Taiwan-based smart energy company HD Renewable Energy (HDRE, TWSE: 6873) announced that the large-scale energy storage facility “Helios” (50MW/104MWh), jointly developed with alternative investment manager Brawn Capital in Sapporo, Hokkaido, has successfully completed grid connection to the 66kV transmission network of Hokkaido Electric Power at the end of July. The project has now entered the final stage of hot commissioning ahead of commercial operation, which remains on track for the end of 2025. HDRE has invested approximately JPY 5.9 billion into the project, marking a significant milestone in its Japanese energy storage expansion.
Designed to enhance grid flexibility and support renewable energy integration, the Helios project will contribute to system stability and peak load management. Once operational, the energy storage assets will be managed by Star Trade, HDRE’s subsidiary specializing in electricity retail and energy storage integration. Leveraging Star Trade’s AI-powered trading and asset optimization platform, the project will participate in Japan’s capacity market, spot market, and balancing markets. Its dual revenue model— “tolling” plus “merchant”—aims to combine steady cash flow with additional market-driven returns.
Jason Chou, Chairman of Star Trade and General Manager of HD Renewable Energy, said, “Japan is one of our most important international markets. We will continue to strengthen strategic partnerships to accelerate the adoption of smart energy solutions, helping Japanese enterprises increase renewable penetration and contributing to the global energy transition.”
HDRE has been steadily building its presence in Japan. In April 2024, it established a joint venture with Mitsubishi Electric to focus on energy resource aggregation (ERA). The company also partnered with Tokyu Land Corporation to co-invest in a storage project in Gunma Prefecture, which secured approximately JPY 1.19 billion in subsidies from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s program supporting large-scale storage for renewable energy expansion.
Furthermore, HDRE became the first Taiwanese company to win bids in Japan’s Long-Term Decarbonization Power Source Market (LTDA) storage capacity auctions, securing a total of 400MW across 2024 and 2025. These projects are scheduled to commence operation between 2028 and 2029, with continued participation in future LTDA tenders planned for 2026.
