A new demonstration project in Tokyo explores how batteries and smart systems can cut costs and boost renewable energy use.
Panasonic Electric Works, in partnership with ENEOS Power, has launched a new energy management demonstration project in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The initiative focuses on controlling household and corporate energy systems such as storage batteries, heat pump water heaters, and air conditioning units, with the goal of optimizing how energy is consumed.
The project comes at a time when society is working toward a carbon-neutral future. While renewable energy is expanding, challenges remain around keeping costs low and ensuring stable energy supply. By combining Panasonic’s long-standing expertise in measurement and control with ENEOS’s solar power purchase services, the companies aim to address these pressing issues together.
In this trial, Panasonic will install its batteries and smart energy systems (HEMS for homes and BEMS for buildings) in selected households and offices. These devices will be managed remotely using Panasonic’s original algorithms. By charging and discharging batteries in smart ways, the project will maximize self-consumption of solar power, increase the share of renewable energy used, and at the same time explore the profitability of energy trading in the power market.
The results of this demonstration will not only help reduce energy bills for both families and businesses but also create a blueprint for larger-scale solutions in the future. If successful, the project could spread widely to retail electricity providers, making energy more affordable, reliable, and sustainable across Japan. Ultimately, this initiative has the potential to contribute significantly to achieving a decarbonized society.
Key Terms Explained
- Energy Management: The process of monitoring and controlling energy use in order to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve sustainability.
- HEMS/BEMS: Home Energy Management System (HEMS) and Building Energy Management System (BEMS) are smart control systems that monitor and optimize energy use in households and offices.
- Storage Battery: A device that stores electricity for later use. By charging when power is abundant and discharging when demand is high, it helps balance energy supply and demand.
