SK E&S to begin commercial operations of ESS in Texas in H2

[Courtesy of SK E&S Co.]

SK E&S Co. will begin commercial operations of an energy storage system (ESS) in Texas in the second half of this year.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, SK E&S has recently completed installing 200-megawatt ESS in Denton County and Grimes County, Texas, and has begun trial operations.

Key Capture Energy (KCE), a U.S.-based subsidiary of SK E&S, will operate the ESS. KCE is a grid solution company that combines ESS connected to the transmission and distribution network with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to maintain a consistent electricity supply.

With KCE‘s ESS technology, a stable electricity supply is achievable even if power generation from renewable energy is inconsistent due to weather or time.

SK E&S entered the U.S. grid solution market by acquiring KCE in 2021.

Due to its complementary nature to renewable energy, the grid solution industry is expected to grow alongside the renewable energy sector.

According to global consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. ESS-based grid solution market is projected to reach 76 gigawatts by 2030.

Energy solutions, including grid solutions, are a significant focus for SK Group. During a recent top executive meeting, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won compared its growth potential in the global market to that of AI.

At the end of last month, SK E&S Chief Executive Officer Choo Hyeong-wook visited the U.S. to attend the Korea-U.S. Clean Energy Forum in Washington D.C., networking with global energy company representatives and explore business opportunities for SK E&S. D

uring his visit, Choo also reviewed SK E&S’s U.S. operations.

SK E&S operates Passkey Inc. and LNG Americas in the U.S. through its subsidiary, SK E&S Americas Inc. Passkey focuses on energy solutions such as ESS and electric vehicle charging, while LNG Americas is involved in natural gas field development.

On Monday, SK E&S signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vietnam‘s T&T Group and the Provincial People’s Committee of Quang Tri, seeking collaboration on projects to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including LNG and green hydrogen.

SK E&S currently operates solar and offshore wind power plants in Vietnam.