Are Chinese-Made Inverters Threatening U.S. Energy Security?
U.S. energy officials are ramping up security assessments of Chinese-made power inverters and batteries after discovering unauthorized communication devices embedded in several units. These devices—often used in solar panels, EV chargers, and batteries—are vital to the renewable energy grid but now raise red flags over potential cyber vulnerabilities.
Gife Smith
5/21/20251 min read
Experts found undocumented cellular radios inside some Chinese-manufactured inverters, which could bypass standard firewalls and create backdoors into the U.S. power grid. One expert described this as “a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.”
While the Department of Energy (DOE) hasn’t officially commented on the findings, it confirmed efforts to understand undocumented hardware and software features that could pose risks—even if not intentionally malicious.
Security analysts warn that the threat isn’t limited to spying—it could include mass shutdowns or sabotage. With China dominating the global inverter market (Huawei alone shipped nearly 30% globally in 2022), the concern is spreading across Western nations. Over 200 gigawatts of European solar capacity rely on Chinese inverters—equivalent to 200 nuclear power plants.
Former NSA director Mike Rogers and other experts believe China may be intentionally embedding long-term vulnerabilities into foreign infrastructure.
Globally, countries are taking action:
Lithuania passed laws blocking remote Chinese access to large energy systems.
Estonia and the UK are reviewing similar risks.
A reported 2024 incident of remote inverter shutdowns—allegedly from China—has intensified concerns.
Despite regulations in sectors like telecom, the renewable energy sector remains underregulated, especially for smaller installations.
With strategic infrastructure increasingly digitized and globally interconnected, energy security is emerging as a top priority. As NATO urges members to reduce reliance on adversarial suppliers, the U.S. is now reevaluating its supply chains and pushing for domestic manufacturing of critical grid components.
The message is clear: energy independence and cybersecurity go hand-in-hand in the age of smart infrastructure.