Europe vs America / Who Is Closing the Door on Batteries and Inverters?

Tri najveća imena u industriji prijenosnih energetskih sustava – EcoFlow, Bluetti i Anker Solix – nisu prisutna na najvećem sjevernoameričkom sajmu obnovljive energije RE+ u Las Vegasu. Istodobno, ista poduzeća aktivno predstavljaju nove proizvode na europskim sajmovima, posebno na IFA-i u Berlinu. Ova istodobna odsutnost i prisutnost nije nužno samo marketinška odluka. Ona se događa u trenutku kada se američko regulatorno okruženje za strane energetsko opreme značajno mijenja.

Krajem srpnja 2026. Federalna komisija za komunikacije (FCC) proširila je svoj „Covered List“ na strano proizvedene pretvarače snage (power inverters) koji posjeduju mogućnost daljinske komunikacije. Riječ je o uređajima koji pretvaraju istosmjernu struju u izmjeničnu i koji mogu biti povezani putem Wi-Fi-ja, Bluetootha, Etherneta ili sličnih protokola. Kasnije je definicija sužena na one pretvarače koji su namijenjeni paralelnom radu s elektroenergetskom mrežom (utility-interactive inverters prema UL 1741). Samostalni, off-grid uređaji ostaju izvan izravne primjene. Međutim, gotovo svi napredni prijenosni energetski sustavi danas više nisu samo baterije u kutiji. Oni se povezuju s kućnim pametnim panelima, upravljaju opterećenjima, komuniciraju s aplikacijama, primaju firmware ažuriranja i, u nekim slučajevima, mogu se vezati na mrežu. Upravo ta povezanost čini ih osjetljivima na nova pravila.

Europa vs Amerika: Tko zatvara vrata stranim baterijama i inverterima?

Manje od mjesec dana kasnije, krajem kolovoza, potpisan je izvršni nalog kojim se proglašava nacionalna hitnost u pogledu sigurnosti američkog energetskog sustava. Nalog se usredotočuje na stranu električnu opremu, kibernetičku sigurnost, daljinski pristup i ranjivosti opskrbnog lanca, posebno kod mrežno povezanih pretvarača i sustava za skladištenje energije. Iako se ne primjenjuje izravno na male prijenosne postaje u garaži, šalje jasan signal: američka politika sve više razlikuje lokalne, izolirane sustave od onih koji mogu utjecati na širu elektroenergetsku infrastrukturu.

Ove regulatorne promjene dolaze u trenutku kada je američko tržište stambene solarne energije ionako pod pritiskom. Federalni porezni kredit od 30 posto za kućne sustave više nije dostupan za nove instalacije od početka 2026. godine. Kombinacija gubitka poticaja i pooštrenih zahtjeva za porijeklom i komunikacijskim značajkama opreme stvara okruženje u kojem strana poduzeća moraju preispitati svoje strategije.

Kibernetička sigurnost ili nacionalna sigurnost – dva različita pristupa

Rezultat je moguća podjela tržišta. U Europi se ti proizvođači agresivno šire u segment povezanih kućnih energetskih sustava – balkon-solarni moduli, plug-in skladištenje, pametno upravljanje potrošnjom i dinamičko cjenovanje električne energije. U Sjedinjenim Državama suočavaju se s pitanjima o tome gdje se oprema proizvodi, tko kontrolira softver, hoće li budući modeli dobiti potrebne dozvole i hoće li morati razvijati posebne, „američke“ verzije proizvoda s ograničenim komunikacijskim mogućnostima ili lokaliziranom proizvodnjom.

Za potrošače to može značiti manju dostupnost najnovijih modela, više cijene ili usporavanje inovacija u segmentu prijenosnih i hibridnih sustava. Za industriju to otvara prostor domaćim ili savezničkim proizvođačima, ali i rizik od smanjene konkurencije i sporijeg tehnološkog napretka. Pitanje nije više samo je li riječ o odluci o sajmu. Radi se o tome hoće li se američko tržište prijenosne i kućne energije početi razvijati u drugačijem smjeru od ostatka svijeta – smjeru u kojem nacionalna sigurnost i kontrola softvera imaju prioritet nad brzinom inovacije i cijenom.

Što to znači za EcoFlow, Bluetti i Anker Solix?

Usporedba EU i američkih regulativa (stanje rujan 2026.) u području pretvarača snage (invertera), sustava za skladištenje energije i povezanih energetskih uređaja:

1. Pristup nacionalnoj sigurnosti i stranim proizvođačima

SAD

• FCC je u srpnju/kolovozu 2026. dodao strano proizvedene utility-interactive (mrežno povezane) pretvarače s mogućnošću daljinske komunikacije (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, mobilna mreža) na Covered List.
• Novi modeli ne mogu dobiti FCC autorizaciju potrebnu za uvoz, marketing i prodaju, osim ako dobiju Conditional Approval ili ispunjavaju uvjete domaće proizvodnje (eligible za 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit ili Buy American Act s dovoljnim udjelom američkih komponenti).
• Off-grid / non-utility-interactive uređaji (čisti prijenosni power stationi bez mogućnosti paralelne veze s mrežom) uglavnom su izuzeti.
• Dodatno: izvršni nalog od 26. kolovoza 2026. proglašava nacionalnu hitnost za bulk power system i ograničava stranu opremu (invertere, baterije, transformatoare) koja se spaja na mrežu.

EU

• Nema općeg zabrane uvoza ili prodaje stranih invertera na potrošačkom tržištu.
• Od 1. studenoga 2026. projekti financirani EU sredstvima (EIB i slično) koji su ili će biti spojeni na mrežu ne smiju koristiti invertere od „high-risk“ dobavljača (primarno kineskih, npr. Huawei i slični).
• Pristup se pomiče s čistog zemljopisnog kriterija prema individualnoj procjeni svakog dobavljača (predložene izmjene Cybersecurity Act 2). Zemlja porijekla ostaje faktor, ali nije automatska diskvalifikacija.
• Fokus je na kibernetičkoj otpornosti, a ne na potpunoj isključenosti stranih brandova s tržišta.

Ključna razlika: SAD aktivno blokira nova odobrenja za strane mrežno povezane uređaje. EU ograničava pristup javnom financiranju i postavlja standarde, ali zadržava tržišni pristup ako se poštuju tehnički i cyber zahtjevi.

2. Kibernetička sigurnost i zahtjevi za proizvode

SAD

• Regulatorni fokus je na rizik od daljinskog pristupa i manipulacije mrežom.
• Postojeća autorizirana oprema može se i dalje prodavati; pravila su prospektivna.

EU

• Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) – horizontalni okvir za sve proizvode s digitalnim elementima (uključujući invertere, BMS, PCS, EMS).
  • Od 11. rujna 2026.: obveza prijave aktivno iskorištavanih ranjivosti (24 h rano upozorenje, 72 h potpuna prijava).
  • Puna primjena od 11. prosinca 2027.: secure-by-design, upravljanje ranjivostima, CE oznaka uključuje cyber sukladnost.
• Network Code on Cybersecurity i nacionalni grid kodovi (npr. njemački VDE-AR-N 4105:2026) pooštravaju tehničke zahtjeve za podršku mreži i imunitet na poremećaje.
• Industrija traži da se kritične komponente BESS-a klasificiraju kao „critical“ pod CRA (stroža ocjena sukladnosti).

Ključna razlika: EU nameće jedinstvene, tehnološki orijentirane standarde svim proizvođačima (bez obzira na porijeklo). SAD koristi više nacionalno-sigurnosni filter temeljen na porijeklu i mogućnosti komunikacije.

3. Potpore i porezni poticaji

SAD

• Federalni stambeni kredit od 30 % (Section 25D) prestao je za sustave stavljenje u pogon nakon 31. prosinca 2025.
• Komercijalni i storage sustavi i dalje imaju putove preko Section 48E, uz stroge FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) i domestic content zahtjeve.
• Snažan poticaj za domaću proizvodnju (45X kredit).

EU

• Nema ekvivalentnog naglog ukidanja velikog stambenog poticaja.
• REPowerEU, nacionalni programi, sniženi ili nulti PDV na solar + storage u više zemalja, te razni rebate programi i dalje podržavaju tržište.
• Fokus na monetizaciji fleksibilnosti (dinamičke tarife, VPP, grid services) uz uvjete kibernetičke sigurnosti.

Sažetak utjecaja na prijenosne i kućne energetske sustave

Aspekt	SAD	EU
Novi mrežno povezani invertere stranih proizvođača	Jako ograničeno (Covered List)	Dozvoljeno uz standarde; ograničeno u EU-financiranim projektima
Čisti off-grid / portable	Uglavnom izuzeto	CRA se primjenjuje ako ima digitalnu povezivost
Kibernetička sigurnost	Fokus na isključivanju rizika	Obvezni secure-by-design + reporting za sve
Poticaji	Snažno smanjeni za stambeni segment	Stabilniji i raznolikiji
Strategija proizvođača	Lokalizacija proizvodnje ili povlačenje naprednih modela	Prilagodba standardima + fokus na europsko tržište

SAD ide putem restriktivnijeg, sigurnosno orijentiranog isključivanja stranih (posebno kineskih) mrežno povezanih sustava i poticanja domaće proizvodnje. EU ide putem standardizacije kibernetičke otpornosti za sve proizvode i uvjetovanja javnog financiranja, uz zadržavanje šireg tržišnog pristupa. Zbog toga se kod istih proizvođača (EcoFlow, Bluetti, Anker Solix i slični) vidi aktivnije lansiranje naprednih povezanih rješenja u Europi, dok se na američkom tržištu suočavaju s većim regulatornim neizvjesnostima za nove generacije proizvoda.

Željko Serdar, Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije ( HCOIE )

Europe vs America: Who Is Closing the Door on Foreign Batteries and Inverters?

Three of the biggest names in the portable power industry – EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Anker Solix – are absent from North America’s largest renewable energy trade show, RE+, in Las Vegas. At the same time, the same companies are actively launching new products at European trade shows, particularly IFA in Berlin. This simultaneous absence and presence is not necessarily just a marketing decision. It is happening at a moment when the U.S. regulatory environment for foreign energy equipment is changing significantly.

In late July 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expanded its “Covered List” to include foreign-produced power inverters that have remote communication capabilities. These are devices that convert direct current to alternating current and can connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, or similar protocols. The definition was later narrowed to those inverters intended for parallel operation with the electric utility grid (utility-interactive inverters under UL 1741). Standalone, off-grid devices remain outside the direct scope. However, almost all advanced portable power systems today are no longer just batteries in a box. They connect to home smart panels, manage loads, communicate with apps, receive firmware updates, and in some cases can connect to the grid. It is precisely this connectivity that makes them sensitive to the new rules.

Cybersecurity or National Security – Two Different Approaches

Less than a month later, in late August, an executive order was signed declaring a national emergency regarding the security of the U.S. energy system. The order focuses on foreign electrical equipment, cybersecurity, remote access, and supply-chain vulnerabilities, particularly for grid-connected inverters and energy storage systems. Although it does not apply directly to small portable stations in a garage, it sends a clear signal: U.S. policy is increasingly distinguishing between local, isolated systems and those that can affect the broader power infrastructure.

These regulatory changes come at a time when the U.S. residential solar market is already under pressure. The federal 30 percent tax credit for home systems is no longer available for new installations starting in 2026. The combination of lost incentives and stricter requirements on the origin and communication features of equipment creates an environment in which foreign companies must reassess their strategies.

What Does This Mean for EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Anker Solix?

The result is a possible market split. In Europe, these manufacturers are aggressively expanding into the segment of connected home energy systems – balcony solar modules, plug-in storage, smart load management, and dynamic electricity pricing. In the United States, they face questions about where the equipment is manufactured, who controls the software, whether future models will receive the necessary approvals, and whether they will have to develop special “American” versions of products with limited communication capabilities or localized production.

For consumers, this could mean reduced availability of the latest models, higher prices, or slower innovation in the portable and hybrid systems segment. For the industry, it opens space for domestic or allied manufacturers, but also carries the risk of reduced competition and slower technological progress. The question is no longer just whether this is a trade-show decision. It is about whether the U.S. portable and home energy market will begin to develop in a different direction from the rest of the world – a direction in which national security and software control take priority over the speed of innovation and price.

Comparison of EU and U.S. Regulations (as of September 2026) in the Area of Power Inverters, Energy Storage Systems, and Related Energy Devices

1. Approach to National Security and Foreign Manufacturers

United States

• In July/August 2026, the FCC added foreign-produced utility-interactive (grid-connected) inverters with remote communication capabilities (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, cellular) to the Covered List.
• New models cannot obtain the FCC authorization required for import, marketing, and sale unless they receive Conditional Approval or meet domestic production requirements (eligible for the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit or Buy American Act with a sufficient share of U.S. components).
• Off-grid / non-utility-interactive devices (pure portable power stations without the ability to operate in parallel with the grid) are largely exempt.
• Additionally: the executive order of August 26, 2026, declares a national emergency for the bulk power system and restricts foreign equipment (inverters, batteries, transformers) that connects to the grid.

European Union

• There is no general ban on the import or sale of foreign inverters on the consumer market.
• From November 1, 2026, EU-funded projects (EIB and similar) that are or will be connected to the grid may not use inverters from “high-risk” suppliers (primarily Chinese, e.g., Huawei and similar).
• The approach is shifting from a pure geographic criterion toward individual assessment of each supplier (proposed amendments to Cybersecurity Act 2). Country of origin remains a factor but is not an automatic disqualification.
• The focus is on cyber resilience rather than complete exclusion of foreign brands from the market.

Key difference: The U.S. actively blocks new approvals for foreign grid-connected devices. The EU restricts access to public funding and sets standards but retains market access if technical and cyber requirements are met.

2. Cybersecurity and Product Requirements

United States

• Regulatory focus is on the risk of remote access and grid manipulation.
• Existing authorized equipment can continue to be sold; the rules are prospective.

European Union

• Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) – a horizontal framework for all products with digital elements (including inverters, BMS, PCS, EMS).
  • From September 11, 2026: obligation to report actively exploited vulnerabilities (24-hour early warning, 72-hour full notification).
  • Full application from December 11, 2027: secure-by-design, vulnerability management, CE marking includes cyber conformity.
• Network Code on Cybersecurity and national grid codes (e.g., German VDE-AR-N 4105:2026) tighten technical requirements for grid support and disturbance immunity.
• Industry is calling for critical BESS components to be classified as “critical” under the CRA (stricter conformity assessment).

Key difference: The EU imposes uniform, technology-oriented standards on all manufacturers (regardless of origin). The U.S. uses a more national-security filter based on origin and communication capability.

3. Support Schemes and Tax Incentives

United States

• The federal residential 30% credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025.
• Commercial and storage systems still have pathways under Section 48E, with strict FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) and domestic content requirements.
• Strong incentive for domestic manufacturing (45X credit).

European Union

• No equivalent sudden cancellation of a major residential incentive.
• REPowerEU, national programs, reduced or zero VAT on solar + storage in several countries, and various rebate programs continue to support the market.
• Focus on monetizing flexibility (dynamic tariffs, VPP, grid services) subject to cybersecurity conditions.

Summary of Impact on Portable and Home Energy Systems

Aspect	United States	European Union
New grid-connected inverters from foreign manufacturers	Heavily restricted (Covered List)	Allowed subject to standards; restricted in EU-funded projects
Pure off-grid / portable	Largely exempt	CRA applies if digital connectivity is present
Cybersecurity	Focus on risk exclusion	Mandatory secure-by-design + reporting for all
Incentives	Strongly reduced for residential segment	More stable and diversified
Manufacturer strategy	Localization of production or withdrawal of advanced models	Adaptation to standards + focus on the European market

The United States is taking a more restrictive, security-oriented path of excluding foreign (especially Chinese) grid-connected systems and promoting domestic manufacturing. The EU is taking the path of standardizing cyber resilience for all products and conditioning public funding, while retaining broader market access. As a result, the same manufacturers (EcoFlow, Bluetti, Anker Solix, and similar) are more actively launching advanced connected solutions in Europe, while facing greater regulatory uncertainty for new product generations on the U.S. market.

Zeljko Serdar, Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources ( CCRES )