Europe’s Solar Boom Has a Cybersecurity Blind Spot

As Europe accelerates its renewable energy transition, a new threat is emerging—one that could turn the continent’s solar power surge into a vulnerability. Cyberattacks targeting energy infrastructure are escalating, and digitalized solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, particularly those connected via inverters, are increasingly in the crosshairs. A SolarPower Europe-commissioned report by DNV warns that without urgent updates to cybersecurity frameworks, decentralized solar installations could become the weak link in Europe’s energy resilience.

The High Stakes of Digitalization

Digitalization promises massive efficiency gains—up to €160 billion per year in energy system cost savings, according to the report. But it also introduces risks. Europe’s shift from centralized fossil fuel plants to decentralized renewables like rooftop solar has improved physical grid security, yet regulatory gaps remain. While utility-scale solar falls under the EU’s NIS2 Directive, smaller installations often operate outside stringent cybersecurity rules. This becomes critical when aggregated into virtual power plants (VPPs), where a breach could cascade across the grid.

“Compromising just 3 GW of solar capacity—roughly 1% of Europe’s installed PV—could destabilize grid operations,” the report notes.

Mapping the Risks

DNV’s analysis categorizes vulnerabilities into three tiers: medium (5 areas), high (6), and critical (3). Among the most urgent? Inverter control systems, which convert solar DC power to grid-compatible AC. Unlike gas pipelines or nuclear plants, these devices rarely face mandatory cybersecurity audits. The report urges EU policymakers to treat them as critical infrastructure, proposing GDPR-like localization requirements to keep inverter software and data within EU jurisdictions.

Fast-Tracking Resilience

For high-risk entities—including VPP operators and distribution system managers—the recommendations are clear: implement monitored cybersecurity solutions under national authority oversight. The EU’s Network and Information Security Cooperation Group (NCCS) could streamline compliance, offering pre-approved vendor lists and rapid certification pathways. “This isn’t about reinventing the wheel,” says one industry expert familiar with the findings. “It’s about adapting existing tools—like the NIS2 Directive—to cover the unique attack surfaces of distributed solar.”

As Europe races toward its 2030 renewables targets, the message is clear: cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought in the solar revolution. The infrastructure powering the energy transition must be as resilient as it is renewable.