Canadian Solar Inc., through its subsidiary e-STORAGE, has commissioned a 2 MW / 8.25 MWh DC grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Developed by Canadian Solar Projects K.K., the facility will participate in JEPX and balancing markets, supporting grid flexibility and renewable integration in Japan’s evolving electricity market.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Canada-based solar technology and renewable energy company, Canadian Solar, has announced that its energy storage subsidiary e-STORAGE has delivered its first grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) in Japan. The project has a rated output of 2 MW and a total energy capacity of 8.25 MWh DC. The installation marks the initial deployment of e-STORAGE battery products in the Japanese market.
The project was developed by Canadian Solar Projects K.K. and is located adjacent to the Naebo substation in Sapporo City, Hokkaido. It was awarded under Hokkaido Electric Power Network Company Inc.'s 2023 public land leasing initiative. The facility has been designed to participate in the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) and the Electric Power Reserve Exchange (EPRX), supporting grid flexibility, renewable energy integration and market stability in the Hokkaido region.
The system is built on e-STORAGE’s SolBank platform. Delivery of the battery energy storage system to the site was completed in September 2025 and entered final commissioning in early December 2025. The project has been structured to allow participation in wholesale electricity trading and balancing services, in accordance with Japan’s evolving power market framework.
e-STORAGE was responsible for full EPC execution and will provide long-term maintenance and inspection services over the operational life of the asset. In addition, e-STORAGE holds a government-recognized Wide Area Management Certificate in Japan, authorizing it to manage end-of-life lithium-ion battery systems in compliance with national regulatory requirements. This certification supports lifecycle management obligations associated with utility-scale energy storage installations.
Canadian Solar has been active in Japan for several years across solar and energy storage development. Globally, the company has delivered nearly 170 GW of solar photovoltaic modules and, through e-STORAGE, shipped more than 16 GWh of battery energy storage solutions as of September 30, 2025. As of October 31, 2025, e-STORAGE reported a contracted backlog valued at $3.1 billion.
The commissioning of the 2 MW / 8.25 MWh DC BESS in Sapporo represents a market entry for e-STORAGE’s battery products in Japan and establishes operational participation in JEPX and EPRX markets within Hokkaido’s transmission network.
Colin Parkin said the project marked a step in Canadian Solar’s Japan storage expansion, with e-STORAGE delivering a grid-connected system aligned with market and regulatory requirements.