Duke Energy: U.S. utility giant Duke Energy announced on Wednesday the disconnection of large-scale batteries produced by Chinese company CATL from North Carolina’s Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune. This move comes amid growing concerns from lawmakers about potential security threats associated with Chinese storage batteries. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have warned of the risks of building a critical dependency on Chinese batteries, citing potential cyber vulnerabilities that could compromise energy grids.
Duke Energy utilized CATL batteries at its facility in Camp Lejeune, a decision that triggered criticism from a group of lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio. In response to concerns raised, Duke Energy disconnected the batteries, emphasizing that they were not linked to Camp Lejeune’s network or other systems. However, the move underscores the broader issue of cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese battery technology.
CATL refuted accusations of espionage threats, asserting that its products had passed security reviews by U.S. authorities. The company highlighted that its energy storage products sold to the U.S. contained only “passive” devices without communication interfaces, dispelling concerns about potential hacking vulnerabilities.
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The deployment of large-scale battery energy storage systems is on the rise in the U.S., with many of these systems likely supplied by Chinese manufacturers. Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Joe Manchin previously urged the Department of Energy to prioritize U.S.-developed energy storage technologies, citing China’s dominance in battery production as a significant security vulnerability.
Lawmakers, including Republican Representative Austin Scott, are pushing for legislative measures to restrict the Pentagon from purchasing or using battery technology from Chinese suppliers, including CATL. Concerns about potential cyberattacks on critical infrastructure services have prompted a cautious approach to adopting Chinese battery technology in sensitive locations like military bases.
As the debate over the security implications of Chinese battery technology continues, Duke Energy’s disconnection of CATL batteries serves as a tangible example of the challenges posed by the increasing reliance on foreign technology with potential ties to geopolitical concerns.