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    1. Distributed Energy

    U.S., Japanese energy firms complete Distribution Microgrid in California

    April 14, 2022
    The demonstration is aimed at improving grid quality and achieving deliverables, like the establishment of a microgrid, a Redox Flow Battery (RF Battery) and multi-use operation in emergency situations
    Demonstration microgrid with Redox Flow batteries in California. Image credit Sumitomo Electric.
    Demonstration microgrid with Redox Flow batteries in California. Image credit Sumitomo Electric.

    The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has worked with Sumitomo Electric Industries to complete a demonstration project in San Diego.

    The demonstration is aimed at improving grid quality and achieving deliverables, like the establishment of a microgrid, a Redox Flow Battery (RF Battery) and multi-use operation in emergency situations. The hope is to replicate the results elsewhere, such as microgrids with solar and wind power and 100% renewable energy supply for islands where the use of power generator fuels can be expensive.

    Sumitomo Electric was commissioned in September 2015 for the demonstration project, using RF batteries, which ensure no degradation due to charging or discharging.

    In 2021, the firm decided to demonstrate the operation of a microgrid at the project. The microgrid with an 8-MWh VRF battery successfully supplied electricity to 66 residential customers as a standalone power source. The battery ensured reliable supply as it could stabilize the voltage and frequency of the distribution lines by charging/discharging the power required to sustain supply-demand balance.

    The project also helped verify that the profitability in electricity market transactions can be improved by using the flexible bidding algorithm and leveraging the benefits of the RF battery.  

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.