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Hirasol Energy Wins Capacity Market Auction

Hirasol Energy, based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, has recently made a significant stride in the energy sector by winning multiple projects in the capacity market auction (target fiscal year: 2029). This success comes on the heels of the company's established presence as an aggregator in various electricity markets. By expanding into the capacity market, Hirasol Energy has now combined multiple market operations for managing and operating grid-scale energy storage systems.

Background and Objectives

The path to profitability in the grid-scale energy storage business is increasingly reliant on diversifying revenue streams across multiple markets rather than depending on a single source. Hirasol Energy has consistently managed all stages of its energy storage projects, including planning, material procurement, construction, and operational management. With this recent auction success, the company has secured a stable revenue source for future supply capacity, enhancing its foresight in the energy market.

During the recent capacity market auction, Hirasol Energy successfully auctioned off a total of six projects, yielding approximately 8 MW of supply capacity. This includes not only projects currently in operation but also multiple grid-scale energy storage initiatives that the company is developing. Moving forward, Hirasol aims to further contribute to a more stable electricity supply through the efficient utilization of Distributed Energy Resources (DER).

Hirasol Energy's Advantages: The Unique J-EMS System

At the core of Hirasol's energy storage business lies its proprietary Energy Management System (J-EMS), which is currently undergoing trademark registration. This advanced system enables optimal revenue generation in an increasingly complex electricity market through cloud and edge computing solutions.

CloudSide (Market Integration and Forecasting)

Utilizing proprietary forecasting technologies based on data analysis, J-EMS predicts generation volume, demand, and market prices. It formulates optimal discharging and charging plans and conducts bidding across multiple markets, including wholesale electricity markets, demand-supply adjustment markets, and now, the capacity market.

EdgeSide (Secure Control)

The company also employs unique hardware to ensure security compliance while achieving microsecond-accurate battery control (charging and discharging operations) based on cloud directives. This secure edge control ensures robust operations.

Hirasol Energy combines this robust foundation of J-EMS with its capability to manage everything from land acquisition to planning, construction, and maintenance, thereby successfully contributing to both the proliferation of grid-scale energy storage and the stabilization of the power grid.

For reference, please check the articles regarding energy equipment security challenges and countermeasures related to energy infrastructure security here and cybersecurity in solar power generation here.

J-EMS has been developed with the support of a grant from the National Research and Development Agency NEDO, specifically under the 'Subsidy for Project-Based Industry Technology Development (New Energy and Technology Research and Development for Seed Discovery and Commercialization)' program.

About Hirasol Energy Co., Ltd.

Hirasol Energy is a Tokyo University spin-off startup aiming to realize sustainable solar energy for the next century. The company seeks to maximize the economic and social value of solar power plants through advanced technologies and digital solutions. They engage in performance restoration services for power plants, centralized management of solar facilities under the Century-Long Solar project, and various digital solutions associated with solar energy.

• - Company Name: Hirasol Energy Co., Ltd.
• - Headquarters: 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Entrepreneur Plaza 501, Tokyo University
• - CEO: Min Lee
• - Business Activities: Century-Long Solar Project, Repair and Restoration Services for Power Plants, Regional Power Support Services, Digital Solutions related to Solar Power, and other affiliated businesses.
• - Established: February 21, 2017
• - Website: Hirasol Energy