LG Energy Supplies Batteries for Google's 2.9 GWh Solar Project

LG Energy Solution or LGES will supply batteries for Google's solar energy project in the United States. The value of the deal reached hundreds of billions of won.

Yonhap, quoted Wednesday, July 15, reported that the battery made by the South Korean company will be installed at the Steel River Energy Center, a large-scale solar power project developed by Google in conjunction with Cypress Creek Energy.

The project is scheduled to start operating in 2029. Google stated that the initial capacity of its energy storage system reached 2 gigawatt-hours or GWh, then expanded to 2.9 GWh.

GWh is a unit to measure the amount of electrical energy that can be stored or used.

LGES will supply lithium iron phosphate batteries or LFP made at its factory in the United States. LFP is a type of battery that uses iron and phosphate as the main part of its material.

Google said the project will use US-made solar modules from First Solar. Its battery storage system is supplied by LG Energy Solution Vertech, a subsidiary of LGES in the US.

The device will be assembled in the United States with battery cells that are entirely made in North America, especially in US factories.

The Steel River Energy Center combines a solar plant with an electric storage facility. Google is developing the project to help meet rapidly increasing electricity needs due to data center expansion and other factors.

The contract strengthens LGES' move to expand its energy storage battery business amid a prolonged slowdown in the electric vehicle market.

LGES recently started producing ESS battery cells at one of its two joint ventures with General Motors.

Similar production is also carried out at L-H Battery Company, a joint venture between LGES and Honda Motor.

The company plans to start production of ESS battery cells at its own factory in Michigan by the end of 2026.