Publication date: Aug 25, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 32: Trading Companies Accelerate Data Center Buildout as Manufacturers’ Margins Rise Itochu plans ten data centers with 50 MW capacity each by 2030 Itochu Corporation will enter the data center development business. It plans to invest several hundred billion yen to develop approximately 10 data centers, …
Publication date: Aug 10, 2026 Tighter Grid Connection Rules for Low-Voltage BESS and Large-Scale Demand The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) presented plans at an expert meeting to extend stricter grid connection rules to low-voltage grid-scale BESS facilities. METI has already introduced measures for generation facilities, including BESS facilities connected at high voltage …
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Publication date: Aug 19, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 31: J-Power Enters Data Center Business by Leveraging Its Own Renewable Assets J-Power enters data center business with 400 kW containerized facility in Hokkaido J-Power, a major Japanese power generation company, announced that it will launch a containerized data center business in Kaminokuni Town, Hokkaido, marking …
Publication date: Aug 11, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 30: Major AI Data Center Development Planned in Akita as the Data Center Decentralization Accelerates UAE sovereign wealth fund considers investment in up to 500 MW AI data center in Akita Japanese and US companies, together with Akita Prefecture and Akita City, plan to build one …
Publication date: Aug 10, 2026 JEPX Spot Price Hits Three-and-a-Half-Year High Despite Adequate Summer Reserves Despite record-breaking heat this summer so far, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has refrained from issuing electricity conservation requests as reserve margins from July through September are expected to remain above the 3% minimum required for stable …
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Publication date: August 4, 2026 Key Takeaways Japan’s BESS market continues to expand, but its policy environment is becoming more demanding, with new domestic battery manufacturing targets, tighter grid connection procedures, and lower Balancing Market price caps. As the market matures, project viability will depend less on exceptional balancing revenues and more on securing grid …
Publication date: July 27, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 29: Japan’s First Directly Wind-Powered Data Center Project Advances in Hokkaido Eurus Energy develops Japan’s first data center directly powered by a wind farm via private transmission line Eurus Energy Holdings is developing what will become Japan’s first data center to be powered by a wind …
Publication date: Aug 3, 2026 Amended EBA allows METI oversight of Balancing and planned Mid-Long Term markets The amended Electricity Business Act (EBA) was officially passed by the House of Councilors on July 17th, 2026, and will come into effect in September. The amended EBA’s main provisions are as follows: The Act establishes a financing …
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Publication date: July 27, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 28: Workload Shifting and GX Strategy Drive Japan’s Data Center Decentralization PowerX and HIGHRESO jointly explore BESS-equipped GPU data centers BESS manufacturer PowerX and GPU data center operator HIGHRESO have signed an MoU to explore collaboration on energy infrastructure supporting GPU data centers and AI computing …
Publication date: July 24, 2026 Balancing Market Price Caps Are Lowered to JPY 10/ΔkW-30 Min from September The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) presented a policy at the Power Supply Stability Working Group (WG) to lower the price caps for certain products in the balancing market. For Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR, or Primary), …
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