Here is the original study: Restrict Remote Access of PV Inverters from High-Risk Vendors
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.
As solar power becomes increasingly integral to Europe’s clean energy goals and energy security, a major vulnerability looms: software-enabled remote access to PV inverters—the essential control units of solar power systems.
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The threat is real, not hypothetical. Internet connectivity is essential for modern inverters to perform grid support functions and participate in power markets. However, this connectivity also enables remote software updates, allowing manufacturers to potentially modify device performance from afar. This poses serious cybersecurity risks, including the danger of intentional disruption or large-scale shutdowns. A recent DNV report, commissioned by SolarPower Europe, highlights the credible risk of cascading blackouts due to coordinated or malicious manipulation of inverters.
The same principle of strategic independence though can and should be applied to everyone, including China and the US. It’s clear that US is not a reliable ally, it was very clear when they shut down F-16s remotely in Ukraine to bully them into submission. Nothing is stopping them from shutting down power grids if these are in their hands to push EU to do whatever is not in its interests.
It’s not like the risk of invasion is the only criteria to use for deciding to be independent on core technologies.
i agree, if I had to choose I’d definitely want an economic/cyber war with the US over the much more likely conventional war with China
I think you are greatly underestimating what someone controlling the tech (note: here you don’t need cyber attacks) for critical infrastructure can do. Shut down power and water and the war finishes before it even starts. Let alone communications, payment systems, banking systems, government websites and all the other services that depend on cloud (i.e., mostly US companies).
The new directive (DORA I think? In get confused with the names) does include for a reason the mandatory exit plan for cloud providers ready.