HOME / hidden communication devices found in chinese made inverters
In a discovery that has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community, U.S. energy officials have found undocumented "rogue" communication devices hidden inside solar power inverters imported from China.
Some, like Florida Power & Light Company, are reportedly reducing their reliance on Chinese inverters, although the utility declined to comment. “Ten years ago, if you switched off the Chinese inverters, it would not have caused a dramatic thing to happen to European grids,” said Philipp Schroeder, CEO of German solar developer 1Komma5.
A team of engineers in the U.S. took apart a solar power inverter. It looked like any other—sleek, compact, humming with the promise of sustainability. But buried deep inside, they found something that wasn't supposed to be there. It wasn't in the manual. It wasn't listed in any documentation.
Solar inverters are the unsung heroes of renewable energy—often called the "brain" or "heart" of solar power systems. They convert direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) that powers our homes and feeds into the electrical grid.
The news agency claims US energy officials are reassessing the risk posed by Chinese-made devices according to two unnamed sources. This follows discovery of rogue communication devices not listed in product documents in some Chinese solar inverters, according to Reuters. The number of devices investigated was also not disclosed.
Inverters include remote access capabilities to enable updates and maintenance, and they are also used in a range of appliances, including wind turbines, batteries, heat pumps and vehicle chargers. Up to 95 percent of inverters available in Korea are made in China, but they are shipped to Korea and sold under the brands of domestic companies.
However, rogue communication devices not listed in product documents have been found in some Chinese solar power inverters by U.S experts who strip down equipment hooked up to grids to check for security issues, the two people said.
In November, solar power inverters in the U.S. and elsewhere were disabled from China, highlighting the risk of foreign influence over local electricity supplies and causing concern among government officials, three people familiar with the matter said.
Last Updated on May 26, 2025 by Jim Brazil is one of the countries that plays an important role in the renewable energy world. With the growing consumer demand for clean, green energy, Brazil has become home of one of the leading inverter manufacturers.
Solis's New Models for Brazil Solis has launched two advanced inverter models for Brazil: the S6-EH3P (30-50)K-H and the S6-EH2P (5-8)K02-SV-YD-L. These new models will bring significant improvements to energy storage and power management for residential and commercial customers.
Inovacare Solar specializes in photovoltaic energy generation products, highlighting their commitment to high durability and long-term performance. They operate throughout Brazil, promoting solar energy as a sustainable solution, making them a relevant player in the solar inverter market.
As one of the largest economies in Latin America, Brazil is highly reliant on hydropower, which can be volatile during droughts, leading to power shortages and higher energy costs. However, Brazil has a huge solar potential, especially in sunny areas, which makes it one of the preferred places to utilize solar energy.
U.S. energy officials have launched an investigation after discovering unauthorized communication equipment embedded within Chinese-manufactured solar power inverters connected to critical infrastructure grids across the country.
China, the United States, India, Brazil, and Spain were the top five countries by capacity added, making up around 66 % of all newly installed capacity, up from 61 % in 2021 . Grid-connected PV inverters have traditionally been thought as active power sources with an emphasis on maximizing power extraction from the PV modules.
In order to provide grid services, inverters need to have sources of power that they can control. This could be either generation, such as a solar panel that is currently producing electricity, or storage, like a battery system that can be used to provide power that was previously stored.
Smart grids rely on grid-connected inverters to: There are several types of grid-connected inverters, each with its own characteristics and applications: String Inverters: Suitable for small to medium-sized solar installations, these inverters connect multiple solar panels in series to a single inverter.
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