Solar energy: Brussels no longer wants to subsidize certain Chinese technologies

The measure targets inverters, electronic devices used in photovoltaic installations to convert direct current into alternating current.

When they come from "high risk" countries - China, Russia, Iran and North Korea - these inverters can constitute a "threat" according to Brussels, with a risk of "disruption of critical EU infrastructure by foreign actors", such as hackers.

"This could result in a remote shutdown of member states' networks, leading to nationwide power cuts," said European Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry.

Faced with these risks, Brussels will initially stop its subsidies to energy projects using inverters from countries deemed risky, including Chinese groups Huawei and Sungrow.

According to Commission officials, this funding ban has been in effect since the beginning of April and applies immediately to new projects. However, a transition period is planned for projects already at an advanced stage.

In the longer term, cybersecurity legislation will offer the possibility of banning the use of inverters from high-risk suppliers on the EU market.

Brussels also fears that Chinese market dominance could, in the long term, become a threat to security of supply.

The EU intends to favour inverters manufactured in Europe or, according to a Commission official, to use suppliers from Japan, South Korea, the United States or Switzerland.