Octopus Renames Tempo Offer OctoSaisons as Chinese Solar Exports Fall

Octopus Energy France has renamed its time-of-use electricity plan OctoSaisons after EDF claimed ownership of the term "Tempo" and asked the supplier to stop using it. The new name was announced on 21 October. Only the label changes: the plan works as before, and subscribers have nothing to do.

The price per kilowatt-hour still depends on the colour of the day and the time of consumption. Octopus says its plan differs from EDF's option in a few deliberate ways: fewer blue days, more white days and up to 16 off-peak hours a day. Céline Stein, CEO of Octopus Energy France, summed it up: "A name can change; a conviction cannot."

Chinese solar exports lose ground in Europe

Chinese solar panel exports fell 9.6% between January and September 2026, to 184.66 GW against 204.26 GW a year earlier, according to a Shanghai Metals Market report published on 21 October. Europe remains the top destination, but orders there are softening amid rising module prices, uncertain project returns and power grids struggling to absorb new installations.

Beijing has played a part too. Since 1 April, Chinese manufacturers no longer receive the 9% export VAT rebate, a measure designed to curb the price war that is weakening the domestic industry.

Exposed wind and solar systems

A study by Modat and the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NL), presented on 6 October, found more than 8,500 IT systems of solar and wind farms in 35 European countries reachable from the internet when they should not be. Spain alone has 2,766 exposed solar systems, while Germany counts 884, including 212 in wind, the highest figure in Europe for that sector.

On 13 October, Germany's federal cybersecurity office (BSI) published recommendations for operators of small installations. The warning came shortly after the refrigeration systems of hundreds of French supermarkets were taken over during the night of 11 to 12 October.

In a lighter corner of the energy world, German maker Alutech unveiled the ePelmo X1P on 23 September, billed as the first electric mountain bike with Gobao's continuously variable motor-gearbox. With no cassette or derailleur, it claims 1,500 W peak power and 150 Nm of torque, with deliveries planned for spring 2027.