Japan to begin building world’s largest storage battery

This could begin as early as this autumn.

Japan is set to start building the world's largest storage battery system as early as this autumn. It will also begin experiments to control fluctuations from renewable energy sources.

Hokkaido Electric will build a “redox flow battery system” produced by Sumitomo at one of its substations in the town of Abira, 500 miles from Tokyo. The system will be a 60 MWh vanadium redox flow battery. It will be as high as a six-storey building.

A redox flow battery repeats charging and discharging operations in a tank using an electrolytic solution of vanadium. The system will have a lifespan ranging from 10 to 20 years.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has allocated US$202 million to cover the full cost of developing and manufacturing the system.

It believes the introduction of redox flow batteries will enable utilities to buy 10% more electricity from renewable energy sources.