Don't waste energy from home solar power generation! Macnica announces lead-acid-based storage battery system "soldam"

Macnica (Head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter referred to as Macnica) announced today that it has developed a home lead-acid battery system called "soldam" together with Circular Energy Storage Solutions, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Noriyuki Ueoka; hereinafter referred to as Circular Energy Storage Solutions) and completed a prototype. Sales are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024.

■Storage batteries are essential for making efficient use of solar energy generated at home. Although they are attracting attention now, there are hurdles to overcome before they can be installed in ordinary homes.
In addition to the movement to expand renewable energy toward carbon neutrality by 2050, storage batteries are attracting attention as a measure against natural disasters such as large-scale earthquakes and typhoons, and ever-rising electricity prices. For example, Tokyo is promoting the "Home Storage Battery Promotion Project" as part of the "Project to Promote Disaster-Resistant and Healthy Insulated and Solar Homes," and has begun efforts such as subsidizing the costs of installing storage battery systems. In addition, after 2019, when the fixed-price purchase by electric power companies for self-generated electricity will expire one after another, households that have reached the so-called "Post-FIT ^*" period will need storage batteries if they choose to store and use the energy they generate rather than sell it. However, storage batteries have been expensive up until now, and there have been issues with safety, such as the need to select the best place to install them.

■ Soldam: A cheap, safe, long-lasting, and almost 100% recyclable household lead-acid battery
"soldam", developed by Macnica and Circular Energy Storage Solutions, is a 7.2kWh lead-acid battery system that combines six lead-acid batteries, each with a capacity of 1.2kWh. It is about one-third the price of a typical lithium-ion battery, and boasts the same storage capacity and durability. Lead is also a highly safe material, so it can be used safely even when installed outdoors. Furthermore, previous storage batteries often had the issue of being difficult to recycle due to the difficulty of recycling the materials, but lead can be recycled almost 100% while maintaining its quality, so it does not put a strain on the environment. Lead-acid batteries that have reached the end of their life and need to be replaced can be reused as storage batteries that utilize recycled lead by recycling them with appropriate processing. Each household stores the electricity they generate, uses it without waste, and in the future, it can be bought and sold. This solution will make a big step forward on the road to such future energy utilization.

■ Macnica 's original energy management system will further improve sustainability
Storage batteries need to always be charged and discharged at the same rate, and any imbalance in this rate will cause the battery to wear out faster. Soldam uses Macnica 's energy management system, Kisense, to monitor the state in which lead-acid batteries are always charging and discharging evenly. This makes it possible to replace storage units at the appropriate time.

<Recycling lead-acid storage batteries/Linking Soldam with solar power generation systems and energy management systems>

■ Macnica is tackling global environmental issues by implementing cutting-edge technology.
Recent environmental changes have become more serious, and are a top priority issue that must be resolved on a global scale. In addition to handling semiconductors, Macnica is working to resolve environmental issues with various partner companies, utilizing cutting-edge technologies from around the world. We are developing services and solutions every day to realize a "circular society" where resources are produced locally and consumed locally, such as energy and resource Services & Solutions with an eye toward decarbonization and energy conservation, "energy management systems" that manage energy usage to ensure efficient use, garbage disposal machines that recycle garbage as resources, and storage batteries that make efficient use of natural energy.
For more information about Macnica 's circular economy business, please visit: www.macnica.co.jp/business/energy/

■First-ever circular economy seminar for the media
On Tuesday, June 18th, Macnica will be holding a seminar for the media at its Shin-Yokohama headquarters, titled "The Need for Energy Management," which uses electricity "without waste."
Venue: Macnica Shin-Yokohama Head Office, 1st floor, MET VALLEY
・Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Time: 13:00-14:30 (reception opens at 12:30)
To apply, please contact: Macnica Public Relations Office, Miyahara (Email: macpr@macnica.co.jp)

*End of FIT: The system under which the government promises that electric power companies will purchase electricity generated from renewable energy sources at a fixed price for a fixed period of time (the FIT system) will come to an end after 2019.
Reference: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy website
https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/category/saving_and_new/saiene/kaitori/surcharge.html

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https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/energy/products/145349/

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Macnica Circular Economy Business Soldam Department
TEL: 045-470-9118
Email: smart-infra@macnica.co.jp

*Company names and product names mentioned in this text are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macnica and each company.
*The information published in the news release (including product price, specifications, etc.) is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.