No Chinese Energy Storage Battery Company Has Obtained Japan's Cybersecurity Certification
Miles Bennett
Japan's JC-STAR cybersecurity certification has cleared about 30 Japanese, American, and German firms' energy-storage equipment — but Huawei, CATL, BYD, and Sungrow have all failed to qualify. Grid connection becomes mandatory-certified from April 2027, putting Chinese firms at risk of wholesale exclusion from Japan's grid market.
What is JC-STAR, and why does it control grid access?
JC-STAR is a cybersecurity certification run by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), assessed by its agency IPA.
Applicants must submit a checklist confirming their products meet baseline cybersecurity requirements — covering battery control systems, power conditioners, and other renewable-energy equipment.
This means → it is not a routine quality stamp but a grid-access pass: from April 2027, uncertified devices cannot connect to Japan's power grid.
Why have all Chinese firms been shut out?
A key clause in the checklist requires applicants to confirm that neither they nor their manufacturing suppliers are subject to foreign laws that could compromise product cybersecurity.
GrowShip senior analyst Ayako Meguro notes that China's National Intelligence Law, enacted in 2017, directly conflicts with this clause — it obliges all Chinese citizens and enterprises to support national intelligence efforts.
In plain terms = the barrier is not a product-level security flaw but China's legal environment, which Japan deems an unresolvable risk.
Why did Japanese firms using Chinese cells still pass?
Japanese companies PowerX and Daihen use Chinese-made battery cells — the smallest unit of a battery — yet both have been certified.
The reason: cell components have no communication capability. No network connection means no cybersecurity review is triggered.
This reflects a critical distinction — the certification barrier targets network-connected capability, not the "Made in China" label itself.
Who has been certified, and how much time do Chinese firms have?
About 30 companies' energy-storage and solar products have passed so far, including Japan's PowerX, America's Tesla, and Germany's SMA Solar Technology.
Huawei, Sungrow, BYD, and CATL — the Chinese firms with significant Japanese market share — are all absent.
The mandatory deadline is April 1, 2027. This means → Chinese firms have less than two years, but under the current legal framework their path to compliance is extremely narrow.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.