Cybersecurity: European solar power plants under pressure
A report by the European solar association SolarPower Europe highlights the cybersecurity challenges of PV installations in the European Union. A main concern are the vulnerabilities of connected inverters and data management via cloud services outside of Europe.
Ohio Supreme Court rejects local opposition to block 325 MW solar project
Despite Ohio’s intensified local opposition and restrictive solar restrictions in recent years, the state’s Supreme Court sided with the Ohio Power Siting board to allow a 350 MW project in central Ohio.
Strategies for de-risking early-stage renewable energy projects
Over 70% to 90% of early-stage projects fail and are never constructed, according to findings reported by Paces.
‘Biases – both conscious and unconscious – continue to subtly shape hiring and promotion decisions’
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Frank Niendorf, Vice President Europe at JinkoSolar. He says that assumptions about women’s capabilities or work-life balance can unfairly impact their career progression. “While women are primarily affected, men who value diversity and inclusion can also find themselves outside traditional leadership expectations,” he states.
South Korea fines solar operators, cancels 347 MW of renewable projects
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has fined eight solar operators for failing to comply with output curtailment orders and canceled licenses for 11 renewable energy projects totaling 347.4 MW. It did not say how much of the canceled capacity was solar.
‘Most personal protective equipment is made to fit men’
This week Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Canan Koç Yasar, VP HSSE-S at Germany’s Uniper Renewables. She says that policies and practices that shape workplace safety, health, and security are mostly intended to satisfy men’s needs and stresses the importance of designing workplace systems that reflect the realities of everyone on the team.
Women in leadership should not adopt a ‘tough’ character
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to María del Puy Ayerra, Head of Business Development Iberia at Spain’s Zelestra. She encountered isolated experiences that reflected subtle gender bias – particularly the assumption that women in leadership must adopt a “tough” character to survive in a male-dominated environment. “These stereotypes can be limiting and disheartening, especially for women who lead with empathy, collaboration, and strength of vision,” she states.
‘We need to empower younger professionals in decision-making processes’
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Rachele De Angelis, European Affair Officer at Italy’s Enel. She says bringing fresh ideas from new academic backgrounds and early career experiences can help companies achieve transformative insights. “These perspectives can challenge old assumptions and generate more creative and inclusive solutions,” she states.
Oxford PV, Trina Solar enter patent licensing agreement for perovskite-silicon tandem solar
The exclusive license agreement covers the manufacture or sale of perovskite PV products for the Chinese market. A statement from Oxford PV says the agreement “underscores the industry consensus that perovskite-based PV technologies are the future of solar.”
Spain arrests 23 people in copper theft ring targeting solar plants
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.
