Banpu Next aiming to expand beyond Japan
Known as BESS, a battery energy storage system holds electricity from the sun and wind, which are intermittent sources of energy generation depending on weather conditions and seasons.
Banpu Next sees potential in the BESS business enhancing grid stability and supporting power trade in countries that promote more use of clean energy, said chief executive Smittipon Srethapramote.
The company, through subsidiary Banpu Japan, started the operation of a 58-megawatt-hour BESS farm in the city of Tono last month. The facility is designed to supply electricity to 5,800 houses.
"We set a goal to develop more BESS farms, bringing total capacity to 1 gigawatt-hour throughout Japan by 2030," said Mr Smittipon.
"We are also seeking new opportunities to invest in this business in other Asia-Pacific countries."
BESS development aligns with the Japanese government's decarbonisation campaign. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) grants subsidies to investors venturing into BESS projects in the country.
Last year the METI launched a programme to support large-scale BESS installations, especially those linked with solar farms, to ensure renewable power will be smoothly supplied to customers.
Banpu Next is among the companies receiving financial assistance from the Japanese authorities.
The company is developing three other BESS projects in Japan, scheduled to start commercial operations by 2028.
They include a 104-MWh battery farm in Tsuno in Miyazaki prefecture. The project, co-invested by Banpu Japan, lending firm Fuyo General Lease and Global Engineering, costs 1.3 billion baht. METI offers a subsidy worth 450 million baht for the installation.
Another project is a 104-MWh battery farm in Aizu in Fukushima prefecture. The project requires 1.2 billion baht in investment and is partly funded by 400 million baht from METI.
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