The transition to clean energy without sufficient domestic manufacturing options has made much of America’s solar infrastructure reliant on parts made by Chinese firms. That has created a vulnerability that suddenly feels more real, as Reuters is reporting that experts have discovered hidden communications equipment in various Chinese-manufactured solar energy parts.
The report cites US energy officials and warns that comms devices—including cellular radios—have been found in solar inverters, which are used to connect solar panels to electricity grids, and solar batteries acquired from multiple Chinese providers. Those components could theoretically be used to turn off inverters remotely and destabilize the energy grid or potentially cause blackouts, according to the experts. In fact, Reuters reported that in November, some solar power inverters in the US were disabled from China, though the actual impact of that event was not clear.
Communications devices in these pieces of technology are not uncommon—typically, they are included so that software updates and maintenance can be performed remotely as needed. The issue with these particular comms devices, though, is that they do not appear in the documentation for the products, meaning they appear to have been intentionally hidden. Per Reuters, companies would normally install a firewall to prevent potentially malicious actions being carried out on the known comms tools. But since these are hidden, that production wouldn’t be applied.
Just how widespread the issue is remains unknown. Reuters reported that communications tools were found in parts from multiple different Chinese manufacturers, but couldn’t nail down how many of them applied to nor how many parts were found to contain these hidden devices. China, for its part, has rebuked the accusations. “We oppose the generalisation of the concept of national security, distorting and smearing China’s infrastructure achievements,” a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told Reuters.
The Department of Energy didn’t explicitly ring alarm bells regarding the discovery of these devices, but did indicate that its guard is up. “While this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received,” a spokesperson for the agency said, per Reuters.
The big issue here, given the newfound concern, is just how integrated into the American (and global) energy grid that Chinese-manufactured parts have become. Research from Wood Mackenzie indicated that about 78% of all solar inverters are made in China. According to the Center for a Prosperous America, Chinese companies account for 39% of US solar module capacity. These parts are in the nation’s infrastructure.
Chinese tech makers have already been banned from other parts of America’s essential infrastructure, including 5G towers, over similar concerns that they may facilitate espionage or sabotage. It appears similar restrictions may be in the pipeline for solar infrastructure at a time when the country’s capacity should be expanding.
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