Concern over findings on solar panels from China

China is the world’s leading manufacturer of solar panels, and a significant portion of that output is exported to Western countries. But during a routine inspection of imported panels, US authorities discovered hidden communications equipment that could potentially be used to disrupt the electric grid. These devices, known as inverters, serve to connect solar panels and wind turbines to the grid.

Further checks on all solar panel shipments revealed that many of the panels contained integrated radio modules capable of bypassing firewalls and causing indefinite outages. The findings have sparked a national security concern in the United States, with Republican Congressman August Pfluger warning, “The threat from China is real.”

Minimizing dependence on China

In response to what officials see as a Chinese espionage tactic, the Senate has introduced a bill that would ban the purchase of batteries from several Chinese companies starting in 2027. “I believe the Chinese are counting, in part, on the widespread use of inverters to limit the West’s ability to respond to this security issue,” said Mike Rogers, former head of the National Security Agency.

At the same time, several US energy companies have begun reducing their purchases of Chinese equipment in favor of sourcing from other countries.

The United States is not alone in taking action. Lithuania has banned remote access to major Chinese energy facilities, while Estonia has warned that the country could be vulnerable to blackmail unless Chinese technology is excluded from critical infrastructure.

Responding to these concerns, China’s ambassador to Washington stated, “We oppose the overextension of the concept of national security, which distorts and tarnishes China’s progress in infrastructure.”

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