Despite a modest overall size, the U.S. residential battery storage market has attracted a number of leading international battery companies. Germany’s Sonnen was first on the scene with the launch of a product in December 2016, and in November Mercedes-Benz announced a new U.S. battery storage subsidiary.
Today LG Chem, a subsidiary of Korea’s LG Group, became the latest big international player to enter the U.S. battery market with the launch of low-voltage and high-voltage lithium-ion systems under its RESU line for U.S. homeowners. This builds on fellow subsidiary LG Electronic’s strong presence in the U.S. solar market.
LG Chem says that both the low- and high-voltage models are pre-matched with inverters, and notes that the 400 volt RESU 10H is compatible with SolarEdge’s StorEdge DC-coupled solution, which includes a single inverter for both PV and battery storage. The company says that it will provide additional pre-tested inverter compatibility options later in 2017.
The RESU batteries are currently available through Sunrun, the second-largest residential solar provider in the United States, as part of its BrightBox solar and storage offering. The third-party solar company has already installed its first RESU systems in California and Hawaii, and LG Chem also states that the batteries will also be available “via a number of leading solar/storage providers in North America”.
LG Chem further notes that “additional distribution channels are in advanced negotiations and will provide coverage to all U.S. states and Canadian provinces”.
LG Chem had previously introduced its RESU products in Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan and Australia, and says that this prepares it for success in the United States. “We’re confident that our experience gained in Europe and Asia, coupled with strong inverter and distribution partners, will deliver exceptional performance and reliability for our residential customers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Peter Gibson, head of ESS sales for LG Chem in North America.
LG’s 48-volt battery comes with 3.3, 6.5 and 9.8 kilowatt-hour (kWh) ratings, and its 400-volt batteries offer 7.0 and 9.8 kWh ratings. Both AC- and DC-coupled versions are available.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Does this mean that the Tesla DC coupled SolarEdge inverters need both inverter for PV and extra inverter for Battery storage?
I believe Tesla’s DC Powerwall uses only one inverter, the one supplied by the string inverter manufacturer. To me, this is a big problem as when there is a problem with the system who’s fault is it? A good analogy would be you buying a Ford Lincon but with a GM engine. When you have a problem, do you go to the Ford dealer or GM? And will the dealer say, o yes the problem is with our part of the system, or will he say it is the other dealer’s problem?
For this reason, I think Tesla will be dropping the DC version of Powerwall2. The little gain in efficiency, maybe 3%, is not worth the problems.
I have been advised by my PV system installed that the RESU 10 is not compatible with my SolarEdge inverter/StorEdge connection unit (SE5000 /BCU-1PH-RWS)… Is this so ???