Japan’s Marubeni Corporation has launched a demonstration project for its 3.7MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on December 20, 2023, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Marubeni Green Power Vietnam Co., Ltd. This initiative marks a significant step in the collaboration established last year with VinES, a subsidiary of the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, which aims to enhance energy solutions in Vietnam.
The BESS will be installed and operated at Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang, also owned by a subsidiary of Vingroup. The system is developed and manufactured by VinFast Auto Ltd., under the VinFast Energy brand, another one of Vingroup’s subsidiaries. Marubeni's role as the owner of the BESS involves providing a service that aims to reduce electricity costs by strategically charging and discharging the battery system. This approach exploits time-of-use electricity rate differentials to optimise energy costs, representing one of the first such business models for a BESS of this scale in Vietnam.
Satoru Harada, the Chief Operating Officer of the Power Division at Marubeni Corporation, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to collaborate with Vingroup through the first undertaking at Vinpearl, utilising the BESS manufactured domestically by VinFast Energy. This will also open new business opportunities for Marubeni in the Vietnamese market by providing BESS services to manufacturing and business facilities, helping customers optimise operational costs while driving the green transition through rooftop solar integration as an integrated solution.”
The BESS technology is increasingly popular globally as an advanced solution for energy storage. It provides the flexibility to store and supply electricity according to demand, especially effective during periods of peak consumption by storing energy generated during off-peak hours. This capability assists in alleviating stress on the power grid.
Additionally, the BESS can seamlessly integrate with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, addressing the intermittency issues associated with these technologies while enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy integration into the grid. As the world moves towards more sustainable energy systems, the role of BESS is becoming increasingly crucial, marking it as a key contributor to the ongoing energy transition efforts.
Source: Noah Wire Services