German industrial giant Siemens to partner on South Carolina battery manufacturing ecosystem

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A German-based industrial heavyweight is joining with a manufacturer with ties to South Carolina to create a sustainable battery ecosystem in The Palmetto State.

Kontrolmatik, a systems integrator and global EPC leader in power generation, transmission, and distribution, and its subsidiary Pomega Energy, a battery manufacturer, has announced an engineering alliance with Siemens, according to a news release.

The global collaboration is focused on building a sustainable battery ecosystem to enable the transition to a decarbonized energy system, as Pomega Energy Storage Technologies USA and Kontrolmatik USA ramp up their energy storage operations in North America, the release stated.

“The collaboration with Siemens provides Kontrolmatik the opportunity to establish our two companies as engineering, integration, and software collaborators,” said Saim Hacıağaoğlu, deputy general manager with Pomega, in the release. “In return, Kontrolmatik and Pomega have offered to help standardize Siemens automation equipment and software solutions. Kontrolmatik and Pomega continuously look for opportunities to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, and working with Siemens is to our continued success.”

The collaboration will expand the global reach of all three companies and further their efforts in sustainable energy storage, the release stated. As Siemens continues to help companies ramp up battery manufacturing in the U.S. with their end-to-end technology, from supply chain to recycling to reuse, it looks forward to collaborating with strong industry partners.

Kontrolmatik and Pomega will standardize the use of Siemens solutions with full ongoing support and optimization, particularly for Pomega’s first LFP battery factory in Turkey.

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“The prospect of forging a global alliance is truly inspiring and marks a significant milestone in our partnership, symbolizing a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology,” said Jefi Bardavit, account manager, Siemens Digital Industries, in the release. “The synergy between Siemens, Kontrolmatik, and Pomega is poised to redefine industry standards and create transformative solutions. Together, we are paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in the fields we serve.

“This alliance aligns with our shared values and goals and reinforces our dedication to delivering unparalleled value to our clients worldwide. I am eager to witness our positive impact and look forward to a future of continued success and growth.”

In addition, with a combined focus on education, workforce, and research, the three companies have an alliance with the University of South Carolina, where Pomega is building a pilot battery production line featuring Siemens automation and software solutions, scheduled for completion at the end of 2024, according to the release. Through Siemens’ collaboration with academia, they have donated much of the software at USC.

Development is well under way on Pomega’s 500,000-square-foot, $300 million factory in Colleton County, that is expected to begin battery production this year and create over 500 new jobs, according to the release. As part of that project, Pomega will be standardizing on Siemens automation equipment and software solutions.

“USC is in the middle of a significant expansion of its battery pilot manufacturing and testing capabilities – built on 30 years of investment and research in batteries,” William E. Mustain, associate dean for research and professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, said in the release. “Realizing a facility that we are designing requires partners who share your vision and bring their unique skills to the project, we believe we have found the right partners for success with Siemens, Kontrolmatik, and Pomega. This team’s combined business, science, and technology experience creates something where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, forming a strong foundation to drive a sustainable education, innovation, and business model for our state.”

Pomega’s South Carolina facility will be one of the first facilities in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to LFP solutions for utility and residential battery storage, according to the release.