#Japan #OMRON #Osaka/Tokyo #E-Flow #FIP Solution

Introduction

On July 22, 2026, Omron Field Engineering Co., Ltd. (based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo) and E-Flow LLC (headquartered in Chuo Ward, Osaka) announced the commencement of adjustment power trading in the demand-supply market using renewable energy storage batteries installed during the transition from the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) system to the Feed-in Premium (FIP) system in high-voltage solar power plants.

Purpose and Background

In order to ensure a stable supply of electricity, maintaining a balance between demand and supply is crucial. Since electricity is difficult to store in large quantities, an imbalance in this relationship can lead to frequency instability, potentially culminating in large-scale blackouts. To address this issue, the framework for trading the necessary "adjustment power" through the electricity trading market has been established as the demand-supply adjustment market. The importance of such adjustment power has become increasingly prominent amidst the rapid penetration of renewable energy and the global shift towards a decarbonized society.

OFE has long provided a "FIP Solution" to assist power plant owners in transitioning from the FIT system to the FIP system. However, there have been cases where certain plants are unable to fully leverage their generation potential, resulting in unstable decarbonization efforts and revenues. In response, OFE has initiated adjustment power trading in the demand-supply market by utilizing renewable energy storage batteries integrated with the FIP Solution, leveraging OFE's advanced control technology and E-Flow's expertise in electricity market transactions.

Overview

Through the FIP Solution, OFE optimally controls the renewable energy storage batteries as a resource aggregator. In the demand-supply adjustment market, it is crucial to rapidly respond to fluctuations in system frequency while providing adjustment power. OFE applies its core technology in control from Omron to deliver this adjustment power swiftly and reliably.

E-Flow acts as the aggregation coordinator, engaging in market trading for adjustment power and supporting resource management based on their accumulated experience as an aggregator. The first project under this initiative commenced operation on May 27, 2026, at the Nagasaki Power Station owned by Torch International Co., Ltd., located in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture. This project adopts a structure where the renewable energy storage battery is charged without connecting to the grid, while ensuring the responsiveness demanded for adjustment power amid fluctuations generated by solar power generation.

Future Outlook

OFE plans to progressively enter the demand-supply adjustment market through the FIP Solution, including ongoing construction projects and those currently in the electricity application process. In the future, OFE aims to evolve and diversify its services based on market trends and environmental changes.

Conclusion

This initiative not only supports stable electricity supply and revenue stabilization for power plant owners but also aims at maximizing the utilization of renewable energy, contributing to a carbon-neutral future. Through collaboration between two companies with complementary strengths, OFE and E-Flow are set to play a pivotal role in enhancing power adjustments for high-voltage solar facilities, ensuring a sustainable energy landscape.