Recall of LG Energy Solution Australia Pty Ltd ESS Home Energy Storage System Batteries
ESU Models: 3.3, 6.5, 10, 13, 7H Type-R, 10H Type-C, 10H Type-R and 10H Type-R (Secondary).
Other Models: S/A Gen2 1P (EM048063P3S4) and S/A Gen2 2P (EM048126P3S7).
Identification
LG Energy Solutions (formerly LG Chem) and SolaX Power Aust Pty Ltd are recalling a range of home energy storage system batteries. The batteries are typically installed as part of a residential energy solar system, which allows owners to capture and store energy from solar panels. Each battery is marked with a unique serial number; to find and check if your battery is affected visit LGES.
The affected home energy storage system batteries were supplied nationally between 15 May 2017 and 30 December 2019 by LG Energy Solution Ltd (formerly LG Chem Ltd) via various residential solar energy storage system retailers, installers and the following distributors: AGL Energy, Baywa, CSR, Energy Australia, Krannich Solar, MMEM, One Stop warehouse, Rheem, Solar Juice, SolaX, Sonepar (as Solar Plus Solutions) and Supply Partners.
The batteries were likely installed by electrical contractors in connection with Photovoltaic solar systems. The affected batteries have also been supplied to consumers in battery storage systems with brand names other than LG, such as Solax, or Opal.
Safety issue
Risk of Fire
There is a manufacturing defect within the battery that may lead to overheating and fire. Incidents have occurred and caused fire damage to properties.
Action required
Find out if your battery is affected, visit https://www.lgessbattery.com/au and follow the instructions to check your battery's serial number.
If you own an affected battery, or are in doubt, immediately contact LG Energy Solution Australia on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com to arrange an inspection. All affected batteries will be replaced for free.
LG Energy Solution Australia may offer you an interim software solution to reduce the fire risk in the batteries until they are replaced. This limits the maximum charge of the batteries to 75 per cent of maximum capacity. You may hear it referred to as the “SOC reduction”. To remove the risk of fire, we recommend switching off the batteries until you get a replacement.
To switch off the battery storage systems safely, refer to the instructions for their battery storage systems or contact the installer or LG Energy Solution for advice on how to do so.
If in doubt, check with your installer or contact LG Energy Solution Australia – 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com.
If you have a SolaX or Opal system, or are in doubt, contact SolaX on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com.
If you have an LG solar battery system, visit the LG website for instructions about how to find your battery serial number. Then enter it into the serial number checker.
Owners of affected batteries should immediately contact LG Energy Solution Australia on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com to arrange an inspection. All affected batteries will be replaced for free.
If you have a SolaX or Opal system, contact SolaX Power on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com who will help you.
LG have advised that they believe an interim measure of reducing the maximum state of charge of the batteries will reduce the likelihood of risk of fire, while allowing consumers to continue to use the product while waiting for a replacement.
The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) recommends switching off the batteries until you get a replacement.
ESO is monitoring the effectiveness of this short-term solution and may issue further information at a later stage. Reducing the charge of the battery means that your battery will only be able to be charged up 75% of its previous storage capacity of electrical energy. This limit is called the State of Charge and often abbreviated to SOC or SOC Reduction.
This change is made by modifying the software in the battery and can be carried out remotely if your unit is connected to LG through the internet, or else a technician must physically adjust the unit on site. See following FAQs for more about remote adjustment.
LG Energy Solution Australia should have sent you a letter if the maximum charge on your battery was reduced remotely. If your battery is affected but you aren’t sure if it has been reduced in charge, you should contact LG Energy Solution Australia immediately to find out.
The ESO recommends switching off the batteries until you get a replacement.
SolaX Power can only arrange to reduce the charge of your battery by sending a technician to your property.
The ESO recommends switching off the batteries until you get a replacement.
Affected LG batteries can overheat and cause a fire, potentially causing death, serious injury or property damage. There have been incidents of injury and property damage reported.
Affected batteries were made between April 2017 and September 2018 and supplied between 15 May 2017 and 30 December 2019. Please check the LG website for updates or subscribe to ACCC’s email alerts for updates.
Affected battery models: RESU3.3, RESU6.5, RESU10, RESU13, RESU7H Type-R, RESU10H Type-C, RESU10H Type-R, RESU10H Type-R (Secondary), S/A Gen2 1P (EM048063P3S4) and S/A Gen2 2P (EM048126P3S7).
Visit the LG website and enter your batteries serial number into the serial number checker.
If you own an affected battery, or are in doubt, immediately contact LG Energy Solution Australia on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com.
If you have a SolaX or Opal system, or are in doubt, contact SolaX on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com.
LG Energy Solution Australia and SolaX Power have advised that there are delays in replacement stock for some models.
LG Energy Solution Australia and SolaX Power are offering to reduce the maximum charge of your battery until you get a replacement because they consider that this may reduce the likelihood that the battery will overheat and catch fire.
The ESO’s view is that it is safest to switch the battery system off until the battery is replaced. Having your battery reduced in charge is a short-term solution; it must still be replaced by LG Energy Solution Australia or SolaX Power.
Contact LG Energy Solution Australia or SolaX Power and tell them that you are off grid for a remediation to be prioritised. You should seek alternative power arrangements until your battery is replaced. If the battery is affected by the recall, it should be switched off until the maximum state of charge has been reduced, or it is replaced.
The ESO recommends switching off the batteries until you get a replacement.
An energy storage system is designed to store electricity typically generated from a household’s solar panels for use at night or in the event of a power outage. The energy storage system contains a battery. Not all solar panel systems have an energy storage system.
This depends on the design of the system. You should contact LG Energy Solution Australia on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com.
If you have a SolaX or Opal system contact SolaX on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com.
To switch off the battery, refer to the instruction manual of your energy storage system or contact the installer or manufacturer for advice.