[SMM PV News] Ontario Approves 1.3 GW of Solar and Wind in Major Procurement Milestone

Saudi Arabia’s Electricity Regulatory Authority (SERA, formerly ECRA) has proposed a self-consumption renewable energy framework allowing systems of up to 50 MW within a single premises, with surplus electricity credited under a net billing mechanism. Proposed credit rates stand at SAR 0.07/kWh for residential customers in Categories 1 and 2, and SAR 0.05/kWh for other users, with credits valid for 12 months. Systems of up to 11 kW would be exempt from demand and grid connection charges, while fees for larger systems would range from SAR 700 to SAR 35,000. The draft also permits energy storage and various renewable technologies, including solar PV, wind and waste-to-energy. Projects must be implemented by qualified contractors or consultants, and service providers would be required to handle customer complaints within seven days.

In October 2026, Brazil introduced new rules to clarify compensation for historical renewable energy curtailment and the allocation of future generation cuts. However, uncertainty over future curtailment volumes and electricity settlement prices continues to weigh on investment in utility-scale solar projects. While the new framework aims to improve regulatory clarity, persistent financial risks and uncertainty over project revenues may limit its effectiveness in reviving new project development in the near term.

Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has issued cybersecurity guidance recommending that PV plant operators of all sizes eliminate direct internet connections to control systems to reduce the risk of cyberattacks. The guidance recommends using secure virtual private networks (VPNs) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect remote access, alongside timely software and security patch updates and regular security checks of connected devices. As digitalization and remote monitoring become increasingly prevalent in solar PV operations, stronger cybersecurity measures could increase compliance and operating costs for plant operators, inverter manufacturers and digital monitoring system providers.