The European Commission has decided to bar EU-funded solar, wind, and energy storage projects from using Chinese-made inverters, citing alleged cybersecurity concerns, according to recent Western media reports.

Christopher Podewils, secretary general of the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC), confirmed that the measure is exceptionally strict, with no exemptions based on power capacity. The restrictions also extend to inverters produced overseas by companies controlled by so-called "high-risk" countries.

Inverters are the backbone of renewable energy systems, regulating how electricity generated by solar panels, wind turbines, and other clean energy facilities is transmitted to the grid. While it is reasonable for the EU to pay attention to cybersecurity, what is unreasonable, however, is branding Chinese-made inverters “security threats” and imposing discriminatory restrictions without credible evidence.

Facts speak louder than political rhetoric. Chinese inverters have already proven their safety through years of extensive global deployment. China is the world’s leading inverter producer, supplying roughly 70 to 80 percent of Europe’s market demand. Furthermore, nine of the world’s top 10 inverter suppliers are Chinese companies, with Huawei and Sungrow Power Supply together accounting for more than half of the global market. There has never been a documented case of a cyberattack on a power system caused by vulnerabilities in Chinese inverters. 

Last May, Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of Energy had discovered "rogue communication devices" inside Chinese inverters, allegedly capable of bypassing firewalls through hidden communication channels. The claim was later exposed as baseless. In February this year, media outlets, including leading photovoltaic publication pv magazine, cited a U.S. government report stating that the Department of Energy laboratories had inspected dozens of Chinese inverters and found no evidence of malicious wireless functions.

In reality, the EU’s move against Chinese inverters is driven by more than so-called security concerns. Trade protectionism, implemented through discriminatory policies, is clearly another major factor. In recent years, ESMC — which represents the interests of European solar manufacturers — has consistently lobbied Brussels to curb imports of Chinese photovoltaic equipment, including inverters. As early as April last year, the organization proposed a sweeping ban on Chinese inverters in European solar systems. Following the latest decision, Podewils openly celebrated the move, calling it "a truly bold decision" that could help revive manufacturing in Europe and other "like-minded economies," while claiming European manufacturers were ready to meet market demand.

While the decision may be bold, it is hardly wise. Excluding Chinese inverters contradicts market realities and could impede Europe’s green transition and energy security. Economically, Chinese inverters remain far more cost-effective than their European counterparts. According to Indian renewable energy news platform Saur Energy, European products can cost two to three times more in many cases. And, in terms of production time, even the ESMC’s most optimistic projections suggest that European manufacturers would need at least six to twelve months to expand production capacity — an inevitable drag on the EU’s clean energy transition. Security concerns are also pertinent, as few European inverter brands have undergone market testing on the same scale as Chinese products.

In the end, the so-called "security threats" of Chinese inverters do not exist in Europe's solar farms, wind parks, or energy storage facilities. They exist in the prejudices of certain European politicians, in sensationalized narratives pushed by some Western media outlets, and in the lobbying campaigns of companies that failed to win in open market competition. Only by abandoning bias against China, rejecting protectionist trade policies, and allowing market principles to guide inverter choices, can the EU truly strengthen the security and resilience of its energy network.