SK On will reveal its direction for building an Energy Storage System (ESS) business portfolio and strategies tailored to market characteristics across global regions.
Choi Dae-jin, Senior Vice President and Head of ESS Business at SK On, is scheduled to deliver a presentation titled “SK On’s Global ESS Strategy Direction” at the third-day conference of “Smart Energy Plus (SEP) 2026,” which will be held on the 30th in Hall B of COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong. Specifically, he plans to outline regional strategies, including △Korea (expansion options beyond existing long-duration storage into other businesses), △the United States (trend toward business expansion for AI data centers), and △Europe (region-based utilization strategy following the introduction of IAA).
In a pre-event interview with Money Today, Choi stated, “We view filling this year’s ESS order target of 20GWh (gigawatt-hours) positively.” He added, “It will be an opportunity to share insights on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) market environment in each region and SK On’s entry and expansion strategies. In particular, we will explain North American market outlooks linked to AI data centers and the strategies SK On is preparing in response.”
SK On is rapidly expanding its presence in the domestic ESS market. While it failed to secure volume in the first round of the central contract market for ESS, it captured 284MW (50.3%) out of a total 565MW (megawatts) in the second round. In the United States, SK On is expanding its ESS business by positioning AI data centers as a new growth pillar. Industry observers note that new opportunities will open for SK On, which has local production bases, as construction of AI data centers in the U.S. accelerates and policy environments demanding non-Chinese supply chains strengthen.
Choi explained, “As demands for non-Chinese supply chains intensify in the United States, demand is rising for products that meet Non-PFE (Non-Prohibited Foreign Entity) requirements. Since SK On can meet these relevant criteria based on its non-prohibited foreign entity supply chain, customer interest and demand have increased significantly recently.”
Choi plans to introduce how he intends to structure future related businesses based on global ESS market outlooks. Given that ESS is not a product composed solely of battery cells, it appears he will present plans to provide products and solutions optimized for the applications used by customers. As the European Union (EU) also strengthens its industrial policy in a direction that prioritizes production within the region, he may mention strategies to respond to ESS demand by utilizing existing production lines in Hungary.
Meanwhile, “SEP 2026” is an event co-hosted by Money Today and COEX and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum, taking place from the 28th to the 30th in Hall B of COEX. LG Group, HD Hyundai Electric, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Rotem, Unison, the Army, Seoul City, and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, among others, will set up booths to exhibit energy security strategies for the AI era. Electric vehicle and hydrogen vehicle strategies from Hyundai Motor, as well as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Polestar, can also be reviewed.
For the conference, senior executives from the Army’s “Energy Policy Forum,” Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, POSCO Holdings, Bright Energy Partners, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On, OCI Power, and HD Hyundai Electric are scheduled to take the stage.
in INDUSTRY
