EU assesses power grid risks from Chinese-controlled wind, solar energy infrastructure

Brussels – The European Commission is working to safeguard Europe from potential tampering with or shutdowns of energy networks by assessing risks to the integrity of renewable energy distribution infrastructure overly managed by Chinese entities, said Energy Commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, responding to a parliamentary question submitted by European Liberal (Re) MEP Bart Groothuis, who was concerned about the excessive Chinese presence in the European clean energy market. 

In his question, the MEP points the finger at Huawei, “designated a risky vendor by the Commission,” Groothuis noted, and which “accounts for over 115 Gigawatts of the solar inverter market share in Europe.” It is one of six Chinese suppliers that collectively control over 219 Gigawatts, which is undoubtedly not marginal energy capacity. The fear is of another blackout like the one that shut down Spain and Portugal at the end of April this year. “Given that Spain’s grid collapsed after a 2.2 GW drop, these vendors could remotely shut down Europe’s grid,” the Liberal MEP bluntly said. 

https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/03/14/white-paper-on-defense-identifies-russia-and-china-as-possible-eu-enemies/

There is, therefore, a “risky dependence” on China that raises energy security issues. The Energy Commissioner tries to reassure: “The Commission is carrying out a risk assessment for wind under the Wind Package, and a similar assessment will be carried out for solar energy infrastructure,” Jorgensen explains, assuring that “the Commission will follow up with concrete measures.” It is conducting the assessments in cooperation with ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. 

However, the concrete measures Jorgensen is talking about may not arrive until 2026, as it is for next year that the EU executive has announced a strategic roadmap for digitalization and artificial intelligence for the energy sector, as part of the Affordable Energy Action Plan.