Samsung SDI seeks edge in gov’t ESS project bid with safety recognition

Samsung SDI's Samsung Battery Box / Courtesy of Samsung SDI

Samsung SDI has won a major award for its energy storage system (ESS) safety technology, a recognition expected to boost the company’s efforts to secure a leading position in an upcoming government-led ESS procurement project.

During the 2025 Korea Tech Festival on Wednesday, Samsung SDI received a ministerial commendation in the Korea Technology Awards for its Samsung Battery Box (SBB), recognized for advancements in fire safety and cost reduction. Samsung SDI was the only domestic battery maker to be honored at this year’s awards.

SBB is Samsung SDI’s integrated ESS battery solution that combines batteries and safety systems within a 20-foot container. It features a highly durable prismatic battery cell paired with the company’s fire safety technologies, including Enhanced Direct Injection (EDI) and No Thermal Propagation (No TP).

EDI is a technology that directly injects fire-suppressant agents into a battery module when a thermal runaway occurs, effectively preventing heat from spreading. No TP prevents a fire in one battery cell from spreading to other cells within a battery pack.

The recognition is expected to be a timely boost for Samsung SDI during bidding in an upcoming government-led ESS procurement program.

Since 2023, the Korean government has been leading an ESS procurement program to build large-scale ESS facilities to stabilize renewable power generation.

Bidding is now underway for the 2025 program’s second phase, which seeks to secure 540 megawatts of battery capacity by 2027. According to the Korea Power Exchange, which is overseeing the tender, submissions for the second phase will remain open until January, with the contractor to be selected in February. The second phase is valued at 1 trillion won ($680 million).

Unlike previous programs, the 2025 second-phase bidding is expected to place a greater emphasis on ESS safety. The Korea Power Exchange said last month that it has adjusted the evaluation ratio to place equal emphasis on price and non-price factors, and raised the weight of fire safety in the non-price factor from 11 percent to 12.5 percent.

In the first-phase bidding for 2025, Samsung SDI secured around 76 percent of the total volume, due to recognition for its safety competitiveness and contribution to the national economy by producing products domestically. With rival bidders also shifting toward domestic production for the second phase, industry officials expect safety to carry even greater weight in the evaluation.

“We have established industry-leading competitiveness in ESS safety technologies," a Samsung SDI official said. "By combining the durability advantages of prismatic batteries with our advanced safety technologies, we will further reinforce our position in the domestic ESS market.”