July 21, 2023
The Albanese government’s rush to renewable energy has left Australia’s electricity grid vulnerable to potentially catastrophic cyber attacks.
As part of Labor’s plan for 82 per cent renewables by 2030, Australia is becoming increasingly reliant on solar energy to power our energy grid. But the “smart inverters” connecting solar panels to the grid present significant cyber security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt power to our homes and businesses.
Smart inverters are internet-connected devices that can be controlled remotely over the internet, and are overwhelmingly supplied by manufacturers with links to the Chinese Communist Party.
Almost 60 per cent of Australia’s smart inverters are supplied by Chinese manufacturers including Sungrow, GoodWe and Huawei – all of whom are subject to China’s National Intelligence Laws. Technical analysis has revealed they have exploitable flaws which are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
We know that critical infrastructure networks like our power grid are of great interest to signals intelligence agencies in foreign authoritarian states, including China. In the most dangerous strategic environment since World War II, we cannot afford for our electricity network to be exposed by components manufactured in authoritarian countries with demonstrated cyber security vulnerabilities.
The consequences for our energy security of a coordinated cyber attack on these systems could be catastrophic, particularly during a regional geopolitical crisis, and the government must act now before it is too late.
These revelations must serve as a wake up call for the Albanese government, which has consistently been on the back foot when it comes to the risks presented by high-risk vendors from authoritarian countries. We urgently need a plan from the government to comprehensively assess and mitigate these risks before more of these dangerous components are embedded in our energy grid.
