Press release

Regarding investment and participation in the power grid rechargeable battery business in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture - Efforts for power grid rechargeable batteries in the Kyushu area with high needs for grid stability.

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July 11th, 2024.
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Masataka Fujiwara, Headquarter: Chuo-ku, Osaka City) will implement a grid-scale rechargeable battery project along with Mizuho Leasing Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Akira Nakamura, Headquarter: Minato-ku, Tokyo), JFE Engineering Corporation (Representative Director and President: Kazumi Fukuda, Headquarter: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and Kyushu Steel Corporation (Representative Director and President: Kunio Kiyomoto, Headquarter: Kasuya County, Fukuoka Prefecture). In the future, the four companies will invest in Takeo Energy Storage LLC to aim for the operation start of the grid-scale energy storage facility (hereinafter referred to as the “Takeo E.S.F”) by the middle of fiscal 2025. It should be noted that Osaka Gas’s participation in the grid-scale rechargeable battery industry is its second, following its involvement in the Chisato E.S.F. project. Regarding the power demand-supply balance, which greatly fluctuates due to weather conditions, demand for rechargeable batteries that can complement the output fluctuations of renewable energy (hereinafter referred to as “RE”) has been increasing, particularly in the Kyushu area, where RE sources are prevalent, including solar photovoltaic technology. Rechargeable batteries can contribute to the stabilization of power systems.
In the future, the four companies will invest in Takeo Energy Storage LLC to aim for the operation start of the grid-scale energy storage facility (hereinafter referred to as the “Takeo E.S.F”) by the middle of fiscal 2025. It should be noted that Osaka Gas’s participation in the grid-scale rechargeable battery industry is its second, following its involvement in the Chisato E.S.F. project.

In recent years, with the expansion of renewable energy (hereinafter referred to as “RE”) introduction, rechargeable batteries that can complement the output fluctuations of RE have attracted attention. The importance of rechargeable batteries that can contribute to the stabilization of power systems has been increasing in the Kyushu area, where there are many RE sources, including solar photovoltaic technology, and where power supply and demand balance fluctuate greatly due to weather conditions.
Osaka Gas will contribute to the stabilization of power systems by charging and discharging the rechargeable batteries of the Takeo E.S.F. through trading in three power markets (wholesale power market, demand and supply adjustment market, capacity market), utilizing its power trading expertise.

The Daigas Group aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 based on the “Energy Transition 2030” announced in March 2023. Rechargeable batteries are regarded as power sources that contribute to the acceleration of RE introduction and stabilization of power systems, and we will continue to promote the expansion of the rechargeable battery business and work towards the achievement of a decarbonized society, which is a social issue.

*1:

ITOCHU Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “ITOCHU”), Tokyo Century Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “Tokyo Century”) and Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Osaka Gas”) will participate in the grid-scale rechargeable battery projects (hereinafter referred to as the “Rechargeable Battery Project”) through the establishment of Kyushu Energy Storage LLC, etc. utilizing subsidies*1. It will be our first full-scale participation in the industry. Click here for the web page.

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