Kyocera, LO3 Energy partner to trial blockchain-managed virtual power plant

Japanese ceramics and electronics manufacturer Kyocera has partnered with blockchain energy startup LO3 Energy to test the feasibility of a blockchain-managed virtual power plant (VPP) utilizing a peer-to-peer (p2p) distributed consensus network.

According to the press release, the trial will commence on February 28 at Kyocera’s Yokohama Nakayama Office in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Kyocera said that it has been providing solar power generating systems and storage batteries for Japan’s government-led VPP test projects that are part of the efforts to create new “smart” energy networks. This has led the company to develop new expertise in remotely controlled distributed power resources.

It is now combining its expertise with LO3 Energy’s blockchain technologies to evaluate VPPs that promote a low-carbon society without fuels or CO2 emissions.

“Kyocera is committed to developing low-carbon solutions that maximize renewable energy resources,” said Hironao Kudo, Deputy General Manager of Kyocera Corporation’s Corporate R&D Group. “We are excited to be the company in the area of grid management in Japan to collaborate with LO3 Energy, which has consistently proven its blockchain technologies all around the world.”

For the trial, Kyocera’s solar power generating systems and storage batteries will be installed in the Yokohama Nakayama Office to simulate separate power users. The companies will further develop their VPP technology using data from IoT sensors to improve the accuracy of distributed power sources used by the project’s simulated Transmission and Distribution System Operators.

The energy will be controlled through LO3 Energy’s distributed ledger technology to log and manage energy flow. LO3’s blockchain technology is used for verifying and recording transactions, allowing consumers to share the energy they produce with their own solar panels via a microgrid. This, in turn, will help reduce the burden on the larger energy grid.

“The need to reduce carbon emissions is exerting a profound impact on energy providers worldwide,” said Lawrence Orsini, CEO of LO3 Energy. “Using distributed ledger technologies, our networks enable the micro energy transactions needed to meet this challenge. We believe the synergies between Kyocera and LO3 Energy will produce a new generation of virtual power plants that can accelerate Japan’s transition to a low-carbon society.”

Going forward, the companies plan to build upon this trial and develop new ways to expand the efficiency of existing energy transmission and distribution networks in Japan and worldwide.