HOBE ENERGY Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kyoichi Okino; hereinafter "HOBE ENERGY") is pleased to announce that power reception was completed on March 31, 2026, at the "Shichihongi Battery Station," a project developed by the Japan Energy Storage Development Institute (JESDI) (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Akira Hoshino; hereinafter "JESDI") in Kamisato-machi, Kodama-gun, Saitama Prefecture.

This project follows the successful power reception of the Kaminara Battery Station (Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, 5MWh) on March 27, 2026, marking consecutive achievements that further solidify HOBE ENERGY's track record in deploying its proprietary grid-scale battery systems and Energy Management Systems (EMS).

Grid-Scale Batteries Essential in the Renewable Energy Era; Expanding Role in Supporting Power Infrastructure With the expansion of renewable energy, addressing output fluctuations caused by weather and time-of-day dependence has become a critical challenge for Japan's power infrastructure. As the ratio of renewables increases, the development of grid-scale battery stations—capable of storing surplus power and discharging it when needed—is essential to maintaining the stability of the power grid. Furthermore, energy security is a vital national issue for Japan, necessitating a shift away from an energy structure highly dependent on overseas sources, the construction of decentralized energy foundations, and the strengthening of power supply resilience.

Against this backdrop, government support for the deep-tech sector is increasing, and expectations for battery and energy management technologies are rising. Grid-scale batteries are attracting attention as a foundational technology for next-generation power infrastructure, serving as a balancing resource to support the widespread adoption of renewable energy. In response to these social demands, HOBE ENERGY has established a system to provide integrated design, procurement, implementation, and operational support for battery systems, contributing to the development of social infrastructure for the renewable energy era.

Significance for HOBE ENERGY: Accelerating the Deployment of Grid-Scale Battery Systems Having established its first track record with its proprietary grid-scale battery system at the Kaminara Battery Station, HOBE ENERGY quickly demonstrated the reproducibility of its model with the power reception at the Shichihongi Battery Station on the 31st of the same month. Achieving consecutive, on-schedule power receptions across multiple projects demonstrates the robustness of the company's end-to-end system, which integrates design, procurement, EMS implementation, and construction coordination. Led by President Kyoichi Okino, an engineer formerly with Fuji Electric and ABB, HOBE ENERGY makes the development and utilization of domestic technology and contributions to energy security the pillars of its management, and this project steadily advances that strategy.

Installation Overview - Station Name: Shichihongi Battery Station - Location: Kamisato-machi, Kodama-gun, Saitama Prefecture - Equipment Capacity: 5MWh (Output approx. 3MW) - Power Reception Date: March 31, 2026 - Battery System: HOBE ENERGY 5ft compact battery system (LFP) - EMS: HOBE ENERGY proprietary EMS (supports supply-demand adjustment market, real-time control) - Construction Partner: E-TOP Co., Ltd. - Aggregator: RUTILEA, Inc. - Station Developer: Japan Energy Storage Development Institute (JESDI)

Technical Features of HOBE ENERGY The technical core of this battery station lies in the EMS developed in-house by HOBE ENERGY. It goes beyond simple charge/discharge control to realize real-time control geared toward the supply-demand adjustment market and renewable energy output fluctuations. In collaboration with the aggregator, RUTILEA, the design is optimized for connection to the supply-demand adjustment market.

Additionally, HOBE ENERGY's 5ft battery unit housing is easier to transport and install compared to industry-standard 20ft containers, allowing for structures that can accommodate sites with narrow access routes or sharp curves. This realizes a grid-scale battery station model that is resilient to land constraints, such as substation sites or former factory grounds that were previously difficult to utilize. By achieving on-schedule power reception for both the Kaminara and Shichihongi projects, the company has once again demonstrated the reproducibility of its process, which enables early market entry.

Future Business Development HOBE ENERGY will now horizontally deploy the "one-stop solution for grid-scale battery stations" established through the Kaminara and Shichihongi projects, accelerating expansion into suitable sites for renewables and regions requiring power grid reinforcement across Japan. To achieve the 40-50% renewable energy ratio by fiscal year 2040 set forth by the government in the 7th Strategic Energy Plan, demand for battery infrastructure essential for grid stabilization is expected to expand rapidly. As a specialized company capable of providing integrated design, procurement, EMS implementation, and market connection support, the company is preparing to capture this national policy-driven demand.

Furthermore, the company aims to become a comprehensive energy storage solution provider capable of offering optimal solutions based on application, scale, and cost requirements, with an eye toward supporting next-generation storage technologies such as sodium-ion and redox flow batteries, in addition to lithium-ion batteries.

Comments - Kyoichi Okino, President and CEO, HOBE ENERGY: "The completion of power reception at Shichihongi, following Kaminara, is a significant milestone that further solidifies our track record. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to JESDI President Hoshino, E-TOP for their construction work, and RUTILEA for their cooperation in operations. Achieving two consecutive power receptions in March proves that our end-to-end system functions in real-world projects. We will continue to contribute to the spread of renewable energy and the advancement of power infrastructure to promote Japan's energy independence."

- Akira Hoshino, President, JESDI: "The power reception at Shichihongi was realized in a short period following Kaminara, which I see as the result of our collective efforts to advance multiple projects. I am deeply grateful to E-TOP, RUTILEA, and HOBE ENERGY for their cooperation. JESDI will continue to build a track record nationwide as an operator with both speed and reliability in battery station development."

- Shogo Iizuka, President, E-TOP Co., Ltd.: "As the EPC, I am honored to have completed the Shichihongi project on schedule with safety as our top priority. We have established a foundation for operation in the primary adjustment power market. We will continue to work closely with the project owner, JESDI, aggregator RUTILEA, and manufacturer HOBE ENERGY to contribute to the expansion of storage infrastructure nationwide."

- Takahiro Yasutomi, Senior Project Leader, RUTILEA, Inc.: "RUTILEA develops AI services and infrastructure with the mission of 'Making AI simple.' Utilizing our proprietary power trading optimization AI, we are participating as an aggregator. Following our entry into the supply-demand adjustment market within two months of power reception at the Aisho-cho station, we will contribute to the stabilization of power supply and the maximization of battery station value at Shichihongi and future projects."

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: product_launch