Samsung SDI Signs 1 GWh ESS Supply Deal with Alpha Omega Power for U.S.-Made Prismatic Battery Storage

Samsung SDI's Michigan-based subsidiary, Samsung SDI America, has signed a 1 GWh agreement to supply energy storage system solutions to Alpha Omega Power, a U.S. utility-scale battery storage developer and independent power producer. Combined with an initial contract signed late last year, the two agreements total 1.5 GWh, underscoring the growing momentum behind domestically manufactured energy storage as U.S. grid operators confront rising power demand and reliability challenges.

Alpha Omega Power plans to deploy the Samsung SDI-supplied systems for large-scale power projects critical to grid reliability, with construction scheduled to begin next year in the WECC and ERCOT power markets. Under the latest agreement, Samsung SDI will supply its Samsung Battery Box 1.7, a fully integrated ESS solution featuring nickel cobalt aluminum batteries. All cells and modules will be manufactured at the StarPlus Energy plant in Kokomo, Indiana, and delivered by the end of this year.

The SBB 1.7 delivers 17% higher energy density than its predecessor, the SBB 1.5, while maintaining the same 20-foot footprint. The system incorporates AI-powered algorithms for early anomaly detection and battery life prediction, and is designed for 25 years of continuous use. It has obtained certifications including NFPA 855, the National Fire Protection Association's standard for stationary energy storage installations, and UL 9540, a safety standard for ESS. The solution also features Samsung SDI's proprietary Enhanced Direct Injection technology, which directly injects fire-extinguishing agents into individual battery modules to enhance safety.

Samsung SDI is currently the only non-Chinese supplier of prismatic ESS batteries in North America, a position industry analysts attribute in part to the durability and fire safety advantages of its PrismStack prismatic technology compared with pouch-type batteries. The company has secured a series of ESS supply deals with U.S. energy companies this year and continues to discuss potential agreements with additional local customers, with further orders expected in the near future.

"American-made ESS from Samsung SDI will play an important role in AOP's continued growth," said Paul Choi, CEO of Alpha Omega Power. "This second agreement strengthens our domestic supply chain supporting the next generation of energy infrastructure." Fabrice Hudry, President of Samsung SDI America's ESS Team, said Alpha Omega Power is one of the fastest-growing independent power producers in the country and the kind of sophisticated operator the company wants to partner with to tackle grid reliability challenges, adding that Samsung SDI will continue to expand its business foundation and strengthen its position in the North American ESS market through differentiated technology and local production capabilities.