05 February 2025

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. has initiated a project for constructing a storage battery system using redox flow batteries (final scale: output 4,000 kW, capacity 12,500 kWh) in Ama Town, Oki County, Shimane Prefecture.

This storage battery system is an initiative that three parties — Chugoku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Co., Inc., Ama Town, and como-gomo.company — have worked on under a subsidy from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment titled “Facility Introduction Support Project for Mainstreaming Renewable Energy in Remote Islands.” Sumitomo Electric will contribute to the promotion of carbon neutrality and the enhancement of resilience to disasters in the Oki Islands through our redox flow battery system, which has features such as long life, high safety, and environmental friendliness.

Chugoku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Co., Inc., Ama Town, and como-gomo.company will further accelerate efforts to realize a decarbonized society in Ama Town through a tripartite public-private partnership. The project will build a next-generation power network that can respond to disasters, including independent power supply operation (microgrid) during emergencies. This initiative is expected to contribute not only to Ama Town, but also to expanding the introduction of renewable energy throughout the Oki Islands, which are connected by power transmission and distribution lines, and to improving resilience in the event of disasters.

Sumitomo Electric's redox flow batteries feature long life, high safety, and environmental sustainability. Unlike other storage battery systems, the electrolyte is nonflammable, ensuring a high level of safety in the event of fire. Additionally, the system does not require the presence of hazardous material handlers, making it ideal for remote islands. The long service life of the electrolyte eliminates the need for replacement during the 20-year operation period, thereby reducing maintenance costs. Also, as the electrolyte does not degrade over time, it can be reused or recycled after the operational period, thus avoiding disposal costs.
These advantages have been highly regarded and were key factors in the adoption of Sumitomo Electric's redox flow batteries for this project.



   

Main features of our redox flow batteries
 

Long life and low degradation	- Low degradation of electrodes and electrolyte, allowing for 20 years of operation. - No capacity degradation as a result of repeated charging and discharging.
High safety	- Not classified as a hazardous material under the Fire Service Act   and does not require governmental approval for installation.
Environmentally friendly	- Electrolyte can be reused. - The majority of the battery components can be reused and recycled.   Very little industrial waste is generated upon removal (<1%).

  (References)
About redox flow battery
https://sumitomoelectric.com/products/flow-batteries

Sumitomo Electric Group Future Building Magazine "id" Vol.19:
Supporting Renewable Energy The Mission of Redox Flow Energy Storage Batteries
https://sumitomoelectric.com/id/project/v19/01