The European Commission has moved to block EU funding for Chinese-made solar technology amid concerns it could pose a security risk to Europe’s electricity grid and potentially contribute to large-scale blackouts.
The restrictions are primarily aimed at solar inverters — often described as the “brain” of a solar power system — which convert solar energy into usable electricity, as an article by the Deutsche Welle notes.
The decision, confirmed on May 4, reflects growing unease in Brussels over Europe’s heavy dependence on Chinese green technology imports.
Solar inverters are internet-connected devices that can often be accessed remotely for software updates, diagnostics and maintenance.
Christoph Podewils, secretary general of the European Solar Manufacturing Council, explained the concerns driving the move in comments to Deutsche Welle.
“All inverter companies, they do have something like a kill switch,” he said.
Although such remote-access features are generally intended for safety purposes and grid stabilization, cybersecurity experts warn they could theoretically be exploited by hackers or hostile state actors to disrupt electricity networks.
European dependence on Chinese suppliers
According to Geneva-based research group Loom cited in the article, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 61 percent of all inverters imported into Europe in 2024.
Two Chinese firms — Huawei and Sungrow — currently dominate both the European and global inverter markets. Chinese suppliers have already provided hardware for more than 220 gigawatts of installed solar capacity across Europe.
Experts cited by DW warned that, in a worst-case scenario, compromised inverter systems could contribute to widespread electricity outages.
“To put that in perspective, controlling roughly 10 gigawatts would already be sufficient to trigger major disruptions to Europe’s electricity grid,” Podewils said.
The DW article highlights that there has been no confirmed case of Chinese-made inverters being used to shut down parts of Europe’s power grid as of now. However, concerns intensified after Reuters reported earlier this year that US energy officials had discovered rogue communication devices inside some Chinese-made inverter systems.
The debate over solar inverters comes as Europe increasingly reassesses its broader reliance on Chinese clean-energy imports.
Research by Loom indicates that China supplies 98 percent of the solar panels and 88 percent of the lithium-ion batteries imported into Europe.
The organization warned that remote-access functions embedded in connected energy technologies could create vulnerabilities across national power systems if not properly secured.
By Nazrin Sadigova