Rogue Communication Devices Found in Chinese Solar Inverters
In a revelation that has ignited serious national security concerns, U.S. officials have discovered rogue communication devices embedded in Chinese-made solar power inverters—technology critical to renewable energy systems. This development comes amid growing fears of foreign manipulation of key infrastructure systems, particularly in the face of escalating geopolitical tensions between China and the West.
According to sources familiar with the matter, undocumented communication hardware—including cellular radios—was found inside some Chinese-manufactured inverters and batteries. These devices are not mentioned in official product documentation and have the potential to bypass firewall protections installed by utility companies. This capability poses a significant risk, as it could allow unauthorized remote access to the grid, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Power inverters serve as the bridge between renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines and the broader electricity grid. While remote access for diagnostics and software updates is standard, such access is usually tightly regulated. The presence of hidden communication components that can circumvent firewalls represents a serious vulnerability—one that U.S. energy officials and cybersecurity experts are now urgently investigating.
Mike Rogers, former Director of the National Security Agency, stated, “We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption.” He added that China may be betting on the widespread use of its inverters to limit Western response options to these security issues.
While the U.S. government has yet to formally acknowledge these findings, the Department of Energy has said it is actively working to close disclosure gaps by requiring software component inventories and stricter procurement guidelines. “It is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received,” a DOE spokesperson stated.
This concern is far from hypothetical. Analysts say rogue devices could be exploited to disable or reconfigure inverters en masse, destabilizing electricity grids, damaging infrastructure, and triggering blackouts. “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” warned one of the sources.
Though the names of the Chinese manufacturers involved have not been publicly disclosed, the revelation is already having ripple effects. Utility companies like Florida Power & Light are reportedly moving to reduce their reliance on Chinese-made inverters, seeking alternative suppliers amid growing scrutiny.
Legislative momentum is also building. A bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate recently introduced the “Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act,” which would ban the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing batteries from six Chinese firms—including CATL, BYD, and Gotion—starting in October 2027. Similar restrictions may soon extend to inverter manufacturers as well.
Globally, Chinese firms such as Huawei, Sungrow, and Ginlong Solis dominate the inverter market. Huawei alone accounted for 29% of global inverter shipments in 2022. While Huawei exited the U.S. inverter market in 2019 after facing a telecoms ban, it remains a major supplier elsewhere, particularly in Europe. German solar firm 1Komma5 confirmed it avoids Huawei inverters due to security concerns. “Ten years ago, switching off the inverters wouldn’t have had a massive impact,” said CEO Philipp Schroeder. “Today, with the scale of renewable capacity on the grid, the risk is far greater.”
Indeed, the potential for grid sabotage has become a real concern. Experts suggest that as little as 3 to 4 gigawatts of manipulated capacity—roughly equivalent to a few nuclear plants—could be enough to cause widespread outages in Europe. Currently, over 200 gigawatts of European solar capacity is linked to Chinese-made inverters.
In response, several countries are proactively tightening controls. Lithuania passed legislation in November barring remote Chinese access to energy installations above 100 kilowatts. Estonia, too, has voiced concerns, warning of possible blackmail risks if Chinese technology is not banned from critical sectors.
The UK is conducting its own review of Chinese technology in the energy sector, including inverters. A recent commercial dispute between inverter companies Sol-Ark and China’s Deye led to devices being remotely disabled from China, underscoring just how easily foreign control could be exerted. The extent of the disruption caused by this incident remains unclear, but it has alarmed both regulators and industry insiders.
Despite these mounting risks, the energy sector is lagging behind others like telecommunications and semiconductors in regulating Chinese involvement. One reason is that many energy installations fall below security regulation thresholds, even though they now represent a substantial share of grid-connected capacity.
NATO has also raised the alarm, urging member states to identify and reduce strategic dependencies on Chinese technologies. “We must identify strategic dependencies and take steps to reduce them,” a NATO official stated.
As the shift toward renewable energy accelerates, so too does the urgency to secure the infrastructure that powers it. The discovery of rogue communication devices in Chinese inverters is a wake-up call not just for the United States, but for any nation relying heavily on foreign technology for its critical systems. With renewable energy poised to dominate future grids, ensuring the integrity and security of every component—especially those sourced internationally—has become a top strategic imperative.