North America’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System Now Operational

Inside the LG Chem system, one of the world's largest battery energy storage systems. (Photo: Business Wire)

SEOUL, South Korea--()--LG Chem has successfully delivered and commissioned the largest battery system installed in North America, a 32 MWh battery energy storage system in Tehachapi, CA.

In May 2013, Southern California Edison (SCE) selected LG Chem to deliver the turnkey 8 MW/32 MWh energy storage system for the Tehachapi Energy Storage Project (TSP), funded by SCE and the Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

As a complete energy storage system solution provider, LG Chem successfully delivered the turnkey project, the largest battery system in North America, including overall project and construction management, system engineering and design, and battery rack systems. Team members include ABB, Inc. for power conversion equipment and LG-affiliate LG CNS Corp. for construction services.

The objective of TSP is to validate the capabilities of a utility-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage system in providing grid support, facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources, and in providing market services. Over a two-year period, SCE will perform extensive field testing to verify the battery system’s capabilities for transmission, grid, and market applications under thirteen specific operational uses.

“Successful completion and commissioning of SCE’s TSP battery system has demonstrated LG’s ability to deliver large-scale energy storage projects,” said Mr. Young Soo Kwon, president of the Energy Solution Company at LG Chem. “Our continued collaboration with SCE over the next two years will provide valuable feedback on utilities’ integration and operation of grid-scale storage systems. This will reinforce LG Chem’s position as a leading energy storage partner to utilities and project developers.”

“The Tehachapi Energy Storage Project is a significant milestone for SCE and for energy storage in California,” said Doug Kim, director of Advanced Technology at Southern California Edison. “Grid-scale energy storage is an integral part of our company’s Storage Portfolio Development Framework that will contribute to optimizing grid performance and integrating more renewable energy resources. This demonstration project will give us a significant amount of insight into the operational capabilities of large-scale lithium-ion battery storage.”

LG Chem demonstrated its system engineering capabilities and the modularity and flexibility of its battery solutions by designing, engineering, and installing the utility-scale battery system to fit within a small footprint inside an existing 6,300 square foot facility at SCE’s Monolith Substation in Tehachapi. The large-scale battery system is comprised of a total of 604 battery racks, 10,872 battery modules, and 608,832 individual battery cells – the same lithium ion cells installed in commercially-available vehicles sold by leading automotive OEMs to customers worldwide. The successful installation of the utility-scale energy storage system demonstrates LG Chem’s capabilities for delivering large-scale, turnkey projects.

About LG Chem

LG Chem Ltd. is one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers with significant market share in consumer, automotive and stationary applications. The LG Chem Energy Solution division engineers and delivers full turnkey, utility-scale energy storage systems. LG Chem, Ltd. is a globally diversified chemical company that operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, IT & Electronic Materials, and Energy Solution. The company manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics, and extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic materials and rechargeable batteries. For more information, please visit www.lgchem.com.

Contacts

The Millerschin Group
Dick Pacini
Phone: (248) 276-1970
Cell: (248) 770-6446

Release Summary

LG Chem has successfully delivered and commissioned the largest battery system installed in North America, a 32 MWh battery energy storage system in Tehachapi, CA.

Contacts

The Millerschin Group
Dick Pacini
Phone: (248) 276-1970
Cell: (248) 770-6446