Breakdown of O&M Costs for Grid-Scale Storage Batteries – Webinar to Decipher Operation and Maintenance Expenses

Japan Branding Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director: Yūkichi Maeda; hereinafter 'the Company'), which handles everything from planning and design to operation of energy storage systems, and serves as the exclusive Japanese distributor for GUS Technology batteries, will hold an online webinar in mid-October 2026 on the theme of 'grid-scale storage batteries,' whose deployment is rapidly expanding alongside the spread of renewable energy.

Explanatory article: https://note.com/chic_jaguar7283/n/n205a086fa3ce

Background of the Event

Grid-scale storage batteries incur ongoing costs even after construction. Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs are pointed out as a critical factor affecting business viability, carrying weight equivalent to initial investment. In addition to operating and maintenance expenses (labor, repair, miscellaneous, general administrative, and other costs totaling 5,000 yen/kW/year), costs related to grid usage such as transmission service charges, generation-side surcharges, and renewable energy levies, as well as annual capacity degradation of 1% and decommissioning costs estimated at 5% of construction costs, accumulate in multiple layers.

On the revenue side, income is often limited to capacity market and wholesale electricity market arbitrage, and this asymmetry between revenue and costs determines business viability. When considering entry into or investment in grid-scale storage batteries, a correct understanding of the breakdown of O&M costs is essential. Japan Branding Co., Ltd. will hold a webinar to explain this fundamental and essential topic.

Main Topics of the Webinar

(1) Costs that continue after construction – O&M costs carry weight equivalent to initial investment We will organize how storage batteries incur ongoing costs after construction and how O&M costs are a critical factor affecting business viability.

(2) Operating and maintenance expenses – labor, repair, etc. totaling 5,000 yen/kW/year We will introduce the operating and maintenance expenses estimated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as 'labor, repair, miscellaneous, general administrative, and other costs totaling 5,000 yen/kW/year.'

(3) Grid usage-related costs – transmission service charges, generation-side surcharges, renewable energy levies We will organize grid usage-related costs: transmission service charges (503.80 yen/kW/month and 0.88 yen/kWh), generation-side surcharges (75.13 yen/kW/month), and renewable energy levies (3.49 yen/kWh, including charging/discharging losses).

(4) Long-term costs incorporating degradation and decommissioning costs We will explain the long-term cost assumptions: annual capacity degradation rate of 1%, 20-year operating period, and decommissioning costs set at 5% of construction costs.

(5) Limited revenue, multi-layered cost structure – impact on business viability We will explain the challenge that while revenue is limited to capacity market and wholesale electricity market arbitrage, O&M costs accumulate in a multi-layered structure.

Event Overview

Date: Mid-October 2026, 19:00–20:00 (scheduled)

Format: Online (using webinar tools such as Zoom)

Participation fee: Free (advance registration required)

Organizer: Japan Branding Co., Ltd.

Application method: Please apply via the official website application form or official LINE Web: https://japan-branding.com/ Official LINE: https://lin.ee/O3dfMhK

Profile of Yūkichi Maeda

Representative Director of Japan Branding Co., Ltd. Supreme Advisor of the National Solar Power Promotion Council (General Incorporated Association) Former Member of the House of Representatives (3 terms, 10 years)

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1960. After graduating from Keio University Faculty of Law, he studied directly under Konosuke Matsushita as a 5th-generation student of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management (classmate with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi). As a Rotary Foundation scholarship student, he studied at the Australian National University Graduate School. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, and over three terms spanning 10 years, he worked to promote decarbonization and energy policies. He served as Director of the Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration and as a member of the Committee on Security of the House of Representatives.

After leaving office, he served as an advisor to West Holdings Corporation, one of Japan's largest solar general contractors, and became Supreme Advisor of the National Solar Power Promotion Council, a general incorporated association established by that company. Currently, in consultation with the Mongolian government, he is promoting the 'Japan-Mongolia Future Creation Project' (70 MW mega-solar → 400 MWh storage facility).

Future Outlook

As the exclusive Japanese distributor for GUS Technology batteries, the Company will continue to disseminate information on grid-scale storage battery-centered power infrastructure projects, taking into account regulatory and market trends. Through the provision of webinars and explanatory content on this theme, we will support the decision-making of business operators and investors.

Company Overview

Company name: Japan Branding Co., Ltd.

Head office location: Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture

Representative: Representative Director Yūkichi Maeda

Established: June 2016

Capital: 110 million yen

Business description: Exclusive Japanese distributor business for GUS Technology batteries; planning, design, and operational support for energy storage systems

Web: https://japan-branding.com/

X: https://x.com/japanbrandgje

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UClvbsy1kzYAv-SVB0D3QZzA

Inquiries regarding this matter

Japan Branding Co., Ltd.

Official LINE: https://lin.ee/O3dfMhK

Web: https://japan-branding.com/ (Please send a message via the inquiry form)