1. Home
  2. Press release
Oct 30, 2018 09:58 JST

Source: Mitsubishi Corporation

MC Retail Energy Enters Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Business Utilizing Lawson Stores

TOKYO, Oct 30, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - MC Retail Energy Co., Ltd. has started retailing virtual power plant (VPP)(1) services for Lawson convenience stores in Japan. The model utilizes electricity demand forecasting and remote control systems for in-store electric equipment, and utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage and control power usage. In other words, MC Retail Energy can control the use of power by electric equipment in multiple stores remotely and in a timely manner. As an electricity retailer, MC Retail Energy can use this capacity to control the balance between electricity demand and supply to return part of the benefits to customers and reduce electricity procurement cost.

From 2016, Lawson Co., Ltd. has been working on the "Virtual Power Plant Experimental Project Using Consumer's Energy Resources," an initiative subsidized by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry together with Keio Research Institute at SFC. Taking advantage of the knowledge gained through this project, Lawson is collaborating as Resource Aggregator(2) with MC Retail Energy as the retailer to establish this new VPP model, in which the electricity retailer and consumer work together to control electric equipment, in this case, at Lawson stores, remotely and in a timely manner. Lawson is aiming to introduce VPP system to stores nationwide as it seeks to optimize energy usage and build an energy adjustment infrastructure that can assist with retaining demand and supply balance in electric power and stabilizing the electric power system.

Taking into consideration the diffusion of renewable energy generation businesses, the movement towards distributed energy resources, and the digitalization of electric power systems, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is seeking to contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society by creating a new business model that can be successful in both domestic and overseas markets. Having entered the electricity retailing for households business through the launch of MC Retail Energy in 2016, the company has been working on optimizing energy efficiency and providing highly convenient service to customers.

Going forward, MC intends to continue developing this VPP business model while creating new businesses that apply AI/IoT and Big Data to electric power systems.

MC Retail Energy will also use the opportunity of this business with Lawson to start developing VPP systems for other commercial facilities, office buildings, as well as households, among other customers.

(1) Virtual Power Plant (VPP): Serves the function of a power generating station by controlling energy resources such as the facilities of different power consumers, power generating units directly connected to electric power systems, and accumulation equipment.
(2) Resource Aggregator: A business entity which controls and manages the distributed VPP resources owned by consumers (Lawson stores in this case).

Contact:
Mitsubishi Corporation
Telephone:+81-3-3210-2171
Facsimile:+81-3-5252-7705
Source: Mitsubishi Corporation
Sectors: Energy, Alternatives

Copyright ©2025 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network.

Related Press Release

Definitive agreement to implement a joint mine plan between Los Bronces and Andina copper mines
September 17 2025 17:57 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation Invests in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a US Fusion Energy Start-up from MIT
September 02 2025 11:50 JST
 
Result of the Business Plan Review for the Offshore Wind Power Generation Projects in Japan
August 27 2025 21:27 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation Invests in Fullerton Health
August 26 2025 11:54 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation to acquire shares in Copper World copper mine project in the US
August 14 2025 11:05 JST
 
First Shipment of LNG from the LNG Canada Project
July 01 2025 10:00 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation to Invest and Enter into a Business Partnership with DEScycle Ltd., a UK Company Developing Innovative Metal Recycling Technology
June 02 2025 13:35 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation Establishes New Corporate Venture Capital Company
May 30 2025 17:36 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation makes DennoKotsu an equity-method affiliate company, strengthening efforts to address regional transportation challenges
April 11 2025 09:39 JST
 
Mitsubishi Corporation to Participate in Demonstration Project for New Hydrogen-Based Ironmaking
April 09 2025 17:22 JST
 
More Press release >>

Latest Press Release


Definitive agreement to implement a joint mine plan between Los Bronces and Andina copper mines
Sep 17, 2025 18:57 JST

Anti-MTBR (microtubule binding region) Tau Antibody Etalanetug Granted FDA Fast Track Designation
Sep 17, 2025 18:20 JST

Honda Announces New Electric Motorcycle "Honda WN7" in Europe
Sep 17, 2025 17:46 JST

EASD 2025 | HighTide Therapeutics Announces Oral Presentation of Phase 3 Data in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Sep 17, 2025 09:00 JST

Honda Develops New "Chemical Sorting" Technology to Separate Solid Contaminants from Waste Plastics Derived from End-of-life Automobiles
Sep 16, 2025 15:00 JST

NEC Publishes ESG Initiatives Supporting Sustainable Growth of Companies and Society in "ESG Databook 2025"
Sep 16, 2025 14:00 JST

JSR Corporation/Inpria Corporation and Lam Research Enter Cross Licensing and Collaboration Agreement to Advance Semiconductor Manufacturing
Sep 16, 2025 09:00 JST

Toyota Launches Next-Generation New Mobility e-Palette
Sep 15, 2025 15:33 JST

The University of Osaka D3 Center Commences Operation of New Computing and Data Infrastructure Built by NEC
Sep 12, 2025 15:08 JST

GR Yaris "Aero performance package" Set for Japan Launch
Sep 12, 2025 14:40 JST

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Achieves Target Performance at Pilot Plant for Bioethanol Membrane Dehydration Systems

Sep 12, 2025 14:19 JST

"New Answers to Dementia" Eisai Releases Concept Movie and New Content on Campaign Website for Dementia Month
Sep 12, 2025 13:20 JST

TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Succeeds in Developing High-Performance Palladium Alloy Hydrogen Permeable Membrane Operable in the Low-Temperature Range of 300 degrees C
Sep 12, 2025 11:00 JST

CO2NNEX(R) Digital Platform for Transfer and Management of e-Methane Clean Gas Certificates to Be Utilized in Nagaoka Methanation Demonstration
Sep 11, 2025 20:37 JST

Hitachi accelerates growth with major U.S. investments in advanced manufacturing, electrification and workforce development

Sep 11, 2025 18:35 JST

GlobalLogic and Ericsson Deploy Private 5G Network at Hitachi Rail's State-of the-Art Digital Factory
Sep 11, 2025 17:24 JST

GlobalLogic and Flexware Innovation Announce Major Deployment of LIFT at Hitachi Rail's State-of-the-Art Train Manufacturing Facility
Sep 11, 2025 16:46 JST

JCB Unveils New Brand Message in Vietnam: "Japan Cung Ban"
Sep 11, 2025 13:00 JST

Kawasaki City becomes first dekokatsu subsidy municipality for promoting decarbonization lifestyle promotion project
Sep 11, 2025 10:35 JST

TGR Plans to Reproduce Engine Parts for Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno (AE86)
Sep 10, 2025 18:11 JST
 More Latest Release >>