Eneres Launches Joint Research Project on Next-Generation Smart Meters and Demand Response with 10 Companies Including Major Power Utilities, City Gas, and Equipment Manufacturers

Eneres Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Goro Suzuki; hereinafter "Eneres") announced today that on June 30, 2026, it will commence a joint research project with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., OMRON SOCIAL SOLUTIONS CO., LTD., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Daikin Industries, Ltd., Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc., Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., and Shizen Connect Inc. (hereinafter, "the Consortium"). This initiative has been selected for the "Feasibility Study Project (Business C)" (hereinafter, "this Project") under the "FY2025 Supplementary Demand Response Demonstration Project Utilizing Smart Meters"[1] commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (executing body: Environmental Symbiosis Initiative).

Through this Project, we will verify the potential for commercial use of demand response (hereinafter "DR") utilizing the IoT route[2] of next-generation smart meters, and identify challenges for its realization.

Background

As the shift towards renewable energy (hereinafter "RE") as the primary power source progresses towards carbon neutrality by 2050, DR is becoming crucial for absorbing output fluctuations of RE due to weather and other factors, and for stably operating the power system.

"Low-voltage resources" such as storage batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), heat pump water heaters (e.g., EcoCute), and air conditioners, which are increasingly being adopted in general households, are expected to be powerful tools for this purpose. However, conventional DR methods required the installation of dedicated communication terminals for each device, and the "terminal costs," "installation effort," and "economic rationality" posed significant barriers to widespread adoption.

Therefore, this Project will investigate and verify the potential of utilizing the IoT route of next-generation smart meters for DR control, assuming real-world business applications.

The Consortium is composed of diverse players involved in the DR business, including VPP/DR platformers, retail electric power providers/aggregators, and equipment manufacturers. By pooling the expertise and knowledge of each company, we can conduct verification from multiple perspectives that is effective and directly linked to business.

Eneres will leverage its extensive knowledge and track record in the aggregation business to lead the definition of requirements and security risks for the next phase of field demonstration, as well as conduct independent research on TSO (general transmission and distribution utility) collaboration and wireless terminals.

Project Overview

Objective

Feasibility study for demonstration, security verification, and environment construction of DR utilizing the IoT route of next-generation smart meters.

Participants

Managing Company: • Shizen Connect Inc. Demonstration Cooperation Companies: • Eneres Co., Ltd. • Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. • OMRON SOCIAL SOLUTIONS CO., LTD. • The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. • Daikin Industries, Ltd. • Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. • TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. • Toho Gas Co., Ltd. • Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Demonstration Period

July 1, 2026 – February 1, 2027

Main Research Contents

The main research contents of this Project are as follows (Table 1):

Comparative evaluation of cost-effectiveness between the IoT route and existing routes based on use cases envisioned by aggregators.

Clarification of operational challenges and security measures for commercial use based on the responsibilities of general transmission and distribution utilities, aggregators, and manufacturers.

Investigation of technical specifications for IoT route wireless terminals, etc.

Consolidation of requirements from aggregators and manufacturers for the IoT route.

Table 1 Research Contents in this Project ★ indicates Eneres' verification items

Research Item

Research Content

Common Research

Identification of low-voltage use cases

• IoT route specification research • Clarification of IoT route applicability (use cases) • Consideration of comparison and selective use with existing control routes

Clarification of operational challenges

• Research on operational challenges between systems • Research on installation and operational challenges of IoT route wireless terminals • Organization of operational flow for field demonstration

Cost-benefit evaluation

• Research on IoT route usage costs • Clarification of IoT route applicability (e.g., technical characteristics) • Research on benefits of using the IoT route • Comparative evaluation with existing routes

★ Field demonstration requirement definition

• Organization of field demonstration implementation details • Organization of resource acquisition methods • Organization of IoT route operational flow

★ Definition of security risks

• Examination of IoT route security risks • Examination of security risks when used in conjunction with existing routes

Independent Research

★ Examination of collaboration between TSO and aggregators

• Clarification of the boundary of responsibilities between TSO and aggregators • Organization of aggregator and manufacturer requirement specifications

★ Examination of IoT route wireless terminals

• Examination of specifications for combined DR control/metering data transmission • Research on methods for procuring IoT route wireless terminals

Future Outlook

Based on the business challenges and technical requirements identified in this Project, we plan to transition to a "field demonstration" in FY2027, the next phase, which will involve controlling actual devices (low-voltage resources) installed in general households.

Through this Project, Eneres will collaborate with diverse companies across industries to contribute to the advancement of aggregation technologies utilizing low-voltage resources and the realization of a sustainable energy society that balances the mainstreaming of RE with the stabilization of the power grid.

[1] FY2025 Supplementary Demand Response Demonstration Project Utilizing Smart Meters Webpage

https://sii.or.jp/smartmeterjisshou07r/

[2] IoT route: The wireless interface between a power smart meter and a wireless terminal connected to a special meter, etc.

[3] DR (Demand Response): Changing electricity consumption patterns by controlling electricity usage on the demand side to balance electricity supply and demand.