Mitsubishi Research Institute Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Co., and Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture announced on November 12, 2007, that they succeeded in providing the world’s first stand-alone operation of a high-quality, utility-grade electric power system using electricity generated from 100 percent renewable energy sources.

The companies cooperated in providing off-grid electricity generated from photovoltaic, wind, and biomass gasification power to six major facilities for eight days, from November 3 to 10, 2007 (Hachinohe City Hall main building, the old Water Supply Authority’s building in the Hachinohe area, two elementary schools, and two junior high schools).

The pilot program demonstrated that it is possible for a stand-alone network, separate from the utility grid, to supply utility-grade power voltage and frequency, as its power control system instantly detects any power fluctuation caused by sudden load changes or weather conditions, and controls secondary batteries and gas engine generators. This result has drawn attention, not only in Japan but also across the world, as a working system to address the possibility of an electric power crisis, including utility line failure.

The project is part of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s (NEDO) commissioned program that has been conducted since July 2003 with the aim of developing a system to improve on the vulnerability of photovoltaic or wind power to weather conditions.