Kyushu Electric Power to Conduct Trial of Shizen Connect's Low-Voltage VPP Service

Shizen Connect Inc., the market leader in VPP (Virtual Power Plant) platforms for integrated management of distributed energy resources, announced that Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. will conduct a trial of its 'Equipment Control-based DR Support Service' starting in August 2026. This service is designed to support retail electricity providers in operating low-voltage VPPs.

As Japan moves towards its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources has created an urgent need to balance their integration with grid stability. VPPs are seen as a key solution. In particular, low-voltage VPPs, which aggregate resources like residential storage batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and EcoCute heat pump water heaters, hold significant societal promise due to their large potential capacity.

As a utility in the Kyushu area, a region leading Japan in renewable energy adoption, Kyushu Electric has a strong interest in managing output fluctuations, especially the issue of daytime power surpluses from increased solar generation. The company has been promoting initiatives such as demand-creation DR (Demand Response) and has actively conducted demonstration projects using low-voltage resources to assess their potential and effectiveness. It is also considering a residential DR service as part of its new energy solution brand, 'Enebee.'

Shizen Connect launched its DR support service in May 2023, and it has already been adopted by retail electricity providers representing a combined market share of 38%. The service controls residential storage batteries and EcoCutes, offering a wide range of DR types, including economic DR, demand-creation DR, and supply-demand balancing DR for various electricity markets.

In this trial, Kyushu Electric will recruit participants and obtain control permissions, while Shizen Connect will perform remote control of residential storage batteries using its proprietary energy management system, 'Shizen Connect.' Through this demonstration, the two companies will verify cost-saving effects, technical performance, and operational aspects, and assess the potential of low-voltage resources as a grid balancing tool in the Kyushu area.

Shizen Connect stated it will continue to work with a broad range of partners to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.