US probe finds no evidence of spyware in Chinese power inverters

Feb 10 (Reuters) – U.S. energy officials found no evidence of malicious communication equipment embedded in Chinese-made inverters in the nation’s power infrastructure, according to a Department of Energy report viewed by Reuters.

Inverters convert electricity produced by solar panels or batteries into power that it can be used in household appliances. They are also built to allow remote access for updates and maintenance.

Most of the world’s power inverters are made in China, and the United States government has sought to reduce its reliance on Chinese-made equipment for the power grid due in part to concerns about national security amid tense relations between Beijing and Washington. 

The DOE analysis, which was provided to some in the energy industry but not released publicly, was performed in response to media reports that said unexplained communication equipment was found inside some inverters produced in China. Reuters had reported on the existence of those devices last year.

“DOE assessments found no definitive evidence of intentionally introduced malicious wireless functionality in inverters examined,” the report, which is dated Jan. 20, said.

DOE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

The agency inspected about 30 inverters and identified two that differed from official documentation, the analysis said. The differences were found to be “non-malicious and non-intentional.”

The report said any devices with communication capabilities are a risk for remote access, including inverters. It added that a compromised single inverter was unlikely to have a grid-wide impact.

It recommended that buyers of components be familiar with the full capabilities of the products they procure.  

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )