Rogue communication devices not listed in product documents have been found in some 
solar power inverters by US experts who strip down equipment hooked up to grids to check for security issues.
Over the past nine months, undocumented communication devices, including cellular radios, have also been found in some batteries from multiple suppliers.
The rogue components provide additional, undocumented communication channels that could allow firewalls to be circumvented remotely, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
"We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption. 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."
Using the rogue communication devices to skirt firewalls and switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings, could destabilize power grids, damage energy infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts.
"That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.”
The existence of the rogue devices has not previously been reported.
reuters.com/sustainability