Agreement on Joint Study for Integrated Operation of Decentralized AI Data Centers via Workload Shifting and Wide-area Optical Network Technology
Seven companies, including J-Power, Hitachi, Cisco, and major Japanese railways, have agreed to jointly explore an integrated operation model for decentralized AI data centers. By leveraging railway dark fibers for a wide-area all-optical network (APN) and implementing workload shifting (WLS), they aim to balance power supply and demand while building a resilient domestic AI infrastructure.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (1h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 02:18 (2h 16m after Collected)
Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-Power), Hitachi, Ltd., Cisco Systems G.K., Bitmedia Co., Ltd., East Japan Railway Company (JR East), JR West Optical Network Co., Ltd., and Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. have agreed to begin a joint study on technical verification for workload shifting (WLS) of AI data centers (AI-DC) and the construction of wide-area all-optical networks (wide-area APN). To facilitate this, they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and established the 'Wide-area APN/Workload Shift Innovation Promotion Council.'
This study aims to establish a new operational model that utilizes decentralized regional data centers (DCs) as a strength contributing to the stability and efficiency of the power system. Specifically, a secure, private APN network traversing the nation will be constructed using unused optical fiber lines (dark fiber / DF) owned by railway operators like the J-Power Group, JR companies, and private railway firms. Furthermore, by combining WLS technology, multiple decentralized AI-DCs will be coordinated and operated as if they were a single large-scale DC.
Through this social implementation, the project contributes to the realization of the 'Watt-Bit Coordination' policy, which integrates the advancement of power and information communication infrastructure. This will promote the stability and efficiency of power systems, the integrated formation of decentralized regional digital infrastructure, and local community symbiosis.
*1 Workload Shifting (WLS): A technology that promotes the adjustment of power supply-demand balance and effective use of computing resources by moving computational loads temporally or spatially.
*2 All-Optical Network (APN): A next-generation optical network technology that achieves low latency, high capacity, and low power consumption by communicating via light without converting it into electrical signals.
*3 Watt-Bit Coordination: A term combining 'Watt' (power unit) and 'bit' (information unit). It is a concept for public-private collaboration to develop power and information infrastructure integrally for a sustainable and efficient society.
● Background
Amid rising expectations for generative AI, there is an increasing need for secure, high-reliability AI-DCs to safely handle vast amounts of sensitive data. To meet these needs, J-Power and Hitachi have been collaborating on the construction and operation of AI-DCs (Joint study agreed on July 7, 2025). They aim to realize safe and clean AI-DCs by leveraging J-Power's carbon-neutral power sources nationwide and Hitachi's IT/OT expertise through its Lumada platform.
Meanwhile, computing and power demand at DCs are rapidly expanding, significantly impacting power systems. With the advancement of decarbonization, cases of 'output curtailment'—where power generation from solar or wind is temporarily suppressed due to grid constraints—are also increasing.
To address these challenges, there is a need for an operational model for decentralized DCs that are integrated virtually via APN. This allows for flexible control of computational demand according to power supply/demand conditions, ensuring grid stability. Utilizing the low power consumption, low latency, and high capacity of APN is crucial to resolving communication performance and quality issues associated with decentralized locations.
● Roles of Each Company
In this study, each company will combine its knowledge and technology to interconnect private optical fibers and build a secure, highly reliable closed wide-area APN. The construction will utilize optical fiber lines owned by JR companies and other private railway operators nationwide.
This study aims to establish a new operational model that utilizes decentralized regional data centers (DCs) as a strength contributing to the stability and efficiency of the power system. Specifically, a secure, private APN network traversing the nation will be constructed using unused optical fiber lines (dark fiber / DF) owned by railway operators like the J-Power Group, JR companies, and private railway firms. Furthermore, by combining WLS technology, multiple decentralized AI-DCs will be coordinated and operated as if they were a single large-scale DC.
Through this social implementation, the project contributes to the realization of the 'Watt-Bit Coordination' policy, which integrates the advancement of power and information communication infrastructure. This will promote the stability and efficiency of power systems, the integrated formation of decentralized regional digital infrastructure, and local community symbiosis.
*1 Workload Shifting (WLS): A technology that promotes the adjustment of power supply-demand balance and effective use of computing resources by moving computational loads temporally or spatially.
*2 All-Optical Network (APN): A next-generation optical network technology that achieves low latency, high capacity, and low power consumption by communicating via light without converting it into electrical signals.
*3 Watt-Bit Coordination: A term combining 'Watt' (power unit) and 'bit' (information unit). It is a concept for public-private collaboration to develop power and information infrastructure integrally for a sustainable and efficient society.
● Background
Amid rising expectations for generative AI, there is an increasing need for secure, high-reliability AI-DCs to safely handle vast amounts of sensitive data. To meet these needs, J-Power and Hitachi have been collaborating on the construction and operation of AI-DCs (Joint study agreed on July 7, 2025). They aim to realize safe and clean AI-DCs by leveraging J-Power's carbon-neutral power sources nationwide and Hitachi's IT/OT expertise through its Lumada platform.
Meanwhile, computing and power demand at DCs are rapidly expanding, significantly impacting power systems. With the advancement of decarbonization, cases of 'output curtailment'—where power generation from solar or wind is temporarily suppressed due to grid constraints—are also increasing.
To address these challenges, there is a need for an operational model for decentralized DCs that are integrated virtually via APN. This allows for flexible control of computational demand according to power supply/demand conditions, ensuring grid stability. Utilizing the low power consumption, low latency, and high capacity of APN is crucial to resolving communication performance and quality issues associated with decentralized locations.
● Roles of Each Company
In this study, each company will combine its knowledge and technology to interconnect private optical fibers and build a secure, highly reliable closed wide-area APN. The construction will utilize optical fiber lines owned by JR companies and other private railway operators nationwide.