Korean battery makers accelerate push into US ESS market

Major battery makers are ramping up efforts to expand in the U.S. energy storage system (ESS) market, driven by surging demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and a shift away from Chinese supply chains, as they seek to offset slowing electric vehicle (EV) demand. The pivot comes as EV demand weakens due to reduced subsidies, high interest rates and intensifying competition, prompting LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On to repurpose some EV battery production capacity for stationary energy storage. According to BloombergNEF, the U.S. ESS market is projected to grow from 51 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023 to 485 GWh by 2030 and 976 GWh by 2035. Especially with the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act tightening restrictions on Chinese battery components in projects seeking investment tax credits, developers have accelerated efforts to diversify supply chains, creating fresh opportunities for manufacturers with North American production capacity. LG Energy Solution is moving aggressively to capitalize on the shift. The company operates five ESS manufacturin