Sumitomo Electric develops, manufactures, and deploys Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) for grid-scale, industrial, and commercial energy storage. VRFBs use vanadium ions in liquid electrolytes for redox reactions, offering over 20-year lifespan (up to 30 years), non-flammable safety, unlimited charge/discharge cycles, semi-permanent recyclable electrolytes, and modular power-energy scalability.
Modular VRFB systems ranging from 1,125 kWh to 8,000 kWh capacities and 2 MW/8 MWh power-energy configurations. Key features include long lifespan, high safety, unlimited cycles, proprietary energy management system, 15% higher energy density and 30% lower cost in next-generation models (orders from 2025).
Kurokiyama Microgrid Project (Kagoshima Prefecture): 1,125 kWh VRFB for zero carbon city initiative; Kumamoto: 8,000 kWh VRFB under construction, expected 2026; San Diego Gas & Electric: 2 MW/8 MWh VRFB deployment after seven-year test; showcased new VRFB tech at Energy Storage North America, orders from 2025.
Retail investors hold 55.0%; institutional/financial investors hold 44.0%. Major shareholders include The Master Trust Bank of Japan (17.1%), Custody Bank of Japan (9.5%), Nomura Asset Management (5.1%), Nippon Life Insurance (3.2%), Sumitomo Life Insurance (2.1%), BlackRock (5.1%), and insiders hold less than 1.0%.
