ITOCHU Launch of Next-Generation Energy Storage System That Utilizes AI Technology
For building a distributed energy society
October 24, 2018
ITOCHU Corporation announced today that it is to launch sales of a next-generation energy storage system that utilizes AI technology, together with a dedicated electricity supply plan tailored specifically to energy storage cells. ITOCHU is launching these solutions in partnership with UK company Moixa Energy Holdings Ltd. , NF Corporation and TRENDE Inc.
ITOCHU has developed and commercialized the Smart Star L, its own-brand energy storage system, jointly with NF. As of October 2018, cumulative total sales of Smart Start L stand at approximately 10,000 units (equivalent to 95MWh/30MW)
In Japan, the period for the solar power generation fixed-price feed-in-tariff (hereafter “FIT”) scheme, which began in 2009, will begin to expire as of October 2019. This is expected to lead to an increase in self-consumption (i.e. home use) of electric power generated using photovoltaic solar power generation systems.
At the same time, after the expiry of the FIT scheme period, it will become necessary to consider a range of variable factors, including climatic conditions which fluctuate on a daily basis, and the state of actual solar power generation and power consumption at each household.
Energy storage systems will therefore require more complex and sophisticated control mechanisms.