Eku Energy launches its first energy storage project in Japan

Eku Energy has announced the launch of the Hirohara Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Miyazaki, marking its first project in Japan in collaboration with Tokyo Gas.

Share:

Eku Energy stockage Japon

Located in Oaza Hirohara, in the city of Miyazaki, the Hirohara BESS project marks Eku Energy’s entry into the Japanese market with a 30MW/120MWh facility. The system is the result of a 20-year energy sales agreement with Tokyo Gas.

Production schedule and capacity

Construction is scheduled to start in the second half of 2024, with commissioning expected in July 2026. Once up and running, the system will be able to power around 63,000 homes for four hours.

Financing and operating procedures

The project financing was orchestrated by MUFG Bank, marking their first involvement in financing battery storage projects in Japan. Under the agreement, Eku Energy will own the BESS, while Tokyo Gas will hold the operating rights for 20 years, with Eku Energy providing ongoing maintenance.

Contributing to the energy transition

This project comes at a time when Japan is accelerating its transition to net zero, supported by the Green Transformation (GX) policy, which aims for economic growth while reducing emissions. Energy storage plays an essential role in stabilizing electricity supply and demand.

With operations in the UK, Australia, Italy, and now Japan, Eku Energy aims to expand its battery storage portfolio, using its global expertise and commercial knowledge to support Japan’s GX objectives. Daniel Burrows, Head of Eku Energy APAC, expressed his enthusiasm for this project, which is the first in Japan to reach financial close, and Kentaro Ono, Managing Director of Eku Energy Japan, emphasized the importance of innovative agreements with Tokyo Gas to achieve these goals.

EDF Power Solutions has been selected by the Japanese government to build a 110 MW lithium-ion battery after winning a public tender aimed at enhancing the flexibility of the country's electricity grid.
Atmos Renewables has completed financing for a 100 MW battery energy storage system in Western Australia, marking the company's first asset of this type in the region and strengthening its presence in the Australian energy market.
Eos Energy Enterprises has received an additional $22.7mn from the US Department of Energy to complete the first phase of its battery manufacturing project in the United States, bringing total funding to $90.9mn.
A Wood Mackenzie report estimates required battery investments at $1.2 trillion to integrate an additional 5,900 GW of renewable energy, highlighting battery storage systems' key role in stabilising electrical grids.
Chinese company HyperStrong and Swedish firm Repono AB announce a strategic agreement to jointly implement large-scale energy storage projects totalling 1.4 GWh in Europe by the end of 2027.
Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy finalise financing for Africa's largest standalone battery energy storage project, raising ZAR 5.4 billion ($300 million) from Absa and Standard Bank in South Africa.
Matrix Renewables and Pioneer Community Energy have signed an energy capacity contract for a 22 MW battery storage project in Kern County, operational from early 2026.
The Ignitis Group is starting the construction of three battery energy storage systems in Lithuania, with a combined capacity of 291 MW and a total investment of €130mn.
Alinta Energy has appointed GenusPlus Group to build the first phase of the Reeves Plains Energy Hub Battery, a high-capacity storage facility designed to support grid stability in South Australia.
A partnership between Indonesia Battery and Contemporary Amperex Technology aims to launch a lithium-ion battery plant in Indonesia by the end of 2026, with a 6.9 gigawatt-hour capacity and planned expansion.
State Grid Wuzhong Power Supply Company announces the completion of the energy storage compartment at Tongli substation, a key step for the upcoming integration of a 300 MW shared storage power plant in Ningxia.
Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy finalise commercial agreements for a 153 MW energy storage project in South Africa, aimed at enhancing national grid stability and optimising peak energy management.
Estimated at 40.9 billion dollars in 2024, the global microgrid market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 19.28% to reach 191.01 billion dollars by 2033, driven notably by innovative energy contracts.
The U.S. energy storage market set a historic record in early 2025, surpassing 2 GW installed in the first quarter despite increasing uncertainty regarding federal fiscal policies and tax credits.
The Sino-Moroccan joint venture COBCO has begun manufacturing essential lithium-ion battery components at its Jorf Lasfar plant, targeting a final annual capacity of 70 GWh, enough to equip one million electric vehicles.
Trianel teams with BKW and Luxcara to build a 900 MW lithium-iron-phosphate storage park in Waltrop, the first phase of a complex that could reach 1.5 GW and stabilise the German grid.
Blue Whale Energy partners with UNIGRID to deploy behind-the-meter storage systems adapted to constrained commercial and industrial urban areas in Southeast Asia.
Northvolt, recently placed under judicial administration, has received an indicative offer from a foreign investor to acquire its Swedish assets, signaling a potential imminent restart of its battery production units.
The frame agreement aligns Jinko ESS’s utility-scale storage technology with Metlen’s development pipeline, unlocking more than 3GWh across Chile and Europe while reducing delivery risk for grid operators.
Buffalo-based Viridi has obtained the cETLus mark for its RPS150 system, meeting the UL 9540 standard only days after a public battery fire-containment demonstration.