South Korean Companies Develop World’s First Fireproof Energy Storage System

Hanwha Aerospace Co., South Korea’s major aerospace and defense company, has teamed up with SK Enmove Co., a major Korean lube oil maker under SK Innovation Co., to commercialize the technology that can prevent fire in ESS by using coolant.

Their heat management system completely prevents fire by filling a lithium-ion battery module with a coolant, which is dielectric, or non-conductive. This fluid effectively absorbs and dissipates heat generated by the components inside a module, providing a highly effective cooling solution.

This technology, known as liquid immersion cooling, is considered cutting edge heat management technology. It is said to be more efficient in heat management than air cooling.

The technology is also excellent at preventing dust or salinity intrusion, other causes of battery module fires, Hanwha Aerospace said.

A Game Changer in the ESS Market

Their joint development with improved security has been certified by Norway’s international accredited registrar and classification society, Det Norske Veritas, formerly DNV GL, and Korea Register (KR), a non-profit Korean classification society that offers verification services and certification for shipping and marine structures.

It has already been installed in a Korea Institute of Shipping and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) electric motor vessel for testing.

The demand for the fireproof ESS is expected to rise in line with the increasing demand for environmentally friendly ships.

According to Markets and Markets, the global ESS shipping market is forecast to grow to $7.6 billion in 2030 from $2.1 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 15.5%.

“Safety is essential for marine ESS,” said Son Seung-hyun, head of the ESS Department at Hanwha Aerospace. “We have installed our first development in a ship and are developing three more.”

Hanwha Aerospace expects the latest invention to create great synergy with its sibling’s offshore business, Hanwha Ocean Co., and plans to facilitate the creation of its environmentally friendly shipping value chain.

Its venture into the ESS shipping market will also accelerate with collaboration with SK Enmove. Hanwha Aerospace has designed a liquid immersion fluid ESS, while SK Enmove is developing coolants made from a mixture of different oils.

SK Enmove has also improved its cooperation with foreign technology companies to develop the connected system and to supply its liquid immersion cooling systems for data centers.