Samsung SDI takes 66% of Korea's first AI-grid ESS program
In Korea's first government-led AI-based distribution-grid ESS project (₩558.6B over five years; phase one 128MW across 32 lines), Samsung SDI's SBB 1.5 won ~66% of battery volume (~420MWh, 6 of 9 consortiums); LG Energy took 22% — and an operator seat — SK On 12%.
Korea's climate-energy ministry selected nine consortiums for its first AI-based distribution-grid ESS deployment program — ₩558.6B (~$372M) over five years, starting with 128MW across 32 distribution lines. Samsung SDI won roughly 66% of the battery volume: its SBB 1.5 containerized solution (NCA prismatic cells, modules, racks and safety systems in a 20-foot box) supplies six of the nine operators, an estimated 84MW/420MWh, in consortium with VPPLab, HD Hyundai Electric and Hyundai E&C. LG Energy Solution took 22% — and was the only cell maker to also win an operator seat — with SK On at 12%.
Why it matters
Korea's battery trio has been pivoting to storage as EV demand cools; this is the first government program that scores the pivot, and Samsung SDI — already reported supplying data-center BBUs at ~₩2T scale — took two-thirds of it. LG's operator seat is the more interesting strategic play though: owning grid operations, not just cells, is where its ESS-led recovery would compound.
What to watch
Phase-two volumes as the five-year program scales, and whether the AI-grid template gets exported (the ministry frames it as a reference design).
Who's involved
Korean cell maker; running a sulfide solid-state pilot line (S-line), targeting mass production in 2027.
A top-tier global cell maker; developing solid-state and lithium-sulfur chemistries, with production targeted around 2030.
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