Korea's US investment triggers 2nd wave of orders for ESS, power gear makers

Korea’s planned U.S. power infrastructure investment could trigger more orders for Korean battery and power equipment makers as AI data centers drive demand for ESS and grid gear. The government’s first U.S. strategic investment project is a $22.3 billion natural gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, under a $350 billion package. Companies including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On, HD Hyundai Electric, LS Electric and Hyosung Heavy Industries are expected to benefit.

The U.S. strategic investment project is part of a $350 billion investment package.

The Encinal, Texas project is worth $22.3 billion and centers on a natural gas-fired power plant.

LG Energy Solution was selected as an ESS partner for Nvidia’s AI factory program.

SK On signed a 1.07 trillion won contract with POSCO Future M for LFP cathode materials.

iM Securities expected Samsung SDI’s ESS sales to rise about 32 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter and 33 percent year on year.

Published Sep 27, 2026 3:36 pm KST

AI data centers, power plants drive demand for Korean ESS, power equipment

LG Energy Solution's energy storage systems for power grids in California / Courtesy of LG Energy Solution

Korea’s planned power infrastructure investment in the United States could generate a second wave of orders for Korean battery and power equipment makers, as surging electricity consumption from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers drives demand for energy storage systems (ESS) and grid equipment.

Last week, the Korean government announced its first U.S. strategic investment project, part of a $350 billion investment package. The project worth $22.3 billion is centered on building a natural gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, to meet rising electricity demand from semiconductor plants and AI data centers.

The project is also expected to create additional demand for equipment needed to store, distribute and stabilize power, enabling relevant system makers to attract more orders from the world’s largest economy.

ESS is one of the largest pillar under the project. Korean battery makers — LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On — identify ESS as their major revenue areas while the electric vehicle industry is stuck in a chasm.

ESS can store electricity when demand is low and discharge it during peak periods, helping data centers manage sharp fluctuations in power consumption and maintain a stable supply.

The need for such systems could become more pronounced around data centers that receive electricity from the new gas-fired power plant. ESS also helps stabilize power delivery between the newly built generation facilities and data centers.

Battery makers’ strategic shift toward ESS is already becoming evident.

LG Energy Solution was selected as an ESS partner for Nvidia’s AI factory program, positioning its lithium-ion phosphate (LFP)-based storage systems for AI data center applications. SK On, meanwhile, signed a 1.07 trillion won contract with POSCO Future M for LFP cathode materials, as it expands its ESS business in the U.S.

Samsung SDI is also seeing stronger demand for energy storage batteries. iM Securities expected the company’s ESS sales to rise about 32 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, and the firm’s sales are also projected to soar 33 percent between July and September from a year earlier on the favorable ESS market environment.

LS Electric's power distribution panels for U.S. export / Courtesy of LS Electric

Korea’s power infrastructure investment in the U.S. could also benefit major power equipment makers here, as new power plants and data centers require transmission and distribution infrastructure, including transformers and circuit breakers.

HD Hyundai Electric, LS Electric and Hyosung Heavy Industries are among the Korean companies positioned to benefit from higher demand for high-voltage equipment. All three have expanded their U.S. orders in response to growing investment in the country’s aging power grid.

The planned investment raises expectations that Korea’s investment in U.S. power generation will lead to additional orders for Korean suppliers. As more factories and data centers are built around the project, demand for power infrastructure is widely expected to extend beyond the initial investment.

“Stable electricity storage and transmission systems are becoming inseparable parts of AI data centers,” an industry official said.

“Korea’s U.S. power investment will pave the way for such players to grab bigger orders from major Big Tech clients there.”

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韩国计划在美国投资电力基础设施，这可能会为韩国电池和电力设备制造商带来更多订单，因为人工智能数据中心将推动对储能系统和电网设备的需求。韩国政府在美国的首个战略投资项目是位于德克萨斯州恩西纳尔的一座价值223亿美元的天然气发电厂，该项目是总额3500亿美元一揽子计划的一部分。预计LG能源解决方案公司、三星SDI、SK安电子、HD现代电气、LS电气和晓星重工等公司将从中受益。

这项美国战略投资项目是总额达3500亿美元的投资计划的一部分。

位于德克萨斯州恩西纳尔的项目价值 223 亿美元，其核心是一座天然气发电厂。

LG能源解决方案被选为英伟达人工智能工厂计划的储能系统合作伙伴。

SK On 与 POSCO Future M 签订了一份价值 1.07 万亿韩元的 LFP 正极材料合同。

iM Securities 预计三星 SDI 第三季度 ESS 销售额将比上一季度增长约 32%，同比增长约 33%。

发布于2026年9月27日下午3:36（韩国标准时间）

人工智能数据中心和发电厂推动了对韩国储能系统和电力设备的需求。

LG能源解决方案公司为加州电网提供的储能系统 / 图片由LG能源解决方案公司提供

韩国计划在美国投资电力基础设施，这可能会为韩国电池和电力设备制造商带来第二波订单，因为人工智能 (AI) 数据中心的电力消耗激增，推动了对储能系统 (ESS) 和电网设备的需求。

上周，韩国政府宣布了其首个美国战略投资项目，该项目是总额达3500亿美元的投资计划的一部分。这个价值223亿美元的项目旨在德克萨斯州恩西纳尔市建设一座天然气发电厂，以满足半导体工厂和人工智能数据中心日益增长的电力需求。

该项目预计还将创造对储能、配电和稳定电力所需设备的额外需求，使相关系统制造商能够从世界最大经济体获得更多订单。

储能系统是该项目最重要的支柱之一。韩国电池制造商——LG能源解决方案、三星SDI和SK安——将储能系统视为其主要收入来源，而电动汽车行业却深陷困境。

储能系统可以在用电低谷期储存电力，并在用电高峰期释放电力，帮助数据中心应对用电量的剧烈波动，并保持稳定的电力供应。

对于使用新建燃气发电厂电力的数据中心而言，此类系统的需求可能会更加迫切。储能系统还有助于稳定新建发电设施与数据中心之间的电力输送。

电池制造商向储能系统（ESS）的战略转变已经变得显而易见。

LG Energy Solution被英伟达AI工厂项目选为储能系统合作伙伴，其基于磷酸铁锂（LFP）的储能系统将应用于AI数据中心。与此同时，SK On与浦项未来M公司签署了一份价值1.07万亿韩元的LFP正极材料合同，进一步拓展其在美国的储能系统业务。

三星SDI也看到了市场对储能电池的强劲需求。iM Securities预计，该公司第三季度储能系统（ESS）销售额将比上一季度增长约32%，并且在有利的储能系统市场环境下，预计该公司7月至9月的销售额也将比去年同期增长33%。

LS Electric公司面向美国出口的配电盘 / 图片由LS Electric公司提供

韩国在美国的电力基础设施投资也可能使美国的主要电力设备制造商受益，因为新建的发电厂和数据中心需要输配电基础设施，包括变压器和断路器。

HD Hyundai Electric、LS Electric 和晓星重工等韩国企业有望从高压设备需求的增长中获益。为响应美国对老旧电网不断增长的投资，这三家公司都增加了在美国的订单。

这项投资计划引发了人们的预期，即韩国对美国发电行业的投资将为韩国供应商带来更多订单。随着更多工厂和数据中心在项目周边建设，电力基础设施的需求预计将远远超出最初的投资规模。

一位业内人士表示：“稳定的电力存储和传输系统正成为人工智能数据中心不可或缺的组成部分。”

“韩国对美国的电力投资将为这类企业从美国大型科技公司那里获得更大的订单铺平道路。”

LG能源解决方案公司着眼于美国储能系统市场，计划在美国设立本地生产基地。

LS Electric通过内部测试获得人工智能动力优势

LS Electric赢得价值7000万美元的北美数据中心合同