Japanese local energy storage vehicle

Who owns the battery storage facility in Japan?

Project financing has been arranged by MUFG Bank representing the first battery storage project they have arranged finance for in Japan. Under the offtake agreement, Eku Energy will own the BESS while Tokyo Gas will own 100% of its operating rights for 20 years, with Eku Energy responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the facility.

What is energy storage in Japan?

Energy storage in Japan consists of thermal storage, hydro, pumped hydro, and Battery Energy Storage Systems. As Japan works to increase renewable penetration to meet its Net Zero targets, grid balancing becomes more critical to ensure grid stability and replace the inertia typically generated by thermal generators.

What drives energy storage adoption in Japan?

Shunsuke Kawashima, who works across Itochu’s BESS business at all scales including residential, commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale, opened the discussion by highlighting the drivers for energy storage adoption in Japan, of which he said there are two: increasing renewable energy generation and increasing demand for electricity.

What are the requirements for battery energy storage in Japan?

There are a series of requirements to be eligible: projects must have a minimum capacity of 1 MW, the battery must be able to participate in various markets, and the battery must be directly connected to the grid. Energy storage in Japan consists of thermal storage, hydro, pumped hydro, and Battery Energy Storage Systems.

Where is the Hirohara battery energy storage system located?

Thank you. The Hirohara Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is located in Oaza Hirohara, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The 30MW/120MWh battery is Eku’s first in Japan, and the company has agreed a 20-year offtake agreement for the project with Tokyo Gas.

Can battery aggregators promote energy storage systems in Japan?

The Japanese government has published list of battery aggregators that successfully applied to a scheme to promote energy storage systems.