Launch of a Demonstration Project Aimed at Establishing Operation of a Large-Scale Energy Storage System Based on Reused Electric Vehicle Batteries2023/10/30
JERA Co., Inc. (JERA) announces the launch today of a demonstration project aimed at establishing operation of a large-scale energy storage system that reuses electric vehicle drive batteries and is capable of being connected to the extra-high-voltage transmission grid.
This project has been approved under the Ministry of the Environment’s Fiscal 2023 Demonstration Projects for Total Optimization of Renewable Energy-Related Products and Base Materials Aimed at Establishing a Domestic Resource Circulation System*1 grant program and will be conducted with technical support from Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota).
Together with Toyota, JERA has constructed a large-capacity sweep energy storage system that reuses drive batteries from electric vehicles and operated it connected to the power distribution system(27 October 2022 press release).
The current demonstration project will advance technology development aimed at establishing operation of a larger-scale energy storage system that, in a world’s first, can be connected to the extra-high-voltage transmission grid.
As we transition to an age of EVs, large numbers of used lithium-ion and other vehicle batteries are expected to be generated going forward. We believe that using the current demonstration project to establish technologies that enable such used batteries to be utilized at scale will contribute to promoting their domestic reuse.
Furthermore, we will apply the operational data gained from the large-scale energy storage system to advance the development of technologies that reduce CO2 emissions over the lifecycle of vehicle batteries and improve the safety and reliability of used batteries.
Going forward, JERA will continue collaborating with leading companies from Japan and overseas, both within the energy industry and beyond, to develop technologies like energy storage systems and services that contribute to optimal energy utilization as we proactively seek to achieve decarbonization and resource circulation across society.