Leading Technological Innovation
of Energy
Central Research Institute
of Electric Power Industry
The Energy Innovation Center (ENIC) was established as the new research department of the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), a think tank that aims to contribute to the transformation of the electric power industry. In order to contribute to the development of the future electric power industry, ENIC promotes energy value creation centered on electric power, advanced power supply and demand management, researches on digital transformation, and provides comprehensive solutions.
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ENIC Technology
ENIC's cutting-edge technologies andresearch outline
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Mathematical Informatics
We use technologies such as big data analytics and mathematical optimization to tackle multidisciplinary issues in the power industry. For example, we are developing technology for estimating the condition and remaining life of power distribution facilities from gas analysis data, as well as forecasting technology for short-term electricity demand and photovoltaic power output.
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IoT
By combining digital technologies such as AI and IoT with special sensing technologies such as image, sound, and acceleration, we are conducting research and development of technologies to acquire and analyze "deep data" that finely reflects the aging of equipment. For example, we are developing a technology that reproduces three-dimensional shapes from photographs of equipment and quantifies the conditions that lead to damage.
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Heat-pump & Energy-saving
High-efficiency heat pumps are essential equipment for achieving low carbon in households, businesses and industrial sectors. Through technological development and efficiency testing of heat pumps and other energy use equipment and related systems, we provide attractive equipment to energy customers and contribute to the spread of equipment and systems that can help save primary energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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Working & Living Environments
We are developing technologies to improve the benefits such as comfort and productivity and efficiently use energy in homes, workplaces, and agricultural facilities. We are conducting research on evaluation of air conditioning energy consumption and thermal comfort of residents, ventilation design technology suitable for commercial electric kitchens, increase in crop yield and reduction of growth period using heat pumps and LED lights.
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Demand Design
Liberalization of the electric power market has become in progress with the spread of decentralized energy resources and electric cars, batteries, smart meters, and other energy management technologies. Therefore, we are continuing research on energy systems that can achieve lower carbon emissions, methods of activating demand and pursuing electrification, and new services that utilize digital data.
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Network
We evaluate the impact of installation of distributed energy resources on distribution networks, operations, controls, and protections, and develop countermeasures. We develop next-generation energy distribution technologies in cooperation with aggregators and smart communities. We also propose new operation methods that use information from distribution line sensors and smart meters.
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DER Integration
A large amount of distributed energy resources (DERs) are going to be connected to the power grid around the world. DERs means both distributed generation resources, such as solar and wind power, and demand-side energy storage, such as heat pump water heaters and batteries including electric vehicles. The coordinated control of a lot of DERs has great potential to make the grid sustainable and resilient. This is called 'DER Grid Integration'. In order to facilitate DER integration, our research group is working on the investigation and analysis of the following topics; DER utilization trends in the US and European electricity markets, business feasibility of virtual power plants (VPPs) or microgrids with aggregated DERs, and the potential value of DERs to the distribution grid.
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Power Quality
We investigate phenomena related to network power quality such as harmonics, flicker, and voltage fluctuations and stability such as new control strategies applied for inverter technology. We also evaluate the impact on power quality using mathematical models and then transform them into action with countermeasures and changes in standards.
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Simulation Frontier
The role of the distribution networks is changing into the place for exchanging electrical energy. To realize such smarter distribution systems, we pursue state-of-the-art simulation technologies, which include data-centric simulation environment for grid simulations, advanced electromagnetic transient simulation methods and so on. Simulations of renewable energy grids such as offshore power grids are also carried out.
Researchers
ENIC researchers
Contact Us
Thank you for your interest in ENIC.
For inquiries about our technology, equipment and researchers, please click here.