Electric energy systems are facing at fundamental transformation toward realization of sustainable society. Variable renewable energy (VRE) is getting a central energy source and charge-discharge devices such as batteries and electric vehicles (EVs) are vastly penetrating downstream of power grids as energy use is more electrified. The system is transforming so that distributed and “prosuming” resources play a primary role while reducing dependence on utilities’ bulk assets.

In a future system, new service providers for system operators and consumers, in addition to generation and retail entities, exchange electricity. The power grid physically intermediates the electricity flow while the electricity market deals with economic trading. Electricity, different from general commodities, should immediately be consumed, and the grid has a limited transmission capacity. With increasing volume of VRE and DER, it becomes more difficult to meet the requirements. Then, our target is to explore market rules and grid planning & operation which lead to win-win relationship among all the stakeholders and, at the same time, minimizing the social cost.

Power Energy Professional (PEP) is a new discipline to develop technologies and rules for emerging system, thus, the following topics are covered in collaboration with Hayashi laboratory.

(1) Research on Demand Response (DR) and Virtual Power Plant (VPP)

DR and VPP, in which resources in consumer side are aggregated to function equivalently to bulk generators, will be the key in the future system. Since each resource has different characteristic regarding the capacity range and response, researches to develop cooperative control for multi-resources is conducted.

(2) Smart Inverters and Synthetic Inertia

As inverter connected devices, PVs and batteries, increase, they are expected to provide grid support functions by autonomously controlling active/reactive power in response to system frequency and voltage. It is also possible to embed synthetic inertia to cover decrease in system inertia.

(3) International Standardization

We work on standardizing Japanese excellent technologies created through R&D and collaboration with industry in IEC framework. We develop education and training programs to promote export distributed energy management technologies established by DR/VPP activities.