Nichicon Corporation received the Japan Electric Construction Association Encouragement Award at the JECA FAIR 2014—62nd Electrical Construction Equipment and Materials Fair for its lithium-ion battery type voltage sag compensator for power outages.
Each year, the Japan Electric Construction Association (JECA) hosts this fair and award system, a competition of technological capabilities of materials and devices related to electrical equipment, in the aim of enhancing electrical equipment technologies and ensuring increases in electrical safety. This year was the 62nd time for the fair, in which 45 companies took part.
Nichicon’s lithium-ion battery type voltage sag compensator for power outages, which won the Japan Electric Construction Association Encouragement Award, is the world’s first voltage sag compensator for power outages using a continuous commercial power supply format but employing a longer-life lithium-ion battery as the energy storage unit.
Depending on type, a continuous commercial power supply may achieve efficiencies of 98–99% and help lower running costs byreducing power consumption by 10–20% compared with general-purpose uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). By employing long-life lithium-ion batteries and reducing battery deterioration by using a battery management system , Nichicon has achieved an expected life of 15 years for the storage unit.
Compared to a UPS using a lead storage battery, running costs are approximately ¥31 million lower over a 15-year life.
To develop this product, Nichicon applied the expertise gained through the development of temporary backup systems having a strong capability to withstand outages and respond to repeated outages. By also adopting a highly energy-efficient lithium ion battery, we succeeded in making the compensator compact, lightweight and space-saving, giving it characteristics to meet a host of client needs.
We believe this product will find optimal application as a BCP (Business Continuity Plan) solution.
Stimulated by this award, we intend to redouble our technological efforts in full-fledged initiatives aimed at providing products that will go further toward ensuring a secure electricity supply.
