Hidden Risks in Chinese-Made Inverters Raise Global Security Concerns

As the world continues to shift toward renewable energy, power inverters have become essential for connecting solar panels and wind turbines to the grid. But now, there’s growing concern that some of these devices, especially those made in China, could be carrying hidden risks.

Energy experts in the U.S. have recently uncovered undocumented communication components inside certain Chinese-made inverters and batteries. These aren't listed in product manuals and may provide unauthorized backdoor access to the devices. What’s even more troubling is that these parts could potentially be used to bypass security firewalls, allowing remote control over critical energy infrastructure.

These inverters aren’t just used in solar panels, but also in electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps, and battery systems. Their presence in nearly every corner of renewable energy systems makes them both incredibly valuable and potentially vulnerable.

Although many of these devices are designed for remote maintenance and updates, utilities usually place firewalls to prevent them from connecting directly to servers overseas. However, the hidden components, such as cellular radios, could circumvent those barriers, raising fears about the possibility of grid disruptions or even large-scale blackouts.

Former NSA Director Mike Rogers pointed out that placing covert access points in energy infrastructure could be part of a broader strategy by China. “The hope,” he noted, “might be that Western nations will be hesitant to take action due to the widespread use of these inverters.”

The Chinese embassy in Washington has denied any wrongdoing, calling the concerns exaggerated and politically motivated.

But for countries increasingly dependent on Chinese tech, the warnings are hard to ignore. Some U.S. utility companies, like Florida Power & Light, are already trying to shift away from Chinese-made equipment. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy has said it’s working to tighten security requirements and improve transparency from manufacturers.

Concerns are growing not just in the U.S., but across Europe too. Security experts warn that even a small number of compromised inverters could be enough to destabilize an entire power grid. With China dominating the global inverter market, Huawei alone controlled nearly a third of all shipments in 2022, this is not a theoretical risk, but a real one.

Countries like Lithuania and Estonia are already taking legislative steps to limit Chinese access to their energy networks. The U.K. is also reviewing the role of Chinese-made devices in its renewable energy systems.

The alarm bells grew louder after a recent dispute between two inverter manufacturers led to devices being remotely disabled from China. Though details remain unclear, the incident shows just how vulnerable local grids can be when dependent on foreign technology.

So far, industries like telecoms and semiconductors have taken stronger steps to manage the risks of Chinese components. The energy sector, however, seems to be playing catch-up.

As nations push for greener power, the focus must not only be on sustainability but also on securing the very technology that keeps the lights on.

(via Reuters)