US is working on ban targeting Chinese energy inverters, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-working-ban-targeting-chinese-energy-inverters-sources-say-2026-06-30/

by onemoresoop • 22 days ago

7 9 22 days ago

reuters.com

Kriptering• 22 days ago

whoa

lenerdenator• 22 days ago

Would appreciate a non-paywalled source.

As for the subject... I generally don't have a problem with this. Handing over any part of your energy infrastructure to a country with a long and storied history of hacking your companies is generally not smart.

I've purchased two inverters: one is a 3000w "Energizer"-branded one, while the other is a 1200w Victron unit. The Victron's quieter on RF, from what I can tell, is designed in the Netherlands, and is made in India.

downrightmike2• 22 days ago

Largely because there are radios in the inverters. Typical connected-grid stuff is sending people with too little knowledge into a tizy

tim-tday• 22 days ago

Actually a security researcher found a back door in some Chinese inverters recently.

Normally I’d believe this administration is just knee-jerk banning because China and solar, but in this case there was an actual reason.

downrightmike2• 21 days ago

And what was found? was it enabled? was it in the spec sheet when they bought it?

Was it an actual backdoor? Or an intended service config?

pseudohadamard2• 22 days ago

My house is currently powered from US-made inverters that have radios in them, and at least three different known remote-access mechanisms that the manufacturer can use to get in and control things. Probably some others that aren't known.

I'd actually feel a lot safer if I was running Chinese-made gear.

4d4m2• 22 days ago

Where are most US based inverters manufactured? If someone is off grid or hybrid, what is the concern, outside of power-feedback into the grid? This seems more like an admission that going off-grid or hybrid is becoming attractive enough to matter. It's already not up to code to connect a non-UL listed inverter to the grid.

Real, actual concerns: -Lack of security -Password defaults left on device during setup -Aluminum transformers in inverters don't last more than 4-5 years at rated wattage

pseudohadamard2• 22 days ago

It has nothing to do with security: It's hard to push through a ban on evil radical-left solar in favour of nice clean coal, but much easier to ban the Chinese inverters that are required for the solar to work, in the name of good patriotic notional security.

4d4m2• 19 days ago

Great point

US is working on ban targeting Chinese energy inverters, sources say

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