Niedersachsen projects in the spotlight at the 13th Japanese-German Industrial Forum

This year’s Japanese-German Industry Forum focus theme was ‘The ever evolving energy market – from deregulation to integration’. More than 300 participants responded to the invitation from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) to discuss opportunities and new areas of business on the German energy market.

Right at the start of the event Mr Takashi Omote, Executive Director der Nedo, emphasized the importance of a Japanese-German joint project in Niedersachsen, a large hybrid battery storage facility; Nedo, a Japanese government agency, is supporting research, development and introduction of new energy technologies and financing the new battery storage system. The Niedersachsen Ministry of Economic Affairs is supporting the project from the German side:

• Cooperation between the Japanese companies Hitachi Chemical, Hitachi Power Solutions and NGK Insulators with EWE, the Niedersachsen utility company providing electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, IT and environmental services
• Power from a combination of a 7.5-Megawatt lithium-ion battery and a 4-Megawatt sodium-sulphur battery
• almost 24 million € project and construction budget
• commissioning scheduled for the end of 2018.

Participants were also highly interested in ‘ILint’, the first hydrogen-powerd train. Rail technology manufacturers Alstom Deutschland are building the train with fuel cells in Niedersachsen:

• Hydrogen tank and fuel cells convert hydrogen to electrical power.
• Greater efficiency thanks to the energy storage technology and energy management system
• Zero emission, from power generation through to operation
• Almost silent electric motors

These projects are shining examples of successful cooperation between Japan and Niedersachsen – and more new solutions for integrated energy systems can follow.

Last update: 1 December 2017