Since commercializing the world's first lithium-ion battery in 1991, Sony has continued to focus efforts on the development and commercialization of technologies for lithium-ion batteries, which boast excellent energy efficiency and high energy/power density, among other superior properties. Building on accumulated technologies and know-how, in 2009 Sony commercialized an olivine-type lithium-ion secondary battery, marking its first step toward full-scale entry into the storage battery market.

After shipments of the olivine batteries began, market needs began to shift toward products that would ensure the stable supply of electricity. Having commenced mass production of an energy storage module in April 2011, in January 2012 Sony began mass-producing a controller that controls both charging and discharging from the module and storage battery conservation. Although more than a year has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, general sentiment continues to lean firmly toward storing power for later use. Accordingly, storage modules that facilitate peak shifting and can be used in the event of a sudden power failure are attracting considerable attention for both professional and residential use. In this environment, Sony is responding to the needs of a broad range of customers by augmenting its lineup with compact professional-use storage modules and all-in-one home-use models that plug in for storing electricity, facilitating use at home, in the office or anywhere.

Until recently, safety standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries were formulated primarily for applications in mobile devices. However, with the market for these batteries expanding in recent years, UL, an international third-party testing and accreditation institution, developed a new safety standard for stationary storage batteries mounted with lithium-ion batteries. Sony promptly applied and was granted UL certification for its energy storage module, as well as for its energy storage system, comprising a storage module and a controller, underscoring the safety and the performance of these products. In addition to underscoring the reliability of Sony's products, UL certification is testament to Sony's outstanding technological prowess.

Left: An example of Sony's UL-certified energy storage system (combines IJ1001M and IJ1002C)
Right: Sony's energy storage module (IJ1001M, above) and controller (IJ1002C, below)

Integrated energy storage battery unit for commercial use
Sony commenced shipments of an integrated energy storage battery unit for commercial use in September 2011. Combining such components as an energy storage module mounted with the Company's own long-life cells, a controller, inverter and converter, this battery delivers a maximum storage capacity of 2.4 kWh. The unit has six power outlets and can function as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for commercial users.

Small energy storage battery unit for household use
General sales of Sony's Home Energy Server, which targets the household market, were launched in Japan in October 2011. This unit features several long-life cells developed in-house by Sony to deliver maximum energy storage capacity of 300 Wh. Boasting a compact design and user-friendly operation, the Home Energy Server may be utilized by home users both for power saving and as an emergency backup supply in case of a power outage.

Development of the Authentication Outlet - Making Possible Power Management and Power Control on an Individual User and Device Basis


Recent years have seen significant changes in conditions relating to electricity and energy, and interest within society in environmental issues and their impact on our lives has greatly increased. Meanwhile, under the existing smart grid concept, most research in such areas as Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) and Building and Energy Management Systems (BEMS) is conducted from the point of view of an electricity supplier. The principal functionality from a user perspective relates to the promotion of energy conservation by identifying the level of power consumption and providing information on device operational status.

Against this backdrop, Sony has focused on electricity outlets-an essential part of electricity usage infrastructure-and developed the "Authentication Outlet," which enables users to actively manage and control their power usage. Sony has developed two types of outlet, which play an interface role whenever electricity is used. The first category is the FeliCa-type Authentication Outlet, which provides electrical device authentication using Sony's NFC/FeliCa contactless IC card technology. This is based on proven contactless IC card technology, which is used extensively in such spheres as transportation ticketing systems and e-money, with an added authentication function. The second category is the RFID Over Power Line-type Authentication Outlet, which provides electrical device authentication via the power line by utilizing Sony's new RFID Over Power Line technology.

The Authentication Outlet has an IC chip in the plug of an electrical appliance or electric vehicle and a contactless IC card reader on the outlet side. When the plug is inserted into the outlet, electricity is supplied after device and user authentication. Based on this technology, it will be possible to build a new type of control system capable of tracking and managing power usage (consumption volume and history) on an individual-user basis via management of each electrical

Open Energy System (Distributed Small-Scale Energy Network) Demonstration Test
In collaboration with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation (OIST), Sony Group research institute Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL), is conducting demonstration tests for an open energy system (i.e., a distributed small-scale energy network) that features an energy storage system with our energy storage module and renewable energy (solar and wind power, with commercial power as an auxiliary power source). Sony CSL is currently building an energy storage system at OIST's campus in Onna Village, Okinawa. The system features a Sony 8.4 kWh energy storage module and is connected to commercial power as well as solar and wind power generation systems, using renewable energy to, among others, operate on-campus projectors and monitor stored-energy volume, wind power, temperature and lighting intensity.

Participation in the Pecan Street Smart Grid Demonstration Project, in Austin, Texas

In 2102, Sony is taking part in the Pecan Street Smart Grid Demonstration Project, in Austin, Texas. As a company participating in this demonstration project, Sony is not only performing a wide variety of tests and verification utilizing proprietary power-demand-forecasting technology and power-storage devices as well as providing practical solutions for users, but is also conducting verification in preparation for the commercialization of a HEMS that offers users enjoyment in their ongoing use. Through this demonstration, Sony is exploring ways to build the ideal smart grid business model, which will enable users to have fun while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Cell Broadband Engine™ and Distributed Computing
Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.) on PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) is a powerful new microprocessor that achieves a computing speed approximately 10 times faster than that of a standard PC. Cell/B.E. facilitates the real-time processing of massive amounts of data, inviting a broad range of potential applications not only in next-generation computer entertainment systems and digital electronic products, but also in workstations for movie production and computer simulations in science and technology. Additionally, Cell/B.E. makes it possible to run multiple operating systems (OSs), meaning real-time OSs used in conventional PCs and workstations can run together, as can OSs used in digital consumer electronic products and computer entertainment systems. Distributed computing is a technique for obtaining significant computing capacity by leveraging the capacity of multiple computers, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated supercomputer. This technique is used primarily by universities and research institutes. Calculations are divided into smaller units, i.e., packets, which are then distributed to participating computers. When the computers have finished processing the calculations, they send the data back. Accordingly, more computers on the network mean greater computing capacity. With these technologies, PS3™s connected to a network together act like a supercomputer.

Analyzing Protein Folding on PLAYSTATION®3
Misfolded proteins in the human body are linked to a number of diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer. Analyzing protein folding to identify the causes of this phenomenon requires massive computing capabilities. Computer simulations are essential because the folding process is extremely complicated, but with an average PC one simulation would take about 30 years.

Folding@home™ is a distributed computing program established by Stanford University to study protein folding. Participating computers are sent packets of complicated calculations over the Internet. These computers simultaneously process these packets of calculations, greatly reducing the time needed to complete the calculation. Once the computers have finished processing their packets, the resulting data is sent back over the Internet to the Stanford University server.

In March 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. began offering PS3™ owners a software application enabling them to donate capacity to Folding@home™. PS3™s, backed by the tremendous computing capacity of Cell/B.E., are thus contributing to efforts to identify the mechanics of several diseases.

Since Folding@home™ for PS3™ was released in March 2007, a huge number of PS3™ users from around the world have taken part. As of May 2010, the amount of donated computing capacity had increased to more than 24 times the pre-release capacity.

Folding@home™ Project Listed in Guinness Book of Records Thanks to PS3™ Power
On September 16, 2007, the Guinness Book of World Records certified the Folding@home™ project as the world's most powerful distributed computing network after it broke the one-petaflop barrier for computing capacity. Thanks to the tremendous computing capacity of the PS3™, the project became the first ever to reach the one-petaflop mark in distributed computing.