U.S. energy officials are reassessing national grid security after unauthorized communication modules were discovered embedded in Chinese-manufactured power inverters and batteries—critical components of America’s growing renewable energy infrastructure, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The devices, uncovered during routine inspections, have alarmed cybersecurity experts and raised urgent concerns about potential vulnerabilities in solar, wind, and battery storage systems. Inverters, which convert and route electricity from solar panels and wind turbines into the grid, are also widely used in electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps. Many of these inverters are sourced from Chinese suppliers.
While such systems are typically protected by firewalls to prevent unauthorized access, U.S. investigators found hidden components—such as undocumented cellular radios—that could allow remote control or surveillance, bypassing security protocols.
One expert warned the embedded devices could serve as “backdoors” to disrupt or even damage the grid. “This effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” the expert said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has not made the findings public but acknowledged ongoing reviews of hardware and software vulnerabilities. A DOE spokesperson said that while such features may not always be intentionally malicious, “procurement teams must fully understand the capabilities of the products they install.”
The issue highlights growing concern that Chinese-made energy technology could be exploited to create long-term weaknesses in critical U.S. infrastructure. Experts say the threat goes beyond espionage and includes the potential to remotely disable or manipulate grid systems at scale.
Former NSA Director Mike Rogers echoed those concerns, stating, “China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated. “We oppose the generalisation of national security concerns to smear China’s infrastructure capabilities,” the spokesperson said.
The concerns emerge amid rising U.S.-China tensions and a broader push by American lawmakers to reduce dependence on Chinese-made energy technology. Earlier this year, legislation was introduced to block the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing Chinese-made batteries linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Utilities such as Florida Power & Light are now reportedly exploring alternatives to Chinese inverters.
