Contributing to the Environment through R&D

Interest in renewable energy is growing, in order to control global warming. Wind power generation is one form of renewable energy, but it involves the challenges of smoothing and leveling, such as controlling output fluctuation and peak shift in power demand.

Kobe Steel, together with Waseda University and the Institute of Applied Energy (IAE), applied for a Research and Development Project on Technologies for Dealing with Output Fluctuations in Electric Power Systems promoted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In June 2015, our Insulated Compressed Air Energy Storage System was selected for the project. In fiscal 2016, a trial run of megawatt-scale demonstration equipment began, and we are aiming to pursue commercialization from fiscal 2017 onward.

The Insulated Compressed Air Energy Storage System generates electricity when needed using electric power stored in the form of compressed air and heat. As it is constructed of general-purpose equipment, it is highly reliable and durable, does not use rare materials, and its energy output and storage volume can be arranged in any combination. These are some of the features that make the system appealing.

Kobe Steel has 100 years of history as a general compressor manufacturer. In the current demonstration testing, it is in charge of making equipment such as an oil-free screw compressor, a screw power generator, a heat storage tank, and an air storage tank. Waseda University is expected to develop algorithms for optimal control of the Insulated Compressed Air Energy Storage System and software to control the components. IAE is responsible for mitigating output fluctuations from wind power generation, designing a system to achieve planned power generation, demonstrative operations, and evaluation.

Kobe Steel is actively engaged in combining knowledge from industry, government, and academia into this kind of technology development that will contribute to the global environment.