Pacifico Energy Launches Koganai Battery Storage System Featuring Grid-scale battery storage to Boost Japan’s Grid Stability
Pacifico Energy, a key player in Japan’s renewable energy sector, has announced the successful commencement of commercial operations at its Koganai Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Located in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, this new facility marks another significant step in the company’s expansion into energy storage solutions.
The project, which began construction in May 2025, officially started operating on December 9, 2025. This standalone battery storage facility is strategically positioned within the Tokyo area to provide crucial support to one of the world’s most demanding energy markets.
Grid-Scale Battery Storage to Provide Essential Ancillary Services
The Koganai facility features a power output of approximately 2 MW and an energy capacity of 10 MWh. As a standalone system, it isn’t co-located with a power generation asset like a solar or wind farm. Instead, its primary role is to enhance the flexibility and reliability of the electrical grid. This is increasingly important as more intermittent renewable sources come online.
The BESS will participate in Japan’s wholesale electricity market, balancing market, and capacity market. By doing so, it will help:
* Support Grid Stability: The battery can rapidly absorb or discharge energy to balance supply and demand, preventing fluctuations that can destabilize the grid.
* Reduce Price Volatility: By storing energy when prices are low and selling it back to the grid when prices are high, the system helps smooth out price spikes for consumers.
* Enhance Supply Reliability: It acts as a reliable power reserve, ensuring electricity is available during peak demand or unexpected outages.
This type of grid-scale battery is becoming a cornerstone of modern energy infrastructure globally. For homeowners and tenants in Germany, which is undergoing its own ambitious Energiewende (energy transition), projects like Koganai offer a glimpse into the future. A stable grid supported by large-scale storage is essential for integrating the growing number of rooftop solar systems and wind parks, ensuring that the lights stay on even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. The global push for stable energy supply solutions highlights the universal need for this technology.
Pacifico Energy, led by President & CEO Hiroki Matsuo, is already one of Japan’s largest solar developers, with a cumulative portfolio of 1,172 MW. The company began developing standalone battery projects in 2021, and with previous facilities launched in Hokkaido and Kyushu, it is cementing its role in this critical sector. The company has an ambitious target of installing 660 MW / 2.9 GWh of energy storage solutions by 2030. These impressive solar energy investments and storage initiatives are critical for achieving grid parity.
Understanding the technology behind this transition, from the solar panel raw materials to the complex solar panel manufacturing process, gives a fuller appreciation of the energy revolution. The sophisticated solar panel manufacturing machines and the detailed solar panel manufacturing plant cost breakdown are all part of the ecosystem that makes projects like Koganai possible.
For those looking to delve deeper into the technical and business aspects of this industry, understanding the basics of solar panel manufacturing is a great starting point. To learn more about how you can be part of this growing industry, check out our free e-course.
