Japanese grid operators contract load dispatch standardisation
Image courtesy Hitachi
Nine Japanese grid operators, through a joint venture, have tapped Hitachi for a load dispatching system to standardise how they balance demand and supply.
Japanese tech major Hitachi received the order from Transmission and Distribution IT & OT Systems LLC for a complete set of their load dispatching system, otherwise known as the System.
The System is being deployed by nine of ten domestic Japanese grid operators in the Transmission and Distribution IT & OT Systems LLC, a joint venture established in September 2023 by 10 domestic power transmission and distribution companies in the country.
The System will standardise a load dispatching system for each area under the jurisdiction of the joint venture’s member operators, excluding the Okinawa area.
Transmission and Distribution IT & OT Systems currently consists of:
- Hokkaido Electric Power Network
- Tohoku Electric Power Network
- TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) Power Grid
- Chubu Electric Power Grid
- Hokuriku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Company
- Kansai Transmission and Distribution
- Chugoku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Company
- Shikoku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Company
- Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution
- The Okinawa Electric Power Company, which will not be deploying the System
Have you read:
Octopus Energy gamifies load reduction with Octoplus rewards scheme
US energy aggregators tout milestones in helping utilities achieve flexible load
The System will perform a wide-area Load Frequency Control (LFC) function that will be introduced for the first time in Japan, as well as optimisation calculations for nationwide generator start-stop planning and supply and demand control.
Hitachi will build the system by utilising its experience in Japan alongside Hitachi Energy’s package, Network Manager.
Until now, Japan’s load dispatching system, which serves to balance demand and supply, had been developed by the transmission and distribution companies in each area.
In announcing the contract, Hitachi cites how, as grid operations continue to become more complex, there is a need to develop a platform that is scalable, flexible and transparent for future regulation changes and can be commonly used by all operators to achieve improved resilience and social cost reduction.
Against this, the nine power companies decided to standardise their systems, contracting Hitachi.
“Hitachi has continuously contributed to stable operations of social infrastructures in various fields by amalgamating its IT, OT and products. In this project, we aim to realise a national scale power interchange system by synergising the capabilities of Hitachi’s BUs (business units) and Hitachi Energy, which have abundant experience in Japanese and global markets, respectively,” said Keiji Kojima, president & CEO, Hitachi, Ltd.
In announcing their selection, Hitachi also cites their record of developing systems for electric power companies in Japan, including the current load dispatching system.
Said Claudio Facchin, senior vice president and executive officer of Hitachi, Ltd. and CEO of Hitachi Energy:
“The establishment of a new operating model led by our customer Transmission and Distribution IT & OT Systems LLC in Japan is a path-breaking effort leveraging digitalisation to foster an ecosystem of transparency, collaboration and economic rationality while maintaining the agility to adapt to future energy system dynamics.
“As electricity increasingly becomes the backbone of the entire energy system and with Hitachi as a strategic partner over its lifecycle, Japan’s power transmission and distribution system will safeguard energy security while addressing some of the social and environmental needs of the country.”
