Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove has warned that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's net zero policies are "completely mad."
Speaking to The i Paper, Dearlove outlined the risks associated with using Chinese technology in the UK's wind farms, solar panels, electric cars and other green energy infrastructure.
The stark warning comes as the UK attempts to reset its relationship with China amid growing security concerns.
Dearlove's intervention marks his strongest warning yet over the security implications of new green technology that relies on Chinese supply chains.
Sir Richard Dearlove has slammed the Energy Secretary's policy
PA/GB News
It also puts pressure on Miliband, whose supporters fear there is growing resistance to his net zero policies within Downing Street and the Treasury.
Dearlove did not mince words in his criticism of the Energy Secretary's approach, stating: "The problem is you've got the ideological Ed Miliband pursuing zero carbon without a thought for the impact on national security."
He added bluntly: "It's so crazy... the whole policy is completely mad."
The former intelligence chief, who ran MI6 between 1999 and 2004, believes Miliband is aware of the security problems but is not taking them seriously enough.
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PA"He probably thinks, 'I'm dealing with a more serious problem, which is climate change, and that comes first therefore we're going to pursue that to the exclusion of all other issues. It's so irrational, it is seriously problematic," he added.
Dearlove warned that Chinese companies are dominating the manufacture of microchips embedded in equipment ranging from electric cars to solar panels.
These components, dubbed by some as "kill switches", could potentially enable the Chinese to remotely control these technologies, including turning off or corrupting devices.
He believes this threat could bring UK cities to a standstill by knocking out traffic lights and immobilising cars.
"If you're building a grid, for example, which is partially dependent on the switching mechanisms for accommodating renewables, it may be of Chinese manufacture. These are massive points of vulnerability," Dearlove said.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined his plan for bringing down energy bills GETTYSimilar concerns have emerged in the US, where Chinese components have reportedly been discovered in American solar panels.
Dearlove suggested that the solution lies in developing manufacturing capabilities in trusted countries to replace Chinese technology.
"The answer probably is to try to develop manufacturing in countries that we trust, which can ultimately replace Chinese technology," he said.
However, he acknowledged the challenge, noting: "The Chinese have created a system of dependencies by massively subsidising these areas of their economy so that they hugely undercut the market competitors out of business."
The former spy boss believes the UK government is slowly becoming more aware of the issue, pointing to past actions such as blocking tech giant Huawei from the country's 5G networks.
Responding to Dearlove's comments, a Government spokesman said: "Our energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny."
