Development of Megawatt-Class Electric Power Generation and Storage System with World’s Largest Redox Flow Battery
Sumitomo Electric Industries has successfully developed a megawatt-class electric power generation/storage system which consists of the world’s largest redox flow battery and Japan’s largest concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) units. Sumitomo is planning to demonstrate the megawatt-class system on the premises of the Yokohama Works (Sakae-Ku Yokohama) in July 2012. The system is comprised of 28 CPV units with maximum total power generation of 200 kW as its energy source and one redox flow battery with capacity of 1MW x 5 hours as a storage facility of CPV-generated power. By employing the EMS (Energy Management System) , the system is indented to regulate the amount of electricity provided by power companies using the redox flow battery’s charge/discharge control function.
EMS monitors the amount of electric power generated by the total of 28 CPV units, which is provided via commercial power networks, stored in a redox flow battery. The obtained data will be sent through optical communication networks to be collectively controlled at the central control server.
Furthermore, the system also aims at systematic use of solar power using the battery to balance the fluctuations in CPV power generation that is susceptible to weather conditions.
