Kameplan Co., Ltd.
In 10 years, it will be normal to live without purchasing electricity! ! Kameplan Co., Ltd., through our business “Everyone’s Off-grid Research Institute”, proposes “off-grid houses” that allow people to live without purchasing electricity.
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Our lives are protected by the power grid. but····
In order to obtain energy for domestic consumption, ordinary houses are generally connected to “infrastructure” such as electric power distribution networks and gas supply networks. Energy infrastructure is a convenient network that allows us to live a comfortable and modern life at all times, but on the other hand, 5 to 10% of the electricity is lost during transmission, and this is equivalent to 6 nuclear power plants and 7 thermal power plants.
In order to avoid disruptions even when demand is concentrated, these infrastructures are constructed at times when demand is at their highest, but with nuclear power plants almost shut down since the Great East Japan Earthquake, it is becoming increasingly difficult to adjust supply and demand. However, during the cold season, there is a tightrope to be walked due to the increased demand for heating. Due to this, the supply of natural energy such as solar power generation and wind power generation is expanding rapidly, and its share increased from 14% in 2014 to 20.8% in 2020.
However, since the supply is also dependent on the power grid, there is a loss of 5 to 10%, and it is difficult to adjust the supply of solar and wind power generation according to demand, so it is difficult to connect to the power grid. It is said that the amount that can be produced will reach a plateau at some point. Although we aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 46% in 2030 and achieve zero CO2 emissions in 2050, we are beginning to see the limits to the supply of naturally-derived energy via infrastructure.
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-188409-pixta_105153591-0.jpg] Is there nothing we can do?
So, is it really impossible to live with self-sufficient energy in the house itself while reducing energy consumption at home? Considering this, more than half of the energy required in a home is for “air conditioning, heating, and hot water supply,” and it is possible to store these in the home itself, which is the final consumption site, and it is possible to level out demand even with current technology. energy demand.
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-2bd214d14e489f606dec-0.jpg&s3=132529-4-cdaa61fbeabfaf67da79ff9f6c984e40-3421×2567.jpg] The key is “passive design.” Therefore, in “Everyone’s Off-grid,” the insulation performance of the building is improved to the level of Hokkaido and Tohoku regions, and during the winter heating season, direct gain (solar heat is obtained directly from the windows and stored indoors). To make the most of this, we have introduced “passive design” such as extending the roof or installing external blinds to prevent solar heat from entering the room as much as possible during the summer cooling season. We perform a simulation called “Calculation”. By planning a building that is optimized for the site’s environment and weather conditions, we will reduce the amount of heating and cooling energy consumed as much as possible, and then create a system to supplement the necessary heating and cooling energy with solar power generation, solar thermal solar systems, etc. . In addition, for hot water supply, we use a hot water system that uses solar heat during the day, and an EcoCute system that heats water at the same time as solar power generation. By installing storage batteries to meet energy demand at night, we aim to popularize off-grid houses, which are energy-independent homes that allow people to live comfortably without receiving energy from energy
infrastructure.
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-03aae92560ce52eced44-2.jpg&s3=132529-4-e4df078407b3c38915c7c7cf9d84e879-1024×768.jpg] The building is already completed! !
(https://www.kameplan.com/) (https://www.minguri-lab.com/)
At Kameplan Co., Ltd., we completed a model house in Higashimurayama City in December 2023 that was designed in detail using our original electricity demand and supply prediction simulation, and we are currently using it in real life to measure various data and reflect it in future simulations. We are in the process of doing so.
The off-grid rate (rate of being self-sufficient in electricity) in December 2023 was a whopping 98.22%! !
(https://note.com/kameplan/n/n68a49ff6ddb5)
In January 2024, the rate was 94.87%, meaning that we were able to continue to live a “comfortable life without having to put up with it” almost off-grid.
(https://note.com/kameplan/n/n35f43862dc88)
The amount of electricity generated is the lowest around December 22nd (winter solstice) when the sun is at its lowest altitude, and the demand for electricity at home is tight. We believe that it is still possible to increase the off-grid rate by improving technology.
[Image 4: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-30445f042c3f28d86c99-1.jpg&s3=132529-4-f22550ebe2a4ab31828f5702fcd3911b-3900×2925.jpg] Increasing the number of such homes will not only lead to energy savings, but will also help in the event of a disaster.
The fact that most of the electricity is self-sufficient means that in the event of a large-scale disaster, it is not only possible to lead a normal life without having to evacuate to an evacuation center, but also to provide nearby residents with charging for mobile phones and provision of temporary evacuation sites. We believe that this allows people to continue living independently without relying heavily on the government, and that this allows them to avoid the stress and confusion caused by disasters.
Even if not all homes are off-grid homes, if about 1 in 10 homes are off-grid homes, it will bring peace of mind to the neighbors. I think that increasing the subsidy rate for off-grid equipment, etc., on the condition that it is provided in the event of a disaster, could be a measure for local governments to respond to disasters.
[Image 5: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-270775-pixta_93031231-0.jpg] In 10 years, it will be normal to live without purchasing electricity. In our model house (off-grid home), electricity from the power company is used as “emergency power.”
If we can reverse the usual way of thinking and say, “buy from the electric power company when we don’t have enough,” it is possible to avoid purchasing electricity as much as possible by being creative, and electric power companies can also adjust their power plants and power grids to meet peak demand. There is no need for maintenance. At a time when infrastructure renewal is placing a heavy burden on the country, we believe that increasing the number of off-grid homes is the key to creating a sustainable society.
[Image 6: https://prtimes.jp/i/132529/4/resize/d132529-4-857796-pixta_90565755-1.jpg] “April Dream” is a project by PR TIMES in which companies broadcast their dreams that they hope to eventually come true on April 1st. We are seriously aiming to make this dream come true.
More details about this release:
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