- Establish infrastructure for a high capacity ESS production and internal performance test
- Enable test and production capacity up to 144MW per year, the largest in Korea

POSCO ICT(CEO: Choi Doowhan) is going to open a high capacity ESS (Energy Storage System) Test Center, the largest in  Korea, as an one-step-ahead measure to enhance its competitiveness in ESS market which is expected to  emerge in full bloom, next year.

On December 4th, POSCO ICT announced that it would soon complete the construction of an ESS-dedicated test center on an area of 2,215m², which is going to enter full-fledged operation.
The test center equipped with all necessary equipment and facilities for not only testing but producing a high capacity  ESS by using modular components.

Many factories and large buildings are adopting ESS, in response to rising electricity cost and decreasing natural resources, which is designed to reduce energy cost in a way to store power in cheap night hours and use it at peak hours and to supply power in association with renewable energies such as wind and photovoltaic power in a stabilized manner not affected by the weather.
 
One of outstanding problems with most mid- and large-size ESS introduced in Korea so far was the not-negligible errors in engineering during the process of integrating all components, such as secondary cells and PCS (Power Conversion System), for which the performance and quality management activities are conducted separately by each different maker, as well as the time consumed to tackle these troubles.

POSCO ICT explained that it solved these issues during an one-stop test stage before release through the operation of this test center to improve the quality and reliability of a product and, also, could secure foundation for accumulating know-how and expertise essential for development of a large-size ESS.

The test center consists of three lines, each line designed to test and produce up to 1 to 4MW unit. The center has a capacity to manufacture a 144MW ESS in a year and equipment for internal performance test, which is the largest in South Korea.1MW usually covers about 1,000 households.

The test center offers a number of different performance tests, from recharging and discharging between PCS and batteries to power control, all designed to maximize operational efficiency.

The center is also capable of testing the interconnection between wind and photovoltaic power generators and ESS and various types of batteries including lithium ion cells. In the center, modular components are stocked, inspected, transported to test lines and assembled into a system. And then, tests are performed on each module, in terms of the operation, performance and interconnection, which is followed by customer inspection and release of final assemblies. To facilitate the transportation of a large-size ESS, trucks are allowed to enter the test center. The center is also equipped with a 20-ton crane to make it convenient to load PCS and battery containers.

POSCO ICT has decided to concentrate its effort on energy solutions as one of its growth engines and has been committed to establishing infrastructures of power generation and distribution based on new & renewable energies such as photovoltaic and wind power, as well as suggesting holistic solutions and service from diagnosing and consulting for optimization of energy use to system building and monitoring. In particular, the company has successfully developed a high capacity ESS to support efficient energy use at industrial fields and buildings.
POSCO ICT has developed a 2MW ESS through a proven Smart Grid project in Jeju Island, applied the ESS to Ochang Factory of LG Chemicals and POSCO Center while connecting it to a photovoltaic power plant in Palgeumdo Island, Sinan-gun.

“We decided to have a dedicated test center to meet the needs for larger ESS, for example, combination with other power systems or renewable energies,” said Oh Gijang , the director of Technology Center in POSCO ICT, “We are planning to secure high capacity ESS development and engineering technologies to flexibly respond to marketing competitiveness and customer needs, eventually to enter the global market.”