[Edaily Reporter Park Sun-Yeop ] As power shortages in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) emerge as a new investment theme, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) combining all-solid-state batteries and energy storage systems (ESS) has been launched. This comes as ESS is gaining attention as a key solution to address grid bottlenecks amid a surge in power demand driven by the expansion of data centers.
According to the Korea Exchange on the 27th, the “KODEX All-Solid-State Battery ESS TOP2 Plus” ETF was newly listed on the KOSPI market on the 23rd. This product is a passive ETF with a portfolio composed of domestic companies related to all-solid-state batteries and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
The underlying index is the “Akros Korea All-Solid-State Battery ESS TOP2 Plus Index.” The total expense ratio is 0.50%, and regular portfolio rebalancing takes place on the last business day of February, May, August, and November each year.

The product’s key themes are solid-state batteries and ESS. Its structure goes beyond simply holding large-cap battery stocks to also reflect the potential for the commercialization of solid-state batteries and the expansion of the ESS value chain.
The investment universe is selected from domestically listed companies that meet liquidity requirements across sectors such as utilities, chemicals, machinery, electronics, and electrical equipment, home appliances, and components. Final constituent stocks are then selected based on the solid-state battery (SSB) and ESS criteria.
The stocks with the largest weightings are SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD.(006400)and LG Energy Solution(373220). These two stocks are each fixed at 25% and together account for half of the total portfolio.
SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. is preparing to begin mass production of South Korea’s first all-solid-state batteries starting in 2027. All-solid-state batteries are expected to be utilized in various fields, including humanoid robots, ESS, and defense.
LG Energy Solution is expanding its next-generation battery portfolio while also seeing tangible results in securing actual orders in the ESS sector. It is anticipated that both companies will benefit from the expansion of battery energy storage system supply and the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries.
The remaining 50% is allocated to stocks other than SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. and LG Energy Solution. The weighting is determined by a composite score, which is a 50-50 blend of a normalized aggregate score—reflecting factors such as keyword similarity—and a market capitalization score.
For stocks outside the top two, the inclusion criteria range from a minimum of 0.5% to a maximum of 18%. The strategy centers on large-cap battery stocks while broadening the investment scope to include companies in the ESS-related value chain.
Samsung Asset Management explained that it focused on the fact that the battery industry’s growth drivers are expanding beyond electric vehicles to include AI infrastructure, robotics, and future mobility. Shin Hyun-jin, a manager at Samsung Asset Management, said, “This ETF is designed to focus on the battery industry’s next growth cycle by investing in solid-state battery material companies and key companies in the ESS value chain.”
He added, “It will serve as an effective investment vehicle for investors seeking to capitalize on the structural growth of the battery industry, which is expanding beyond electric vehicles to include AI infrastructure, robotics, and future mobility.”
The securities industry also views the growth potential of the ESS market very positively. Kim Jin-young, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, explained, “As power shortages intensify due to expanding AI demand, the ‘onsite BESS’ model—where BESS systems are installed directly on data center premises—is rapidly gaining traction.”
Researcher Kim noted, “As tariff burdens on Chinese-made ESS in the U.S. increase, Korean companies are replacing Chinese batteries and expanding their market share.” He added, “There are projections that the U.S. market share of Korean-made ESS batteries could expand to as much as 85% by 2027.”
However, as this is a thematic ETF, investors should be mindful of volatility. All-solid-state batteries are still in the pre-commercialization phase, and market expectations for ESS could also vary depending on policy, investment in power infrastructure, and the flow of orders.
Another variable is that SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. and LG Energy Solution together account for half of the portfolio. This is because the stock price movements of specific large-cap battery companies can have a significant impact on the ETF’s performance.