Korean Energy Storage Battery Orders Overflowing: LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI North American Capacity Booked Through Two Years Out
nashnova research
LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI each hold North American ESS battery backlogs exceeding roughly two years of their own capacity, totaling an estimated 230–250 GWh; a U.S. policy signal to restrict Chinese-made batteries and China's own capacity freeze are converging, opening a share-and-pricing window for Korean suppliers.
How severe is the order backlog?
LG Energy Solution's backlog stands at roughly 150 GWh; Samsung SDI's at 80–100 GWh — combined, that equals about two full years of both companies' North American output.
This means → even running flat-out with no new orders, the existing queue stretches past 2028.
LG Energy Solution operates five ESS facilities in North America with a planned total capacity of 229 GWh, yet actual usable capacity will only reach 50 GWh by year-end. The gap between blueprint and reality is exactly why the backlog keeps growing.
Where do Samsung SDI and SK On each stand?
Samsung SDI currently ships from two lines: its Ulsan plant in Korea (15 GWh) and a Stellantis joint-venture plant in Kokomo, Indiana (Phase 1: 23 GWh). Part of Kokomo's capacity shifted to ESS production from late 2025.
Samsung SDI plans to add 20–30 GWh of North American ESS capacity by Q2 2028 — still well short of covering its 80–100 GWh backlog.
SK On, Korea's third-largest battery maker, has not yet begun ESS mass production. It landed its first ESS order in September 2025; volume output starts late 2026 at the earliest. In plain terms = in this order race, SK On has not yet entered the field.
Why are orders suddenly flooding toward Korean suppliers?
Two forces are catalyzing at once. U.S. policy: in late August 2026 the government declared a national emergency citing grid security, signaling restrictions on Chinese-made batteries. Chinese supply: local governments have reportedly stopped accepting applications for new EV and ESS battery plants, voluntarily curbing capacity expansion.
This means → the demand side is de-risking away from China while the supply side in China is hitting the brakes on its own — squeezed from both ends, orders naturally flow to Korean alternatives.
Chinese-made products still hold roughly 79% of the North American ESS battery market. This reflects the fact that even with surging orders, Korean suppliers' ramp-up speed is the binding constraint on actually filling that gap.
How much market share have the Korean players gained?
Per SNE Research, LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI shipped a combined 15 GWh of ESS batteries to North America in H1 2026 — up roughly 159% year-on-year.
Their combined market share rose from 14% to about 20%. In plain terms = share grew nearly half in six months, but it is still a long way from covering the 79% space China currently occupies.
What needs to be proven next?
Two key unknowns remain: first, whether U.S. restrictions on Chinese batteries actually become enforceable rules — for now it is a policy signal, not law; second, whether Korean suppliers' capacity ramp can keep pace with order growth.
If restrictions land and Chinese capacity keeps contracting, pricing power becomes the variable to watch — a full order book does not guarantee high margins. The real test is whether Korean makers can shift from "rushing to deliver" to "setting the price."
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