[Edaily Reporter Kim So-yeon] South Korea’s three major battery companies—LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On—are all participating in the largest renewable energy expo in the U.S., accelerating their push into the North American energy storage system (ESS) market. They have identified ESS as the key to overcoming the “chasm” (temporary stagnation in demand) in the electric vehicle market and have launched a full-scale campaign to secure supply contracts with global clients.

According to industry sources on the 2nd, the “Clean Power Conference 2026,” hosted by the American Clean Power Association (ACP), is being held in Houston, Texas, through the 4th (local time). This event is North America’s largest clean energy conference, focused on securing supply chains for large-scale grid-connected ESS systems rather than electric vehicle batteries. It brings together over 8,000 key executives from thousands of companies across more than 35 countries worldwide.

It is a crucial platform for the three major battery companies targeting the North American ESS market. Tristan Doherty, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Vertech—LG Energy Solution’s U.S. ESS subsidiary—will deliver presentations on both the 2nd and 3rd. He will discuss power challenges in AI data centers and the current state of the U.S. clean energy manufacturing industry.

CPO Doherty plans to highlight the surge in power demand resulting from North American Big Tech companies building AI data centers and present LG Energy Solution’s unique, stable ESS system design and software control solutions to address this challenge.

Additionally, he will highlight the company’s five ESS production hubs across North America, including the Holland, Michigan plant, and plans to impress upon global clients the strengths of local North American production—which eliminates supply chain risks and offers the most favorable tax credit benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

SK on will use this conference as an opportunity to officially announce “GRIDON” as the brand name for its ESS business and unveil its next-generation system architecture. GRIDON is an integrated platform that encompasses everything from hardware—such as battery cells, modules, and containers—to power control solutions.

SK On is presenting a cost-effective strategy that maximizes the energy density of battery cells to reduce the number of ESS containers required. In particular, by applying a “coolant fire suppression system” that helps prevent fires, the company is specifically targeting U.S. power utilities with stringent fire safety standards.

SK On also plans to emphasize that it has completed the establishment of a “de-China supply chain” that circumvents the “Potentially Foreign Entity (PFE)” regulations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), positioning itself as a reliable partner capable of receiving subsidy benefits in addition to local production in the U.S. Samsung SDI will also participate in the event, holding private meetings with affiliates to strengthen its ESS partnerships in North America.