| | LG Chem launches residential battery lines in the United States
The Korean conglomerate is making its first foray into the U.S. market, including a partnership with Sunrun to deploy its energy storage solutions.
APRIL 19, 2017 CHRISTIAN ROSELUND
ENERGY STORAGE
MARKETS
MARKETS & POLICY
UNITED STATES
BusinessWire.
Despite a modest overall size, the U.S. residential battery storage market has attracted a number of leading international battery companies. Germany’s Sonnen was first on the scene with the launch of a product in December 2016, and in November Mercedes-Benz announced a new U.S. battery storage subsidiary.
Today LG Chem, a subsidiary of Korea’s LG Group, became the latest big international player to enter the U.S. battery market with the launch of low-voltage and high-voltage lithium-ion systems under its RESU line for U.S. homeowners. This builds on fellow subsidiary LG Electronic’s strong presence in the U.S. solar market.
LG Chem says that both the low- and high-voltage models are pre-matched with inverters, and notes that the 400 volt RESU 10H is compatible with SolarEdge’s StorEdge DC-coupled solution, which includes a single inverter for both PV and battery storage. The company says that it will provide additional pre-tested inverter compatibility options later in 2017.
The RESU batteries are currently available through Sunrun, the second-largest residential solar provider in the United States, as part of its BrightBox solar and storage offering. The third-party solar company has already installed its first RESU systems in California and Hawaii, and LG Chem also states that the batteries will also be available “via a number of leading solar/storage providers in North America”.
LG Chem further notes that “additional distribution channels are in advanced negotiations and will provide coverage to all U.S. states and Canadian provinces”.
LG Chem had previously introduced its RESU products in Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan and Australia, and says that this prepares it for success in the United States. “We’re confident that our experience gained in Europe and Asia, coupled with strong inverter and distribution partners, will deliver exceptional performance and reliability for our residential customers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Peter Gibson, head of ESS sales for LG Chem in North America.
LG’s 48-volt battery comes with 3.3, 6.5 and 9.8 kilowatt-hour (kWh) ratings, and its 400-volt batteries offer 7.0 and 9.8 kWh ratings. Both AC- and DC-coupled versions are available.
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