TOKYO, June 7, 2013 – Rakuten Inc. and Koyo Electric Co., Ltd. have agreed to a business tie-up that will see the two companies cooperate on a power saving aggregator project in the power supply region of Kansai Electric Power this summer. The aim of the tie-up is to actively participate in the Demand Response business1, one part of electric power system reform.
Koyo Electric was selected as a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) aggregator for the Sustainable open Innovation Initiative’s (SII) BEMS program in April 2012. The company works to reduce energy consumption by promoting the adoption of BEMS among small users with high voltage wholesale electricity contract such as office buildings and advancing measures for power conservation including efforts to use power more efficiently and reduce peak electricity demand. Through this tie-up, in order to maximize peak demand reduction effects, Koyo Electric in collaboration with Rakuten will propose ‘negawatt’ solutions through the introduction of BEMS to contracted establishments of Rakuten Travel within the Kansai Electric power supply region. Through this, Rakuten Travel contracted establishments will receive negawatt incentives2, with the benefit of being able to offset part of the recent electricity price increases,
In March 2013, Koyo Electric was also selected as a Mansion Energy Management System (MEMS) aggregator by SII, and is promoting the introduction of MEMS for apartment complexes receiving high voltage wholesale power. Rakuten intends to advance further partnership with Koyo Electric for MEMS as well in the future.
Rakuten has been focusing part of its business development ambitions on renewable energy with the launch of Rakuten Solar, solar power generation system sales site for home use, in July last year, and the initiation of its Fukushima Pilot Project this spring to help companies conserve electricity by Demand Response and promote the spread of solar power generation systems3. Through this current initiative, Rakuten intends to actively participate in electric power system reform through the business foundation of the Rakuten Group by expanding peak electricity reduction in the Kansai Electric power supply region.
1. When there are tight constraints on the supply and demand of electricity, reduction of peak electric power through client-side efforts to curb power consumption.
2. Incentive paid to customers by considering the amount of the power savings made by customers in terms of power generation.