U.S. energy experts have discovered undocumented communication equipment hidden inside some Chinese-made solar power inverters and batteries, raising serious concerns about the security of the nation’s power grids.

Power inverters, extensively used to connect solar panels and other renewable sources to the electricity grid, are predominantly made in China. While these devices are typically designed for remote maintenance and updates, the presence of rogue communication devices, including cellular radios, creates hidden channels that could bypass firewalls and be used to remotely alter or even shut down the equipment.

Experts warn that such vulnerabilities could destabilize power grids, damage critical infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts. "That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid," one source said.

The discoveries were made by U.S. investigators who dismantle and inspect imported equipment for cybersecurity threats. So far, the U.S. government has not publicly acknowledged the findings, and officials have not named the manufacturers involved or detailed how many compromised devices have been found.

Asked for comment, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) stated that it continually analyzes risks associated with emerging technologies and acknowledged the challenges around manufacturer disclosure. “While this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for buyers to understand all product capabilities,” said a DOE spokesperson. The department is working on improving transparency through requirements such as a “Software Bill of Materials,” which essentially refers to all elements of a software application. 

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These revelations come amid broader U.S. efforts to reassess China's role in renewable energy infrastructure, particularly as tensions between the two nations continue to rise. Inverters, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers made in China are embedded across Western energy systems, increasing the potential risk.

“The threat we face from the Chinese Communist Party is real and growing,” said U.S. Representative August Pfluger. “Whether it's telecom hacks or accessing solar inverters, the CCP stops at nothing to target our infrastructure.”

To curb dependency, a new bill, the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, has been proposed in Congress. The objective is to ban the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from buying batteries from select Chinese companies, including major players like CATL, BYD, and Gotion High-tech.

Utilities are already reacting. Some, including Florida Power & Light, are attempting to shift away from Chinese inverters, seeking more secure alternatives. However, the global market is still heavily dominated by Chinese firms. In 2022, Huawei led the inverter market with a 29% global share, followed by Sungrow and Ginlong Solis.

While Huawei exited the U.S. inverter market in 2019, its equipment remains widespread in Europe and other regions. Industry insiders say the increased capacity of renewables on Western grids now makes these systems more vulnerable than ever. According to the European Solar Manufacturing Council, over 200 gigawatts of solar power in Europe rely on Chinese inverters, equivalent to the output of more than 200 nuclear power plants.

The risks extend beyond the U.S. In 2024, solar inverters in several countries were disabled remotely from China, causing disruptions that have yet to be fully understood. The incident reportedly involved a dispute between inverter suppliers Sol-Ark and China’s Deye, though the companies declined to comment on the event.

Some nations have already started taking action. Lithuania and Estonia have passed or are considering laws to block remote access from Chinese technology in critical infrastructure. The U.K. is also reviewing its use of Chinese-made renewable equipment, with a focus on inverters.

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Cybersecurity experts caution that even small-scale solar installations, such as rooftop panels, could become backdoors into the larger grid. 

As the push for energy independence and national security grows, governments and industries across the West are now being urged to reduce strategic dependencies on Chinese technology, particularly within the energy sector.

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Source: Reuters