KS Energy Co., Ltd. has joined forces with Hitachi, Ltd. to develop an Extra-High Voltage Grid Battery Energy Storage System in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The collaboration aims to enhance power supply stability in the Kyushu region and support carbon neutrality goals.
The initiative, which is set to feature a battery storage system with a planned capacity of 50,000 kW and 112,880 kWh, will address the region's power supply-demand imbalance. Renewable energy fluctuation has been a significant challenge, leading to output curtailments when supply exceeds demand. The new system aims to mitigate these issues by providing reliable balancing power.
KS Energy, established by Higo Bank, Ltd., is pioneering this project as the first extra-high voltage battery storage venture by a bank subsidiary in Japan. The company plans to manage the power trading operations in-house, including market price forecasting and battery control, to generate revenue from market transactions.
Hitachi will contribute its extensive expertise in battery energy storage projects to support KS Energy from the early stages of the development process, extending to operational launch. Hitachi's role includes project feasibility evaluation, equipment design, procurement, and installation, ensuring sustainable support for ongoing operations of the storage facility.
The partnership will also explore the introduction of a power trading support system developed by Hitachi. This system aims to optimize the operation of storage battery assets, leveraging advanced AI solutions under Hitachi's Lumada 3.0 initiative. It is expected to enhance the utilization of renewable energy resources and maintain a stable power supply.
The planned facility, provisionally named the KSE Kumamoto Battery Energy Storage System, is scheduled to commence operations in January 2029. Through this collaboration, both KS Energy and Hitachi aim to make the Kyushu region a leader in renewable energy circulation, contributing to both stable power supply and carbon neutrality achievements.
