Remote control of solar PV systems opens door to foreign powers interfering with electricity supplies, German agency warns

The outgoing German government is preparing legislation that would allow the output of small-scale solar PV systems to be controlled remotely. The move is prompted by concerns about the stability of the country’s grid, which could be threatened by uncontrolled electricity feed-in from a large number of small-scale sources. If the system were overloaded, this could eventually lead to local power outages, known as brownouts. However, involving a huge number of small-scale sources in remote control raises questions about the possible manipulation of these sources by foreign powers. Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security has therefore warned of “considerable risk potential”.

As the number of solar PV systems in Germany continues to grow, so do concerns about the safe operation of the country’s electricity grid. Uncontrolled feed-in from a large number of small-scale sources could cause grid management problems in the future, according to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW). Its chief executive says that in critical situations, parts of the grid could even be disconnected if there were no way to control these sources. This could also lead to brownouts in some parts of Germany.

Bringing small-scale solar PV systems into the grid management process and making it possible to control them remotely should help mitigate this risk. Along with BDEW, one of the transmission system operators is pressing the government to pass the necessary legislative changes before its term ends. However, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has warned against this move. A large number of inverters, as well as other components used in solar PV systems, are manufactured in China. According to the agency, this could enable the Chinese government or other actors to compromise the security of Germany’s electricity grid through such devices connected to the internet.

First incidents are alarming, agency says

An agency spokesperson recently warned of considerable risk potential in an interview with the newspaper Welt, according to Clean Energy Wire. Welt reported that in recent months the agency had been alerted to a series of incidents around the world involving inverters made by a Chinese manufacturer. In these cases, the inverters were reportedly switched off remotely, leaving prosumers without electricity.

According to the news website, the head of BDEW also responded to the agency’s warning. In her view, it underscores the urgency of passing reforms to the relevant German energy law. She also stressed that Germany must roll out smart meters nationwide to make grid management more flexible.

“The proposal includes important measures to mitigate peaks in solar power feed-in and thus stabilise the grid,” said Kerstin Andreae, head of BDEW.