■ Aimed at the North American ESS market, the water-cooled PCS receives 'UL 1741' certification.
■ Simultaneous cooling of battery and PCS enhances battery performance and reduces facility footprint, achieving 'two birds with one stone.'
■ Over 300 UL certifications for power equipment secured, with a comprehensive distribution UL portfolio targeting the market.
LS ELECTRIC has obtained the essential UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification required for U.S. exports of its latest PCS (Power Conversion System) products, a key component of ESS (Energy Storage Systems).
On the 4th, LS ELECTRIC announced that it held a certification ceremony for 'UL 1741' at its Global R&D Campus in Anyang. The event was attended by key figures such as Chang-Chul Seo, Head of Power R&D Division and CTO of LS ELECTRIC, and Wesley Kwok, VP & GM of Energy & Industrial Automation at UL Solutions.
The certified product is the second-generation PCS of the 'Modular Scalable String Platform (MSSP),' designed to penetrate the global industrial ESS market. By modularizing the PEBB (Power Electronic Building Block) for parallel connection, it allows for scalable power conversion capacity. The added 'water-cooled' structure enables stable cooling even in high-output environments. Applying the water-cooled MSSP allows for simultaneous cooling of the battery and PCS, facilitating temperature control. This improves battery performance and compacts the overall facility, making it increasingly popular in the U.S. market.
UL is a non-profit testing organization in the U.S. that evaluates electrical safety and fire risks to test and certify product safety. Acquiring UL certification is crucial for selling electrical products in the U.S. Among them, UL 1741 certification applies to distributed power systems, including power conversion devices and inverters.
LS ELECTRIC successfully completed 52 test items, including overload, short circuit stability, ride-through tests, and autonomous operation tests, to meet different regulatory and certification requirements in regions such as California, Hawaii, and Canada.
With the acquisition of UL certification for its ESS PCS, LS ELECTRIC plans to accelerate its penetration into the North American ESS market. As the ESS market is rapidly growing due to the expansion of renewable energy and increased demand for grid stabilization, the company is determined to continue its growth in ESS project orders that have been increasing since the second half in the North American market.
Meanwhile, LS ELECTRIC began securing UL certifications in earnest from 2014 to advance into the North American market and has obtained over 300 UL certifications to date.
The certifications cover a comprehensive portfolio in the distribution sector, including ACB (Air Circuit Breaker), MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker), VCB (Vacuum Circuit Breaker), MC (Motor Contactor), MT (Motor Protection Breaker), MMS (Motor Protection Molded Case Circuit Breaker), EMPR (Electronic Motor Protection Relay), SPD (Surge Protective Device), DC-Fuse, DC-Relay, MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker), SWGR (Switchgear & Switchboard), VC (Vacuum Contactor), among others.
An LS ELECTRIC spokesperson stated, “UL certification is an essential requirement for entering the North American market and provides a foundation for offering safe and efficient energy solutions to global customers. LS ELECTRIC plans to expand its tailored solutions aimed at a wide range of customers from large power plants to commercial and industrial ESS based on local certification,” they emphasized.
[Term Explanation] ◆ Power Conversion System (PCS): A device that functions as an inverter to convert the electrical energy stored in batteries in DC (Direct Current) mode to AC (Alternating Current). It plays a role in intelligently controlling battery charge/discharge within ESS. It safely connects power facilities and ESS to the grid, complementing the irregularity of renewable energy, and is a key component of an ESS alongside the battery.