Sumitomo Corporation has developed and installed the first large-scale power storage system in the world that utilises used batteries collected from electric vehicles. This commercial-scale storage system, built on Yume-shima Island, Osaka, will begin operating in February 2014.
Over the next three years, the system will measure the smoothing effect of energy output fluctuation from the nearby Hikari-no-mori solar farm, and will aim to establish a large-scale power storage technology by safely and effectively utilising the huge quantities of discarded used EV batteries that are expected to become available in the future. Sumitomo Corporation created the joint venture company, 4R Energy Corporation, in collaboration with Nissan Motor in September 2010, to address the secondary use of EV lithium-ion batteries. The used EV batteries that will be recycled into this large-scale storage system have been recovered and gone through thorough inspection and maintenance at 4R, to confirm safety and performance. This prototype system (600kW/400kWh) consists of sixteen used EV batteries.
Sumitomo will seek new business opportunities that can make use of the highly economical storage system, as well as work on developing new applications for used EV batteries. The company aims to actively promote this approach, which can both contribute to expanding the use of EV and encourage the use of renewable energy.
