- Chinese solar company Deye remotely disabled solar power systems in the U.S., UK, and Pakistan, proving Beijing can sabotage Western energy grids at will.
- Hidden cellular technology in Chinese-made solar inverters allows unauthorized remote access, bypassing security measures and enabling potential grid attacks.
- China’s National Intelligence Law mandates companies like Deye and Huawei to assist state intelligence, turning solar tech into potential cyberweapons.
- Europe and the U.S. heavily rely on Chinese inverters, with over 200 gigawatts of solar capacity at risk of disruption or destruction.
- Experts warn that without urgent action to secure supply chains, the next blackout could be an intentional act of economic warfare by China.
It sounds like the plot of a dystopian thriller: a foreign power flips a switch, and entire cities across the U.S. and Europe plunge into darkness. Hospitals lose power. Traffic lights fail. Communications collapse. But this isn’t science fiction; it’s a real and growing threat. Last November, Chinese solar company Deye remotely disabled solar power systems in the U.S., UK, and Pakistan, proving that Beijing has the capability to sabotage Western energy grids at will.
The incident exposed a chilling reality: Chinese-made solar inverters, critical components in renewable energy systems, contain hidden cellular technology that allows remote control. Under China’s National Intelligence Law, companies like Deye are legally required to cooperate with state intelligence agencies, meaning these "kill switches" could be weaponized at any moment. As the West races toward green energy, it is blindly handing Beijing the keys to its power grid.
The hidden threat in solar technology
Solar inverters convert the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into usable alternating current (AC) for the grid. While they are designed for remote maintenance, U.S. security experts have discovered undocumented cellular radios embedded in Chinese-made inverters—components not listed in product specifications. These rogue devices bypass firewalls, allowing unauthorized remote access.
"That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid," one source familiar with the findings told Reuters.
In November 2023, Deye demonstrated this capability by remotely shutting down inverters in multiple countries, displaying a message: "This inverter is not allowed use at Pakistan/USA/UK. Pls return to your supplier." The incident was a wake-up call, revealing that China could destabilize power grids by disabling thousands of inverters simultaneously.
China’s legal mandate for espionage
The real danger lies in China’s National Intelligence Law, which compels companies to assist state intelligence operations. Huawei, the world’s largest inverter manufacturer, has already been banned from U.S. telecom networks over security concerns. Yet Chinese firms still dominate the global inverter market, with Huawei, Sungrow, and Ginlong Solis controlling a massive share.
"We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption," said Mike Rogers, former director of the U.S. National Security Agency.
The U.S. Department of Energy claims it is assessing risks, but experts warn that reliance on Chinese inverters is a ticking time bomb. "Ten years ago, if you switched off the Chinese inverters, it would not have caused a dramatic thing to happen to European grids, but now the critical mass is much larger," said Philipp Schroeder, CEO of German solar company 1Komma5.
The West’s dangerous dependence
China’s grip on renewable energy technology is tightening. In Europe, over 200 gigawatts of solar capacity, which is equivalent to more than 200 nuclear plants, depend on Chinese inverters. The U.S. is scrambling to reduce reliance on these components, but with China controlling nearly a third of the global inverter market, alternatives are scarce.
Some nations are taking action. Lithuania has banned remote Chinese access to solar installations, and Estonia warns of potential blackmail if Chinese tech isn’t removed from critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, the UK is reviewing its energy security but continues pushing forward with green energy mandates that deepen dependence on Chinese imports.
"If you remotely control a large enough number of home solar inverters, and do something nefarious at once, that could have catastrophic implications to the grid for a prolonged period of time," said Uri Sadot, cybersecurity director at SolarEdge.
A wake-up call for energy security
The Deye incident was a shocking warning, yet the U.S. government has not publicly acknowledged the discovery of rogue communication devices in inverters and batteries. The Department of Energy insists it is working to improve supply chain transparency, but critics argue the response is too slow.
As the West accelerates its transition to renewable energy, it must confront an uncomfortable truth: green energy policies are making the grid more vulnerable to foreign sabotage. Without urgent action to secure supply chains and eliminate Chinese-controlled components, the next blackout may not be an accident; it may be an act of economic warfare.
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