Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. - Joint Implementation of LAES Commercial Demonstration with Hiroshima Gas Co., Ltd
January 19, 2023 at 01:22 pm
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Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. ('SHI') (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shinji Shimomura) has established a partnership with Hiroshima Gas Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, President: Kensuke Matsufuji) and decided to construct a commercial Liquid Air Energy Storage ('LAES' 1) demonstration plant adjacent to Hatsukaichi LNG Terminal.
SHI invested in Highview Enterprise Limited ('Highview' 2), industry leader in Liquid Air Energy Storage technology in February 2020 and acquired a license for Highview's Liquid Air Energy Storage technology. This first commercial demonstration plant is utilizing Highview's Liquid Air Energy Storage technology. The external cold for increasing the LAES plant's efficiency will be provided from the LNG plant adjacent to the commercial demonstration plant.
In addition to individual contracts with Power Transmission and Distribution companies, this LAES plant operates in the wholesale power and capacity markets as well as in the supply and demand adjustment markets. Through focus on energy storage market foreseen in the future, and by providing energy storage solutions contributing to the effective use of resources and reduced environmental impact of energy, SHI will contribute to stable supply of clean electricity and the realization of a decarbonized society.
Purpose of the commercial demonstration project
Show compliance with relevant laws and regulations for designing and construction
Demonstrate operation with grid and with power market
Verify process efficiency increase and energy saving by use of external cold
From perspective of decarbonization, the plant stores valuable renewable energy (wind, solar, etc.) and contributes to provision of clean energy when discharged to power the society when needed.
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. specializes in the design, manufacturing and marketing of industrial and construction equipment. Net sales break down by family of products as follows:
- construction equipment (29.3%): hydraulic excavators, cranes, road machinery, etc.;
- precision machinery (20.8%): molding machines by injection, electric injection molding machines, medical use cyclotrons, etc.;
- equipment for environment protection (19.8%): energy generators, industrial wastewater processing systems, air pollution control units, etc.;
- machinery components (14.4%): power transmission and control systems (gears, power inverters, geared motors, gearboxes, etc.), motors, mechanical coupling systems, etc.;
- industrial equipment (11%): handling systems, logistic equipment, gas turbines, pumps, etc.;
- ships (4%);
- other (0.7%).
SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD. 
