Vanadium Redox Flow Battery
VRFB Pilot Project
VRFB is a rechargeable battery that is charged and discharged by means of the oxidation-reduction reaction of vanadium ions. Sumitomo Electric is a world pioneer in VRFB technology. With over 30 years of development history and more than 180 MWh of energy storage systems deployed/contracted, Sumitomo Electric brings reliable energy storage solutions to customers around the world. The battery offered by Sumitomo Electric features long lifetime, unlimited cycle life, easy operation, and low maintenance. It is a safe and flexible energy storage solution that can be used for grid support, renewable integration, wholesale electricity market participation, and microgrids.
Basic Competitiveness
Key Advantages
Current Operations
Redox flow batteries are rechargeable batteries that are charged and discharged by means of the oxidation-reduction reaction of ions of vanadium. Characteristics of these batteries include long service life, versatility, and high safety. Deployments of batteries are stationed in Japan, Belgium, and California. To learn more about the system in California, click here.
Principle of VRFB
No solid reactions when charging and discharging
Sumitomo Electric has been proceeding with a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) pilot project in coordination with San Diego Gas & Electric, stemming from a partnership between Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
The flow battery provides 2 MW/8 MWh of energy, enough to power the equivalent of about 1,000 homes for up to four hours. The battery was installed at an SDG&E substation, where it has undergone testing and fine-tuning for reliability and performance, before starting participation in the California ISO wholesale electricity markets in December 2018.
The four-year pilot project is intended to test and evaluate the best ways to manage and maximize new storage technology on the grid, demonstrate the economics of the flow battery in the commercial wholesale market, provide flexibility, and integrate growing amounts of renewable energy into the system.
Applications
Press release (Jan. 25, 2021): NEDO extends redox flow battery system project to conduct an additional demonstration of a microgrid as a solution to power outages in California
| Customer | Hokkaido Electric Power Company |
| Capacity | 15 MW (max. 30 MW) x 4 hours (60 MWh) |
| COD | December 2015 |
| Applications |
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| Scope of work | Battery system, BMS, PCS, installation and maintenance |
| Customer | Obayashi Corporation |
| Capacity | 500 kW x 6 hours (3 MWh) |
| COD | January 2015 |
| Applications |
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| Scope of work | Battery system, BMS, PCS, installation and maintenance |
| Customer | John Cockerill (formerly CMI) |
| Capacity | 500 kW x 3 hours (1.5 MWh) |
| COD | October 2018 |
| Applications |
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| Scope of work | Battery system and BMS |
