Author: solarenergy
The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) voted unanimously against construction of a 94 MW agrivoltaic solar project proposed for Morrow County, Ohio. Sheep graze between rows of solar panels at a Silicon Ranch project site. Silicon Ranch Open Road Renewables was developing the adjacent Crossroads Solar Grazing Center on 570 acres of land between Cardington, Lincoln and Westfield Townships. The solar project would be built on several parcels in Morrow County and host a sheep grazing operation. Open Road initially applied for a project permit in February 2025, with a project timeline to begin construction in 2027 and begin operations…
JinkoSolar has appointed Cao Haiyun as CEO, while PowerChina has shortlisted 26 suppliers for a tender of 31 GW of solar panels by 2026. March 20, 2026 Vincent Shaw JinkoSolar has appointed Cao Haiyun as CEO following the departure of Chen Kangping, who resigned from his position and was elected vice chairman of the board of directors, while remaining director. The company also appointed Jiang Rui as vice president and board secretary, and Chang Chen as CFO. JinkoSolar said the changes are part of a broader effort to strengthen management structure and succession planning, and do not affect controlling shareholders…
The Scottish Government has published new planning guidance to help applicants, decision makers and others involved in the implementation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects.The new guidance specifically refers to the planning process of network-scale BESS projects under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, and the Electricity Act 1989 in relevant cases.The guidance will prepare applicants for the planning process to ensure a BESS site is appropriately sited and designed in the early stages of development. To assist Scotland’s BESS industry, the guidance also summarizes the relevant legal requirements.“Battery energy storage systems will play a role in…
In an interview with pv magazineCybersecurity expert Roberto Setola describes a structural shift in cyber threats against solar infrastructure, with attacks now targeting peripheral systems such as remote terminal units rather than centralized SCADA, often in coordinated campaigns enhanced by AI. He also highlighted that the recent cyber attack on PV installations in Poland showed how simultaneous attacks on smaller, less protected operators can potentially cause major disruptions, including power outages, economic losses and cascading network risks. March 20, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Cyber winter is a metaphorical concept that describes a profound, structural shift in the nature of cyber threats…
German engineering firm BEC Energie Consult has developed a substructure for low-mounted agrivoltaic systems, designed to provide a cost-efficient installation while supporting crop growth and livestock management, with the potential to increase economic viability. March 20, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A recent study by Germany’s Thünen Institute has raised questions about the economic viability and wider societal benefits of agrivoltaic systems, particularly those built with elevated mounting structures. High upfront costs combined with relatively low land use efficiency often make it difficult to operate such systems profitably without subsidies. “While this criticism is justified in many respects, an important segment of…
The risk profile of BESS insurance is shifting. In an exclusive interview, Tokio Marine GX entrepreneur Michael Carrington explains why insurers are looking past battery fires and worrying about supply chain bottlenecks, high-voltage transformers and costly EPC integration errors. March 20, 2026 Tristan Rayner By ESS news For insurers insuring gigawatt-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), thermal runaway is no longer the only bogeyman. It is the speed of product development, inexperienced integration and vulnerabilities in the factory balance sheet that keep the insurance sector on its toes. Michael Carrington, an underwriter at TMGX, a specialist in renewable energy insurance,…
Sweden’s Ionautics has taken its platinum-based hydrogen catalyst to full industrial production, while thyssenkrupp nucera has signed contracts for 300 MW of alkaline electrolysis capacity in Spain and 260 MW in India. March 20, 2026 Sergio Matalucci Ionautic hydrogen catalyst technology Image: Ionautiek Ionautics has developed its platinum-based hydrogen catalyst technology towards full industrial production, with funding from the Swedish Energy Agency. The company and its partners – the Royal Institute of Technology and the RISE Research Institute of Sweden – have spent more than five years researching vapor-deposited porous iridium layers for the production of green hydrogen. Extensive testing…
Europe’s hybrid solar-plus-storage projects are growing rapidly, but increasing complexity means that treating technical due diligence as a formality is now a serious risk. Rigorous, lifecycle-based technical due diligence (TDD) – covering financial, supply chain, digital and ESG factors – is essential to ensure project reliability, investor confidence and a resilient clean energy transition. March 20, 2026 Solar energy Europe The European energy transition is accelerating faster than anyone predicted. Utility-scale solar and battery storage are no longer separate technologies; they are increasingly deployed as integrated hybrid systems that are expected to deliver robust capacity, grid services and long-term reliability.…
Foam Energy, which has developed a so-called ‘multi-day’ battery energy storage system (BESS), is marketing its patented iron-air battery, designed to deliver a discharge life of approximately 100 hours at full rated power.In very simple terms: the system works by the reversible oxidation (rust) of ironas explained in a 2021 Energy storage.news interview with CEO Jaramillo.Form Energy said this week (March 18) that a 10MW/1,000MWh project is planned in Ireland, through a partnership with developer FuturEnergy Ireland.The startup said it is ‘expected’ to come online in 2029, aiming to demonstrate the role multi-day energy storage can play in Ireland’s energy…
The path to a clean energy future is not only determined by technology, but is shaped by people. The energy transition must proceed quickly, and diversity is one of the levers that ensure that it proceeds faster. When teams are gender diverse, R&D produces better solutions because more problem frameworks are tested. Various policy teams are designing fairer incentives so that adoption spreads beyond the early adopters. Projects with inclusive community involvement are set up, projects without inclusive community involvement are blocked. Products designed by mixed teams work for more people, accelerating adoption. Built by diverse data teams, Grid AI…