#Japan #Hirasol Energy #Fukushima #J-EMS #Negapoji

Hirasol Energy Achieves Negapoji Operation for Enhanced Energy Storage

Hirasol Energy, a Tokyo-based new energy tech company, has reached a milestone with its energy storage facility in Izumizaki Village, Fukushima Prefecture, successfully passing the preliminary examination for the Negapoji operation in the demand-supply adjustment market. This operation enables the facility to deliver a capacity that doubles its nominal output of 1,900 kW, achieving an impressive 3,800 kW output potential.

The entire process, from development to construction, equipment procurement, and operational control, has been handled by Hirasol Group. This includes the implementation of their self-developed integrated control platform, "J-EMS," which allows Hirasol to function as an aggregator, managing everything from market bidding to battery control. The smart utilization of energy storage resources not only increases the asset value of the facility but also stabilizes the electrical grid. Hirasol is making strides toward supporting renewable energy through the advancement of operational technologies.

Why is Negapoji Operation Important Now?

The adjustment market has seen a consistent decrease in adjustment capacity prices. In such situations, a facility's asset value can be significantly impacted by how effectively it can capitalize on existing equipment. Enhancing operational technology serves as a means to increase asset value without requiring additional investments in hardware. By utilizing the Negapoji operation, energy storage systems can remain engaged in the market even during charging, extending the duration for which the same batteries support the grid.

Understanding Negapoji Operation

Within the adjustment market, there are two key methods for energy storage systems to provide adjustment capacity:

1. Positive Watt (Pojijatsu): This method generates adjustment capacity by discharging electricity into the grid, also referred to as reverse flow.

2. Negative Watt (Negawatt): This method produces a similar effect by refraining from using electricity that was planned to be consumed.

The Negapoji operation combines both methods. In this approach, while restricting planned charging (offering Negawatts), the facility can also perform discharging actions (offering Pojijatsu). This capability allows for a market participation expansion, enabling the facility to increase its bidding volume to twice its nominal output during charging.

Hirasol's facility is now recognized for its ability to provide 3,800 kW in output potential, paving the way for Negapoji operations.

Recent Preliminary Examination Results

The recent preliminary evaluations confirmed that Hirasol Energy's facility can provide 3,800 kW across four product types: primary adjustment capacity, secondary adjustment capacity part 2, and two tiers of tertiary adjustment capacity. This acknowledgment also opens the door for composite bidding on multiple products simultaneously.

J-EMS Enabling Negapoji Operation

Hirasol's energy management platform, J-EMS, accurately forecasts demand and market prices from the cloud, allowing participation in multiple energy markets, including wholesale electric and demand-supply adjustment markets. After securing bids, it controls onsite equipment according to market instructions. The Negapoji operation demands complex control capabilities, such as the rapid alteration of output states during charging.

The facility requires the energy storage to stop charging and transition immediately to discharging when providing the 3,800 kW of adjustment power. This operation must be accomplished within ten seconds, detecting frequency changes independently rather than waiting for external commands. Hirasol has integrated this rapid-switching capability into its own high-precision edge devices, allowing seamless operational responsiveness.

Facility Overview

• - Facility Name: Izumizaki Village Energy Storage Facility
• - Region: Tohoku Electric Area
• - Nominal Output: 1,900 kW
• - Adjustment Market Output Potential: 3,800 kW
• - Grid Interconnection Date: July 21, 2026
• - Operational Platform: J-EMS
• - Aggregator: Hirasol Energy
• - Design, Construction, Equipment Procurement: Hirasol Electric Company

Future Developments

Hirasol Energy is committed to applying the knowledge gained from the Negapoji operation to its other energy storage facilities, aiming to expand bidding opportunities and stabilize revenue streams. By continually enhancing operational technologies through J-EMS, Hirasol Energy seeks to improve the asset value of energy storage facilities and support the stability of the electrical grid.

About Hirasol Energy

Hirasol Energy is a groundbreaking new energy tech enterprise founded on the principles of "transforming renewable energy assets into sustainable infrastructure for a hundred years." The company focuses on the development and operation of energy storage facilities, the long-term utilization of existing solar power plants with their "Hundred-Year Solar®" initiative, and the development of their integrated control platform, J-EMS. The mission is to elevate the value of renewable energy assets over an extended period.

• - Company Name: Hirasol Energy Co., Ltd.
• - Headquarters: 4-1-16 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
• - CEO: Min Lee
• - Business: Development and operation of energy storage facilities, long-term solar power utilization, FIP transition, battery installation, development of the integrated control platform J-EMS.
• - Established: February 21, 2017
• - Website: Hirasol Energy
• - Contact: Contact Hirasol