USA: Trump bans certain foreign technology in US power grid

The United States government has implemented a ban on certain foreign-made equipment within the nation's power grid, citing national security concerns. President Donald Trump invoked a national emergency to issue an executive order prohibiting the acquisition and installation of technology, including associated software, that could present cybersecurity or operational risks.

The order also mandates the Energy Secretary to establish regulations for the continued use of equipment already in place. This move is the latest in a series of US actions targeting technology originating from China. Previously, the European Commission decided to exclude Chinese-made inverters from publicly funded energy projects.

Concerns about foreign technology in critical infrastructure have been growing. Reports from last year indicated that US experts discovered undeclared communication devices in some Chinese solar inverters. These devices were found during security assessments of grid-connected equipment.

In a related development, the US military announced its intention to bolster the nation's power supply by installing nuclear microreactors at five military bases. These reactors are intended to serve as a dependable energy source, independent of the commercial power grid. Currently, no nuclear microreactors are feeding power into the public grid in the United States.

Five selected companies will receive up to $2.2 billion over five years for the construction and operation of these microreactors, contingent on meeting performance standards. Military and industry representatives believe these microreactors can provide a fail-safe energy solution for critical infrastructure at military facilities, with the potential to operate for years without refueling.