Kaneka and Itochu have switched on a solar microgrid in Japan. It is powered exclusively by 2.2 MW of PV and 6 MWh of storage capacity. It will sell power to the eight companies operating at the site via a power purchase agreement. Contact online >>
Kaneka and Itochu have switched on a solar microgrid in Japan. It is powered exclusively by 2.2 MW of PV and 6 MWh of storage capacity. It will sell power to the eight companies operating at the site via a power purchase agreement.
The microgrid is powered exclusively by 2.2 MW of PV systems and batteries with a storage capacity of 6 MWh. The PV systems were installed on the roofs of the eight companies operating at the site. The companies agreed to buy the power generated by the microgrid under a power purchase agreement from Toyooka Regional Energy Service LLC, which is a joint venture between Kaneka Solar Marketing Corp. and Japanese trading giant Itochu. Itochu will be responsible for operating the batteries and trading the energy.
“During normal times, the on-site PPA business will be deployed to supply electric power generated by solar power generation to the facility, and any surplus electricity generated will be sold within the industrial park to realize local production for local consumption of renewable energy,” Kaneka said in a statement.
Under current regulations in Japan, corporate PPAs must be made by involving electric utilities, except for on-site PPAs. Both physical and virtual PPAs are allowed. Under a physical PPA, electricity buyers pay fixed fees to generators through retailers, including "sleeving" and management fees.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Microgrids consist of interconnected distributed energy resources, grouped into single, controllable entities. They can act both as part of the wider grid system or separately, and so are particularly useful during grid outages. Grids such as this are being built around the world to combat a number of energy dilemmas, as well as easing the introduction of renewable energy sources, and are usually deployed together with smart grid technologies such as blockchain.
"Japan faces multiple challenges that require smart planning," says Andrew DeWit, Rikkyo University, Tokyo''s, professor of energy policy. "Its energy self-sufficiency is dangerously low at only 8% of all primary energy. And its ageing and depopulation mean that locational choices have to be shaped, in order to maintain viable communities that have sufficient density to deal with rising costs of infrastructure maintenance, energy and other resources."
For Japan, a particular draw is the flexibility of microgrids. In the wake of the 2011 earthquake, the country established the National Resilience Programme, predominantly to build backup capabilities should another disaster befall Japan. This has led to the development of several microgrids, the most notable being the first microgrid community, Higashi Matsushima.
The first microgrids in Japan were New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization-financed projects initiated in Aichi, Kyoto and Hachinohe in 2003. A variety of energy sources were tested, in particular gas engines, and their success was demonstrated in the years that followed.
"[Microgrids] were firstly demonstrated in Aichi Expo in 2005," says Takao Kashiwagi, microgrid designer and Tokyo Institute of Technology professor at the International Research Centre for Advanced Energy Systems for Sustainability. "This demonstration is very important following the increasing share of renewable energy."
The total number of microgrids in use in Japan is currently unclear, though Kashiwagi puts the number of areas using the technology at close to 40. According to DeWit, "nobody seems to know, because there is poor governance on the PR side. This is complicated by the tendency to label every microgrid project as ''first'' in order to attract attention."
Despite the confusion, the number of grids has undoubtedly been growing. particularly since the 2011 disaster. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which hit off the coast of Sanriku, caused vast amounts of damage to Japan''s energy infrastructure, increasing the need for the project roll-out.
Japan''s energy sector was decimated as the tsunami caused the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant leading to the shutdown of all of Japan''s 50+ nuclear plants. The country is currently reliant on fossil fuel imports for 94% of its power and despite plans to restart many of its reactors, progress has been slow.
One of the most notable projects to rise from the devastation of 3/11 is the decentralised microgrid in Higashi Matsushima. Situated on the north-east coast of Japan, in the Miyagi Prefecture, Higashi Matsushima was badly damaged by the tsunami with 65% of the city flooded and 1,130 residents killed.
From the ruins, Higashi Matsushima City Smart Disaster Prevention Eco Town was built and officially opened in June 2016. Using concepts first put forward by Kashiwagi, who is head of the New Energy Promotion Council, the town was built jointly by the city and housing developer Sekisui House. It was funded by the Ministry of Environment as part of the National Resilience Programme.
The town consists of 70 houses and 15 apartment buildings that were used to rehouse those who lost their homes in 3/11. All the buildings are earthquake-resistant and it will be a Net Zero Energy City by 2022.
Should the main grid fail, the Higashi Matsushima microgrid can supply energy to the whole town for several hours. Alternatively, it can redirect power from residential buildings to hospitals and the community hall for several days. "From the view point of resiliency, a minimum of about 30% of distributed energy system is required and Higashi Matsushima has been designed following that," says Kashiwagi.
The entire city''s renewable capacity has grown alongside the microgrid town, and now satisfies 35% of demand. Between 2011 and 2015, the amount of renewables in Higashi Matsushima increased nearly 20 times, and the city plans further advances with the aim of producing 120% of power demand by 2026. As of 2016, the energy has been managed by HOPE Electricity, a local power company run by Higashi Matsushima that reinvests profit back into the city.
About Industrial microgrids japan
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Industrial microgrids japan have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Industrial microgrids japan for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Industrial microgrids japan featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
