Chinese-made power inverters, widely used in Western solar farms and wind turbine infrastructure, have been found to contain covert cellular radios acting as potential “kill switches.” These devices, discovered during routine security checks, could remotely disable the inverters, causing widespread blackouts. The discovery raises serious national security concerns regarding potential Chinese control over critical energy infrastructure in the US and Europe. This capability could be deployed during geopolitical conflict.
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Unregistered devices were discovered in US solar inverters, raising cybersecurity concerns. These digital inverters, crucial to solar power systems, could be remotely controlled, potentially causing power outages or infrastructure damage. The issue is not limited to the US, with similar concerns expressed in Europe, where the risk to the grid is substantial given the widespread use of these inverters. Industry bodies are calling for increased cybersecurity measures, including transparent software lists and restrictions on remote access from high-risk manufacturers, to mitigate the potential for sabotage or espionage. The potential impact is significant, mirroring recent geopolitical events where energy supplies were weaponized.
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John Q. Hosedrinker