Regarding Development of Multi-functional Electric Power Storage Device with Nickel-metal Hydride Battery

Tokyo, October 26, 2010 - Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO), Nisshin Electric Co., Ltd. (Nisshin), and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) announced today that the three companies have jointly developed the first multi-functional electric power storage device to use a nickel-metal hydride battery that can accommodate peak shifts of electricity demand (*1) as well as compensate for instantaneous voltage drops (*2) and power failures (*3).

To date, the sale of multi-functional electric power storage devices has centered mainly on devices for large-size buildings and factories (*4) using large-capacity sodium-sulfur batteries. Such sodium-sulfur batteries, however, lacked small- and mid-capacity types suited to small- and mid-size buildings and factories (*5). While devices using storage batteries have been available for small- and mid-size buildings and factories, a multi-functional electric power storage device using high-performance storage batteries has not.

Hence the three companies undertook to develop a high output, ultra efficient multi-functional electric power storage device for small- and mid-size buildings and factories using KHI-manufactured nickel-metal hydride batteries.

The currently developed multi-functional electric power storage device has the following features:

The three companies have undertaken performance testing since July of this year at Nisshin's headquarters in Kyoto and recently concluded core performance checks. The device will next undergo field tests at Nisshin's factory beginning October 27. Testing and device modifications for product commercialization will begin next year.

Research is currently being done at KEPCO's Ishizugawa substation in Sakai, Osaka on electrical power supply/demand control systems that use storage batteries. Knowledge gained from the development of this current device will also be applied to battery charging/discharging controls and management as part of that research. 

*1: Refers to leveling the volume of electricity use over a day. By using this device, electricity can be stored during periods of low electricity usage to be used during periods of high electricity usage. This permits a level use of electricity during the day.

*2: Refers to a momentary drop, but not outage, in electrical voltage across a broad area of the electrical system from damage such as lightning. With this device, up to 80 kW of electricity can be sent for one second following an instant drop in voltage.

*3: With this device, up to 50 kW of electricity can be sent for ten minutes following a power failure.

*4: Primarily, customers with special high-voltage needs (contracted electrical power of 2000 kW or more)

*5: Primarily, customers with high-voltage needs (contracted electrical power of between 50 kW and 2000 kW)

・Overview of the Newly Developed Experimental Multi-functional Electric Power Storage Device

Exterior

  Specifications

Nickel metal　hydride battery module GIGACELL*

Exterior dimensions W: 271 mm L: 690 mm H: 340 mm

*GIGACELL  is a trademark, or registered trademark of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. in JAPAN and U.S. 

Research and Development Structure

 ◆Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO)

・Proposing, managing and evaluating research plans

・Designing functionality for multi-functional electrical power storage devices

◆Nisshin Electric Co., Ltd. (Nisshin)

・Developing and evaluating control software

・Manufacturing and evaluating electrical power converters

◆Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI)

・Manufacturing and evaluating battery monitoring devices

・Manufacturing and evaluating nickel-metal hydride batteries

Research and Development Period

April 2008-March 2013