Chinese 'kill switches' found in equipment at US solar firms trigger national security fears. What are they?

Economic Times

2 days ago

Engineers have discovered 'kill switches' embedded in Chinese-manufactured parts on American solar farms, raising fears Beijing could manipulate supplies or 'physically destroy' grids across the US, UK and Europe. Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar inverters have triggered fears of national security concerns. But what exactly are kill switches?
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Chinese "kill switches" that could allow Beijing to cripple power grids and trigger blackouts across the West were found in equipment at US solar farms earlier this month, raising fears that China could manipulate supplies or 'physically destroy' grids across the US, UK and Europe. US energy officials re-assessed the risk posed by small communication devices in power inverters - an integral component of renewable energy systems that connects them to the power grid.According to Times, the rogue devices, including cellular radios, were discovered in Chinese-made power inverters that are used to connect solar panels and wind turbines to electricity grids across the world, including the UK. The hidden communications equipment could be deployed remotely to switch off inverters with potentially catastrophic results.But US experts found rogue communication devices in some solar power inverters not listed in product documents, Reuters reported citing sources.Using these devices to skirt firewalls and switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings, could destabilise power grids, damage energy infrastructure and trigger widespread blackouts. The discovery has sparked concerns that Beijing could potentially disrupt power grids in Western nations, given the heavy reliance of renewable energy systems on Chinese-manufactured components.British solar panels incorporate parts from various countries, including China. However, it remains unclear whether any power converters installed at UK wind or solar farms contain the suspected Chinese "killswitches." kill switch is a mechanism used to shut down or disable a device or program, according to Tech Target. A kill switch is typically used to prevent the theft of equipment or data, or to shut down machinery in emergency situations. The extent to which it restricts, modifies, or halts an action or process depends on the specific system, operation, or software it is designed to safeguard.Kill switch is a broad term when it comes to the types of technology, software and tools used to create and facilitate it. In manufacturing, for example, a factory might use a kill switch -- also called a big red button -- to shut down machinery if a worker is in danger. Kill switch software, on the other hand, can sometimes include software-encoded kill switches such as anti-piracy mechanisms.Cellular radios, acting as kill switches, were discovered embedded in power inverters produced by Chinese manufacturers and supplied to US power generators.The inclusion of these remotely controllable devices introduces potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the nation's power infrastructure. Power inverters are essential components in solar and wind farms, converting renewable energy into a form compatible with the national grid. This makes them a critical point of vulnerability. If compromised, these devices could be manipulated—potentially by China—to cause widespread blackouts across the West or even disrupt the entire power grid."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, a former director of the US National Security Agency."I think that the Chinese are, in part, hoping that the widespread use of inverters limits the options that the West has to deal with the security issue."Over the last nine months, US experts discovered suspicious devices hidden inside inverters and batteries from several Chinese manufacturers. These specialists carefully dismantle the equipment to identify potential security threats before the products are integrated into power grids.Inverters typically have remote access capabilities through cellular networks, and utility companies usually install firewalls to block unauthorized access and prevent communication with China. However, these unauthorized components were not disclosed in the product documentation when the equipment was shipped to the United States.(With inputs from Reuters)