Hirohara Battery Energy Storage System

The Hirohara Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is located in Oaza Hirohara, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The 30MW/120MWh battery is Eku’s first in Japan, and the company has agreed a 20-year offtake agreement for the project with Tokyo Gas.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024 and the battery is expected to begin operating in 2026. Once live the BESS will be capable of storing enough electricity to power approximately 63,000 households for four hours¹.

Project financing has been arranged by MUFG Bank representing the first battery storage project they have arranged finance for in Japan. Under the offtake agreement, Eku Energy will own the BESS while Tokyo Gas will own 100% of its operating rights for 20 years, with Eku Energy responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the facility.

As the global net zero transition accelerates, Japan has introduced its GX (green transformation)policy which provides a roadmap for economic growth and emissions reductions. Increasing renewable generation is a vital part of this roadmap and battery storage has a critical role to play in balancing electricity supply and demand.

^{1 The Electricity consumed by a household per day is calculated as 11.4kWh. (Source: Ministry of the Environment 2013 Report on Actual Electricity Consumption in Households). Based on estimated population of Miyazaki City as of April 2024 (Source: Miyazaki City)}