The strategy of LG Energy Solution, which is preparing for the “second half” of the energy storage system (ESS) battery competition, can be seen on the third day of the “Smart Energy Plus (SMART ENERGY PLUS·SEP) 2026” event, to be held on the 30th at Hall B of COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong.
Kim Hyeon-tae, ESS Product Planning and Jeon Ryak-dam-dang (SVP) at LG Energy Solution, will appear as the first speaker of the conference that day, delivering a lecture titled “From Hardware to Intelligent Platform: Software Innovation Leading the ESS Market.” He plans to emphasize the company’s market competitiveness based on its software technology capabilities, which encompass energy management systems (EMS), market/operation optimization solutions (EMO), and digital O&M (Operation & Maintenance).
In a pre-interview with MoneyToday, Senior Executive Kim expounded on the importance of “software.” He stated, “Battery hardware has become standardized as a commodity,” adding, “Various companies are making efforts in directions that can elevate the value of that hardware.”
He further emphasized, “On the premise that we naturally meet all safety standards for ESS batteries, it is time to focus on how efficiently we can provide OPEX (operating expenses) to customers.”
“The first half of the battery competition so far has been executed based on how much cost could be reduced in terms of hardware,” he said. “Now, as we enter the second half, it is a period where AX (AI transformation) is being introduced for OPEX.”
LG Energy Solution has established itself as a leading company in the ESS battery market, securing new order contracts worth over 3 trillion won in the first half of this year alone. The company plans to secure an ESS production capacity of over 50 GWh (gigawatt-hours) in North America by the end of this year. With expectations that ESS segment revenue can increase more than threefold compared to the previous year, the company has set its order target for this year at a total of 90 GWh.
It is interpreted as LG Energy Solution’s strategy to solidify its position as the “No. 1 ESS battery company” by widening the gap in the software sector utilizing AI after securing an advantage on the hardware side. Senior Executive Kim stated, “It does not end with simply manufacturing and selling battery hardware.” He previewed, “In a situation where the software aspects of maintenance and management are emerging as important competitive strengths for products, we will mention LG Energy Solution’s market response direction through ‘SEP 2026.’”
Meanwhile, “SEP 2026” is an event co-hosted by MoneyToday and COEX, and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum. It will be held at Hall B of COEX from the 28th to the 30th. 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. The electric vehicle and hydrogen vehicle strategies of Hyundai Motor, as well as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and Polestar, can also be confirmed.
For the conference, senior executives from 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, starting with the Army’s “Energy Policy Forum.”
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