Tesla upscales global energy storage footprint, deploys 43 MWh Megapack in Japan
… enters Japan’s ancillary services market, provides frequency control to grid
… deploys more utility-scale Megapack battery storage systems globally
…targets 40GWh by 2024
Oredola Adeola
Tesla has expanded its global energy storage footprint to over 15 GWh with the latest deployment of its utility-scale Megapack project, featuring a 10.8 MW output and 43 MWh storage capacity, now operational at Keneshoho’s site in Sendai, Miyagi, northeast Japan.
This was announced by the company in a statement obtained by Advisors Reports on Tuesday.
According to the company, the facility is the first utility-scale Megapack site to provide frequency control to the Japanese balancing market.
Tesla stated that the large-scale energy storage system (BESS) comprising Megapacks has been installed and begun operation at the site of Sendai Power Station, which is in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, around 360km northeast of the nation’s capital Tokyo.
It further revealed that its Megapacks in different countries have significantly reduced the complexity of large-scale battery storage and provide an easy installation and connection process.
It said, “Each Megapack comes from the factory fully assembled with up to 3-megawatt hours (MWh) of storage and 1.5 MW of inverter capacity, building on Powerpack’s engineering with an AC interface and 60% increase in energy density to achieve significant cost and time savings compared to other battery systems and traditional fossil fuel power plants.
“Using Megapack, we can deploy an emissions-free 250 MW, 1 GWh power plant in less than three months on a three-acre footprint – four times faster than a traditional fossil fuel power plant of that size.
“Megapack can also be DC-connected directly to solar, creating seamless renewable energy plants. It will act as a sustainable alternative to natural gas “peaker” power plants.
“Megapack installation can use stored excess solar or wind energy to support the grid’s peak loads.
Tesla further revealed that it has developed its own software in-house to monitor, control and monetize Megapack installations.
It added that all Megapacks connect to Powerhub, an advanced monitoring and control platform for large-scale utility projects and microgrids, and can also integrate with Autobidder, Tesla’s machine-learning platform for automated energy trading.
Advisors Reports’ check showed that Tesla’s total global energy storage footprint as of 2024 is projected to reach 40GWh, with a current installed capacity of 14.7GWh in 2023, which is expected to increase significantly with the construction of a new energy storage super factory in Shanghai, China, and the planned ramp-up of production capacity to 10,000 units annually.
Further checks showed that Tesla’s Megapack energy storage system has been deployed globally in several countries, including Australia with the 350 MW Victoria Big Battery project in Victoria for state backup protection and another 1.3 GWh battery system in Western Australia’s Collie Battery project.
In Canada, deployments include a 1.25 MW/2.5 MWh Megapack at the Millidgeville Substation in Saint John, New Brunswick for peak shaving, and a 250 MW energy storage project in Ontario known as the Oneida Energy Storage project.
The United States has seen installations like the 100 MW/400 MWh facility in Ventura County, California utilizing 142 Megapacks, a 255 MW / 1 GWh project in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the Scatter Wash project, and the 182.5 MW / 730 MWh system at Moss Landing, Monterey County operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
In Belgium, one of Europe’s largest battery energy storage plants boasts 50 MW of power and 100 MWh of capacity.
The company is currently constructing a new Megafactory in Shanghai, China, which will increase production capacity to meet growing demand.