A recent investigation has uncovered hidden "kill switches" and cellular radios in Chinese-made inverters used in U.S. solar farms. These components, not listed in product documentation, raise serious national security concerns as they could potentially allow remote disabling or alteration of critical energy infrastructure, leading to possible blackouts. Experts identified these devices during equipment inspections over the last nine months. Notably, in November, Chinese inverters in the U.S. were remotely disabled, demonstrating the real risk posed by such technology.
China's legal requirement for companies to cooperate with its intelligence agencies compounds fears of espionage and cyber warfare. Major concerns extend to the UK and Europe, where Chinese components are also embedded in renewable energy systems. Huawei, the world's largest inverter supplier, has already been banned from U.S. telecom networks. U.S. officials and security experts are calling for a comprehensive reassessment of infrastructure vulnerabilities, and legislation like the Chip Security Act has been proposed to enhance protection. This situation underscores the challenges of reducing Western dependence on Chinese technology amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.