A secret "killer button" has been discovered in Chinese solar panels.

US engineers have discovered secret "kill switches" in Chinese-made solar farm equipment. These switches allow Beijing to remotely shut down or sabotage the power grids of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe in the event of war. The problem was discovered in devices called "current inverters," which are the heart of solar power systems and transmit electricity to the grid.

According to two people familiar with the situation who told Reuters, malicious, unlicensed, and unregistered communications equipment has been found in some Chinese-made solar products, including inverters and batteries.

US experts discovered communications devices not included in the product design when disassembling Chinese-made inverters connected to the power grid. These devices were also found in batteries from several other Chinese suppliers. While specific numbers and brands have not been disclosed, the sources told Reuters that these devices pose a grid intrusion risk and a serious threat to energy security.

The report stated that these "ghost communication devices" could bypass defence systems and open remote communication channels, potentially allowing malicious actors like China to control, shut down, or sabotage renewable energy equipment, posing a greater threat to the electrical grid.

If hackers gain control through these covert communication channels, they could remotely change device settings and even shut down the entire power generation system, causing widespread blackouts or interrupting power supplies.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States denied these accusations, saying, "We oppose expanding the concept of national security and denigrating China's infrastructure achievements."