian court after pleading guilty to unsafe installation of residential battery energy storage systems at five properties, including one that caused a minor house fire.
