Author: solarenergy

A random malware variant affected approximately 800 remote monitoring devices at ground-mounted PV installations in Japan in May 2024. Tokyo-based cybersecurity company Girasol Energy has told pv magazine what happened and how PV plant owners can protect themselves against such incidents. March 19, 2026 Emiliano Bellini This article, originally published in 2024, is being republished as part of our ongoing series on cybersecurity A random malware variant targeted around 800 remote monitoring devices at ground-mounted PV installations in Japan in May, according to Japanese PV cybersecurity specialist Girasol Energy. Although the incident caused no financial or technical damage to the…

India’s solar manufacturing mandate now extends to blocks and wafers, with MNRE setting a compliance deadline of June 1, 2028, and a seven-day cut-off window determining which projects must source wafers from approved domestic manufacturers. Bids submitted more than seven days after the publication of the first ALMM List-III for wafers must specify the use of ALMM List-III compliant wafers. The ALMM list for wafers – ALMM List-III – will be issued only if there are at least three independent wafer manufacturing facilities operational in India with a combined annual capacity of at least 15 GW. Manufacturers seeking inclusion in…

Octopus Energy’s data looked at the number of solar energy queries between February 28 and March 7, 2026 compared to average weekly queries.Since the conflict escalated at the end of February, gas prices have risen by more than 60%. As the conflict continues, households will likely want to invest in energy sources for their homes that are self-sufficient and renewable.This allows them to reduce their dependence on gas, reducing the financial blow of the current volatility in the gas market. “We are seeing a fundamental shift in the national psyche when it comes to energy. With the second shock to…

A Japanese joint pilot will test network-scale BESS against a range of local and remote attack vectors, with cybersecurity monitoring to watch for evidence of anomalies. March 19, 2026 Tristan Rayner A large-scale battery storage station in Japan Image: Wikimedia Commons / Qurren By ESS news Panasonic has announced a large-scale cybersecurity monitoring trial for a grid-scale BESS facility in Japan. The trial, conducted by Panasonic’s holding company and its subsidiary Panasonic Solution Technologies (PSTC), and in collaboration with Itochu, one of Japan’s largest general trading and investment companies, will take place under largely simulated conditions. The companies note that…

The latest round of Japan’s carbon finance program, which provides financial support to low-carbon infrastructure projects in partner countries, is supporting a 130 MW solar project being built in southeastern Tunisia. March 19, 2026 Patrick Jowett A 130 MW solar project in Tunisia has received support from the Japanese government’s Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) subsidy program. The JCM is a bilateral initiative that works with developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing financial support that can cover up to half of the initial investment costs for low-carbon technologies. Projects are eligible for funding through application rounds, the most recent…

The news marks Good Energy’s fifth solar acquisition in 18 months and, according to a company statement, is the next step in the company’s strategy to “rapidly scale its service offering nationwide.”The acquisition of Low Energy Services follows the acquisitions of Give energy powerAmelio Solar, Wessex Eco Energy and JPS Renewable Energy, and serves to extend Good Energy’s reach beyond England into Scotland.Nigel Pocklington, CEO of Good Energy, said: “Low Energy already has a strong and established presence in Scotland and the North of England, and by bringing the business under the Good Energy brand we can provide the financial…

By Brad Kramer March 19, 2026 A new report shows that Minnesota Accessible community solar garden program for low and middle income earners (LMI Accessible CSG Program) benefits residents as intended. In effect, the program acts as a kind of “price shield” for energy consumers in a volatile market, said Logan O’Grady, executive director of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA), which helped design the solar program. “With a community solar project, you lock in your energy costs, so you’re a little bit immune to the volatile electricity prices, and we’re certainly seeing that now,” he explains. “If you…

The Silicon and New Concepts for Solar Cells (SyNC) research group of the Institute of Solar Energy (IES) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) has produced highly efficient two-dimensional solar cell prototypes using the “hot-pick-up” technique, with simulations suggesting that the cells can cover up to 30% of a building’s energy needs when applied to facades. March 19, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine Italy Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid have studied two-dimensional PV materials that are thin enough to be considered effective without a third dimension, yet still capable of absorbing significant amounts of light.…

Researchers in Brazil have developed a weighted methodology for PV inverter efficiency that takes into account country-specific solar radiation and operating conditions. The approach is designed to address the limitations of international metrics by incorporating variables such as input voltage and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) performance. March 19, 2026 Alessandra Neris By pv magazine Brazil A recent study conducted in Brazil proposes a new approach for evaluating the efficiency of grid-connected photovoltaic inverters. The methodology is based on the observation that commonly used weighted efficiency models do not adequately reflect the climatic and operational conditions of a specific country.…

The Nexis solution combines a flexibly configurable hybrid inverter with a modular high-voltage battery that offers a charging capacity of up to 14 kW per stack. The inverter delivers 8–20 kW AC power, supports up to 200% DC oversizing and features an IP65-certified design with integrated backup power. March 19, 2026 Marian Willuhn Israel-based inverter and battery manufacturer SolarEdge has launched Nexisa new residential solution that combines a flexibly configurable hybrid inverter with a modular high-voltage battery. The Nexis The inverter follows what the manufacturer calls a multi-range concept, designed to simplify logistics for installers: instead of multiple device models,…