An unidentified illegal communication device has been found in Chinese solar inverters, prompting U.S. energy authorities to reevaluate security risks for renewable energy infrastructure.
On the 14th, Reuters quoted a U.S. energy official as saying, 'An unidentified communication device was found inside some Chinese inverters.'
Solar inverters are key devices that connect electricity generated from solar panels and wind turbines to the transmission grid. They are widely used in batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers.
China accounts for 90% of the market share in solar inverters and is the leading producer. As of 2022, Huawei ranked first with a 29% share of the global inverter market, followed by fellow Chinese corporations Sungrow and Jinglong Solar.
Inverters are devices designed for remote updates and maintenance. Power companies install their own firewalls in their inverters to block direct communication with China.
Upon inspecting inverters connected to the power grid, U.S. energy authorities found communication devices not mentioned in product documentation in some Chinese solar inverters.
Experts warned that these illegal components could provide additional communication channels that circumvent firewalls, leading to potentially catastrophic consequences.
Experts explained that bypassing firewalls with these illegal communication devices could allow for remote shutdowns of inverters. It is as if a weapon capable of physically destroying the power grid is embedded within.
Tweaking certain settings could damage the connected power grid or harm energy infrastructure, potentially causing large-scale blackouts.
Mike Rogers, former Director General of the National Security Agency (NSA), said, 'China aims to pose risks of destroying or disrupting part of our critical infrastructure.'
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China refuted, stating, 'We oppose the hasty generalization of the concept of national security and the distortion and slander against China's infrastructure achievements.'