U.S. security experts have reportedly uncovered undocumented communication devices inside Chinese-made solar power inverters — hardware that’s widely used to support renewable energy infrastructure.
According to a Reuters report, citing sources familiar with the matter, “rogue communication devices” that are not listed in product documents have been found in some inverters and batteries supplied by multiple Chinese manufacturers.
Power inverters are used to connect solar panels to electricity grids. Though inverters are designed to allow remote access for maintenance purposes, utility companies typically install firewalls to block unapproved access. But experts warned Reuters that using the rogue components to circumvent those protections and remotely shut down inverters or change their settings could potentially destabilize power grids, damage energy infrastructure and trigger widespread blackouts.
“That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” one source told Reuters.
A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington told the news service: “We oppose the generalisation of the concept of national security, distorting and smearing China's infrastructure achievements.”
Reuters says the U.S. Department of Energy acknowledged there were challenges with manufacturers disclosing and documenting functionalities of emerging technologies. A spokesperson also noted, “while this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received.”
The news service says both sources declined to name the manufacturers of the inverters and batteries with the extra components, and would not say how many they had found.
The idea that a foreign-made component — quietly embedded in clean energy infrastructure — could one day be used to disrupt the U.S. power grid may sound like science fiction. But it can be a real threat to security experts.
Individuals may be left wondering what they can do to prepare. Here are a few practical steps.
