Energy

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has introduced a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service aimed at strengthening cyber resilience for energy providers and operators of critical infrastructure, including data centres and airports.

The launch comes as organisations face growing cybersecurity challenges driven by the convergence of IT and operational technology (OT). This shift is generating a surge in security alerts, placing pressure on internal teams that often lack the resources and round-the-clock expertise required to manage complex threat environments.

Siemens’ MDR offering is designed to address these gaps through a fully managed, 24/7 service model. By outsourcing security operations rather than building in-house capabilities, companies can significantly reduce both upfront and ongoing costs while maintaining compliance with regulatory frameworks such as the NIS 2 Directive.

The service provides continuous monitoring and analysis of IT and OT environments, enabling faster identification and response to potential threats. Security data from client systems is collected and transmitted to a central Security Operations Centre, where events are assessed, prioritised and categorised. From there, customers receive targeted recommendations to mitigate risks and resolve incidents efficiently.

By combining automated detection with specialist expertise, the system is able to distinguish between false alarms and critical incidents, helping organisations focus on genuine threats. Detection protocols are continuously updated to reflect evolving cyber risks, ensuring a proactive rather than reactive approach to security.

Siemens states that the MDR service can accelerate response times significantly, allowing threats to be addressed more quickly than traditional in-house models. It also enables operators to maintain secure operations without diverting resources from core business activities.

The solution is already being deployed by early adopters, including Hertener Stadtwerke, which is using the service to protect its operational systems. For utilities and other infrastructure providers, rising regulatory requirements and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats have made robust security frameworks essential.

The MDR service aligns with Siemens’ broader cybersecurity strategy, which emphasises trusted standards and scalable solutions to support digital transformation. It also reflects the principles of the Charter of Trust, an initiative promoting stronger global cybersecurity practices and collaboration.

As industries continue to digitalise and integrate connected technologies, cybersecurity is becoming a central pillar of operational resilience. Siemens’ latest offering aims to provide a practical and cost-effective solution for organisations seeking to secure complex infrastructure while navigating an evolving threat landscape.

Nations that have strategically embraced renewable energy sources are demonstrating superior resilience during the ongoing global energy crisis, according to fresh guidance from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The advisory document, developed for policymakers navigating turbulent international energy markets, outlines both immediate interventions and longer-term strategies designed to shield populations from crisis impacts whilst directing economic recovery towards enhanced energy independence.

Evidence from multiple regions confirms renewables are already diminishing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Countries spanning Europe to Asia, including the Iberian Peninsula, China, India and Pakistan, have successfully leveraged clean energy to buffer against market instability. Global renewable capacity expanded by 692 GW in 2025, maintaining unprecedented growth momentum.

The economic case has become compelling. Over 85% of newly installed renewable capacity now undercuts fossil fuel alternatives on cost. Since 2010, solar costs have plummeted 87%, onshore wind 55%, and battery storage 93%. Hybrid systems combining wind or solar with storage now deliver round-the-clock power more affordably than most conventional generators.

IRENAdirector-general Francesco La Camera characterised renewables as "a national security imperative," urging governments to prioritise accelerated deployment and broader electrification.

Ongoing Middle Eastern tensions underscore the fundamental vulnerability of energy systems dependent on fossil fuels, where oil and gas prices heavily influence electricity costs. Consequences extend beyond energy markets into broader economic disruption, with vulnerable communities worldwide facing the most severe impacts.

The advisory recommends expanding distributed generation through cross-sector collaboration, implementing time-of-use pricing to align consumption with renewable availability, and accelerating electrification across transport and heating. Medium-term priorities include expediting grid projects and expanding storage capacity, whilst long-term success requires clear policy frameworks attracting sustained investment.

KINETIC7 has announced a breakthrough in clean energy with the development of a hydrogen-on-demand system designed to provide safer cooking solutions for communities reliant on polluting fuels.

Founded by Rick Parish, the company has developed a technology that generates hydrogen gas instantly from water, eliminating the need for storage and significantly reducing associated safety risks. The innovation targets the estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide who still depend on firewood, charcoal and biomass for everyday cooking and heating.

Traditional cooking methods are a major contributor to household air pollution, which is linked to millions of premature deaths each year due to respiratory illness and other health conditions. By contrast, KINETIC7’s system produces a clean flame without harmful emissions, offering a safer alternative for indoor use.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the company has introduced two portable stove models—Nomad™ and Tribe™—which utilise the hydrogen-on-demand process. These units generate gas through electrolysis powered by an internal battery, which can be recharged via solar energy or conventional power sources. Importantly, the technology avoids storing hydrogen, reducing the risk of leaks or combustion hazards and enhancing operational safety.

The stoves have been designed with humanitarian applications in mind, particularly for deployment in remote or crisis-affected areas where access to clean energy is limited. Beyond improving air quality, the technology also addresses wider safety concerns, including the risks faced by individuals—especially women—who must travel long distances to collect firewood.

The innovation has undergone independent technical assessment, including evaluation by experts at Imperial College London, and aligns with multiple United Nations sustainable development goals. It has also been showcased at international platforms such as the clean cooking summit organised by the International Energy Agency.

Initial production of the stoves is expected to begin later this year, with plans to collaborate with governments, humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations to expand access.

By combining safety-focused design with zero-emission energy generation, KINETIC7’s technology presents a potential pathway to reducing health risks, environmental damage and social challenges linked to traditional cooking methods.

Trinasolar has introduced an upgraded version of its Vertex N G3 solar modules, delivering a peak output of 760W and signalling a notable advance in mass-produced n-type TOPCon technology.

The latest modules incorporate the company’s i-TOPCon Ultra platform, which underpins improvements in both efficiency and energy yield.

Commercial rollout is expected in the third quarter of the year, as Trinasolar scales up production to meet growing global demand for high-performance photovoltaic solutions.

The enhanced design draws on a combination of innovations aimed at boosting output while improving reliability.

These include an advanced cell platform that increases power generation and bifacial performance, alongside multi-cut and edge passivation techniques that help minimise electrical losses and improve resistance to shading and hot spots.

In addition, a high-density packaging approach enables greater efficiency across the module.

As a result, the Vertex N G3 series delivers several performance gains.

These include bifaciality levels of up to 85±5%, enabling higher rear-side energy capture, as well as improved performance under low-light conditions. The modules also feature reduced degradation rates over time and a favourable temperature coefficient, supporting stable operation in a range of climates.

Trinasolar emphasised that the upgraded modules are designed to integrate seamlessly with widely used solar tracking systems, allowing operators to maximise energy output across large-scale installations.

This compatibility is particularly relevant for utility-scale solar projects and environments with high reflectivity, where bifacial modules can capture additional energy from ground-reflected light.

Beyond technical performance, the company highlighted the economic advantages of the new modules.

By improving efficiency and output, the design contributes to lower balance of system (BOS) costs and a reduction in the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE), making projects more financially viable.

The modules are also positioned for emerging applications such as energy-intensive data centres, where consistent, high-capacity power supply and long-term reliability are critical.

A simulation conducted in Spain demonstrated the system-level benefits when the modules are paired with Trinasolar’s tracking solutions. Compared with conventional technologies, the setup showed measurable reductions in BOS costs and LCOE, alongside an increase in overall project value and electricity generation potential.

With these upgrades, Trinasolar aims to strengthen its position in the competitive solar market, while supporting the broader transition towards more efficient and cost-effective renewable energy systems.