Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has developed and installed the world’s first large-scale power storage system that reuses batteries collected from electric vehicles.
Over the next three years, the system will ensure a stable output of electricity is produced from a solar energy farm on Yumeshima Island, near to Osaka.
The eventual aim is to create a large-scale power storage technology that safely uses the expected huge quantities of discarded batteries from electric vehicles.
In 2010, Sumitomo Corporation formed the join venture 4R Energy Corporation with Nissan, which produces the Leaf electric vehicle.
The idea behind 4R Energy Corporation is that it finds secondary uses for electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries.
Sixteen used batteries will be used in the prototype system from Nissan.
Used batteries will be inspected by 4R to confirm safety and performance.
Battery business development department general manager Norihiko Nonaka said: “We are pleased to be part of such an important verification project that can both utilise used electric vehicle batteries, and provide a large-scale power storage facility, which are important issues that need to be addressed for the future of renewable energy.”
Sumitomo will seek new business opportunities that can make use of the highly economical storage system. It will also work on developing new applications for used vehicle electric batteries.
