China-Europe solar panel inverter

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) today issued a clear and urgent warning: Europe's energy sovereignty is at serious risk due to the unregulated and remote control capabilities of PV inverters from high-risk, non-European manufacturers – most notably from China. Study by DNV provides the evidence.

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has issued a stark warning, highlighting a critical threat to Europe's energy autonomy stemming from the unregulated remote access capabilities of PV inverters produced by non-European, high-risk manufacturers—particularly those from China. A recent study by DNV substantiates these concerns.

All the while, Chinese inverters – heavily subsidized and offered at prices few customers can resist – continue to flood the European market. This brings us to the second paradox, exemplified clearly by the Czech Republic.

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.”

Europe is grappling with growing concerns over the cybersecurity risks posed by Chinese-made photovoltaic inverters, prompting discussions about restricting high-risk suppliers from connecting to its power systems.

Critics argue that banning Chinese inverters could raise costs and disrupt supply chains, as European alternatives are 30-50% more expensive. The European Commission is assessing cybersecurity risks in the solar value chain, with the ESMC advocating for measures like Lithuania's 2023 ban on Chinese inverters.