Key facts
- Sumitomo Corp. is studying UK battery energy storage systems for potential domestic adoption in Japan.
- The company is partnering with Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc and its manager Gresham House Limited.
- The initiative involves investing in five UK BESS projects with a total capacity of 694 MW.
- Sumitomo has prior experience in BESS development and operations in Japan.
Sumitomo Corporation is studying battery energy storage systems and their integration with electricity trading in the UK, specifically at a facility in Leicester. This initiative aims to gather insights for potential widespread adoption in Japan. The company, through its joint venture Summit Transition Partners Limited (STP), is investing in multiple large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the UK, developed by Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc (GRID). Sumitomo has also formed a strategic partnership with GRID's fund manager, Gresham House Limited (GH). The UK's renewable energy targets and policy support for BESS are driving the deployment of such systems to ensure a stable electricity supply. Sumitomo Corporation already has a presence in the UK's renewable energy sector, including offshore wind, and is involved in power trading.