Samsung SDI has secured a 1-gigawatt-hour energy storage system supply deal with US power developer Alpha Omega Power, bringing their combined contracts to 1.5 GWh as the Korean battery maker expands its North American business.
The latest agreement, signed through Samsung SDI's Michigan-based subsidiary, follows an initial deal made last year, the company said Monday.
The StarPlus Energy plant in Kokomo, Indiana, will produce the battery cells and modules, with deliveries scheduled by year-end.
Samsung SDI will supply its Samsung Battery Box 1.7, an integrated ESS solution using high-nickel nickel-cobalt-aluminum prismatic batteries.
The system offers 17 percent higher energy density than its predecessor, SBB 1.5, within the same 20-foot container. It also features AI-based monitoring to detect abnormalities and predict battery life.
For fire protection, SBB 1.7 uses Samsung SDI's Enhanced Direct Injection technology, which delivers fire-extinguishing agents directly into battery modules. The company said the system complies with US fire safety standard NFPA 855 and holds UL 9540 certification.
AOP plans to deploy the batteries at large-scale power projects in the western US and Texas, where construction is expected to begin next year. The projects aim to support grid reliability as electricity demand rises.
"American-made ESS from Samsung SDI will play an important role in AOP's continued growth," said Alpha Omega Power CEO Paul Choi. "This second agreement strengthens our domestic supply chain supporting the next generation of energy infrastructure."
Samsung SDI is seeking additional ESS contracts in North America, positioning its locally manufactured prismatic batteries as an alternative to Chinese suppliers.
Fabrice Hudry, head of Samsung SDI America's ESS team, said the company plans to expand its regional business by leveraging its battery technology and US production capabilities.
yejinlim@heraldcorp.com
