Concerns Over Chinese Solar Panel Parts and U.S. Power Grid Security

Biden administration officials are said to have ignored warnings about the risks posed by imported Chinese solar panel components, according to a Wednesday report from The Washington Post.

The reliance on solar panel inverters tied to China could potentially allow for disruptions to the U.S. power grid, leading to serious security issues. A report from Strider Technologies indicated that these inverters, which facilitate the connection of solar panels and wind turbines to the grid, can be controlled remotely. This vulnerability raises alarms among cybersecurity experts who warn that it could result in widespread power outages.

The article also notes that a significant number of these inverters are produced in China, although it does not detail the specific warnings that were given to the Biden administration concerning the national security risks of these devices.

One official remarked to the Post, “They were not thrilled to hear that Chinese-made clean energy technology could speed up the shift to green energy. I mean, it’s not like turning off the power to the entire western region is a feasible solution. Just creating a couple of well-publicized critical incidents could provoke widespread social panic.”

Surveys mentioned in the report revealed that more than 85% of power companies use inverters linked to organizations with ties to the Chinese government or military. Strider’s findings indicate that the companies surveyed account for roughly 12% of the installed energy capacity in the U.S.

An official from the Department of Energy (DOE) stated, “We continuously assess the risks tied to new technologies in the energy realm. It’s crucial for those procuring these products to fully comprehend their functionalities.” The official criticized the Biden administration for making the nation’s power grid less secure, contrasting it with the previous Trump administration’s efforts to lessen dependency on foreign supply chains.

Chinese officials dismissed these concerns as baseless. However, research shows that Chinese engineers have been probing the U.S. power grid for weaknesses. The report from Strider also pointed to China’s 2017 national security law, which could allow the government to mandate actions from Chinese corporations to support intelligence operations.

Since 2015, China has shipped vast quantities of inverters and related technology to the U.S., leading to their extensive integration across power utilities and solar energy plants. This heavy reliance could create critical vulnerabilities; the report warns that Chinese entities could exploit access to disrupt the U.S. power grid during crises. Furthermore, there are about 3,000 Chinese research articles analyzing potential attacks on the grid, many of which remain untranslated.

Thomas Fanning, former chairman and CEO of Southern Company, acknowledged to the Post that there’s substantial evidence that this issue needs addressing. He remarked that the implications extend beyond mere power outages, potentially threatening systems in key sectors like finance and communications.

Strider CEO Greg Levesque also commented on the situation, saying, “We’re at a point where we are aware of what could happen. The gun is loaded; it’s just a matter of time before it goes off.”

In May, Reuters reported that authorities were reassessing risks connected to Chinese-made devices found in solar panels after discovering unauthorized communication devices in energy components.