Prepoznavanje mogućnosti i rizika prijevare za potrošače u solarnom sektoru EU-a

Kad se usporedi s njegovim fenomenalnim rastom tržišne vrijednosti i obujma generiranih energetskih kapaciteta, solarni sektor EU-a je priča o nevjerojatnom uspjehu. Na primjer, kapitalna ulaganja u solarnu PV u EU porasla su s oko 19 milijardi eura u 2020. na oko 60 milijardi eura u 2023.

Još jedan jasan pokazatelj uspjeha sektora može se vidjeti u činjenici da dok je bilo potrebno do 2018. da kapacitet solarne energije Europske unije prijeđe 100 GW, bile su potrebne samo dodatne 4 godine da se taj kapacitet udvostruči, dosegnuvši 200 GW prekretnica u 2022.

Podaci koje su proizveli čelnici industrije kao što je SolarPower Europe naknadno su postavili kumulativni instalirani solarni fotonaponski kapacitet zemalja članica EU-27 na 269 GW na kraju 2023., dok također pokazuju da se očekuje samo nastavak trenda rasta.

Iako je ovo impresivno, postoje jasni signali da će se vrtoglave stope rasta povezane s posljednjim godinama možda donekle smanjiti. SolarPower Europe već je procijenio da se može uočiti značajno usporavanje implementacije s rasta od 53% u 2023. na 4% u 2024. (to je iznosilo usporavanje solarnog rasta od 92%) i sada predviđa da će niske jednoznamenkaste godišnje stope rasta 3-7% postat će norma između 2025. i 2028.

Nažalost, malo je toga što ukazuje na jednako značajno usporavanje spremnosti onih koji su uključeni u eksplicitno kriminalne radnje usmjerene na prijevaru, obmanjivanje ili na drugi način iskorištavanje potrošača unutar sektora solarne energije da odustanu od toga.

Iako se češće usmjerava na pojedince na razini kućanstva ili farme, ova vrsta ciljanja također je usmjerena na agencije EU-a koje nadziru ili provode politike financiranja povezane s ugradnjom solarnih ploča ili tehnologijom mikrogeneracije. Povremeno je čak uključivao i vlade kao navodne počinitelje prijevare. Kao primjer potonjeg, možemo ukazati na slučaj iz 2021. koji je izvijestio Journalismfund Europe, neovisna neprofitna organizacija sa sjedištem u Bruxellesu, koja se usredotočila na potencijalnu korupciju potpore solarnoj energiji u Češkoj i Slovačkoj. Kako je izvijestio Journalismfund Europe, vlada u Češkoj je odgađala izmjene zakona koje su dopuštale državno zajamčenu cijenu solarne električne energije kako bi odgovarala padu ulaganja u solarnu električnu energiju. Zbog toga je tvrdilo da država jamči previsoke cijene do kraja 2010. svima koji sagrade solarnu elektranu.

Što se tiče Slovačke, problemi su se vrtjeli oko zlouporabe natječajnog procesa koji je navodno pogodovao slovačkim oligarsima.

Još jedan slučaj koji uključuje zlouporabu natječajnog postupka viđen je u travnju 2023. kada je Mađarsko tijelo za integritet, koje je neovisno tijelo javne uprave koje nadzire korištenje fondova EU-a u toj državi, otkrilo da je nekoliko tvrtki koje se bave solarnim panelima sudjelovalo u tajnim dogovorima na natječajima Europske unije, čime se ograničava konkurencija.

To je dovelo do toga da Agencija uputi predmet mađarskom tijelu za tržišno natjecanje.

In a statement on the matter from the Integrity Authority, it revealed that it had conducted an investigation ex officio into the grant applications submitted under Call for tenders no. VP6-7.2.1.4-17 entitled “Household-scale development of electricity, water supply and sewage management on small farms” of the Rural Development Programme.

According to the notification, the successful tenderer ensured, by engaging in collusive practices with two other tenderers to exclude fair market price competition, that its own bids were always the most favourable and successful bids in the tenders concerning the installation of solar panel systems.

Further evidence of more complex illegitimate practices to affect the solar sector were seen in November 2024. At that time the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) reported that the Chinese solar‑panel manufacturers Wuxi Suntech Power and Zhejiang Sunflower lost their legal challenges against European Union decisions that removed them from a pricing arrangement designed to avoid punitive trade duties.

It was reported that the case revolved around the 2013 agreement between the EU and most Chinese solar panel producers to counteract alleged dumping practices. Under the “minimum import price undertaking.”

More recently The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Ljubljana (Slovenia) has reported that it is leading an investigation into an attempted fraud involving €340 000 in EU funds, with house searches carried out on 7 and 8 January 2025.

The EPPO investigation in this instance centres around two companies suspected of attempting to fraudulently obtain funding for the co-financing of small-scale solar electricity generation plants, under a public call by the Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund.

According to a statement the investigation by the EPPO, the companies submitted two separate applications, presenting them as distinct projects, while both referred to the same solar power plant located on one site. This alleged misrepresentation aimed to circumvent the requirement to obtain a building permit.

The EPPO stress however that the investigation is ongoing, and therefore all persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Slovenian courts of law.

Cases not involving this level of organised, attempted, or alleged fraud of EU funds, but nonetheless related to solar panel or solar power installations could be multiplied with ease.

In one sense this is hardly surprising. An industry expending tens of billions in capital expenditure reflects or at the very least anticipates a massive level of public demand.

The unfortunate reality is therefore that despite robust provisions already being in place in terms of EU directives on public procurement that cover tenders across a range of sectors including the solar sector, fraudulent activity of this kind is increasing.

In such a lucrative environment, rogue operators, like parasites acting within a host will often insert themselves to gain maximum advantage at the expense of ordinary investors who are merely seeking access to clean sources of renewable energy that will reduce their electricity and household energy costs.

Reporting from France has shown the growth of this kind of fraudulent activity with one criminal network accused of embezzled €27 million through MaPrimeRénov’, a French public aid program for energy-efficient home renovations. Investigations there revealed fraudulent practices targeting the most vulnerable households.

According to the Irish Times reporting, the couple had €10,000 removed from their bank account after an illegitimate company successfully engaged in a fake invoice scam. Examples of this kind could be multiplied with ease.

Incidents such as these are likely to increase as applications to the Irish Government’s Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) which provides capital grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for solar PV installations, in the form of the Domestic Solar PV and Non-Domestic Microgeneration schemes, increase.

This is a particularly attractive option for Irish households as Micro-generation is set to play a major role in in creating opportunities for homes, schools, community groups and small commercial customers in generating and consuming their own electricity.

As the Scheme largely relies on private installation, it is also highly likely that concerns relating to the rise in fake invoice scams will have to be addressed.

In this regard it is worth noting the recommendations contained within the publication of the Irish parliaments Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach Report on Authorised Push Payment Fraud in October 2024.

Push payment fraud involves fraudsters tricking an individual or business to send money from their account to one controlled by a fraudster.

The Committee recommended the publication of a National Economic Crime Strategy, the development of a shared fraud database, and greater coordination and communication between Government, Gardái, the banking sector and social media companies.

Efforts to combat this activity at the household level often focus on helping consumers to become aware that malicious targeting often involves solar panel offers at suspiciously inexpensive levels. This is often allied to exaggerated claims about energy autonomy and VAT fraud where the scammer will claim that the consumer can fully recoup VAT.

In conclusion then we can say that while there is a significant and growing public demand for solar panels and solar related energy there is also a widespread and often successful attempt to abuse this demand through fraudulent practices.

To protect consumers, to maintain the integrity of the solar sector and to protect ongoing laudable goals including the sale of micro-generated solar power back to the national grid, as is the case in Ireland, vigilance is urgently required.