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Energy Management

Providing Optimum Solutions

through Collaborative Creation with Customers

Renewable energy plays the roles of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and controlling energy costs, and it is now reaching a turning point in terms of operation and management. As there are growing demands to deal with disasters and generating capacity tends to be susceptible to weather conditions, the stable supply of energy needs to be achieved through the adjustment of power generation. Through collaborative creation with customers, Hitachi Power Solutions offers total support for everything from discovering issues to solving them. We offer energy management at various facilities including factories, buildings, commercial facilities and hospitals, and work to deliver operational services to such facilities on a regional basis. We also enable local production for the local consumption of energy through the introduction of power generation systems tailored to each region. Through these efforts we help with solutions to regional issues such as the outflow of population and industry, contribute to town development and the revitalization of local communities so that people can continue to live with peace of mind, and strive to achieve a sustainable society.

Supporting the Development of Smart Energy Inside Plants and Facilities

By developing a range of private power generation systems inside plants and facilities, including solar and wind power generation, storage batteries, gas cogeneration systems, and power generation systems for emergency and disaster prevention, we reduce CO2 emissions and enable the supply of electricity in the event of a disaster. For example, at one university with installed solar and wind power generating equipment on campus, using the electricity that was generated to charge storage batteries. This makes it possible to implement supply and demand control during the summer months when electricity usage reaches peak levels, and allows power to be supplied on premises in the event of a disaster that cut off the power supply from an electric power company.

Kazenomatsubara Wind Power Station (Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture)

Customer Issues

  • Want to achieve energy savings
  • Want to minimize charges for power drawn from the grid
  • Want to reduce CO2 emissions
  • Want to secure an independent power supply in the event of a power outage during a disaster

Offered Value and Effects of Introduction

Conserving energy and reducing CO2 emissions by developing smart energy

In response to growing needs for energy conservation, energy management systems that visualize energy usage and facilitate its efficient utilization are being increasingly introduced. Hitachi Power Solutions proposes system configurations tailored to customer circumstances, from consulting over the development of smart energy for plants and facilities, to the installation and maintenance of renewable energy generating facilities and gas cogeneration systems. In this way, we advance energy savings and help to lower CO2 emissions.

Reducing energy costs by utilizing private power generation

In general, the demand for electricity at facilities such as plants peaks during the day. Our diesel generators for maximum power reduction operate during these peak times to control the use of electricity and reduce the amount of power drawn from the grid, reducing costs. We also propose ways for customers to reduce their energy costs based on their operation, such as covering energy needs with renewable energy sources during peak hours, or using power charged in storage batteries overnight during the day.

Helping to restore and maintain the supply of power during an emergency

Electricity from large and centralized sources such as thermal power plants may cause blackouts across a region when disaster strikes. Hitachi Power Solutions provides backup power supplies such as gas cogeneration systems and power generation systems for emergency and disaster prevention , ensuring that an operator’s business can be quickly restored and maintained even during such a crisis. Through the expertise and unique technologies we have accumulated to date, we offer long-term support integrating everything from design to maintenance. We also help customers develop business continuity plans (BCP).

Gas cogeneration systems

Power generation systems for emergency and disaster prevention

Contributing to the Stability of Power Grids
with Large-scale Hybrid Power Storage Systems

As generating output can be affected by weather, storage batteries need to be utilized to establish renewable energy as a stable power source. Hitachi Power Solutions was among the first to start working on hybrid systems utilizing storage batteries in promoting the use of renewable energy as a stable power source, we are engaging in a wide range of activities aimed at creating a decarbonized society. In Japan, this includes use of these systems to maintain essential services and support BCPs by supplying power to communities and companies. Overseas, activities include helping to maintain grid stability by building large-scale hybrid power storage systems to control power supply and demand.

Large-scale Hybrid Power Storage Systems (Lower Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany)

Source：EWE AG、
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

Customer Issues

  • Want to ensure the stability of power grids even when pursuing the large-scale introduction of renewable energies
  • Want to continue control with storage batteries for a long time

Offered Value and Effects of Introduction

Offered Value and Effects of Introduction Large-scale hybrid power storage systems that stabilize power grids

Due to the implementation of renewable energies in the Federal Republic of Germany, there is growing demand for technologies to supplant the role of thermal power plants which have stably supplied power. To address this, up to February 2020 Hitachi Power Solutions took part in the demonstration project of a large-scale hybrid power storage system implemented in Lower Saxony as one of the companies entrusted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Hitachi Power Solutions was responsible for systems that analyze information about the supply and demand balance in the power grid and control the charge and discharge of the battery storage energy, and performed electric power supply and demand adjustments. This also served as proof of our ability to provide technical support even in countries where the introduction of renewable energy is at an advanced level.

Achieving optimum output and control of storage batteries

Over a power supply and demand adjustment contractual period that spanned several weeks during the demonstration period in the Federal Republic of Germany, we needed to continue power stabilization by charging and discharging storage batteries. To meet this requirement, our power grid information and battery control systems managed the remaining capacity and output control of two types of batteries, lithium-ion batteries and NAS* batteries, to achieve the continual supply of power.
  • * NAS and the NAS logo are trademarks of NGK INSULATORS, LTD., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Supplying Emergency Power Sources to Prepare Against Power Outages during a Disaster and Providing Support to Ensure Lifelines

When the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake struck, the supply of power was cut off in the Toyoiwa district of Akita Prefecture, and the power outage lasted some 15 hours. Only 16 hours’ worth of water had been reserved at the Toyoiwa Water Purification Plant that supplies drinking water to Akita City, presenting the danger of an interrupted water supply. In the aftermath of the earthquake, an emphasis was placed on securing an emergency power source for the water purification plant. The Akita KunimiyamaⅡWind Farm, which is established in parallel with storage batteries delivered by Hitachi Power Solutions in 2015, plays the role of a power supply system in the event of a disaster, helping to ensure lifelines to residents in the area.

Akita Kunimiyama Ⅱ Wind Farm
Storage battery(Akita Kunimiyama Ⅱ Wind Farm)

Customer Issues

  • Want to secure lifelines for disasters
  • Want to flatten output fluctuations in renewable energy
  • Want to achieve the extended supply of electricity during power outages

Offered Value and Effects of Introduction

Securing lifelines on an emergency

When a power outage occurs due to a sudden an unpredictable incident such as a typhoon or an earthquake, it can have a significant effect on our daily lives. Hitachi Power Solutions provides optimum products, services and solutions tailored to the intended applications and needs of customers, drawing from a lineup of various private power generation systems to help customers secure lifelines in an emergency.

Simultaneously ensuring economic efficiency while flattening output fluctuations

To ensure economic efficiency while suppressing fluctuations in the amount of power generated by wind power generation facilities, storage battery systems that can minimize the charge/discharge capacity and cycle are required. Hitachi Power Solutions gets the park control features* of wind power generating equipment to work in harmony with storage batteries to address these needs and aid the stable supply of power. Having customers utilize an output fluctuation suppression type wind power generation system reduces the load placed on power grids and enables the high-quality supply of power.
*Park control feature: This feature controls the peak output values of a wind farm from the outside. For example, when output drops on some wind power generators due to differences in wind conditions, the feature recruits other wind power generators to generate power to maintain a steady total output. This feature minimizes output fluctuations across an entire wind farm, making it possible to lighten the impact on power grids.

Achieving the extended supply of power during outages

When preparing for a long power outages due to disasters, there are limitations with the conventional emergency power generation equipment. By building storage battery charge/discharge systems tailored to renewable energy output to ensure lifelines for entire regions during power outages, Hitachi Power Solutions provides support for achieving the supply of power for extended periods.

Achieving Local Production for the Local Consumption of Renewable Energy

In Japan, the large-scale introduction of renewable energies such as solar and wind power generation has advanced. Amid these developments, there has also been progress with the introduction of distributed power sources enabling local production for local consumption, which eases the load on the power grid while enhancing resilience against natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. By enabling the local utilization the electricity and heat produced by renewable energies based on regional characteristics, these facilities form a sustainable regional economic symbiotic zone, and have attracted attention for their potential to provide the spark for regional revitalization. Hitachi Power Solutions uses new technologies for utilizing renewable energies developed through its track record in the installation of wind and solar power generation systems, gas cogeneration systems, storage batteries and energy management systems (EMS) to propose the development of micro-grids optimized for regional characteristics. We provide total support for customer provides including subsidy applications from the commercialization planning stages, equipment installation, operation and maintenance.

Regional Power Producer and Supplier Featuring Compact Grid for the Local Production for Local Consumption of Renewable Energy

Customer Issues

  • Want to minimize electricity charges
  • Want to reduce carbon dioxide （CO2）emissions
  • Want to curb population outflow and expand employment opportunities
  • Want to circulate energy costs within the region
  • Lack expertise in system development and operation to launch projects

Offered Value and Effects of Introduction

Minimizing electricity changes and reducing carbon dioxide（CO2）emissions

By introducing wind and solar power generation equipment, it is possible to supply electric power to a region through renewable energies without incurring expensive fuel charges, allowing regions to reduce of electricity charges and cut carbon dioxide （CO2）emissions. Renewable energy is a power source that experiences significant output fluctuations because generation is affected by weather conditions such as wind speed and the amount of sunlight, but Hitachi Power Solutions solves those issues with the use of an EMS. By controlling the amount of power generated with renewable energy based on the power demands of consumers, wastage can be minimized as much as possible, enabling efficient energy adjustments.

Developing an economic cycle and revitalizing regional areas by creating employment opportunities

By creating businesses through the establishment of a new type of regional power producer and supplier (businesses in which regional governments and companies participate), the running costs and tax revenues such as fixed asset taxes are fed back into the local economy, helping to create jobs. Additionally, during a disaster power can be supplied to evacuation facilities and disaster prevention centers, establishing a social environment that offers peace of mind to local residents.

Providing total support from project planning to operation, maintenance and operational assistance

Even when regions want to launch a new type of regional power producer and supplier projects, they are often anxious over the lack of expertise in the initial steps to take, and the particulars of system development and operation. Hitachi Power Solutions leverages the experience it has gained to date through collaborate creation to provide detailed support for every aspect from project formulation to operational assistance.