Japan’s government wants to remotely control private ACs to avoid power outages
The Japanese government is discussing the possibility of remotely controlling privately owned ACs and water heaters in order to avoid power outages as the country switches to renewables.
A solution for power outages in Japan?
Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that the Japanese government’s Energy Conservation Subcommittee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is considering measures to encourage the adoption of air conditioners and water heaters that can be adjusted remotely – so that the government itself can turn them up or down when it deems necessary.
According to the article’s English translation, the Japanese government states:
As the introduction of renewable energy, whose output is affected by the climate, is progressing, we aim to stabilize the supply and demand of electricity.
Power outages can occur if demand and supply do not always match. There is a need to expand the introduction of renewable energy toward decarbonization, but output fluctuates according to the climate and is difficult to adjust. Even if renewable energy cannot generate electricity, there is a limit to what can be done with thermal power generation alone, and it will be necessary to reduce power consumption and supplement it with storage batteries.
In Japan, which is cold in the winter and hot and humid in the summer, air conditioners account for around 30% of household power consumption. And, this program wouldn’t be hard to roll out, as Japanese HVAC and water heater units generally come with smart controls anyway.
But before you think that this sounds like governmental overreach, the Japan Times points out that “the committee is currently working under the concept that the government would only be able to turn down AC units if their individual owners have agreed, in advance, to grant that authority.”
Electrek’s Take
Imagine if this idea was floated in Texas. LOL. (Just kidding.)
The Japanese government’s idea is misguided, but not because of wanting to remotely control people’s HVAC systems who voluntarily sign up to have them controlled.
Here in Vermont, we’ve got the Bring Your Own Device program, where we can sign up to allow Green Mountain Power to tap into our home batteries in order to stabilize the grid. (I’ll sign up once I get my solar system in place.)
The Japanese government’s idea is misguided because it just seems unnecessary. What I find baffling is that the government, which has a target of 53 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030 and a target of meeting 10% of total domestic primary energy demand with solar by 2050, wants to protect the grid with this “solution” as it (not very rapidly) rolls over to renewables.
Japan should always pair solar with storage and work to upgrade its eastern and western grids as quickly as possible to avoid power outages. The government’s quote above makes storage sound like it’s a last resort, but it should go hand in hand with solar.
If you live in Japan and you know why this latest program idea is a better solution rather than battery deployment, let me know down in the comments below.
Photo: “File:エアコン 2009 (4268265358).jpg” by Tamago Moffle is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Read more: EU renewables plan spotlights Japan’s weak targets as G7 energy meeting kicks off
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![This electric excavator has battery swap tech that lets it recharge in minutes [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/electric-excavator.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
UPDATE: telematics announcement.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
Telematics announcement at bauma
Earlier today, XCMG launched its next-generation Xrea Global Telematics Platform, integrating IoT, big data, cloud computing, and AI to enable what it’s caling, “seamless cross-border fleet management.”
The new telematics platform supports a dozen languages via PC and mobile interfaces, and offers real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization of both the vehicle and the vehicle’s batteries, empowering equipment managers and fleet operators to track fleets across town, or across time zones.
“XCMG remains committed to advancing engineering technology to empower a sustainable future. Our mission is to deliver efficient, intelligent, and eco-friendly lifecycle solutions for global clients,” said Mr. Yang Dongsheng, Chairman of XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery. “Today, 19% of our product portfolio comprises green innovations under our ‘Green Mountain’ new energy line, with full electrification across all series underway.”
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG; via PR Newswire.
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![A vast 600 MW Texas solar farm just hit a major milestone [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/Hornet-Solar-Texas-2.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Renewable developer Vesper Energy has cut the ribbon on Hornet Solar in Swisher County, Texas, one of the largest single-phase solar farms in the US.
As Electrek reported in January, the 600-megawatt (MW) Hornet Solar includes over 1.36 million modules covering more than 6 square miles. The project will contribute more than $100 million in new tax revenue to Swisher County and deliver 600 MWac of energy–enough to power 160,000 homes annually.
January 30, 2025: “The seamless coordination between our team and our EPC partner, Blattner, has enabled us to remain ahead of schedule and on budget while ensuring quality throughout the process,” said Juan Suarez, co-CEO of Irving-based Vesper Energy.
Hornet Solar uses bifacial solar panels mounted on a single-axis tracking system to maximize efficiency. The solar farm is connected to Oncor Electric’s transmission system within ERCOT and is contracted to provide power to four off-take partners through individual Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs).
The Hornet Solar project in the Texas Panhandle is on track to be fully online by spring 2025.
Texas is a utility-scale solar leader in the US, with a ranking of No. 2 and 37,713 MW currently installed. It’s projected to install 51,144 MW over the next five years and move into the No. 1 spot, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The total solar investment in the state is $45.2 billion.
On January 21, the SEIA, Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation (CTEI), Advanced Power Alliance (APA), and the Texas Solar + Storage Association (TSSA) reported that existing and expected utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage projects will contribute over $20 billion in total tax revenue – and pay Texas landowners $29.5 billion – over the projects’ lifetimes.
Read more: Texas just became No 1 in the US for most utility-scale solar
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