Japan's Shikoku Electric enters first grid-scale battery storage project

Shikoku Electric Power

14/06/2023 08:36

TOKYO, June 14 (Reuters) - Shikoku Electric Power Co
 9507.T  has teamed-up with CHC Japan K.K. to develop a
grid-scale battery energy project in western Japan, both
companies said in a statement, as the country needs to expand in
storage to accommodate renewable energy capacity.
    The project, Matsuyama Mikan Energy LLC, will be located
close to a solar power plant owned by Shikoku Electric and will
become the first grid-scale battery energy storage system for
Shikoku Electric. 
    The project of capacity of 35.8 megawatt hours and output of
12 megawatt will store the excess energy during off-peak hours
and discharge it during peak hours. Construction would start in
August and commercial operation is set for the 2025 fiscal year.
    Batteries are central to Japan becoming carbon neutral by
2050, as they are critical for storage of renewable energy to
smooth output fluctuations.   
    Last week, Japan's Itochu Corp  8001.T  jointly established
a power storage company with Osaka Gas Co  9532.T  and Tokyo
Century Corp  8439.T .
    

 (Reporting by Katya Golubkova, Editing by Louise Heavens)
 ((ekaterina.golubkova@thomsonreuters.com;))