Are solar inverters a threat to Europe's energy sovereignty?

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.

Are Chinese inverters still a problem in Europe?

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.

Could inverters destabilize Europe's power grid?

Thousands of inverters, acting in sync, could ripple distortions across Europe’s power grid and destabilize entire regions. Considering the significance of these risks, Europe can no longer afford to treat clean energy as geopolitically neutral. Defusing the hidden risks requires action in at least four areas: 1.

Where do solar inverters come from?

Despite years of debate about supply chain resilience, more than 70 percent of world’s solar inverters come from Chinese manufacturers. The three biggest players – Huawei, Sungrow, and Ginlong Solis – are all Chinese.

Will Lithuania ban inverters from China?

A replication of Lithuania’s proactive legislation – banning inverters from China – across all EU Member States – ensuring security measures apply to PV systems of all sizes. “Europe must act now to prevent a future energy crisis that would rival the gas dependency on Russia,” said Podewils.

Does Europe's solar backbone run through China?

As the EU leans into its ambitious climate goals, solar energy has become the poster child of the energy transition. On the surface, it appears to be a success story in the global race toward decarbonization. But peel back the layers, and a more troubling picture emerges: Europe’s solar backbone increasingly runs through China.