What happened: The FCC recently added inverters to its list of equipment determined to “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States.” Why? Their remote connectivity could allow foreign actors to surveil and tamper with the grid, according to the agency. This move follows months of media reports warning of security threats from Chinese-made inverters.
How the ban works: It immediately applies to new devices that haven’t yet received FCC approval, and doesn’t affect inverter models already greenlit by the agency. But going forward, manufacturers can apply for an exemption.
The impacts: As of 2020, only 7% of inverters used in the US were made domestically—this supply-chain gap could thwart the accelerating buildout of inverter-based resources like wind, batteries, and solar in the coming years. Over the next 12 months alone, nearly 60 GW of IBRs are expected to link up to the grid.
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
Thu, Jul 30
NEWS: The Trump administration has banned sales of foreign-made power inverters.
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