Chinese “Kill Switches” Discovered in US Solar Equipment Raise Alarm Over Grid Security
Investigators have discovered hidden "kill switches" embedded in Chinese-manufactured power inverters used in solar farms across the United States. These covert cellular radios could potentially allow the Chinese government to remotely disable sections of the power grid during a conflict.
According to The Times, experts found unauthorized communication devices, including concealed radios, in power inverters produced in China. These devices are used globally, including in the United Kingdom.
If remotely triggered, they could shut down critical components of the energy infrastructure, leading to large-scale power outages. This discovery has raised serious concerns that China may have embedded covert malware or hardware backdoors in essential power systems across both the United States and Europe, giving it the ability to disrupt infrastructure during a geopolitical crisis.
Although inverters are normally designed to support remote access for software updates and maintenance, utilities generally install firewalls to block direct communication with external servers, particularly those located in China. However, as Reuters reported, U.S. experts who dismantled these devices to inspect them for vulnerabilities found undocumented components such as cellular radios that were not included in the manufacturers’ official documentation.
In the past nine months, analysts have discovered these types of hidden communication devices in batteries from several Chinese suppliers. The full extent of the issue remains unclear, as the number of affected inverters and battery systems has not been disclosed.
One anonymous source familiar with the findings told Reuters, “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.”
So far, the U.S. government has not publicly acknowledged the discovery of these rogue components. The Department of Energy (DOE) stated it is actively assessing potential risks, but its efforts are hampered by poor disclosure practices from manufacturers.
This marks the first time such findings have come to light regarding Chinese-made solar equipment. In response, the DOE says it is collaborating with federal agencies to improve the resilience of the U.S. energy supply chain and to promote the adoption of trusted, domestically produced hardware as part of a broader effort to secure the power grid.
In a separate incident, the U.S. power grid was successfully breached in November by hackers believed to be affiliated with foreign governments. While exact attribution remains difficult, cybersecurity experts suspect involvement from Russia, Iran, and China.
U.S. Representative August Pfluger, a Republican member of the Committee on Homeland Security, voiced concern over the growing threat. “The threat we face from the Chinese Communist Party is real and growing. Whether it’s telecom hacks or remotely accessing solar and battery inverters, the CCP stops at nothing to target our sensitive infrastructure and components,” he said in a statement to Reuters. “It is about time we ramp up our efforts to show China that compromising us will no longer be acceptable.”
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