Grid Synapse Launches "Owner-Side O&M / AM" Service for Japanese Battery Storage Owners

Grid Synapse Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroshi Kurebayashi) officially launched its "owner-side O&M / AM" (Operation & Maintenance / Asset Management support from the perspective of the battery storage owner) service for grid-scale battery storage systems and solar power plants with co-located battery storage, effective July 1, 2026.

This service supports battery storage owners, operating companies, funds, and SPVs/SSCs (Special Purpose Companies) who own and operate battery storage projects, by assisting with the establishment of operational structures after commencement of operation, emergency response, coordination with stakeholders, record-keeping and reporting, risk management, and operational improvements.

As a practical team with cross-disciplinary understanding of battery storage equipment, power grids, electricity markets, and contract/asset management, Grid Synapse supports the stable operation and long-term value enhancement of battery storage assets.

Background: Battery Storage Systems Require Management After Operation Begins, Not Just Construction

Driven by the expansion of renewable energy adoption, the need for grid stabilization, and markets such as the Balancing Market and long-term decarbonization power auctions, the development of grid-scale battery storage systems and solar power plants with co-located battery storage is progressing in Japan.

However, battery storage projects are not simply "built and finished." After commercial operation begins, continuous and comprehensive management is required, including equipment status management of PCS (Power Conditioning Systems), BMS (Battery Management Systems), EMS (Energy Management Systems), transformers, and remote monitoring systems, as well as maintenance, contract management, warranty/insurance handling, reporting to investors and financial institutions, and coordination with market operations.

If equipment alarms and on-site responses are not linked to impacts of downtime, scope of responsibility, warranties/insurance, investor reporting, and market revenue, delays in owner-side decision-making can lead to expanded operational risks.

Grid Synapse supports O&M/AM for these post-operation practical challenges from the perspective of the battery storage owner.

Centralized Management of Operational Points of Contact

Service Overview

Grid Synapse provides support from the development stage through post-operation, focusing on the following areas:

1. Owner-Side O&M Support

This includes support for confirming equipment status, establishing primary response flows, coordinating notifications and arrangements during emergencies, developing inspection plans, and managing maintenance contractors, manufacturers, EPCs, and safety personnel, as well as spare parts and maintenance history.

Rather than simply acting as a maintenance proxy, this service organizes equipment alarms and abnormal information into data necessary for owner-side decision-making and visualizes the response status among stakeholders.

2. Asset Management Support

This includes monthly/quarterly reporting, KPI management, budget vs. actuals management, organizing maintenance response status, visualizing abnormal event history, and assisting in the preparation of reports for investors and financial institutions.

It establishes the information infrastructure necessary for owner-side asset management by organizing operational status, downtime history, outstanding issues, response progress, and risk items for battery storage assets.

3. Development and Operations Consulting

This includes designing operational structures during the development phase, clarifying the scope of responsibility, handover before and after commencement of operation, operational diagnostics, and proposing improvements after operation begins.

To prevent operational structures from becoming chaotic after operation starts, this service supports the development of role divisions and information sharing flows among EPCs, manufacturers, O&M companies, safety personnel, aggregators, and owners.

4. Market Integration and Risk Management Support

This service supports information organization and stakeholder coordination to enhance the operational value of battery storage assets, considering aggregators, JEPX (Japan Electric Power Exchange), the Balancing Market, operational constraints, imbalances, and the impact of downtime.

It organizes the impact of equipment troubles and downtime on revenue, contracts, insurance, warranties, and investor reporting, supporting owner-side decision-making.

Introduction Possible Starting with "Operational Diagnosis" or the Initial Operations Support Program "100-Day Takeover"

For new, under-construction, or existing projects, introduction is possible starting with "Operational Diagnosis" or "100-Day Takeover."

Operational Diagnosis

This service confirms the current operational structure, data connectivity, emergency response flow, scope of responsibility, reporting formats, and the status of records necessary for maintenance, warranty, and insurance handling.

Based on the diagnostic results, it identifies operational issues, information sharing among stakeholders, and management items requiring improvement, and proposes enhancements to the owner-side operational management structure.

100-Day Takeover

"100-Day Takeover" is an initial operations support program covering approximately 100 days after the commencement of operation or immediately after management handover. It focuses on organizing the operational structure, data connectivity, emergency contact flow, scope of responsibility, reporting system, and records necessary for maintenance, warranty, and insurance handling.

Immediately after commercial operation begins, the status of equipment data connections, roles of stakeholders, emergency contact information, reporting formats, and record management for warranty/insurance claims may not be fully established. "100-Day Takeover" aims to visualize these initial challenges from the owner's perspective and minimize operational disruption.

Strengths of Grid Synapse

Grid Synapse's strengths lie in its ability to integrate expertise in battery storage equipment and PCS, understanding of power grids, and perspectives on electricity markets, operational management, and contract practices.

It organizes equipment alarms and troubles occurring in the field not just as mere fault responses, but as information necessary for assessing downtime impact, scope of responsibility, contracts, warranties/insurance, and investor reporting, thereby supporting owner-side decision-making.

Our company does not aim to replace the roles of existing manufacturers, EPCs, maintenance companies, safety personnel, or aggregators. Instead, we act as a practical partner for the owner, responsible for organizing information and driving issue resolution among stakeholders.

By combining technical and after-sales service experience from equipment manufacturers with a perspective on the Japanese electricity market and business development, we complement the practical layer that battery storage owners often lack.

Representative's Comment

For battery storage systems, operation is the real challenge after they begin running.

While the development of grid-scale battery storage systems is advancing in Japan, the practical framework to comprehensively support O&M, Asset Management, contracts, insurance, and investor reporting from the owner's side after operation commences is still under development.

We aim to resolve the challenges we have observed in the field by acting as a practical partner for the owners.

As a specialized team unbiased towards equipment, grids, or markets, Grid Synapse will support battery storage owners in making appropriate decisions and continuously enhancing the value of their battery storage assets.

Company Overview

Company Name: Grid Synapse Inc.

Location: 6F Kishimoto Bldg., 2-2-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005

Established: May 1, 2026

Representative: Hiroshi Kurebayashi, President and CEO

Business Activities: Owner-side O&M, Asset Management, Development and Operations Consulting, Insurance and Risk Management Support, Market Integration Support for grid-scale battery storage systems and solar power plants with co-located battery storage.

URL: https://www.grid-synapse.com/

*Our company is located in a brick building next to the Baba-saki Moat surrounding the Imperial Palace Outer Garden.

Key Terms Used

The key terms used in this release are defined as follows:

Grid-Scale Battery Storage System

Refers to large-scale battery storage equipment connected to the power grid, operated for purposes such as power supply-demand adjustment, effective utilization of renewable energy, and trading in electricity markets.

Solar Power Plant with Co-located Battery Storage

Refers to a power generation facility where battery storage is co-located with a solar power plant, allowing generated electricity to be temporarily stored and discharged when needed.

O&M (Operation & Maintenance)

Refers to the operation and maintenance of equipment. For battery storage systems, this includes confirming equipment status, emergency response, inspection planning, coordination with maintenance contractors, and record management.

AM (Asset Management)

Refers to asset management. For battery storage systems, this includes grasping operational status, KPI management, budget vs. actuals management, reporting to investors and financial institutions, and risk management.

Owner-Side O&M / AM

This concept involves organizing operational challenges from the perspective of the battery storage owner, rather than replacing the individual tasks of manufacturers, EPCs, maintenance companies, aggregators, etc. It includes supporting coordination among stakeholders, record-keeping and reporting, and risk management.

SPV / SPC (Special Purpose Company)

Refers to a company established to own and operate specific businesses or assets. In battery storage projects, this may refer to the operating company established for each project.

Aggregator

Refers to a business operator that bundles multiple power generation facilities, battery storage systems, and customer facilities for use in electricity markets and supply-demand adjustments.

JEPX (Japan Electric Power Exchange)

One of the markets for buying and selling electricity.

Balancing Market

A market for trading adjustment capacity to maintain the balance between electricity supply and demand. Battery storage systems are expected to participate in this market by leveraging their charging and discharging flexibility.

Imbalance

Refers to the difference between planned generation or demand and actual electricity volume. In the power business, this difference can lead to costs or risks.

Contact Information

Grid Synapse Inc.

Inquiry Desk

Email: [email protected]

Notes

This service is an operational management, advisory, and coordination support service based on a mandate contract. It does not guarantee availability, capacity retention rate, market revenue, insurance claim payments, fulfillment of manufacturer warranties, or the achievement of subsidy/loan conditions.