Saft to Deliver 1GWh BESS for Gurin Energy Fukushima Project

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has been selected by Singapore-based Gurin Energy to supply a 1GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for a large-scale standalone energy storage project in Fukushima Prefecture. This will be Japan’s largest publicly disclosed BESS project to date.

The storage project is being developed in Soma City, with construction set to begin in 2026. Once operational, it will be capable of delivering 240 MW of power for four hours, providing a much-needed buffer for grid stability as Japan expands its renewable energy capacity.

Advanced Technology and Fully Integrated Solution

Saft’s solution includes a fully integrated lithium-ion battery system, power conversion and management systems from its technology partners, and the company’s own I-Sight cloud-based AI-driven monitoring and data analytics platform. 

Saft will also take responsibility for the installation, commissioning, and servicing of the system, ensuring long-term performance.

The Fukushima site will ultimately host a 2GWh BESS complex, with Saft delivering the first half of the project. Gurin Energy aims to complete the full project in five to six years.

Supporting Japan’s Clean Energy and Net-Zero Goals

Large-scale BESS like the one planned for Soma City allow grid operators to store electricity during periods of oversupply and dispatch it during peak demand, making the integration of variable renewable sources like solar and wind more efficient and reliable.

The project directly supports Japan’s national targets of raising the share of renewables in the energy mix to 40–50 percent by 2040, up from the current 27 percent. The government also aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, making energy storage a critical enabler of decarbonisation.

Gurin’s Growing Clean Energy Portfolio

Gurin Energy is rapidly emerging as a key player in Asia’s clean energy transition. Headquartered in Singapore, the company has a 7GW development pipeline of solar, wind, and storage projects across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. Gurin develops and operates its projects, adding long-term value through ownership.

The Fukushima BESS is seen as a flagship initiative for the firm’s storage expansion strategy and positions it as a first mover in Japan’s standalone energy storage sector, which is still at a nascent stage compared to solar PV or wind.