This week marks an important milestone in advancing grid innovation in Japan. Reactive Technologies, a leading Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) company, has formed a key partnership with Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO), the major utility serving Japan’s Hokkaido region. And we’re pleased to have supported Reactive in expanding its presence in the market and to have facilitated this deal.
London-based Reactive Technologies is at the forefront of global efforts to address the challenges posed by the transition to renewable energy. The company’s systems give utilities and grid companies improved control by measuring grid stability and providing accurate data.
For HEPCO, this is critical because Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan targets carbon neutrality by 2050, with renewables expected to deliver 40–50% of energy by 2040, overtaking thermal power as the nation’s dominant energy source. Integrating such a high proportion of renewable energy sources into a grid is no simple task, risking intermittency, supply imbalances and grid instability.
This is where Reactive’s GridMetrix® technology comes in. It monitors grid performance far more effectively than has previously been possible, addressing system inertia and delivering greater precision, stability and reliability.
We’re proud to have introduced Reactive to HEPCO – as part of our wider business development programme for our client in Japan – and to have facilitated the discussions between the two parties, enabling a better understanding of Hokkaido’s energy challenges, needs and long-term network development plans.
HEPCO will harness Reactive’s GridMetrix system to strengthen the stability of its grid, using it across three key areas: monitoring and analysis of grid oscillations, measurement of grid edge frequency and measurement of spot inertia.
This will help HEPCO take a critical step in the transition to renewable energy and towards the 2050 net zero goal.
Marc Borrett, CEO of Reactive Technologies, said:
"Grid visibility and inertia measurement play crucial roles in managing modern energy systems as they decarbonise and evolve. The HEPCO project will showcase what can be achieved as Japanese power companies address the challenges of integrating more renewables.
“We would like to thank Intralink’s Tokyo team for all their support with this partnership.”
If you’d like to discuss the prospects for your tech business in Japan, contact Paul Dupont at paul.dupont@intralinkgroup.com
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