LG Energy Solution announced on May 25 that it will voluntarily replace batteries to restore trust in the ESS industry and fulfill its social responsibilities.
Products that will be replaced are batteries for ESS that were produced from ESS battery production lines in China from April 2017 to September 2018.
"As a result of a detailed analysis of the cause of the ESS fire, potential risks from some process problems were found in ESS-only electrodes initially produced at the Chinese factory," the company said. "We judged that if the risk is combined with the harsh external environment, there is a possibility of causing a fire."
LG Energy Solution is planning to do its best to restore ecosystem of ESS industry as a leading battery manufacturer by replacing batteries.
First of all, the company plans to operate the State of Charge (SOC) normally for ESS sites in South Korea's power grid, where ESS batteries will be replaced in the future. It also plans to continuously update battery diagnosis and control software on domestic and foreign sites.
The company said that the cost of replacing batteries for ESS and taking additional measures is expected to be about 400 billion won and could be changed in the future.
Since its launch as a new LG Energy Solution from LG Chem on December 1, last year, LG Energy Solution has established a strong principle that it will re-examine quality levels and take preemptive measures, including voluntary replacement, if any problems arise or potential risks are found.
"Safety and quality will be the top priorities for all decisions," said CEO Kim Jong-hyun of LG Energy Solutions. "We will create the safest battery in the world that can withstand any risk through quality innovation activities."
