Kaneka Solar Marketing Corporation and ITOCHU Corporation will launch an integrated electric power service combining the regional microgrid business using energy storage systems and PV systems in Toyooka Industrial Park (Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture) by the end of FY 2023.

Kaneka Solar Marketing and ITOCHU will establish Toyooka Regional Energy Service LLC, which will operate Microgrid business, with Kaneka Solar Marketing investing 75% and ITOCHU 25%. They will use energy storage facilities (rated output 1.9 MW, rated capacity 6 MWh) made by reusing used batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) and PV modules (2.2 MW) installed on the roofs of buildings in the industrial park.

After signing PPA with eight companies occupying the building, power supply will start in October 2023.

In the event of a disaster or other power outage, Toyooka Industrial Park will be disconnected from the surrounding power grid to self-supply electric power,  and solar power will be supplied to the eight companies under PPA agreement and evacuation centers within the industrial park for up to three days.

During normal times, surplus power from the on-site PPA business will be sold within the industrial park to achieve local production for local consumption of renewable energy, and combined with the power trading business of storage batteries, the micro-gridbusiness will contribute to stable power supply locally.

In the end, the MG business can contribute to  disaster countermeasures, stabilization of the local power supply, promotion of renewable energy, and CO2 reduction of 1,120t annually, while maintaining its profitability.

Data: Kaneka Kaneka Tokyooka Industrial Park Press Release

The surplus electricity will be purchased by i-Grid Solutions, which plans to sell it to the surrounding community outside the industrial park. The project utilized FY 2022 Subsidy for the Project Expenses to Promote Dissemination of Renewable Energy, etc. in Harmony with Local Communities (Regional Microgrid Establishment Project) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).