All households with a solar storage system need to urgently check if the system has a recalled LG battery and should switch off affected batteries immediately.
That warning has been issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“When these batteries malfunction, there is a serious risk of injury or death due to the affected batteries overheating and causing a fire,” the ACCC warned.
“LG is now instructing all consumers with affected LG batteries in their solar energy storage system – which may be branded LG, SolaX, Opal, Red Earth, Eguana or VARTA – to switch off their energy storage system immediately and to keep it switched off until they are remediated.”
“It is critically important that anyone with a solar energy storage system checks their battery’s serial number, as this recall has been updated to include new models, affected systems and dates of manufacture,” said ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe.
“Even if you don’t have an LG-branded solar storage system, you may still have an LG branded battery that has been recalled. For peace of mind, check your system again and turn off your battery straight away if it has been recalled.”
LG has agreed to provide financial compensation to consumers who have higher electricity bills as a result of not being able to use their battery.
“Please put your safety first and follow this important advice to switch off. LG will compensate consumers who are out of pocket on their electricity bills as a result of switching off and not being able to use their battery,” Ms Lowe said.
The ACCC says to follow the instructions below.
1. Check if your LG battery has been recalled
Visit https://www.lgessbattery.com/au, click on ‘Electrical Safety Recall’ and follow the instructions to find out if your battery is affected by the recall. If you need help, immediately contact LG Energy Solution Australia (LG) by phone on 1300 677 273 or by email to productau@lgensol.com.
Further information is on the Product Safety Australia website:
- PRA 2020/18529 – LG Energy Solution Australia Pty Ltd (formerly LG Chem Australia Pty Ltd) – ESS Home Energy Storage System Batteries
- PRA 2022/19420 – SolaX Power Aus Pty Ltd – LG S/A Gen2 Home Energy Storage System (ESS) Batteries
- PRA 2022/19550 – LG Energy Solution Australia Pty Ltd (formerly LG Chem Australia Pty Ltd) – LG ESS Home Energy Storage System Batteries
2. If your battery has been recalled, switch it off
To switch off the affected LG battery safely, refer to the instructions for your energy storage system or contact the installer or LG 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com
3. Contact LG or SolaX
Contact LG or SolaX to let them know you have a recalled battery and arrange a free replacement, refund or software update. LG or SolaX will let you know which remedy applies to your battery.
For LG or any other affected energy storage systems, contact LG on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com.
For affected LG batteries in SolaX or Opal battery systems, contact SolaX Power on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com.
What happens next?
Consumers with affected LG batteries are urged to register their details with LG to receive a free replacement, a refund or software update.
While all affected batteries should be immediately turned off, some will be directly replaced or fully refunded. Other affected LG batteries will receive a software update that will shut down batteries at risk of overheating and any LG battery shut down by the software will be replaced or refunded.
LG will advise consumers of which remedy applies to their affected LG battery. It will also provide financial compensation to consumers who have higher electricity bills as a result of not being able to use their battery.
For more information on affected LG batteries in LG, Redback, Red Earth, Eguana or VARTA energy storage systems, consumers can contact LG on 1300 677 273 or email productau@lgensol.com.
For more information on affected LG batteries in SolaX or Opal energy storage systems, call SolaX on 1300 476 529 or email service@solaxpower.com.
Solar analytics company Sunwiz says that as at 2023, there were about 180,000 home storage batteries installed in Australia. About 47,100 were installed in 2022 alone – an increase of 55 per cent on the previous year). “About one third of those were an addition to an existing solar panel system, while the rest were included as part of a whole new solar installation,” it says. “That means that about 14 per cent of new solar installations in 2022 included a battery.”
Are you concerned by the apparent increase in battery fires? Does it make you think twice about installing one? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Also read: Dos and don’ts of going solar
