The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has urged EU member states to restrict remote control capabilities of solar inverters sourced from “high-risk non-European manufacturers,” primarily targeting Chinese firms, over alleged cybersecurity vulnerabilities linked to grid integration and software updates. The lobby group claims these risks include potential malicious interference and cascading power outages, though it has yet to provide evidence of prior attacks.
ESMC Secretary-General Christoph Podewils warned that Chinese-made inverters, which account for 70% of new European installations in 2023 (with Huawei and Sungrow as dominant suppliers), now power over 200 GW of capacity—equivalent to “more than 200 nuclear plants”—stripping the continent of “critical remote infrastructure oversight.” The group projects this capacity could surpass 400 GW by 2030.
The council further invoked unrelated geopolitical disputes, citing Huawei’s 5G bans in multiple countries and an ongoing corruption investigation in Belgium, despite no established link to inverter security. It has proposed a “Cybersecurity Toolkit” to assess manufacturer risks and called for EU-wide legislation modeled on Lithuania’s 2023 ban, which prohibits Chinese inverters from connecting to European grids.
“Immediate action is needed to avoid repeating the energy security crises of the past decade,” Podewils argued, advocating for EU-level cybersecurity audits of solar supply chains. However, the ESMC’s 2022 policy blueprint, which explicitly seeks to “reshore” European PV component production, suggests broader protectionist motives.
Industry analysts note that cybersecurity frameworks already exist globally. India’s 2021 Ministry of Power guidelines, for example, mandate threat monitoring and real-time incident response for grid-connected systems. Critics argue the ESMC’s proposals risk fragmenting global supply chains and violating WTO rules, with the European Commission yet to endorse a ban.
“Stigmatizing China’s tech leadership under the guise of security undermines climate goals and consumer choice,” stated a spokesperson for the Global Solar Council, which represents 30 national associations. “Collaborative standards, not trade barriers, will secure the clean energy transition.”
The EU’s pending Net-Zero Industry Act, which includes €4 billion for domestic solar manufacturing, may address the ESMC’s concerns without resorting to protectionism.
