EU Commission Holds Firm on November 1 Cutoff for Chinese Inverters

The European Commission confirmed that the November 1 deadline for excluding Chinese power inverters from EU-funded solar, wind and storage projects will not be delayed. The policy, introduced to address cybersecurity concerns over high-risk suppliers such as Huawei, mandates that any project linked to the EU electricity grid after that date must use approved non-Chinese equipment. Industry groups and investors, including the European Investment Bank, had urged a postponement, citing doubts about the availability and affordability of alternative inverters.

While some stakeholders hope for case-by-case exemptions, the Commission argues that a viable supply chain already exists and that the modest cost of securing the grid justifies the rule. The decision follows internal debates within the EU executive, with the Secretariat-General ultimately aligning with a stricter stance. Project developers will now need to adjust budgets to cover higher inverter prices, warranties and maintenance services.