Are Chinese solar inverters a security risk?

Solar panels fields on the green hills stock photo. U.S. energy officials are reportedly reassessing the security risks posed by Chinese-made components in renewable energy infrastructure after discovering hidden communication devices inside certain solar inverters.

Are rogue communication devices inside Chinese solar power inverters a security hazard?

Rogue communication devices that were not in official product documents were found inside Chinese solar power inverters when they were examined by U.S. experts for possible security issues, two sources told Reuters.

Did China find spying devices in inverters & batteries?

pv magazine spoke with Garikoitz Sarriegi, senior project manager at Kiwa PI Berlin Ibérica, about the Reuters report published on Wednesday that devices susceptible to spying and sabotage had been found in inverters and batteries from China. From pv magazine Spain

Can Rogue power inverters circumvent firewalls remotely?

The two sources said that the rogue power inverters have undocumented communication channels which could be used to circumvent firewalls remotely, which could have major consequences. These power inverters connect the solar panel to electic grids.

Will Chinese inverter manufacturers face a similar ban?

Several U.S. utility companies fear that, following Huawei’s ban, other Chinese inverter manufacturers could face a similar ban.

Could switching off a power inverter cause a blackout?

Another warned that switching off or altering settings on inverters remotely could destabilize power networks or cause blackouts. The U.S. Department of Energy acknowledged the challenge, saying it is working to improve transparency around imported technology.