Samsung SDI US BESS supply deal signals a new supply phase for grid storage

Samsung SDI, BESS

Samsung SDI US BESS supply deal locks in a large, multi-year grid storage order. The contract totals 1.5 trillion won, about $1bn. It runs in phases from 2026 to 2029.

The Samsung SDI US BESS supply deal will serve an unnamed US energy company. The batteries will come from StarPlus Energy in Indiana. StarPlus Energy is Samsung SDI’s joint venture with Stellantis.

What the Samsung SDI US BESS supply deal covers

The initial shipments will use nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery chemistry. This chemistry targets high power and strong cycling performance. Therefore, it fits early ramp needs for utility-scale storage.

Later phases will expand into lithium iron phosphate batteries. LFP improves cost stability and supply resilience. As a result, Samsung SDI can address broader project economics.

Why Indiana production and LFP expansion matter

Indiana-based production reduces logistics risk and delivery lead times. It also helps buyers align with domestic sourcing preferences. Meanwhile, it supports predictable capacity planning for multi-year deployments.

Samsung SDI’s recent US activity reinforces this direction. The company signed a separate two-trillion-won LFP supply agreement last December. Therefore, Samsung SDI positions LFP as a core growth lever in US storage.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This shift signals a maturing BESS market that values bankable delivery over headline capacity. However, margins will depend on raw material spreads and contract pricing formulas. The winners will scale localized supply without losing cost discipline.