The EU’s most influential solar panel lobbying group SolarPower Europe reinstated 
Huawei’s membership just months after it expelled the company over its alleged involvement in a bribery and corruption scandal involving various MEPs.
At the same contentious Sep 29 meeting during which Huawei was reinstated, SPE’s board of directors failed to adopt an external position paper — written and put forward by a group of Western solar panel manufacturers and distributors — recommending the EU duplicate the 5G “toolbox” for the solar industry and limit Huawei’s access to the bloc’s energy grid.
(The European Commission is currently reviewing the EU energy security framework to tackle hacking and other cyber risks in the energy grid and is soliciting feedback until Oct 13. The Western manufacturers wanted the position paper to be included in SolarPower Europe’s consultation with the Commission.)
The board instead adopted an internally produced report on the cybersecurity risks to Europe’s grid — one that didn’t include any mention of China in its executive summary while an earlier draft did.
Huawei is a leader in manufacturing solar inverters. Chinese companies control 65% of the EU’s solar power, with Huawei holding the biggest market share.
Cybersecurity experts and European manufacturers say Huawei and others could use the devices to hack into Europe’s power grid — and potentially turn it off.
“The Chinese have remote access to all these devices. And remote access means they can completely control the device remotely from China, and they can shut it down.”
By introducing malicious firmware, a company could disable safety protections or cooling fans and other measures.
Huawei was a regular fixture in Brussels’ lobbying circles for over a decade, throwing lavish parties, and was seen as a friendly entity in European policy circles until 2019. To counter the shifting attitudes, Huawei offered 6-figure salaries to lure in journalists and politicians to lobby on its behalf.
In Sep, SPE’s board moved to readmit the company, but set guidelines for its role in the lobby.
While Huawei is not actively participating in the group’s work, minutes are created and disseminated after every meeting with the Commission and other policymakers, which remain available to Huawei.
“They have full access to the reports.”
Other companies that are distributors for the Chinese firm are still allowed to participate and advocate for Huawei’s interests.
The SPE’s decision to not adopt the position paper on risks to the energy grid wasn’t the first time the lobby’s actions favored Huawei.
SPE also commissioned a study on the solar industry’s cybersecurity risks. An earlier draft of that report lays out the close ties between companies and the Chinese government, with the firms acting at the behest of government officials, including in carrying out cyberattacks. The draft warned that just one compromised company connected to Europe’s grid could turn off a sizeable portion of the EU’s power. The final watered-down report removed all mention of China in the executive summary.
The solar lobby maintains Huawei has no influence over its policy positions, but…
SPE’s board of directors include European companies that have partnerships with Huawei, companies that count China as their largest marketor are distributors of Huawei’s inverters.
Of SPE’s 20 directors, 8 have direct connections with Huawei or close Chinese ties. One board member is the director of Chinese solar panel manufacturer TrinaSolar.
As one of 3 top-tier members of SPE, Huawei pays €60,000 a year in membership fees; it also funnels money through sponsorships of events organized by SolarPower Europe. So Huawei has clout through funding.
politico.eu/article/huawei
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Byron Wan
@Byron_Wan
Brussels-based renewable lobby group SolarPower Europe has expelled Huawei from its members amid an ongoing EU bribery investigation into the company.
Huawei has long been one of a few 'sponsor' members of SolarPower Europe, contributing at least €60,000 a year and
Show more Huawei from its members amid an ongoing EU bribery investigation into the company.
Huawei has long been one of a few 'sponsor' members of SolarPower Europe, contributing at least €60,000 a year and