Sumitomo’s 2MW/8MWh flow battery storage project in the SDG&E trial. Image: Sumitomo / SDGE.
4 February 2022: Microgrid trial anchored by vanadium flow battery concludes in California
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) have successfully completed a zero-emissions microgrid pilot using a 2MW/8MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) energy storage system.
The battery system powered 66 homes and businesses in the California investor-owned utility’s service area for five hours in a test run.
California has been keen to improve grid reliability using zero-emission sources in light of numerous power shutoffs due to the recently increased wildfire risk. Sumimoto managing director Hideo Hato highlighted vanadium’s noteworthy non-flammable qualities in the pilot announcement.
Commencement of the year-long pilot was reported by…