HD Renewable Energy (HDRE) has confirmed it will develop five battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Japan. These were awarded under the Long-Term Decarbonisation Power Source Auction. The combined capacity of these five projects is 300 megawatts (MW).
According to HDRE, these projects are located in Aomori, Fukushima, and Hokkaido. The largest of the five is close to 100 MW. Each project qualifies for a 20-year fixed payment contract supported by the Japanese government.
Last year, HDRE secured two more battery projects. These are located in Mie and Fukuoka prefectures. Their combined capacity is 73 MW. Both are planned to begin operations in 2027.
Together, the seven projects now bring HDRE’s total awarded BESS capacity in Japan to 373 MW. HDRE also plans to develop more than 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy in the country. This includes 400 MW of solar and 2.6 GW of battery storage.
In addition to HDRE’s larger plans, there are smaller battery projects and solar projects in rural areas. These are not widely reported but are tracked by local governments and ministries.
In Yamagata Prefecture, a 2 MW solar PV project supported by a regional co-op has been operating since 2022. It feeds into a local school district’s electricity supply. In Shimane Prefecture, a small-scale 1.5 MW wind-solar hybrid system was set up near a coastal village. The system supplies energy to about 400 homes.
In Kochi Prefecture, a microgrid system combining a 0.9 MW solar installation with a 1 MWh battery began operations in 2023. It is managed by a local utility group. In Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, a 3.2 MW solar array with small battery backup was developed with local funds and became operational in 2022.
These smaller efforts are ongoing. They are usually led by cooperatives, local firms, or municipal offices. They are part of Japan’s broader energy diversification approach.
