14 DAY TRIAL // In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in March 2011, Japan was left with no choice except start looking into the possibility of embracing energy sources other than nuclear power.
Renewables were given due consideration, but the problem with them is that they are not reliable. This is because, all too often, supply greatly depends on weather conditions and other environmental factors.
In an attempt to make green energy sources such as the one mentioned above more reliable, the country is now looking into the possibility of piecing together storage systems whose central components are recycled batteries that used to be fitted on electric vehicles.
According to Oil Price, one such power storage system has recently been set in place in the southwestern Japan. The system serves a 10-megawatts solar plant, and is expected to become operational later this month.
The same source details that the system in question comprises as many as 16 recycled batteries that used to power electric vehicles driven in the country's Osaka prefecture.
Interestingly enough, the large-scale power storage system is argued to be the first of its kind to have until now been built anywhere in the world.
Sumitomo Corp., i.e. the company that developed and installed the system, explains that the 16 batteries it used to complete this project all underwent extensive testing before being integrated into the installation.
It was thus determined that the former electric vehicle batteries were safe to utilize, and that their energy storing capacity was one of 600kW/400kWh.
Once up and running, the storage system will help the solar plant it serves maintain a stable energy output instead of a fairly hectic one.
Should the installation perform well, Japan plans to use the many electric vehicle batteries that are bound to become available in the future to build several other such systems.
“We are pleased to be a part of such an important verification project that can both utilize used EV batteries, and provide a large-scale power storage facility, which are important issues that need to be addressed for the future of renewable energy,” Norihiko Nonaka with Sumitomo Corp. commented on this initiative.