#pluginsolar — Public Fediverse posts

I am having an interesting discussion with my GB grid #FiT administrator about its view on me adding #plugInSolar to my existing #gridTied #PV system with FiTs and AC-coupled #battery and #metered #exports. Interestingly if I were on deemed exports (as apparently I should have been with a battery) the FiT administrator is OK with plug-in solar as it does not affect the generation readings and anything it cares about... Maybe I still have to talk to the DNO officially...

https://www.earth.org.uk/note-on-GB-FiT-and-plug-in-solar.html

#Colorado Governor Jared Polis this week signed HB26-1007 into law, which makes #pluginsolar systems legal, sets safety standards but requires a "meter collar adapter". The bill passed with bipartisan support.

https://energychangemakers.com/plug-in-solar-colorado/

In March, the @EUCommission presented the so-called "Citizen Energy Package": https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_555

The "Staff Working Document" also mentions contributions on balcony solar: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52026SC0115&qid=1773310614445

And on December 10, 2025, as part of the European Grid Package, the #EU Commission proposed binding measures and tasked member states with removing legal and other obstacles to the installation of #pluginsolar devices with a capacity of up to 800 W on and in buildings:

Article 16d, point 4:

"Amendments to Directive (EU) 2018/2001

Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is amended as follows: (...) 4) Member States shall remove legal and other obstacles to the installation of plug-in solar appliances with a capacity of up to 800 W on and in buildings."

#eu #pluginsolar #solar #europe

On G83-Lite: Solar Nanogeneration For Everyone (2009) - Learn how plug-in solar curtain linings could trim your home power bill and footprint... #solar #balconySolar #plugInSolar #nanogeneration - https://www.earth.org.uk/note-on-G83-lite.html

#pluginsolar goes Greece!
Griechenland will #Steckersolar freigeben und verweist auf #energydemocracy. Die Wiege der Demokratie bringt selbige nun auch in die Stromleitungen. Das wäre ein Meilenstein! https://www.tovima.com/politics/greece-opens-door-to-balcony-solar-panels-for-all/

@DerReparierer

1200Wp nach Westen fast senkrecht.
Kann über 5kWh/Tag bringen, wenn nicht vorher abgeregelt wird, weil der Speicher voll ist.

#BalkonPV #PV #Erneuerbar #renewable #PlugInSolar #electronics

Balkon-PV: Jeden Tag Energie umsonst von der Sonne. Einfach zu installieren und für wenige hundert Euro erhältlich. Los geht's!

Antwortet gerne mit einem Bild eurer PV-Anlage oder eures Balkonkraftwerks.

Balcony Solar Panels: Free energy from the sun every day. Easy to install and available for just a few hundred euros. Let's get started!

Feel free to reply with a photo of your solar panel system or balcony solar panel system!

https://derreparierer.codeberg.page/derreparierer/tutorials/plug_in_solar_panels/readme.html

#BalkonPV #PV #Erneuerbar #renewable #PlugInSolar #electronics

🌞🔋 @heiseonline has translated it’s article about plug in battery systems with #pluginsolar and concludes that a 2 kWh battery & #solar combo below 400€ is economically worthwhile for a lot of uses.

https://www.heise.de/en/news/Balcony-power-plants-Storage-now-worthwhile-11259981.html

#PlugInSolar bill gets green light from #Maine Legislature

By Tina Fischer, April 6, 2026

"Mainers are one step closer to being able to utilize compact, plug‑in solar kits to reduce their household’s energy bill, with the Legislature’s passage last week of #LD1730.

"The units require no rooftop construction and can be installed almost anywhere: on the ground, balcony, deck, or on the side of a building.

"No approvals will be needed through the utility interconnection process required for larger rooftop systems, though the assistance of a licensed electrician is required.

"The legislation received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and now moves to Gov. #JanetMills, who has final say on the measure.

"Plug-in solar has been widely adopted in Europe. The systems have been modified to meet U.S. electrical standards and can be plugged into an outdoor outlet to generate energy on-site.

"For the average Maine household, a 1,200-watt plug-in solar system could cut electricity bills by nearly 20% or $388 a year, according to the Office of the Public Advocate."

Source:
https://mainebiz.biz/article/plug-in-solar-bill-gets-green-light-from-maine-legislature/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineNews #Renewables #Solar

I think that I have just programmed myself 25% of (the generation of) a virtual #plugInSolar system by tweaking ther power management of my off-grid system:

https://www.earth.org.uk/note-on-site-technicals-107.html#2026-04-06

But I won't know for about 6 months!

#efficiency #energy #exergy #optimisation

For Brits we have prepared some information on #pluginsolar in Englisch https://balkon.solar/forUK and recorded a video explaining the topic, safety, why there is no such thing as a suicide cord & who benefits from #balconysolar!
🎦 https://youtu.be/rKB_FKKEJqg
@janrosenow

@da_667
Can't afford to replace my roof + getting solar panels on it right now. But I'm planning to get at least plugin panels on the south side of my house to reduce my part of the problem. #PluginSolar

Do you know @balkonsolar ?

Oh, look what they just wrote: https://freiburg.social/@balkonsolar/116358045429903601

Our chair @sbamueller explains how the #pluginsolar movement gained momentum in Germany, what’s holding it back, and what it reveals about the roll out of consumer-led energy systems

https://reneweconomy.com.au/switchedon-podcast-the-plug-in-solar-hack-thats-now-booming-in-germany/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=switchedon-podcast-the-plug-in-solar-hack-thats-now-booming-in-germany

On G83-Lite: Solar Nanogeneration For Everyone (2009) - Learn how plug-in solar curtain linings could trim your home power bill and footprint... #solar #balconySolar #plugInSolar #nanogeneration - https://www.earth.org.uk/note-on-G83-lite.html

#PlugInSolar will be legalised in the #UK later this year.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/plug-in-solar-to-become-legal-in-the-uk-aMNzt5m4PDnU

Here is a timeline for the regulations update: https://solarenergyconcepts.co.uk/post/plug-in-solar-uk/
#climate #solar #renewable

New England moving toward legalizing plug-in/balcony solar

All 6 states- even New Hampshire- have legislation in process. Maine's could be signed into law next week.

Electricity is expensive in New England by US standards and prices are rising, like everywhere (thanks, 🍊)

Momentum is building on this!

#solar #cleanenergy #balconysolar #pluginsolar #electrification #climatechange #climatehope #maine #newengland

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/balcony-solar-bills-make-inroads-new-england

RE: https://freiburg.social/@balkonsolar/116300507885800917

Will #pluginpv pay fort itself in #Britain, even though it’s more cloudy than Germany? Short answer: YES!

We calculated cost recovery scenarios for #London and #Inverness: We took the average local electricity prices, assumed the system would cost around €500 or £430, which is a third more expensive than a comparable system in Germany. And for London we assumed south facing for Inverness west facing and hanging at 90° or horizontally.

In both scenarios we get cost recovery well within the lifespan of such a system. In London within five years and in Inverness in around 10 years.

Read the details on our website.

https://youtube.com/shorts/V5tnACSHSd8?si=-ITTPcRYnMH5XSeT

#pluginsolar

#PluginSolar in the #UK can never work its far to cloudy! Germany is much more sunny.

That is wrong: #London is on the same Latitude as #Dortmund. #Hamburg on the same Latitude as #Manchester.

Let’s do some math: We got to https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html works for the Great Britain, even though you left the EU. And choose London.

We choose 2025 Crystalline Silicon, 0,8 kWp and 14% system loss. Mounting is 90°, so hanging on a balcony. Azimuth: 0° is South.

As a price we choose equivalent of 500 EUR which is currently 432,92 Pound. 2% interset and 15 lifetime.

Gives us: Yearly PV energy production 614.65 kWh.

Average Price for London is 24.9 p/kWh.

We assume that you use about 50% of that electricity yourself.

600 kwh * ½ * 0,249 Pound = 74 Pound a year.

Gives you a cost return of about 5,4 years.

Full Article: https://balkon.solar/news/2026/03/27/can-pluginpv-work-in-the-uk/

EcoFlow 900W plug in solar panels available from Amazon UK:

https://amzn.eu/d/07aUZD7v

Different models for different use cases and mounting options starting from £449.

#UK #SolarPunk #SolarPower #PlugInSolar

These #pluginpv systems repay themselves from less grid drawn electricity within 3 - 5 years in Germany.

You can add batteries and a sensor measuring how much your house needs - so you save what you produced during the day and use that at night. this makes the system more expensive. Usually something around 1000 EUR instead of 300 - 400.

Cost recovery is from 4 to 7 years.

But afterwards you save more money because you use more of your own electricity.

Again these systems are safe.

Mounting is available for different locations:
- flat roofs
- balcony including those with 35 cm thick walls/concrete
- as a table
- facade
- fence

in fact most #pluginsolar systems are not on the balcony but very often on flat roofs eg. garages or lawns.

to make it available we needed to only changes in the energy law but also adjust rental contract law & the condominium regulations:

https://balkon.solar/news/2024/10/17/germany-grants-renters-the-right-to-install-solar-systems-on-balconies/

But you may need more changes: permit less mounting, inclusion into liability insurance, loosening of monument protection.

For Consumers:

- choose brand name inverters such as Hoymiles
- use proper mounting
- enjoy

People in the #UnitedKingdom are all hyped up because the Government promised to legalise #pluginsolar (was it ever illegal?) - so before you rush to #LIDL & #Amazon - of all places - to buy #pluginpv please follow this guide from ze German NGO that helped to bring 4 Mio systems to Germany.

About 1,1 Mio systems are registered but for the consumer there is little benefit in registering, so market studies and our own research suggest take it x4 = ca 4 Mio systems. About ½ have a battery.

Usually these system consist of:

1 -4 solar panels
a microinverter
AC cable
DC cable
and mounting.

While the sun shines on the #solar panels and the micro inverter senses a grid (!) they push electricity via a standard plug and socket into your house and your devices use them.

This is safe if you stay below certain thresholds. In Germany VDE thinks not more than 800 W over a standard #Schuko Socket and not more than 960 WattPeak systems.

This is fairly conservative and designed with the oldest wires in mind, e.g. the 15% immediate post war 2-wire systems and not more modern 3-wire house installations.

We believe up to 2 kWp is usually safe.

Balcony solar bills being considered in 27 states and DC, too. Both red and blue states.

Virginia legislation has been passed and is expected to become law; UT already allows balcony solar.

Lots of people are using plug-in solar anyway, before their state officially permits it.

Cost of units expected to fall as more states allow them.

#solar ##cleanenergy #balconysolar #pluginsolar #climateaction #electrification #climatehope

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/balcony-solar-bill-gains-momentum-illinois

More than 24 US states are considering bills that would make it easier for households to adopt #pluginsolar. #Illinois could be next to pass https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/balcony-solar-bill-gains-momentum-illinois

And in #California the bill for #pluginpv has passed unanimously out of the California Senate's Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee: https://www.pv-tech.org/california-moves-ahead-with-balcony-solar-bill/

Weekly output: teens + AI chatbots, Android updates, Trump on data-center energy use, Archer + Starlink, balcony solar, customer feedback, CDA 230 + AI, Bluetooth updates

BARCELONA–It’s a treat to be able to start off a post with this dateline. This is the 13th trip that’s afforded me that opportunity and the 12th involving MWC. But this trip isn’t like the ones before it in one way; on my way across the Atlantic, my country started a war of choice because the president felt like it. The world is better without Iran’s worthless, murdering theocrat Ali Khameni, but I have little confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to do the right things for that long-suffering country.

In addition to the links you see below, Patreon readers got a bonus post from me in which I shared lessons learned from more than 10 years of booking Airbnbs.

2/24/2026: Most Teens Use AI for Homework Help. 10% Let It Do Everything, PCMag

Getting an advance copy of this new study from the Pew Research Center gave me a chance to note a new student-understudy chatbot called Einstein and quiz the CEO behind that app.

2/25/2026: Android Update Puts Gemini AI In the Driver’s Seat for Ride-Hail, Food Orders, PCMag

I have somehow become PCMag’s Android-updates guy. This report included a little testimony about Google’s call-scam-detection feature misfiring for me, an important bit of context to include in a post telling readers about Google bringing that tool to Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of phones.

2/25/2026: As Energy Costs Soar, Trump Pushes AI Giants to ‘Produce Their Own Electricity’, PCMag

I didn’t watch the entire State of the Union address because self-care is an important thing, but after reading about President Trump’s call for data-center operators to pay for their electricity and power infrastructure, I knew I’d have to write about that initiative.

2/27/2028: Archer Aviation Taps Starlink for Air Taxi Connectivity, PCMag

I still don’t quite get the point of adding Starlink connectivity to aircraft that won’t fly longer than 15 minutes or higher than 4,000 feet above major cities, but this was an easy post to crank out Friday morning before heading to Dulles that afternoon to start my journey to Spain.

2/28/2026: After Years of Shining in Europe, Balcony Solar Comes Out of the Dark in the US, PCMag

This story had been in the works for literally months–I took the photo you see at the top of the piece on the afternoon that I arrived in Berlin for IFA in September–but the policy picture has also changed dramatically, and for the better, over the intervening months.

2/28/2026: What’s the Best Way to Get Customer Feedback in 2026? Hint: It’s Not Email, PCMag

Two weeks after the customer-experience firm Medallia had me at its annual conference in Vegas (with my hotel covered upfront and my airfare to be reimbursed), PCMag ran my recap of what I learned there.

3/1/2026: Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?, PCMag

I spent Thursday at the Cato Institute for this enlightening conference marking the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 act that bars you from suing an online platform for something that one of its users posted.

3/1/2026: Bluetooth Is Getting an Upgrade. Here’s What It Means for Your Devices, PCMag

I took almost all of the notes for this at CES in January, but I needed more time to confirm some details and then write the post, after which its lack of a news peg left it easy to set aside for a bit.

Weekly output: teens + AI chatbots, Android updates, Trump on data-center energy use, Archer + Starlink, balcony solar, customer feedback, CDA 230 + AI, Bluetooth updates

BARCELONA–It’s a treat to be able to start off a post with this dateline. This is the 13th trip that’s afforded me that opportunity and the 12th involving MWC. But this trip isn’t like the ones before it in one way; on my way across the Atlantic, my country started a war of choice because the president felt like it. The world is better without Iran’s worthless, murdering theocrat Ali Khameni, but I have little confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to do the right things for that long-suffering country.

In addition to the links you see below, Patreon readers got a bonus post from me in which I shared lessons learned from more than 10 years of booking Airbnbs.

2/24/2026: Most Teens Use AI for Homework Help. 10% Let It Do Everything, PCMag

Getting an advance copy of this new study from the Pew Research Center gave me a chance to note a new student-understudy chatbot called Einstein and quiz the CEO behind that app.

2/25/2026: Android Update Puts Gemini AI In the Driver’s Seat for Ride-Hail, Food Orders, PCMag

I have somehow become PCMag’s Android-updates guy. This report included a little testimony about Google’s call-scam-detection feature misfiring for me, an important bit of context to include in a post telling readers about Google bringing that tool to Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of phones.

2/25/2026: As Energy Costs Soar, Trump Pushes AI Giants to ‘Produce Their Own Electricity’, PCMag

I didn’t watch the entire State of the Union address because self-care is an important thing, but after reading about President Trump’s call for data-center operators to pay for their electricity and power infrastructure, I knew I’d have to write about that initiative.

2/27/2028: Archer Aviation Taps Starlink for Air Taxi Connectivity, PCMag

I still don’t quite get the point of adding Starlink connectivity to aircraft that won’t fly longer than 15 minutes or higher than 4,000 feet above major cities, but this was an easy post to crank out Friday morning before heading to Dulles that afternoon to start my journey to Spain.

2/28/2026: After Years of Shining in Europe, Balcony Solar Comes Out of the Dark in the US, PCMag

This story had been in the works for literally months–I took the photo you see at the top of the piece on the afternoon that I arrived in Berlin for IFA in September–but the policy picture has also changed dramatically, and for the better, over the intervening months.

2/28/2026: What’s the Best Way to Get Customer Feedback in 2026? Hint: It’s Not Email, PCMag

Two weeks after the customer-experience firm Medallia had me at its annual conference in Vegas (with my hotel covered upfront and my airfare to be reimbursed), PCMag ran my recap of what I learned there.

3/1/2026: Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?, PCMag

I spent Thursday at the Cato Institute for this enlightening conference marking the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 act that bars you from suing an online platform for something that one of its users posted.

3/1/2026: Bluetooth Is Getting an Upgrade. Here’s What It Means for Your Devices, PCMag

I took almost all of the notes for this at CES in January, but I needed more time to confirm some details and then write the post, after which its lack of a news peg left it easy to set aside for a bit.

Weekly output: teens + AI chatbots, Android updates, Trump on data-center energy use, Archer + Starlink, balcony solar, customer feedback, CDA 230 + AI, Bluetooth updates

BARCELONA–It’s a treat to be able to start off a post with this dateline. This is the 13th trip that’s afforded me that opportunity and the 12th involving MWC. But this trip isn’t like the ones before it in one way; on my way across the Atlantic, my country started a war of choice because the president felt like it. The world is better without Iran’s worthless, murdering theocrat Ali Khameni, but I have little confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to do the right things for that long-suffering country.

In addition to the links you see below, Patreon readers got a bonus post from me in which I shared lessons learned from more than 10 years of booking Airbnbs.

2/24/2026: Most Teens Use AI for Homework Help. 10% Let It Do Everything, PCMag

Getting an advance copy of this new study from the Pew Research Center gave me a chance to note a new student-understudy chatbot called Einstein and quiz the CEO behind that app.

2/25/2026: Android Update Puts Gemini AI In the Driver’s Seat for Ride-Hail, Food Orders, PCMag

I have somehow become PCMag’s Android-updates guy. This report included a little testimony about Google’s call-scam-detection feature misfiring for me, an important bit of context to include in a post telling readers about Google bringing that tool to Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of phones.

2/25/2026: As Energy Costs Soar, Trump Pushes AI Giants to ‘Produce Their Own Electricity’, PCMag

I didn’t watch the entire State of the Union address because self-care is an important thing, but after reading about President Trump’s call for data-center operators to pay for their electricity and power infrastructure, I knew I’d have to write about that initiative.

2/27/2028: Archer Aviation Taps Starlink for Air Taxi Connectivity, PCMag

I still don’t quite get the point of adding Starlink connectivity to aircraft that won’t fly longer than 15 minutes or higher than 4,000 feet above major cities, but this was an easy post to crank out Friday morning before heading to Dulles that afternoon to start my journey to Spain.

2/28/2026: After Years of Shining in Europe, Balcony Solar Comes Out of the Dark in the US, PCMag

This story had been in the works for literally months–I took the photo you see at the top of the piece on the afternoon that I arrived in Berlin for IFA in September–but the policy picture has also changed dramatically, and for the better, over the intervening months.

2/28/2026: What’s the Best Way to Get Customer Feedback in 2026? Hint: It’s Not Email, PCMag

Two weeks after the customer-experience firm Medallia had me at its annual conference in Vegas (with my hotel covered upfront and my airfare to be reimbursed), PCMag ran my recap of what I learned there.

3/1/2026: Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?, PCMag

I spent Thursday at the Cato Institute for this enlightening conference marking the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 act that bars you from suing an online platform for something that one of its users posted.

3/1/2026: Bluetooth Is Getting an Upgrade. Here’s What It Means for Your Devices, PCMag

I took almost all of the notes for this at CES in January, but I needed more time to confirm some details and then write the post, after which its lack of a news peg left it easy to set aside for a bit.

Weekly output: teens + AI chatbots, Android updates, Trump on data-center energy use, Archer + Starlink, balcony solar, customer feedback, CDA 230 + AI, Bluetooth updates

BARCELONA–It’s a treat to be able to start off a post with this dateline. This is the 13th trip that’s afforded me that opportunity and the 12th involving MWC. But this trip isn’t like the ones before it in one way; on my way across the Atlantic, my country started a war of choice because the president felt like it. The world is better without Iran’s worthless, murdering theocrat Ali Khameni, but I have little confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to do the right things for that long-suffering country.

In addition to the links you see below, Patreon readers got a bonus post from me in which I shared lessons learned from more than 10 years of booking Airbnbs.

2/24/2026: Most Teens Use AI for Homework Help. 10% Let It Do Everything, PCMag

Getting an advance copy of this new study from the Pew Research Center gave me a chance to note a new student-understudy chatbot called Einstein and quiz the CEO behind that app.

2/25/2026: Android Update Puts Gemini AI In the Driver’s Seat for Ride-Hail, Food Orders, PCMag

I have somehow become PCMag’s Android-updates guy. This report included a little testimony about Google’s call-scam-detection feature misfiring for me, an important bit of context to include in a post telling readers about Google bringing that tool to Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of phones.

2/25/2026: As Energy Costs Soar, Trump Pushes AI Giants to ‘Produce Their Own Electricity’, PCMag

I didn’t watch the entire State of the Union address because self-care is an important thing, but after reading about President Trump’s call for data-center operators to pay for their electricity and power infrastructure, I knew I’d have to write about that initiative.

2/27/2028: Archer Aviation Taps Starlink for Air Taxi Connectivity, PCMag

I still don’t quite get the point of adding Starlink connectivity to aircraft that won’t fly longer than 15 minutes or higher than 4,000 feet above major cities, but this was an easy post to crank out Friday morning before heading to Dulles that afternoon to start my journey to Spain.

2/28/2026: After Years of Shining in Europe, Balcony Solar Comes Out of the Dark in the US, PCMag

This story had been in the works for literally months–I took the photo you see at the top of the piece on the afternoon that I arrived in Berlin for IFA in September–but the policy picture has also changed dramatically, and for the better, over the intervening months.

2/28/2026: What’s the Best Way to Get Customer Feedback in 2026? Hint: It’s Not Email, PCMag

Two weeks after the customer-experience firm Medallia had me at its annual conference in Vegas (with my hotel covered upfront and my airfare to be reimbursed), PCMag ran my recap of what I learned there.

3/1/2026: Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?, PCMag

I spent Thursday at the Cato Institute for this enlightening conference marking the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 act that bars you from suing an online platform for something that one of its users posted.

3/1/2026: Bluetooth Is Getting an Upgrade. Here’s What It Means for Your Devices, PCMag

I took almost all of the notes for this at CES in January, but I needed more time to confirm some details and then write the post, after which its lack of a news peg left it easy to set aside for a bit.

Weekly output: teens + AI chatbots, Android updates, Trump on data-center energy use, Archer + Starlink, balcony solar, customer feedback, CDA 230 + AI, Bluetooth updates

BARCELONA–It’s a treat to be able to start off a post with this dateline. This is the 13th trip that’s afforded me that opportunity and the 12th involving MWC. But this trip isn’t like the ones before it in one way; on my way across the Atlantic, my country started a war of choice because the president felt like it. The world is better without Iran’s worthless, murdering theocrat Ali Khameni, but I have little confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to do the right things for that long-suffering country.

In addition to the links you see below, Patreon readers got a bonus post from me in which I shared lessons learned from more than 10 years of booking Airbnbs.

2/24/2026: Most Teens Use AI for Homework Help. 10% Let It Do Everything, PCMag

Getting an advance copy of this new study from the Pew Research Center gave me a chance to note a new student-understudy chatbot called Einstein and quiz the CEO behind that app.

2/25/2026: Android Update Puts Gemini AI In the Driver’s Seat for Ride-Hail, Food Orders, PCMag

I have somehow become PCMag’s Android-updates guy. This report included a little testimony about Google’s call-scam-detection feature misfiring for me, an important bit of context to include in a post telling readers about Google bringing that tool to Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of phones.

2/25/2026: As Energy Costs Soar, Trump Pushes AI Giants to ‘Produce Their Own Electricity’, PCMag

I didn’t watch the entire State of the Union address because self-care is an important thing, but after reading about President Trump’s call for data-center operators to pay for their electricity and power infrastructure, I knew I’d have to write about that initiative.

2/27/2028: Archer Aviation Taps Starlink for Air Taxi Connectivity, PCMag

I still don’t quite get the point of adding Starlink connectivity to aircraft that won’t fly longer than 15 minutes or higher than 4,000 feet above major cities, but this was an easy post to crank out Friday morning before heading to Dulles that afternoon to start my journey to Spain.

2/28/2026: After Years of Shining in Europe, Balcony Solar Comes Out of the Dark in the US, PCMag

This story had been in the works for literally months–I took the photo you see at the top of the piece on the afternoon that I arrived in Berlin for IFA in September–but the policy picture has also changed dramatically, and for the better, over the intervening months.

2/28/2026: What’s the Best Way to Get Customer Feedback in 2026? Hint: It’s Not Email, PCMag

Two weeks after the customer-experience firm Medallia had me at its annual conference in Vegas (with my hotel covered upfront and my airfare to be reimbursed), PCMag ran my recap of what I learned there.

3/1/2026: Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?, PCMag

I spent Thursday at the Cato Institute for this enlightening conference marking the 30th anniversary of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the 1996 act that bars you from suing an online platform for something that one of its users posted.

3/1/2026: Bluetooth Is Getting an Upgrade. Here’s What It Means for Your Devices, PCMag

I took almost all of the notes for this at CES in January, but I needed more time to confirm some details and then write the post, after which its lack of a news peg left it easy to set aside for a bit.

Are you already reading the new german #pluginpv norm?

So you don’t speak any german? No Problem, we made an english summary!

https://balkon.solar/news/2025/11/22/what-does-the-new-german-plug-in-pv-norm-say/

#balconysolar #solar #pluginsolar #norm #VDE