Florida Sen. Marco Rubio recently sent a letter to the Department of Energy requesting information regarding UniEnergy Technologies’ transfer of its U.S. government license to produce vanadium redox flow battery technology to foreign entities, including some base in the People’s Republic of China.
The VRFB technology, designed by the DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is reportedly estimated to have cost American taxpayers more than $15 million, according to an Aug. 18 news release from Rubio.
"For far too long, the CCP has captured vital U.S. technology through illicit means and the carelessness of government agencies and businesses. Beijing’s own laws and policies dictate that scientific advancements utilized by Chinese entities must ultimately be used to support the CCP’s strategic goals. One of these goals, of course, is to displace the U.S. as an international power by gaining economic leverage over critical supply chains,” Rubio said in the release.
UniEnergy Technologies granted Chinese firm Dalian Rongke Power Company a sublicense to manufacture the VRFBs in the China in 2017, according to Rubio's release. UniEnergy was given approval for the transfer of its official license to Vanadis Power, a German-based company that produces batteries in the PRC.
“PRC hegemony in energy grid-related systems is a national security threat, as American utilities that wish to utilize this technology may be forced to source it from the PRC, potentially giving Beijing access to sensitive grid control systems. CCP access to, or control over, U.S. energy grid systems would be unacceptable. Accordingly, I request all details pertaining to UniEnergy Technologies’ transfer of its license to foreign entities,” Sen. Rubio wrote in his letter.
