Press Release
SMUD and TEPCO partnership accelerates transportation electrification, decarbonization goals
November 2, 2022
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings
Today, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, incorporated (TEPCO), Japan's largest electric utility, announced an agreement to collaborate on vehicle-grid integration technologies with the purpose of accelerating transportation electrification and decarbonization.
"As SMUD pushes forward to become the first utility in the nation to achieve power supply decarbonization, we enthusiastically welcome key partnerships such as this one with TEPCO, an innovative global energy and technology company," said Paul Lau, CEO and general manager of SMUD. "Every SMUD partnership, whether at the community or global level, is essential to our 2030 Zero Carbon Plan. With a focus on zero carbon innovation, SMUD is working diligently to get more clean vehicles on the road, improve air quality, create high-paying jobs and usher in a clean energy future that benefits everyone."
"Efficient use of renewable energy and electrification in the transportation sector are two pillars of our shared decarbonization goals," said Tomomichi Seki, Managing Executive Officer of TEPCO. "As a pioneering utility for EV charging technologies in Japan, TEPCO has long been dedicated to establishing EV infrastructure such as development of a fast charger standard (CHAdeMO). TEPCO believes SMUD, with its ambitious zero carbon target by 2030 and innovative experience in leading green energy-efficiency activities and distributed energy resources, such as solar plus storage, is the ideal partner for significant real-world vehicle-to-everything collaboration. This critical first-hand operational experience with SMUD is the key to cope with challenges that lie ahead of us in Japanese operational conditions in the near future, and thus it will help us solve grid challenges, promote the electrification of energy demand and shape futuristic utility values that accelerate grid-EV integration in the US, Japan and beyond."
The Memorandum of Understanding between SMUD and TEPCO establishes a framework for shared research and collaboration on how to expand and support EV adoption and vehicle-to-everything technology while maintaining a resilient and reliable power grid. The collaboration also aims to enhance solar consumption initiatives, reduce on-peak load, prevent strain on distribution infrastructure, increase customer bill savings and share the grid value of these services with customers.
With consideration of grid planning, operations, interconnection and utility and customer financial impacts, SMUD and TEPCO will study, develop and pilot complementary programs that further account for, and promote, vehicle-grid integration technologies. Automated EV load management, managed EV charging, bidirectional EV charging and other advanced grid services also grant customers access to backup power resources for their homes or businesses and Virtual Power Plant technology for battery aggregation in a manner that bolsters grid stability and systemwide decarbonization.
SMUD considers vehicle-grid integration among its tools for efficient asset planning and grid operations. TEPCO supports this collaboration through its expertise and know-how that it established through series of vehicle-to-everything demonstration projects. The years-long collaboration exhibits a desire for leadership in vehicle-grid integration to balance between grid decarbonization and economic efficiency.
About SMUD
As the nation's sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Today, SMUD's power supply is on average about 50 percent carbon free and SMUD has a goal to reach zero carbon in its electricity production by 2030. For more information on SMUD's Zero Carbon Plan and its customer programs, visit smud.org.
About TEPCO
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) is Japan's largest power company group and comprised of four independent business entities: TEPCO Fuel & Power, Inc., TEPCO Power Grid, Inc., TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc., and TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc. The Group generates, distributes and sells electricity and other types of energy principally in the Kanto Region, which includes Japan's two most populous urban centers, Tokyo and Yokohama. TEPCO's 37,939 employees (TEPCO Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries) are committed to providing safe, reliable power as well as fulfilling its responsibilities to the communities of Fukushima (as of March 31, 2022).
·TEPCO Website: https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/index-e.html
·TEPCO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTEPCOen
·TEPCO Twitter page: https://twitter.com/TEPCO_English
