On May 14, 2025, U.S. energy officials began investigating Chinese-made solar power inverters after discovering undocumented communication devices, including cellular radios, inside some units, according to Reuters. These inverters, critical for connecting solar panels to the U.S. electricity grid, could pose significant security risks if remotely manipulated, potentially destabilizing power infrastructure.

Discovery of Rogue Components

U.S. experts, inspecting grid-connected equipment, found unlisted communication devices in Chinese-manufactured solar inverters and batteries over the past nine months. These components, not disclosed in product documentation, could bypass firewalls meant to block unauthorized access.

“That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” one source told Reuters. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) noted, “While this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received.”

Technical and Security Implications

Solar inverters convert direct current (DC) from panels into alternating current (AC) for grid use, typically allowing remote updates for efficiency. However, undocumented devices could enable remote shutdowns or setting changes, risking blackouts. For instance, controlling just 3 to 4 gigawatts of energy—roughly 3 to 4 million kilowatts—could disrupt entire regions.

In November 2024, some U.S. inverters were remotely disabled from China, though the scale and impact remain unclear, per Reuters. Mike Rogers, former U.S. National Security Agency director, warned, “We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption.”

Industry Trends and Regulatory Responses

Chinese companies, led by Huawei with a 29% global inverter market share in 2022, dominate production. This reliance raises concerns as U.S.-China tensions grow. Utilities like Florida Power & Light are shifting to non-Chinese suppliers, while the DOE pushes for domestic manufacturing to secure supply chains. Legislative efforts, such as the proposed Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, aim to ban certain Chinese batteries by October 2027, signaling broader scrutiny of renewable energy components.

“The threat we face from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is real and growing,” said U.S. Representative August Pfluger, emphasizing the need to counter potential infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Global Context and User Impact

Globally, countries like Lithuania have banned remote Chinese access to solar installations above 100 kilowatts, with potential expansions to smaller systems. In Europe, over 200 gigawatts of solar capacity—equivalent to 200 nuclear plants—rely on Chinese inverters.

Philipp Schroeder, CEO of German solar developer 1Komma5, noted, “Ten years ago, if you switched off the Chinese inverters, it would not have caused a dramatic thing to happen to European grids, but now the critical mass is much larger.”

For U.S. solar users, from homeowners to large-scale operators, these findings underscore the need for trusted equipment to ensure grid reliability and prevent economic losses from outages.

Moving Forward

The DOE is advocating for “Software Bill of Materials” to ensure transparency in equipment components. As the U.S. ramps up domestic production, solar professionals and recreational drone pilots capturing aerial footage of installations (like those in Northfield, Massachusetts, in 2022) must stay informed about equipment sourcing. With energy security at stake, the industry faces a pivotal moment to balance cost, innovation, and resilience.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia