GS Yuasa International Ltd. (“GS Yuasa”) and Sustech Inc. (Sustech) today announced the launch of a joint grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System(BESS) development project in Japan. The project will deploy a grid-scale lithium-ion battery storage facility in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, with commercial operations scheduled to commerce in September 2026.

The facility utilize GS Yuasa’s lithium-ion battery systems and will be operated through Sustech’s proprietary AI-driven power management platform, “ELIC,” enabling advanced market participation and optimized charge-discharge control in response to real-time grid and market conditions.

This collaboration brings together GS Yuasa’s leadership in battery manufacturing and safety engineering with Sustech’s globally competitive AI-based energy optimization and aggregation technologies, creating a next-generation model for grid-scale energy storage operations rooted in Japanese industrial and digital innovation.

As renewable energy penetration accelerates, grid-scale energy storage is becoming an essential infrastructure component to ensure power system flexibility, stability, and economic efficiency. GS Yuasa has long supported renewable energy deployment through industrial battery solutions and is now expanding its involvement into grid-scale BESS operations to accumulate operational expertise and feedback for next-generation battery development.

Through Sustech’s ELIC platform, the project will implement:
•    AI-based forecasting of electricity prices, renewable generation, and demand
•    Optimized charge–discharge control across multiple market products
•    Advanced operational strategies to maximize long-term asset value

A key objective of the project is to validate and optimize battery performance under high-frequency and long-duration operation, including participation in ancillary services such as primary frequency control. Operational data and insights will be used to refine control algorithms, enhance asset longevity, and establish best practices for long-term grid-scale BESS operations.

GS Yuasa and Sustech will continue to deepen their collaboration to support Japan’s energy transition and contribute to the realization of a flexible, resilient, and low-carbon power system aligned with the country’s 2050 carbon neutrality goals.

Japan’s Seventh Strategic Energy Plan, approves in February 2025, reaffirms the nation’s commitment to significantly increasing renewable energy deployment toward 2040. However, the inherent variability of renewable generation can lead to output curtailment during periods of low demand.

Grid-scale battery energy storage systems play a critical role in addressing this challenge by absorbing surplus electricity and supplying power during periods of tight supply-demand balance, thereby enabling higher renewable integration and improving overall system stability.

1.    Comprehensive voltage monitoring for all cells and temperature management for all modules, ensuring high safety standards
2.    Fan-less module architecture that reduces failure rates and minimizes replacement parts
3.    Compliance with Japan’s fire-resistance standards for storage containers (Fire Prevention Hazard No. 303) as stipulated by Fire Prevention Hazard Notification No. 200
4.    Container system designed to withstand severe salt damage and cold climates

Developed by Sustech, ELIC is a next-generation energy management and optimization platform designed for large-scale renewable integration. The platform features:
•    AI-driven operation of distributed energy resources
•    High-accuracy forecasting of power generation, demand, and market prices
•    Optimal control of battery storage systems
•    Grid load mitigation and participation in electricity and environmental value markets
Through these capabilities, ELIC enhances renewable energy utilization and supports the realization of a highly resilient, “zero-blackout” power system.