Japan Solar Update: No.65 (Oct 2 ~ 6, 2023)
Angency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) under Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that the renewable energy output curtailment rate is estimated to increase by 2 to 3% in Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu areas as a result of updating the outlook renewable energy output curtailment in FY 2023.
Introduction of grid-scale storage batteries is one of short-term measures to curb the output curtailment of renwable energy.
<Key points>
- As for further efforts to curb the output curtailment of renewable energy, the introduction of grid storage batteries as a short-term measure was cited, and approximately 12 GW of applications for system impact study were received nationwide for grid-scale storage batteries (as of May 2023)
- Regarding non-firm connections, the forecast trends of the grid will be newly announced
- The WG is also considering the possibility of utilizing storage batteries attached to PV systems following the requirements for mitigating output fluctuations in Hokkaido Prefecture
Further efforts to curb output curtailment of renewable energy
Short-term measure:Introduction of grid-scale
storage batteries
Status of acceptance of connection contracts for grid-scale storage batteries (as of May 2023)
Other short-term measures: Creation and shift of demand through heat pump water heaters, etc., expansion of renewable energy transmission volume by reviewing the operation of the Kanmon transmission line (power transmission line between the Kyushu region and the Honshu main island), etc.
Non-firm connections under the Japan version Connect & Manage
In the map of open capacity of the grid, the numerical notation of open capacity will be removed, and the forecast trends will be published once a month. This will be implemented first to general power transmission and distribution operators that are ready by the beginning of FY 2024
Responding to constraints of dispatching capability for expanding the introduction of renewable energy in Hokkaido
- Status of applications for system impact study that do not require mitigation of output fluctuation: PV 61 projects, 1.42 GW, wind 73 projects, 3.69 GW
- Regarding PV power plants*, many of which have started operation under fluctuation mitigation requirements and operational data have been accumulated, the possibility of further utilization of storage batteries annexed to PV power plants will be considered.
* For 18 PV power plants (430 MW in total), approx. 190 MWh of storage batteries are installed, annexed to them.
Figure 2 Summary of discussions on further efforts for curbing output curtailment of renewable energy Source: Materials of the 47th meeting of Working Group on Grid Connection of Renewable Energy (August 3, 2023), compiled by RTS Corporation