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AI in the installation sector is no longer a future prospect. It is already embedded in the software you use today: the system that controls EV chargers, the monitoring that flags a fault before the client calls, the tool that models an installation before you break ground. The opportunities are significant. But there is one prerequisite most parties treat as an afterthought: cybersecurity.
AI makes the installation sector faster, smarter and more scalable. But the same technology also expands the attack surface. Without cybersecurity as a foundation, you are building on sand.
- AI-driven energy management systems already unlock grid capacity on constrained connections, without costly grid upgrades.
- Predictive maintenance reduces downtime: faults are spotted before they become failures.
- The EU AI Act and the NIS2 Directive come into force this summer, setting concrete requirements for AI systems and cybersecurity in critical sectors.
- During Hack the Power Grid (TU Delft), research showed that poorly secured solar panels could be remotely shut down, potentially collapsing local grids.
- ISO 27001 and NIS2 compliance are not paperwork exercises. They guarantee that security is externally validated.
The opportunities are there. Take them. But build on a foundation that can withstand a breach.
What AI systems are installers actually encountering?
A few examples already running in the field:
A note of sobriety: not everything labelled “smart” legally qualifies as AI. Some of it is automation with a layer of machine learning. In practice, the distinction makes little difference. The effect on your work is the same.
What does AI deliver for the installation sector?
Monitoring runs around the clock without your people sitting on dashboards. The system calculates what is optimal for each situation rather than relying on rules of thumb. Faults are anticipated. Less downtime, more targeted site visits.
Where it gets genuinely interesting: extracting more from existing infrastructure. Freeing up grid capacity without an expensive upgrade. One engineer managing more installations.
AI removes the work you cannot charge for and puts your expertise where it actually counts.
“A business owner wants to make money. Cybersecurity is a cost centre that does not generate revenue. But with AI, it is no longer a question of whether a hack will happen, but when. Cybersecurity must be the foundation of every AI system, not something you bolt on afterwards.”
— Josh Mengerink, co-founder and Principal Software Architect at Tibo Energy
The prerequisite: cybersecurity as a foundation, not an afterthought
This is where it gets serious. The impact of a hack in the installation sector does not stay digital. It becomes physical.
During Hack the Power Grid at The Green Village (TU Delft), research demonstrated that it would be technically feasible to remotely shut down a substantial share of operational solar panels in the Netherlands. If enough poorly secured installations sit near a hospital or fire station, such an attack could bring down a local grid.
Failure no longer needs to be mechanical. And with AI in the mix, the attack surface only grows.
This is precisely why the EU is introducing two pieces of legislation that take effect this summer. The AI Act sets rules for the development and deployment of AI systems. The NIS2 Directive (transposed into national law in each member state) obliges organisations in critical sectors to meet cybersecurity requirements, report incidents and register with the supervisory authority. Neither is a luxury. Both are baseline hygiene.
Where are the weak points in practice?
“The cybersecurity field evolves fast. The question is whether your people can keep up in time. That does not necessarily mean bringing expertise in-house, but someone needs to map those vulnerable points. The majority of breaches happen where basic cyber hygiene simply is not in order.”
— Josh Mengerink
Does every installer need to become a cybersecurity expert?
No. But make sure someone in your organisation can conduct a risk assessment and map the vulnerable points. That is the first step. After that, it is a choice: do you cover them yourself, or hand that to a specialist? Either is fine, as long as it is a conscious decision.
If you bring in a specialist or supplier, verify that the basics are demonstrably in order: ISO 27001 certified and compliant with NIS2 obligations. That is not paperwork for the sake of paperwork. ISO 27001 certification guarantees that data security (including energy data) is externally audited. NIS2 obligations include a duty of care, risk analysis and a reporting obligation enforced through national cybersecurity legislation.
One more thing: choose products and software developed in Europe. European suppliers must comply with European standards and regulation. That gives you a legal foundation you do not automatically get with products from Asia or the US.
“We deploy our software in critical energy environments. You cannot say: we will sort security later. That is why we achieved our ISO 27001 certification. Not as a sales argument, but because it is the only way to do this responsibly.”
— Josh Mengerink
AI makes installation work better, not obsolete
AI in the installation sector delivers less downtime, more output from existing infrastructure, and skilled professionals spending their time where it matters. But that promise is only responsible if security is part of the design from day one.
Curious what an AI-driven energy management system looks like in practice on your site? Request a simulation and find out what is possible within your existing connection.
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