LONDON — According to Reuters, U.S. energy officials are reassessing the security risks associated with Chinese-made equipment critical to renewable energy infrastructure after discovering undocumented communication devices embedded in some systems, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The focus is on power inverters—devices largely manufactured in China—that connect solar panels and wind turbines to electric grids. Inverters also appear in batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. Though typically outfitted with firewalls to block unauthorized communication, U.S. experts have found hidden communication devices, such as cellular radios, in some Chinese-made inverters and batteries during equipment inspections, the sources said.
These rogue components create unauthorized channels that could potentially bypass security measures, raising fears of remote disruption or even destruction of critical energy infrastructure.
Former NSA Director Mike Rogers told Reuters the discovery reflects longstanding concerns. “China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption,” he said. “They are hoping the widespread use of inverters limits the West’s options to deal with the issue.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington responded, saying: “We oppose the generalization of national security concepts and the distortion and smear of China’s infrastructure achievements.”
Experts warn that tampering with these devices could destabilize grids, damage energy systems, and cause widespread blackouts. “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” one of the sources said.
Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) acknowledged ongoing assessments of risks tied to emerging technologies, adding that manufacturers often fall short in fully disclosing product capabilities.
Growing Scrutiny of Chinese Equipment
As tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate, scrutiny of Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure is intensifying. Earlier this year, U.S. Senators introduced legislation to ban the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing batteries from six Chinese companies—including CATL, BYD, and Envision Energy—citing national security risks.
Utilities, too, are adjusting. Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest utility, is seeking alternative suppliers to limit Chinese-made inverters, Reuters reported.
The DOE said it is working to strengthen domestic supply chains to integrate more trusted equipment into the U.S. grid.
Huawei’s Dominance and Risks in Europe
Huawei remains the world’s largest supplier of inverters, commanding 29% of global shipments in 2022, according to consultancy Wood Mackenzie. While Huawei exited the U.S. inverter market in 2019, concerns persist in Europe, where experts estimate over 200 gigawatts of solar capacity rely on Chinese inverters—equivalent to the output of more than 200 nuclear power plants.
Philipp Schroeder, CEO of German solar firm 1Komma5, told Reuters that avoiding Huawei products is a deliberate security precaution. “Ten years ago, switching off Chinese inverters wouldn’t have caused dramatic impacts on European grids. Now, the critical mass is much larger,” he said.
European governments are taking action: Lithuania has moved to block remote Chinese access to energy systems, and Estonia is weighing similar steps. Meanwhile, the U.K. is conducting its own review into the use of Chinese technology in its energy sector.
Warning Signs
A November 2023 dispute between Chinese manufacturers Deye and Sol-Ark exposed how Chinese firms can remotely disable solar inverters—a scenario that alarmed U.S. officials and underscored vulnerabilities in decentralized energy networks.
NATO has also raised red flags. “We must identify strategic dependencies and take steps to reduce them,” a NATO official told Reuters, noting increased Chinese efforts to influence critical infrastructure among member states.
The growing concerns highlight how the rapid expansion of renewable energy has created new cybersecurity risks—risks that Western nations are only beginning to fully confront.
