Are inverters a threat to American power grids?

The devices, found during routine equipment inspections, raise serious concerns about the vulnerability of American power grids. Inverters, which connect solar panels and wind turbines to the electricity grid, are widely manufactured in China and are also used in electric vehicle chargers, batteries, and heat pumps.

Are Chinese solar power inverters connected to critical infrastructure grids?

U.S. energy officials have launched an investigation after discovering unauthorized communication equipment embedded within Chinese-manufactured solar power inverters connected to critical infrastructure grids across the country.

Could remote inverters destabilize power grids?

Energy security experts warn that coordinated remote manipulation of these devices could destabilize power grids and trigger widespread blackouts, particularly as Chinese-made inverters now control a substantial portion of renewable energy capacity in the United States and Europe.

Could undocumented cellular radios cause grid failures?

However, US experts have discovered rogue communication modules—such as undocumented cellular radios—inside several Chinese-manufactured inverters and batteries. These could potentially bypass firewalls and create hidden backdoors to the grid, with the potential for catastrophic consequences such as power disruptions or grid failures.

Which solar inverter manufacturers have vulnerabilities?

In March, researchers from Forescout Research’s Vedere Labs uncovered vulnerabilities in solar power systems after analyzing six major inverter manufacturers, including Huawei, Sungrow, and SMA Solar Technology.

Will shutting off Chinese inverters affect European grids?

Though Huawei exited the US inverter market in 2019 following its 5G ban, its products remain widely used elsewhere. “Ten years ago, shutting off Chinese inverters wouldn’t have affected European grids much,” said Philipp Schroeder, CEO of German solar firm 1Komma5.