Selected in 2017 for METI's subsidy program to promote local
energy production for local consumption by leveraging regional
characteristics
PanaHome Corporation, ENERES Co., Ltd, IBJ Leasing Co., Ltd. and
the Public Enterprises Agency of the Hyogo Prefectural Government
plan to embark on the urban development of a microgrid system (a
regional energy distribution management system) (*1) starting
October 2017.
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the full release here:
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Area where PanaHome's Smart City
Shioashiya Solar-Shima is being developed (Graphic: Business
Wire)
[Video] Launch of Japan's First Microgrid System with a Total of
117 Homes - Smart City
Shioashiyahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Br0QgUxvK4
The microgrid system will power a total of 117 homes in Zone D4
of Smart City Shioashiya Solar-Shima, which is being designed and
developed by PanaHome in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. On August
9, 2017, the project was selected as a part of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry's subsidy program to promote local
energy production for local consumption by leveraging regional
characteristics.
This is a joint project being carried out by PanaHome, ENERES,
IBJ Leasing and the Public Enterprises Agency. The project concept
is a "town interconnected by energy for living." PanaHome purchased
land that was developed by the Public Enterprises Agency. Panasonic
Corporation and the City of Ashiya are also cooperating with the
development of this project. A part of the project entails building
Japan's first (*2) microgrid system. Solar energy will be used to
power 80% or more (*3) of the entire housing district. This will be
made feasible by running private power distribution lines (*4) to
the housing district and sharing power between homes. Even when the
district becomes disconnected from the traditional electrical grid
during emergencies, the private power distribution lines can
continue to supply power via specific circuits. Private power
distribution lines make it possible to receive power and flexibly
set power rates. Consequently, this poses a number of benefits for
homeowners including, a 20% cut in their electricity bill. Another
key goal is to contribute to the environment, mainly by maximizing
use of renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions. Going forward this
project will contribute to solutions for sharing electric power
between buildings, preventing blackouts in areas overseas where
power grids are weak, and in showcasing these solutions
overseas.
[Responsibilities of each project participant]
Applicants
- PanaHome (Main applicant)Design, development,
housing construction, and overall planning of the smart city
- ENERES (Joint applicant)Energy management
services
- IBJ Leasing (Joint applicant)Own and manage
private power distribution lines
- Hyogo Public Enterprises Agency (Joint
applicant)Residential land development and regional
cooperation
[Partners]
- City of Ashiya, Hyogo PrefectureRegional collaboration
for urban development of Shioashiya
- Panasonic CorporationCollaboration on power storage
management systems, technical support, and the safety and
management of private power distribution lines
[Background]
In the wake of the Great East Japan earthquake, demand emerged
for the introduction of distributed energy systems highly resilient
to disasters. The quake made it apparent that centralized energy
systems were vulnerable to such disasters. Meanwhile, it has also
become necessary to flexibly offset the unstable supply of electric
power with a considerable expansion in the use of renewable energy.
In addition, there is a need to shift from the wider use of solar
power via the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, to the expanded use of
solar power sources via the effective use of local energy
production for local consumption.
Since 1998, Hyogo Prefecture and the City of Ashiya have been
carrying out development in the Shioashiya area, which is in the
Minami Ashiya-hama district, based on the concept of urban
development that connects people. From 2012, PanaHome embarked on
the development of Smart City Shioashiya Solar-Shima, which is
comprised of roughly 400 individual homes and 3 condominium
complexes (total of 83 condos). The company's highly
energy-efficient buildings and its large-scale urban development
which maximizes the use of renewable energy has won the company
high praise, even from overseas. The company recently won a Gold
Award in the "Smart Buildings" category of the 3rd APEC (Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation) ESCI (*5) Best Practice Awards.
[Overview of the microgrid system and the specified supply
(*6) scheme]
A solar power generator (4.6kW), storage cell (11.2kWh) and HEMS
(*7) has been installed in each of the homes in this project.
Within the housing district, each home's storage cell is connected
by private power distribution lines. The storage cell control unit
makes it possible to reverse the power flow current and mutually
share electric power between homes. This is the first such
microgrid system (regional energy distribution system) in
Japan.
Specified supply scheme using private power distribution
lines
The management association consists of homeowners of the 117
homes in the residential district. The management association has
outsourced the power storage cell control management to ENERES, a
company with expertise in this area. Based on a specified supply
scheme to control the supply of power from storage cells to
association members (residents), it will be possible to operate an
EMS (*8) system and provide power coverage to the entire district
by employing IBJ Leasing's environmental solutions, which were
derived from its financial knowhow, to introduce private power
distribution lines.
- Business location: Smart City Shioashiya Zone D4- Site:
Suzukaze-cho, Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan- Coverage: Smart City Shioashiya
Zone D4- Main renewable energy: Roughly 32,007.92 m2- Shared
energy: Electric power- Start of operations: October 2018
[Features of the microgrid system]
1. Low power rates and free power control owing to the use of
private power distribution linesThe use of private power
distribution lines makes it possible to freely control the receipt
of electric power and storage cells in the housing district and to
flexibly set power rates. Furthermore, it will be possible to
reduce power rates by 20% by improving the rate of self-sufficiency
on renewable energy by sharing power between homes.
2. Equalize supply-demand balance for electric power in the
district via regional control of storage cellsPeak demand for
power will be controlled within the area through the regional
control of storage cells connected by the private power
distribution lines. By entering into contracts for receiving power
with new power companies (hereinafter referred to as a PPS (*9)),
when it is expected that the area will exceed its contracted power
supply, the system orders a discharge of electric power to equalize
the supply of electric power.
3. Continued power supply even if supply from main grid is
suspended (designated circuit)During normal energy usage, the
entire district will maximize use of solar power. When there is
shortage of electric power, renewable energy will be supplied over
the PPS grid (FIT power source (*10)) to maintain a stable power
supply. During an emergency where the main power grid is
interrupted, it is possible to continue to supply power to homes in
the district by supplying power to designated circuits
(refrigerators, lighting, cell phone rechargers, etc.) from power
storage in storage cells or solar power generated within the
district.
[Overview of shared power among homes in the
district]
In this project, all homes are equipped with solar power
generators, storage cells, and HEMS. The storage cells installed in
each home are connected to form a network. The power stored in the
storage cells (11.2kWh) can be shared by the 117 homes in the
district. It is as if there is a giant storage cell with 1.3MWh of
power. Homes with surplus electricity can share with homes that
have a shortage of power. This reduces the need to purchase energy
from external sources and maximizes the use of solar power
generated within the district.
[Expected benefits]
1. Self-sufficiency rate of 80% or higher owing to the local
production and local consumption of solar power (environmental
benefit)
2. A 20% reduction in electric power rates owing to receipt of
power and storage cell control (economic benefit)
3. 100% use of renewable energy (solar power generated in the
district and FIT source outside the housing district)
(environmental benefit)
4. Possible to supply power even when power supply from the main
grid has been interrupted (designated circuits) (dealing with
disasters)
5. Equalize power supply within the district (social
benefit)
[Hybrid deployment of microgrid VPP (*11) feasibility
test]
In addition to the deployment of a microgrid, a feasibility test
will be conducted for the VPP control unit. When instructions,
including demand response (*12) orders from the resource aggregator
(*13), come from above, the goal is to control the inflow and
outflow of power from storage cells in each home to address the
increase or decrease of power consumption in the district, as if it
were all functions as one power generator.
Notes:*1. A small-scale power grid. A small power generator
facility, including solar power generator, is set up in an area to
supplement power demand using a local production, local consumption
model.*2. It is Japan's first point that makes to share electric
power mutually at 117 homes by running private distribution lines
in the housing district.*3. (Amount of solar power consumed
privately + amount of surplus power shared) ÷ Total power
consumption (Annual basis; based on a simulation performed by
PanaHome)*4. Power distribution lines privately installed to supply
power without relying on general power distribution companies.*5.
Energy Smart Communities Initiative (ESCI): Network launched in
2010 at the Yokohama APEC meeting. APEC member countries and
regions collaborate on projects in five fields - smart buildings,
smart grid, low-carbon model town, smart job and consumer, and
smart transport - through the introduction of new technologies.*6.
Article 17 of the Electric Business Act (Specified Supply): System
whereby an electric power supplier that meets certain criteria
obtains a license for each location to which they plan to supply
power and supplies power to that specific target.*7. Home Energy
Management System (HEMS): Energy usage is not only made transparent
but also optimally controls electric use of consumer electronics
and electrical facilities installed in the home.*8. Energy
Management System (EMS): Monitors and controls energy via a
network, including making energy usage, including electric power
usage, transparent, and optimally manages facilities.*9. Power
Producer and Supplier (PPS): Designated scale power products,
generally known as new power suppliers. A company that obtains a
license and newly enters the electric power industry.*10. Electric
power using a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) source (system whereby the
purchase price of renewable energy is decided by law)*11. Virtual
Power Plant Response (VPP): Network or system that centrally
controls a number of small solar power or other generators as if it
were one large power generator.*12. A resource aggregator collects
energy resources from consumers for energy producers (power
transmission and distribution companies, retail electric power
companies, and renewable energy power producers).*13. Demand
Response: Transform power consumption patterns by curbing consumer
power usage through incentives or by setting higher rates during
times when market prices are skyrocketing or when the reliability
of the grid is weak, such as when supply and demand for electric
power are strapped.
Source:
http://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2017/50883.html
Related Links
[Video] Launch of Japan's First Microgrid System with a Total of
117 Homes - Smart City
Shioashiyahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Br0QgUxvK4
Smart City Shioashiya "Solar-Shima" website
(Japanese)http://city.panahome.jp/sorashima/index.php?frm=shioashiya
PanaHome Globalhttp://www.panahome.jp/english/
HEMS (Home Energy Management System) | Industrial Devices &
Solutionshttps://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/applications/ha/hems
ENERES Co., Ltd. (Japanese)https://www.eneres.co.jp/
IBJ Leasing Co., Ltd.https://www.ibjl.co.jp/en/index.html
Hyogo Prefecturehttps://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/fl/index.html
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