Electricity is transmitted to each household and office through a system called the power grid (transmission and distribution lines). Renewable energy sources such as from solar and wind power, which are heavily affected by weather conditions and seasons, make it challenging to balance supply and demand. Output connected to the grid, derived from variable renewable energy sources, is being restricted increasingly for the purpose of ensuring a stable supply of electricity.
Heat supply is important, as well as electricity. Unused heat generated in the region should be utilized effectively. There is a spatial and temporal gap between the heat demand currently produced by fossil fuels and the unused heat generation. Japan’s district heating and cooling network is not as well developed as Europe’s, few systems have yet to be in place for effectively utilizing unused heat within the region.

Theme 6 will contribute to realizing Co-JUNKAN by promoting local production for local heat and power consumption through enhanced use of unused regional resources.

Electricity
Digital Grid (DG) technology, which enables regional microgrids (MGs) to operate independently from main power grids, is attracting attention as a technology to improve the penetration of volatile renewable energy use. Local solar and wind power generation, challenging to connect to the grid due to unstable power generation, will be integrated into regional MGs built independently from the main power grid, enabling renewable energy to be used as the primary power source for the region.
Heat
For heat, For heat, a mobile thermal energy storage system will be developed to enable heat transportation over distances up to 10 km. The mobile thermal energy storage system uses zeolites to eliminate the spatiotemporal gap between the unused heat and heat demand. By repeating the cycle of charging unused heat, transporting it, and discharging it to heat demand, fossil fuel inputs from outside the region can be reduced.