Switzerland minister visits Samsung SDI

Doris Leuthard, center, head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications in Switzerland, checks one Samsung SDI’s battery research labs in Suwon, on the outskirts of Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Samsung SDI

By Kim Yoo-chul

Samsung SDI, the battery-making affiliate of Samsung, is eyeing the renewable energy market in Switzerland as the European country offers more incentives for “green” technology.

Green technology is not only beneficial to the environment; it is an important economic engine in and of itself, providing entrepreneurial opportunities for market leaders such as Samsung SDI.

On Thursday, a Samsung SDI official said its CEO Cho Nam-sung discussed issues of energy cooperation with Doris Leuthard at Samsung’s battery research lab in Suwon, on the outskirts of Seoul.

Leuthard is Switzerland’s head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. She has been in Korea since July 7.

“Minister Leuthard had a lunch meeting with Samsung SDI CEO Cho and she was briefed over key details of SDI’s business fact-sheets such as Samsung SDI’s involvement in energy storage solution (ESS) products and its partnership with ABB,” he said.

The Swiss politician visited the company’s battery research lab in Suwon, where Samsung affiliates teamed up to operate the massive technology compound, for half an hour after the lunch meeting.

The ministry asked ABB to arrange business meetings with Samsung SDI management during her trip to Korea.

“SDI understands that the minister’s visit to its battery research lab as part of the European country’s intention to spur ESS and ESS-related businesses,” he said.

Samsung SDI spokesman Seo Hae-su said the Swiss minister visited its battery research lab and held a business meeting with its management.

Months earlier, SDI collaborated with Swiss-based ABB to promote microgrid solutions on the global platform.

The agreement calls for the companies to create and market modular and scalable microgrid solutions, using lithium-ion batteries for energy storage purposes, globally.

ABB offers technological aid for control optimization, electrification, expert consulting services and stabilization, while Samsung SDI will supply the batteries and battery management system.

The deal is a “win-win” situation for them as it will aid both the parties in enhancing their capabilities of offering an advanced microgrid solution amid the growing microgrid applications market.