
On December 2, 2024, Nishitetsu Shizen Energy commissioned the 1.92MW/4.659MWh “NNR Shizen Energy Battery Hub Iizuka” in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
The Kyushu TSO area-located facility uses Itochu’s Bluestorage lithium-ion batteries manufactured using reused EV batteries. Nishitetsu Shizen leases the hardware from IBeeT, a 50:50 joint venture between Itochu and Tokyo Century. As part of the joint venture, the former handles battery development and operational support, while Tokyo Century provides the leasing services.
IBeeT will also be in charge of the plant’s operation and maintenance (O&M). Shizen Connect, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shizen Energy, will handle the storage plant’s power trading.
Nishitetsu Shizen, a 50:50 joint venture between the Fukuoka-based railroad company Nishitetsu and Shizen Energy, announced its entry into the grid-scale BESS business in mid-July 2023 with plans to commission two 1.92MW/4.659MWh projects in Fukuoka Prefecture in May 2024. The first of those, the “NNR Shizen Energy Battery Hub Umi,” was commissioned in June 2024. The second one comes with an approximately half a year delay.
When first announced in July 2023, Nishitetsu Shizen was planning to commission the project in May 2024.