Japan Solar Update: No.147 (May 5 ~ 9, 2025)
The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) under METI presented its policy to start a tentative additional measure toward prompt grid connection of grid-scale storage batteries. ANRE approves early interconnection on the condition that storage battery installers install a device which restricts charge during specific time period at their own expense. The policy has started from April 2025.
<Key points>
- As of the end of December 2024, the capacities of applications received for connection assessment and applications for grid connection contracts of grid-scale storage batteries were approx. 95 GW and approx. 8 GW, respectively, nationwide, an approx. eightfold increase compared to the data as of the end of May 2023
- As of the end of December 2024, approx. 170 MW of grid-scale storage batteries had been interconnected
- As an issue of grid-scale storage batteries, the practice of reserving grid capacity without actual use have been pointed out. Going forward, it is planned to consider measures such as imposing certain rules on connection procedures and grid access
Status of applications received for connection assessment and applications for grid connection contracts of grid-scale storage batteries as of the end of December 2024
Connection assessment (nationwide)：11.89 GW (as of end-May 2023) → 95.30 GW (as of end-Dec 2024)
Connection contract (nationwide): 1.12 GW (as of the end-May 2023) → 8.03 GW (as of end-Dec 2024)
As of the end of December 2024, approx. 170 MW of grid-scale storage batteries had been interconnected
Issues of grid-scale storage batteries and countermeasures
- There are limits to the capacity of storage batteries that can be connected without grid reinforcement by the measures to accelerate grid connection capacity expansion
- There are concerns about social costs arising from practices such as a single developer submitting a large number of connection assessment applications, effectively reserving grid capacity without actual utilization and so on
It is planned to consider measures such as imposing certain rules on connection procedures and grid access
Figure 1 Status of applications received for connection assessment and applications for grid connection contracts of grid-scale storage batteries
Source: Materials of the 2nd meeting of the Working Group on the Next-Generation Electric Grid (March 17, 2025), compiled by RTS Corporation