Sumitomo Corporation has developed the world’s first large-scale energy storage system that utilises used batteries collected from electric vehicles.
Built on Yume-shima Island, Osaka, at the Hikari-no-Mori (‘Forest of Light’) solar farm; the energy storage system will begin operating this month and is a collaborative effort between Sumitomo and Nissan.
The joint venture, dubbed ‘4R Energy Corporation’ was originally announced in 2009.
Performance of the system will be monitored over the next few years.
“We are pleased to be a part of such an important verification project that can both utilize used EV batteries, and provide a large-scale power storage facility, which are important issues that need to be addressed for the future of renewable energy,” said Sumitomo’s Battery Business Development Department General Manager, Norihiko Nonaka.
This prototype system (600kW/400kWh) consists of sixteen used EV batteries.
Electric vehicle lithium-based batteries are usually replaced when their storage capacity drops to 70% – 80% of their nameplate rating. While considered no longer suitable for EV use; the battery is far from “dead” and can be used in other applications or its components recycled.
As well as potential for large-scale storage, EV batteries may also provide a comparatively cheap energy storage solution for residential and off-grid solar applications. Lithium-ion batteries are significantly lighter and smaller than their traditional deep cycle battery counterparts of comparable capacity.
Sumitomo Corporation says it will seek new business opportunities which can make use of what it says is a highly economical storage system, as well as work on developing new applications for used EV batteries.
The company was established in 1919 and its activities include sales of a variety of products and services within Japan; import and export, trilateral trade, and domestic and international business investment.
