Korea's three battery makers (LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On) put energy storage systems (ESS), fire safety enhancement technologies, and solid-state batteries forward as core keywords at "InterBattery 2026." With demand for electric-vehicle (EV) batteries slowing, they aim to use the fast-growing ESS market as a key growth driver and get through the downturn by researching next-generation battery technologies.
At "InterBattery 2026," which opened on the 11th at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the booths of Korea's three battery makers were centered on mockups of ESS batteries. Unlike in the past, EV displays were significantly reduced. SK On showed one Genesis GV60 Magma, LG Energy Solution displayed one Renault Scenic, and Samsung SDI did not display any EVs.
◇ The centerpiece of the show floor is ESS, the next big thing riding the AI wave
LG Energy Solution placed front and center its next-generation grid-scale ESS solution, "F2 DC LINK 5.0." It is the first among Korean battery manufacturers to be equipped with an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) ESS battery to bolster fire safety, and it is characterized by enhanced installation and operation efficiency. Leveraging LFP's inherently high chemical stability, it adopts a "cell-pack-rack level fire propagation blocking structure" to minimize the possibility of thermal runaway.
Targeting demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, LG Energy Solution also displayed emergency batteries for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems that help keep power on 24/7, and a battery backup unit (BBU) solution. The BBU, unveiled for the first time at this exhibition, maintains power for five minutes during a blackout to keep the core functions of equipment running and to help systems shut down safely.
Samsung SDI exhibited a full-scale model of "Samsung Battery Box (SBB) 1.5," an all-in-one container-type ESS product to be supplied to the domestic central contract market in Oct. The 20-foot (ft) container is filled with prismatic battery cells, modules and racks. SBB integrates the battery management system (BMS) and more, allowing customers to connect it to the grid on-site and use it immediately without complicated construction.
Joo Yong-rak, head of the Samsung SDI research center, said at "InterBattery 2026 The Battery Conference," "Buoyed by a surge in power consumption for AI data centers, the ESS market size for the global battery industry is expected to grow from 399 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2024 to 1,232 GWh in 2035, about a threefold increase."
SK On showcased a pouch-type ESS battery with about 14% to 19% higher energy density than conventional LFP batteries. The product aligns with the global ESS market trend toward larger-capacity cells. The company plans to begin domestic production in the second half of this year by converting lines at its Seosan plant in South Chungcheong Province.
It also unveiled for the first time its achievements in cell-to-pack (CTP) technology. This process skips assembling individual battery cells into modules and mounts them directly into a battery pack. By filling the space otherwise occupied by module cases with cells, it improves space efficiency and cost competitiveness. SK On said the product leverages the high energy density of pouch-type batteries and the structural advantages of prismatic formats.
◇ LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI unveil solid-state battery samples for the first time
The three battery makers also focused on solid-state batteries. A solid-state battery is a next-generation battery that replaces the liquid electrolyte of a lithium-ion battery with a solid electrolyte. Solid-state batteries not only offer higher energy density for their volume but are also safer than when using liquid electrolytes. They are useful in applications such as Humanoid Robots, where battery space is small yet the device operates near people and must have a low risk of fire.
LG Energy Solution unveiled for the first time actual solid-state battery cells used in Humanoid Robots and industrial robots. SK On also showcased sulfide-based solid-state cells at this exhibition, presenting its next-generation battery technologies.
Samsung SDI likewise unveiled for the first time a pouch-type solid-state battery sample for "physical AI." Branded "Solid Stack," the product targets mass production in the second half of next year. Samsung SDI believes pouch-type solid-state batteries could be applied to various robots and aerospace systems going forward.
◇ A full-court press on battery safety tech, from AI diagnostics to immersion cooling
Samsung SDI unveiled for the first time Samsung Battery Intelligence (SBI), a fire-prevention software for ESS. It is a cutting-edge, AI-based program that diagnoses overall battery health, including status and anomaly signs.
SK On introduced a "CTP integrated package solution" that combines its cell-to-pack technology with SK Enmove's immersion cooling fluid. The immersion cooling fluid technology submerges batteries in a special liquid to fundamentally block fire risk. SK On also displayed a model of a vehicle underbody equipped with the "immersion-cooled pack."
LG Energy Solution presented its signature safety technologies for pouch products, including a "multi-stage cooling system" and the "No TP Pack solution," a heat transfer prevention technology. They are designed to minimize heat spread and reduce fire risk even in abnormal situations.
This year's InterBattery drew 667 domestic and overseas companies across the entire battery value chain, including the three battery cell makers as well as materials, parts and equipment firms. With 2,382 booths, it is the largest ever. According to the Korea Battery Industry Association (KIBA), 52,000 people pre-registered this year, up 4% from a year earlier.