Sumitomo Corporation has developed and installed the first large-scale power storage system that uses used EV batteries. This prototype commercial-scale (600 kW, 400 kWh) storage system consists of sixteen used EV batteries.

Located on Yume-shima Island, Osaka, the system begins operation this month. Over the next three years, Sumitomo will measure the facility’s smoothing effect on energy output fluctuation from the nearby Hikari-no-mori solar farm.

Sumitomo and Nissan created the joint venture 4R Energy Corporation in 2010, to address the secondary use of EV lithium-ion batteries. The used EV batteries that will be recycled into this storage system have gone through thorough inspection and maintenance at 4R, to confirm safety and performance.

Sumitomo’s Battery Business Development Manager Norihiko Nonaka said, “We are pleased to be a part of such an important verification project that can both utilize used EV batteries, and provide a large-scale power storage facility, which are important issues that need to be addressed for the future of renewable energy.”

Source: Sumitomo via Green Car Congress