South Korea opens its largest research facility for rechargeable batteries

South Korea has opened its biggest rechargeable battery research center in Cheongju.

Called the Battery Solution Testbed Zone (BST Zone), the facility serves as a hub for research, development, and testing of rechargeable batteries.

The BST Zone will be used for projects authorized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. These include the development and testing of materials, components, cells, modules, packs, and all solid-state batteries.

The center is reported to be located in the North Chungcheong Province and consists of three buildings.

These include a materials and components analysis building, a battery performance evaluation facility, and a fire testing building.

Each facility was designed to support extensive research and development of the batteries at different stages.

Lee Seung-ryeol, Deputy Minister for Industry Policy, shared that with the BST Zone working on a full scale, it can potentially become a hub for future secondary battery research and development instead of just a production base.

He also shared that the government plans to support corporations that are currently blocked from global competition because they cannot afford expensive testing equipment.