The energy storage system, which is capable of 100 kW output with 60 kWh capacity, is currently one of the largest indoor lithium-ion battery-based systems in Japan. Going forward, MHI and Shimizu will jointly conduct tests using the energy storage system and verification of the microgrid system, in a quest to respond to increasing social needs for stationary energy storage systems.

The microgrid installed at the Shimizu Institute of Technology has a total output of 600 kW. It consists of multiple power sources, including a photovoltaic generation system, and an energy storage system, all configured for integrated control.

The lithium-ion rechargeable battery energy storage system installed in the microgrid system uses 320 units of a 50 Ah-class cell. The energy storage system consists of batteries and their racks, a direct current/alternating current (DC/AC) convertor, and a system control device.

MHI has been marketing the lithium-ion rechargeable battery energy storage system for multi-unit apartment buildings. The company has also completed the development of Japan’s first container-type megawatt-class energy storage system, using more than 2,000 units of lithium-ion cells. The company has already begun marketing the system for a variety of applications: as a peak-cut system to accommodate peak electric demand, as an auxiliary power source to achieve stable power supply in unstable power grid areas, and as a power grid stabilization system to promote renewable energy such as wind power and solar energy.

In the verification testing to be conducted by Shimizu, MHI will jointly accumulate storage system management data toward achieving environmental and economic benefits. MHI will further utilize the knowledge obtained through this initiative both in the creation of a market for its batteries leveraging the company’s system development capability, and in the establishment of advanced technology to enable the company’s full entry into the “smart community” market.