Samsung SDI will supply additional energy storage system (ESS) solutions to U.S. energy company Alpha Omega Power (AOP). Samsung SDI said on Oct. 26 that its U.S. unit, Samsung SDI America, signed a contract with AOP to supply 1 GWh of ESS solutions. Including a first tranche agreed at the end of last year, the total supply volume is 1.5 GWh. Orders from U.S. energy companies have continued this year.

AOP plans to deploy the products in a large power project set to break ground in Texas next year. The product is the all-in-one ESS solution, the SBB (Samsung Battery Box) 1.7, equipped with a nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) battery. Samsung SDI will manufacture the product at the StarPlus Energy (SPE) plant in Indiana and supply it within this year, the company said.

The SBB 1.7 is the same 20-foot size as the SBB 1.5. It applies high-nickel NCA material with a high nickel content, raising energy density by 17 percent. It also includes an algorithm that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose abnormalities in advance and predict lifespan. Samsung SDI explained that it incorporated its ESS design know-how into the product.

It also secured safety certifications. The SBB 1.7 received NFPA 855, the U.S. National Fire Protection Association's fire safety installation standard, and UL 9540, an ESS safety certification. It also applies Samsung SDI's independently developed EDI (embedded direct injection) technology. The company said it is receiving good evaluations in terms of fire safety.

Samsung SDI is also in talks on additional supply contracts with several local customers. The company expects additional orders to be possible soon. The industry points to prismatic (prism stack) technology as a factor behind the series of orders. Samsung SDI is North America's only non-Chinese prismatic ESS battery supplier. The analysis is that durability and fire safety that are higher than pouch-type batteries persuaded demanding local customers.

Paul Choi (폴 최), AOP CEO, said, "Samsung SDI's U.S.-made ESS will play an important role in our sustained growth," adding, "This second contract will also contribute to strengthening the U.S. supply chain that supports next-generation energy infrastructure."

Fabrice Hudry (패브리스 허드리), vice president and head of the ESS team at Samsung SDI's Americas unit, said, "AOP is one of the fastest-growing independent power producers in the United States," adding, "We will continue to expand our business base in the North American ESS market and further strengthen our position through differentiated technology and local production."