Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO, Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture) announced on February 17, 2020, that it has launched an energy management demonstration project that will be deployed in grocery stores using solar power systems integrated with battery storage.
As a part of the project, storage batteries will be installed at grocery stores operated by an Osaka-based grocery retailer, Kano Co.[1], which has contracted for a KEPCO’s onsite solar power service[2]. The project will verify the effectiveness of the battery storage in reducing electricity costs. It will also use a Kanden Virtual Power Plant Integrated Platform System (K-VIPs) to validate the performance of the storage battery control technology.
Storing surplus energy from solar power generation on batteries and discharging it at other times, such as during the night, is expected to reduce electricity costs. The stored surplus energy can also be utilized during emergencies or as part of a demand response (DR) program by responding to the signals from aggregators.
KEPCO aims to provide comprehensive energy management services by utilizing various components such as solar power generation with battery storage and energy resource aggregation services which are expected to grow. KEPCO’s energy aggregation services help customers to increase their revenues through operational improvements for energy procurement management and facility optimization by utilizing VPP and DR.[3]
[1] https://www.kk-kano.co.jp/
[2] The KEPCO provides commercial and industrial customers with a suite of comprehensive (one-stop-shop) solar power services, ranging from rooftop solar installations, to operations and maintenance.