Ecmweb 7328 199956 Info595
Ecmweb 7328 199956 Info595
Ecmweb 7328 199956 Info595
Ecmweb 7328 199956 Info595
Ecmweb 7328 199956 Info595

Sumitomo Corporation Invests in Battery Energy Storage Project

April 27, 2015
Japanese Corporation to Build First Independent Large Scale Battery Power Storage System For Frequency Regulation Market Operated by PJM

Sumitomo Corporation Group has announced its investment in a battery power storage system that will provide a reliable and stable supply-demand balancing service for the frequency regulation market operated by PJM.

Sumitomo acquired an interest in Willey Battery Utility, LLC (WBU) from Renewable Energy Systems Americas, the U.S. renewable energy developer/constructor, through Perennial Power Holdings, a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Sumitomo Corporation Group. WBU will own this battery energy storage system (maximum output: 6 MW, energy capacity: 2 MWh) manufactured by Toshiba Corp. This is the company's first investment in a large-scale stand-alone battery storage facility in the United States.

With the increase in the percentage of electricity generated from renewable resources with high output fluctuation, such as wind and solar energy, it is becoming increasingly important to balance and manage any difference between supply and demand efficiently and effectively. Storage batteries like the one WBU will have at its facility in Ohio will provide the regulated power to the frequency regulation market by following the PJM instructions sent every two seconds. Such power has conventionally been supplied by thermal and hydraulic power generation. In the United States, however, it is believed that the introduction of battery storage systems along with other new technologies will provide promising alternatives, as they can respond quickly to supply/demand variations and enable fine-tuned adjustment.

PJM currently operates power grids in 13 states in the northeastern U.S. with a total electric power generation capacity of approximately 185,600 MW which is comparable to the total capacity of 230,000 MW for all of Japan (excluding nuclear power generation capacity). With this project, the battery power storage system will be delivered and maintained by Toshiba, while auxiliary machinery will be supplied and installed by RES. Construction work will begin in Hamilton County, Ohio in April 2015, and the operation is planned to commence in December 2015.

According to Naoyuki Hagiwara, director, Power and Infrastucture Group, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, "Sumitomo plans to expand beyond the PJM frequency regulation market with entry into potential marketplaces such as Texas and California. This team brings strong expertise to future projects through the integration of technical strength of Toshiba, the manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, the development/construction capabilities of RES with its proven track record in the construction of more than 7,700MW of renewable energy projects (including under construction) in North America, and the knowhow of the Sumitomo Corporation Group with regard to electricity business operation, including renewable energy."

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