URGENT: Solar inverters made in China found with rogue communications devices able to be remotely shut down

WASHINGTON, DC—President Trump has been excoriated for placing tariffs on numerous countries, including China. Part of his motivation was to move manufacturing back to the United States after China had used its admission to the World Trade Organization as a permission slip to steal intellectual property from the United States and other Western countries.

The president looks pretty smart after a report of China installing rogue communication devices within solar inverters sent to the US. 

Reuters reports that US officials are again examining the risk posed by devices manufactured in China, especially those that play a vital part in US infrastructure. This comes after communication equipment was found inside some inverters, which are used to connect solar panels and wind turbines to the grid. Inverters are also found in batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers.

Typically, inverters are designed to allow remote access for updates and maintenance. However, utility companies that use them usually install firewalls to prevent direct communication with Chinese communists. 

Still, experts who strip down devices hooked to grids to look for possible security issues have found some rogue communications devices not listed in product documentation in solar power inverters. Those devices were manufactured in China. 

One expert said that over the past nine months, devices such as cellular radios have also contained undocumented communications devices, along with some batteries manufactured by multiple Chinese suppliers. Reuters said it is unknown how many such devices the experts examined. 

The two anonymous experts also said the rogue equipment provides additional, undocumented communication channels that could allow firewalls to be breached remotely, with potentially catastrophic consequences. They asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the media. 

“We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption,” said Mike Rogers, former U.S. National Security Agency director. “I think that the Chinese are, in part, hoping that the widespread use of inverters limits the options that the West has to deal with the security issue.” 

A Chinese embassy spokesperson appeared offended by the allegations, saying, “We oppose the generalization of the concept of national security, distorting and smearing China’s infrastructure achievements.” 

Experts say that using these devices to bypass firewalls, switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings could destabilize the power grid, damage energy infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts. 

“That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” one of the experts said. 

National security experts have long warned about the vulnerability of America’s electric grid. Forbes wrote in 2023 that it was vulnerable to cyber attacks, physical incidents, and existential threats, such as an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP). Any such breakdown in the grid would prove catastrophic, depending on the scale, location, and method. 

Reuters reported that the federal government has not yet acknowledged the discoveries. The Department of Energy, through a spokesperson, said it continually assesses the risks associated with emerging technologies. 

“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 spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said work continues to address any gaps in disclosures through “Software Bill of Materials,” which is an inventory of all the components that make up a software application, and other contractual requirements.” 

“The threat we face from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is real and growing. Whether it’s telecom hacks or remotely accessing solar and battery inverters, the CCP stops at nothing to target our sensitive infrastructure and components,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), a Committee on Homeland Security member. 

“It’s about time we ramp up our efforts to show China that compromising us will no longer be acceptable,” Pfluger told Reuters. 

Two Senators proposed a bill in February that would decouple the United States from purchasing batteries from some Chinese entities, citing national security concerns. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in March, but has not been acted upon. 

Utility companies are already working on enacting similar bans on Chinese inverter manufacturers. One, Florida Power & Light Company, is minimizing the use of Chinese inverters by obtaining equipment from elsewhere, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. 

According to the DOE spokesperson, “As more domestic manufacturing takes hold, DOE is working across the federal government to strengthen U.S. supply chains, providing additional opportunities to integrate trusted equipment into the power grid.” 

Huawei is the world’s largest supplier of inverters, accounting for 29% of global shipments in 2022. However, German solar developer 1Komma5 said they avoid Huawei inverters due to the inherent security risks.

“China’s dominance is becoming a bigger issue because of the growing renewables capacity on Western grids and the increased likelihood of a prolonged and serious confrontation between China and the West,” said 1Komma5 CEO Philipp Schroeder. 

In 2019, the U.S. restricted Huawei’s presence in the country, citing activities contrary to U.S. national security, an allegation the company denies. 

However, Chinese companies are required under Chinese law to cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies, experts told Reuters. This gives the Chinese Communist Party potential control over Chinese-made inverters connected to foreign power grids. 

 In November, China disabled solar inverters in the U.S. and other countries, highlighting the risk of foreign influence over local electricity supplies and causing concern among government officials. 

The Biden Administration, under the guise of “climate change,” directed the country toward renewable energy sources, a departure from President Trump’s “drill baby drill” mantra. Now, with Trump back in office, he has promised to unleash the American energy sector, which would lower the US reliance on solar inverters from China.