Wedoany.com Report-Dec.5, Manoa Energy has commenced commercial operation of the Helios battery energy storage system (BESS) in Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The facility has a capacity of 104 MWh and can deliver 50 MW of power.

An industrial-scale BESS.

The project was developed through a partnership between Canada-based Brawn, HD Renewable Energy Japan, and Manoa Energy, Brawn's wholly-owned Japanese development platform. Construction started in April 2024, with Tesla Megapack 2XL units supplying the core battery technology and Hokkaidenko serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.

Helios is Japan's first grid-scale, extra-high-voltage, stand-alone BESS to reach commercial operation. As a fully merchant asset, it will participate in the wholesale electricity market, balancing market, and capacity market without relying on long-term subsidies.

Scott Reinhart, CEO of Brawn, commented: "This is successful completion of our first stand-alone extra-high-voltage BESS. Brawn will continue to develop our additional 1GW pipeline of extra-high-voltage and high-voltage assets throughout Japan, for commercial operations between 2026 and 2030."

Dean Cooper, head of Manoa Energy and Chief Operating Officer of Brawn, added: "Japan's energy storage sector is experiencing rapid acceleration, positioning Japan among the world's most dynamic energy storage markets. Manoa Energy is excited to be part of Japan's energy transition momentum, as the country emphasises battery energy storage systems as a strategic priority for its critical energy infrastructure."

The successful commissioning of Helios strengthens Japan's growing portfolio of large-scale energy storage and supports the integration of variable renewable energy sources across the Hokkaido grid. With a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, Manoa Energy and Brawn plan to deliver multiple similar projects nationwide over the coming years.