ITOCHU Announces Operation Start of “Bluestorage”, Reuse EV Battery Energy Storage Systems

June 29, 2021

ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter "ITOCHU") announced today that its own Energy Storage Systems (hereinafter “ESS”) brand, “Bluestorage”, using reuse-EV-battery, has started its operation, as a part of its Lithium-ion Battery business. ITOCHU will provide this ESS to the purposes of making the most efficient use of renewable energy and energy optimization in industrial segment, and develop new business models related to product life cycle assessment including material recycling.

Lithium-ion Battery gradually loses its capacity (State of Health, hereinafter “SOH”) as you use. In general, EV battery needs to be replaced after its SOH becomes below 80% of original capacity. However, different from such purpose which requires high level performance under several severe driving conditions, operating condition of ESS is relatively stable and hence it can still demonstrate good performance. In other words, such batteries (hereinafter “reuse battery”) have reuse value for ESS operation. ITOCHU had acquired equity shares of Shenzhen Pandpower Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Shenzhen, China; Chairman and Founder: Wang Haitao) in 2019 to secure the reuse battery supply with its unique technology, and has developed ESS together.

Market demand for ESS is increasing these days, from the perspectives of renewable energy expansion, resilience from natural disasters and business continuity plan establishment. In addition, reuse battery is free from CO2 emission which contributes effective use of resources and consideration for environment.

By combining existing business capabilities and new knowledge from this Bluestorage operation, ITOCHU will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized and decentralized society.

Promotion Movie URL

https://www.itochu.co.jp/ja/files/Bluestorage(JP).mp4
*Japanese version only. English version will be available shortly.

Bluestorage Prototype

Large type image (20ft container size)

Usage image (Combination with photovoltaic)