Dive Brief:

• LG Chem has launched a suite of residential batteries for the North American energy storage market.

• LG Chem will offer both AC and DC coupled systems with capacities of up to 9.8 kWh.

• The company will also offer low voltage, 48 V, and high voltage, 400 V, systems. The higher voltage system is compatible with SolarEdge’s technology that uses a single inverter for both residential solar panels and the batteries.

Dive Insight:

LG Chem is the latest company to vie for a share of the North American residential energy storage market. Mercedes-Benz is also entering the market, already occupied by big names like Tesla and Sonnen.

LG already has ample experience in the U.S. storage market as a battery supplier for other companies. In 2015, for instance, it signed a deal to supply 1 GW of batteries to AES, helping fuel the company's build of long-duration batteries in California.

The residential market is another beast, however, requiring companies to appeal directly to end consumers. To get a toehold, LG Chem announced last fall it would enter the market through a partnership with solar installer Sunrun.

The roll-out began with Sunrun offering LG Chem batteries as part of its Brightbox residential solar-plus-storage system to residents of Hawaii.

LG Chem says Sunrun has already installed initial solar-plus-storage systems in both Hawaii and California and that additional distribution channels are in advanced negotiations to provide coverage to the rest of the U.S. and to Canada.

“We’re confident that our experience gained in Europe and Asia, coupled with strong inverter and distribution partners, will deliver exceptional performance and reliability for our residential customers in the U.S. and Canada,” Peter Gibson, head of ESS sales for LG Chem in North America, said in a statement.