De-Risking the Cyber threats of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Supplied from China

Synopsis

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are indispensable for the energy transition. However, China’s dominance in the battery supply chain raises geopolitical and cybersecurity concerns for project owners, contractors, and integrators sourcing equipment from foreign entities of concern. The recentHouse Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party hearing titled “End the Typhoons: How to Deter Beijing’s Cyber Actions and Enhance America’s Lackluster Cyber Defenses” reenforced the need to develop strategies to mitigate the risks of Chinese supplied equipment for the electric grid. Mr. Villarreal’s research at Georgia Tech, offers a roadmap for mitigating risks associated with sourcing BESS from China, emphasizing countermeasures through a layered “defense-in-depth” approach. This strategy incorporates: 1) Traditional IT/OT security measures, 2) Cyber Informed Engineering principles, and 3) Purchasing strategies to reduce supplier risks.