1978 1978 School of Commerce, Waseda University
1982 IBM Japan, sales for Electric and Electronics customers.
2008 General Manager of Team Green Innovation, (Smartcity country leader)
2015 Resigned IBM Japan
Established and Advisor, Volter Japan
2016 Professor, Faculty of Urban Innovation, Asia University
Vice president for International Affairs, Asia University
2018 European Union: EU Gateway Construction Engineering Chair Expert
Awards
Worldwide 50 most impactful smartcity leaders, 2017
Central Gov. Ministry of General affairs, Kanto annual communication award
IBM Internal President award 3 times, Asia pacific award and many others
ESSJ 2020 Advisory Committee Chair
Pekka works as the head of the commercial section (Business Finland) of the embassy. He has more than 20 years of business experience in Japan; the past jobs including representative for Kansallis Banking Group (currently part of Nordea), senior director of Fitch Ratings and partner at the M&A consultancy Septem Partners. He has also served as president of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
Presentation Tittle: Finnish energy based on circular economy
Abstract:
Finnish energy system is based on circular economy with strong areas in bio energy, waste to energy, hydrogen and battery industry. As the most forested country in Europe and long history in forest industry, Finland has a strong bio economy system that focuses on efficiency in the whole value chain from forest management to power plants. Finland also has some of the leading companies creating bio fuels from different kinds of waste and industry side streams.
Finland is committed to become carbon-neutral by 2035. In order to succeed in this target, Finland sees hydrogen as one of sustainable energy resources in the future. Anticipating hydrogen is to be adopted to whole society across industrial segments such as Energy, Resources, Transportation, Manufacturing, etc., Finland has formulated the National Hydrogen Roadmap. Finally, Finland is not well known as one of the best location of Li-ion battery business when considering total value chains and ecosystem of battery manufacturing for EVs in the future, despite Finland produce all necessary battery minerals and chemicals, even Lithium Cobalt, and Nickel. In addition to that, Finland is recognized as a leading nation of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which is the customer facing end of the end to end Li-ion battery value chain.
Creating business opportunities by connecting companies in Austria and Japan is his daily bread, helping entrepreneurs to bridge the gap in business understanding, language and cultural background his passion. More than twelve years Arnold Ackerer is serving as Deputy Head of Advantage Austria Tokyo and Commercial Attache at the Austrian Embassy. Given Austria’s breadth of export industries active in Japan, he is used to multi-task between industries like life sciences, robotics, foodstuffs, wood and timber, forestry and biomass, automotive and service industries and as well as between activities running from government lobbying, industry networking, organizing trade fair participations, seminars, B2B matching and startup pitching events.
He is a co-founder of TechBIZKON, an annual European-Japan startup and investor conference, and the Inter-Chamber Ski-Race, an annual weekend business networking retreat in the Japanese Alps.
Raised in Austria with a background in legal studies and psychology, he studied in the US and Japan and later earned a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Graz and a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Hiroshima.
Presentation Title: Innovative energy storage solutions from Austria
Abstract: The Austrian session will introduce innovative solutions for energy storage and energy grid operators as examples of a thriving research and development environment and spin-off culture. New technologies will be presented by the respective researchers.
SandTES: due to the volatility of renewable energy generation, high-performant TES (thermal energy storage) systems are essential for the improvement of energy efficiency in renewable, industrial and residential energy systems. The novel sandTES of TU Wien is based on sand and uses the fluidization principle, thus creating a highly efficient heat exchanger, storing heat at high temperatures and in large quantities in a cheap and uncritical storage medium.
The sandTES system is environmentally friendly and comprises features such as low investment costs, low operational costs and high availability.
Powersys-LINK: a pioneering architectural paradigm for smart grids LINK, is designed according to fractal principles. The derived holistic LINK-Solution is an unique approach, which delivers the complete Smart Grid solution, guaranties secure and reliable power supply, vastly reduces the danger from cyber-attacks, keeps data privacy for end consumers and the grid and allows the decarbonisation of the power industry through the large-scale integration of distributed energy resources.
With more than 17 years of experience in the private sector, my career has centered around the creation of engineering centers and innovation hubs around the globe in multiple industries. I am the global head of innovation projects and large storage program for Siemens Gamesa.
Since 2017 I am the accelerator of the ETES team and transformation from a corporate R&D cost center into its current potential.
Next to these responsibilities I am member of the Advisory Board of Siemens Gamesa Germany as well as chairman of the executive council representing all senior managers in Germany.
I hold a Master of Science degree with a focus on Medical Engineering.
Majored in Materials Science at Kyoto University and received a Ph.D. from Osaka University. Promoted the development of Japan's first large-sized lithium-ion battery system as a PJ leader as part of a Smart Energy System at Sanyo Electric and Panasonic. After that, he began studying new business models at NEC, and he established InsuRTAP inc. in 2018 as a company to evaluate the performance of Li ion batteries. Develops and sells insurance products that provide Li ion battery performance warranty in cooperation with insurance companies. Contributed from the creation of a white paper to the establishment of IEC TC120, which creates global safety standards for energy storage systems. He is the convener of TC120 WG5 in Japan.
Carolin is a strong innovator with international leadership experience in the sectors Automotive/Mobility, Energy and Consulting and a proven track record in business incubation. In her current position, she is responsible for the global build-up of the Connectivity Solution Business for EV-OEMs and Mobility Service Providers for Robert Bosch GmbH. Carolin has a degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from the University of Mannheim.
Presentation Title: Create More Value for Electrified Mobility
Abstract:
Mobility is changing and we shape the future of mobility.
Robert Bosch will present value creation for electrified mobility by introducing Battery in the Cloud (BitC):
Service overview/Hybrid model approach/Value pools/Second life monetization/Usage certificate demonstrator
While leading innovation activities both inside and outside the company, he is also involved in research and experimentation to explore the future of e-mobility and the integration of electric power systems and smart cities, and has been involved in promoting DX and venture investment, as well as formulating the Kansai Electric Power Group's “e-Mobility” Vision. From 2003-2005, he studied at Stanford University and worked in venture capital in Silicon Valley. He has also worked on climate change policy and institutional design of power system reform and the nuclear business environment. He studied wireless communications and power system engineering at Kyoto University and international public policy at Osaka University. He is a certified chief nuclear reactor engineer, a U.S. certified public accountant, and a certified business consultant. He is a member of the Japan Society of Energy and Resources. He is the co-author of "Targeted Japanese Environmental Technology" (Energy Forum) and many other publications.
Presentation Title: Utilization of batteries and new business opportunities in the era of mass introduction of EVs
Abstract:
Automakers are planning to sell electrified models, and the batteries installed in them have increased in capacity, resulting in an increase in cruising range.
Electric vehicles, which, along with fuel cell vehicles, will be one of the means to achieve the goal of "zero greenhouse gases in 2050," have the potential to become widespread in the future.
When a large number of electric vehicles become widespread, the concentration of charging may affect the power system. In order to avoid the impact on the electric power system, the utilization of storage batteries by V2X is considered.
Utilizing storage battery data brings new business opportunities, such as battery sharing and reuse.
Besides the above, he holds multiple posts inside/outside the KEPCO including:
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
Manager, Energy-related Business Development Project Team, Community Energy Division
K4 Ventures LLC.
Investment Advisor
Tokyo University
Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Public Policy
Osaka University
Guest Researcher, Mobility System Joint Research Chair, Graduate School of Engineering
Mentor, Innovation Design Course, Division of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
Japan Patent Office
Business Mentor, IP Acceleration program for Startups 2020
Isshu Kikuma is Japan Energy Analyst for BloombergNEF. He supports the BNEF service for Japan’s renewable energy and grid integration. He also has experience in the solar and sustainability fields before joining BNEF.
Isshu holds a Masters in Environmental Management from Duke, the U.S. and Bachelors in Economics and Geography from SUNY Geneseo, the U.S.
ESSJ 2020 Advisory Committee member
Dr. Hiroshi Okamoto is currently the Executive Vice President in charge of corporate planning at TEPCO Power Grid, Inc.
He started his career with TEPCO in 1993 immediately after he obtained BS, MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from University of Tokyo. Since then, he has worked for project management of electric power system including Ultra High Voltage (UHV) transmission, renewable energy integration to the power grid, smart grid strategy, international consultancy services for the several power companies and regulatory affairs of the electricity market.
Since June 2017, he has been EVP of TEPCO Power Grid. Prior to the current position, he served as Executive Managing Officer of TEPCO, President of TRI (TEPCO Research Institute) and Secretary General of the New Growth Task Force.
In 2017, Dr. Okamoto jointly published a book "Utility 3.0: Game change in energy industry 2050". He also published many articles and books.
Dr. Okamoto is member of Advisory Committee on Transmission and Distribution of International Electro-technical Commission (IEC/ACTAD), Vice Chairman of Japanese National Committee of CIGRE (International Large Scale Power System Conference), Director of Japan Science Foundation and active member of IEEE, IEEJ, GO15 and IUWG.
Presentation Title: Utility 3.0: Japan’s Utility of the Future
Abstract:
Five megatrends (5Ds) will bring about changes to the Japanese power/energy business. These changes are inevitable and irreversible. We call them the 5Ds and they are: Democratization, Decentralization, Decarbonization, Digitalization and Depopulation.
The role of Future Utility and the initiatives of TEPCO Power Grid will be presented.
Mr Cassat holds a M.Sc. in industrial engineering from ParisTech Arts & Metiers. He served as a project manager within the European Institute for Energy Research (EIFER) in Germany, where he managed the assessment of award-winning Smart Grids demonstration projects, and conducted technology transfers at US and EU levels. He then joined a team of experts on Smart & Sustainable Cities working with EDF, a world leading utility, on integrating energy systems in early stages of urban planning for major cities like Shanghai, Berlin, Lyon and Singapore. In 2016, he joined EDF R&D, strong of 2000 researchers worldwide, as an advisor to the R&D programs directors in Paris on the topics of Renewables & Storage, T&D Networks, Retail & Energy Services, Power Systems & Markets. Since 2018, he is Managing Director of EDF Lab Singapore, where he leads a dozen of researchers & engineers to develop applications in Urban Energy Analytics, E-mobility and Low-carbon MicroGrids.
Presentation Title：A worldwide utility navigating a more distributed landscape
Abstract
Decentralized Energy Resources are increasingly being connected to transmission and distribution systems everywhere in the world. Their technical and market integration come with challenges but also opportunities. EDF's know how and experience will be presented through a selection of R&D projects and commercial applications.
Chris Wright founded Moixa with Simon Daniel in 2006 and leads technology development as CTO. Over the last 7 years Moixa have developed the UKs leading domestic energy storage system with their UK market-leading Moixa Smart Battery. They are now rolling out their Gridshare aggregation platform to multiple partners including ITOCHU & Honda in Japan as they expand.
Moixa is based in London’s Clerkenwell design district, has a roster of patents in the arena of computer interface technology, batteries and renewable energy.
Chris studied architecture at Cambridge University and worked as an architect at practices including Norman Foster and Partners, and in industrial design, before founding Moixa to address Energy systems.
Presentation Title: Moixa GridShare platform. Optimising fleets of batteries to deliver value to customers and the Grid
Abstract:
The GridShare platform interfaces with the worlds largest aggregated fleet of domestic ESS systems, 24,000 installs, >240MWh deployed in Japan with our partner ITOCHU. GridShare is delivering value through using AI to predict energy use & generation, and optimising performance for each customer.
The GridShare platform is now extending to control and optimise Electric Vehicles, we have partnered with HONDA to launch a world first, the e:progress service.
Dr. Andreas Hauer studied Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. He made his PhD at the technical University in Berlin. Now is Head of the Division “Energy Storage ” at the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research, ZAE Bayern, with about 80 emploees. Dr. Hauer is an international known expert on energy storage in general and specialized on thermal energy storage. For 7 years he was the secretary of the Executive Committee of the Energy Storage Programme within the International Energy Agency IEA.
Toshiyuki SHIRAI is Director of Advanced Energy System Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
After joining METI, he served for various positions in METI, being responsible for economic and industrial policy, manufacturing industry policy, economic cooperation policy, and trade policy.
He also served as first secretary in Embassy of Japan in Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as senior energy analyst in International Energy Agency based in Paris, contributing to World Energy Outlook.
He graduated from University of Tokyo (M.S.) as well as from Georgetown University (MBA).
Presentation Title: Optimum use of distributed energy resources to maximize the use of renewable energy as a major power resource
Abstract:To achieve the current the energy mix in 2030, METI promotes new business models that provide balancing reserve and supply power using distributed energy resources, in an effort to increase the use of renewable energy as a major resource of power generation. This also helps enhance the regions to resilience to nature disaster.
The presentation introduces the introduction of Feed-in Premium system, the enhancement of aggregation business and VPP system demonstration project, together with the latest trend of renewable energy in Japan.
Jeffrey Miller is the Representative Director of Hikari Rei, LLC. He is responsible for providing advice and strategic support to U.S. companies seeking to enter the Japanese market in the areas of renewable energy, IT, and other areas. Mr. Miller co-founded Hikari Rei in May 2018.
Prior to joining Hikari Rei, Mr. Miller supported the early stages of Fukushima Dai-ichi accident response on the U.S. Department of Energy Accident Response Team in Spring 2011. Following this, from July 2011 to August 2016, Mr. Miller served as the Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Japan Office in the U.S. Embassy Tokyo working on a range of issues in the electricity and environmental sectors. In addition to DOE, during his 20-year career, Mr. Miller has also worked for the U.S. Department of State, as well as for Battelle Memorial Institute at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on national security and critical infrastructure protection programs.
Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muhlenberg College and during his junior year was in the Waseda University International Program. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland.
Presentation Title: Energy Storage Landscape in the United States
Abstract: The United States continues to move forward in introducing energy storage capability to the market. This trend continues in the United States following the onset of COVID-19. This presentation will examine the United States energy storage landscape from government and commercial perspectives.
He joined a major think tank immediately graduating from The University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in 2000, and then transferred jobs to Accenture in 2012. During his career at Accenture, he has worked on numerous projects, mainly in institutional design, corporate and business strategies, organizational design, marketing and sales strategies, and new business planning. He co-authored “The Energy Industry in 2050: Game Change to Utility3.0,” published by Nikkei Publishing Inc. in 2017.
ESSJ 2020 Advisory Committee member
Career Summery
April 1972 Joined Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated (TEPCO)
Jan. 1984 – July 1984 an investigator at West Germany dispatched from TEPCO
June 1999 General Manager of Ueno-Branch, TEPCO
June 2003 Director, President HIKARI Network Company(an in-house company, TEPCO)
June 2004 Executive Offer, President HIKARI Network Company(TEPCO)
June 2006 Senior Executive Offer, TOKO Electric Company ,LTD (currently TAKAOKA TOKO Co., LTD)
June 2007 Representative Director and Senior Managing Director , TOKO Electric Company, LTD
June 2012 Adviser TAKAOKA TOKO Co., LTD
July 2014 Adviser YDK Communications Co., LTD
March 2015 Representative Director, Evergreen Energy Initiative, Inc.(to present)
June 2015 – June 2018 Part-time Director, YDK CO., LTD
June 2018 Adviser YDK Co., LTD(to present)
June 2016 – June 2019 Part-time Director, EIKEN CHEMICAL Co., LTD
ESSJ 2020 Advisory Committee member
Hirotaka MITSUI
Date of Birth: March 10, 1966
Education: Master Degree in School of Engineering,
Depart of Information Technology Depart of Information
University of Tokyo
Present Position (since July 2019)
July 2017 General Manager, Electric Power & Gas Division
Deputy Division Director,
Electric Power & Gas (E&G) Business Division
TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc.
ESSJ 2020 Advisory Committee member
Education：
The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, Public Law course
Career Profile：
April 1992 Joined Mitsubishi Corporation, Power Systems Export Dept.
April 2011 Team Leader, New Business Development Team, Power Systems International Unit
April 2014 Team Leader, Europe Team, Power Transmission Business Dept.
April 2016 General Manager, EMEA Power Business Development Dept.
April 2017 General Manager, International IPP Dept.
April 2018 President, Diamond Generating Corporation
April 2020 Division COO, Energy Service Solution Div.
