What Smart Solar Japan does

Smart Solar Japan (スマートソーラー株式会社) is a Tokyo-headquartered, vertically integrated solar energy company founded in 2007. It develops, engineers, procures, constructs (EPC), operates, and maintains utility-scale photovoltaic power plants, with a portfolio of approximately 229MW of mega-solar capacity domestically and internationally. The company also delivers solar-plus-storage solutions for municipal and commercial facilities, residential battery storage systems under the Smart Storage System brand, retail electricity services through subsidiary Smart Electric, and long-term operations and maintenance contracts across its owned and third-party asset base.

The company's product architecture spans a Smart Array 3D mounting framework (terrain-adaptive utility-scale installations), Smart AI HEMS (AI-driven home energy management with predictive charge/discharge optimization, weather forecasting, disaster preparedness mode, and JC-STAR Level 1 cybersecurity certification), a Smart Tracking single-axis system with bifacial panels delivering 1.7x output versus fixed-tilt arrays, and large-scale lithium battery storage systems with proprietary control firmware capable of holding grid output fluctuation to ≤1%/minute. A second-generation Smart Storage System II was introduced in April 2025. Smart Solar operates a wholly-owned engineering subsidiary in Nepal for AI/IoT development and holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001 certifications.

The company generates revenue across multiple streams: feed-in tariff revenue from owned mega-solar assets, EPC and project finance arrangement fees, D2C residential storage hardware sales (~¥1.1-1.5M per system) supported by a certified installer partner network and the LIXIL TEPCO Smart Partners OEM channel, on-site PPA contracts (typically 20-year terms) with municipalities and commercial customers such as Kushiro Town, Takioue Town, KIC Holdings, and Kawasaki City, recurring O&M revenue across 71-135MW under management, and retail electricity sales plus VPP aggregation through Smart Electric. The company is privately held, founder/management-controlled, and headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo with R&D operations in Kisarazu, a Kansai Technical Center in Kyoto, and engineering operations in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Name

Smart Solar Japan

Legal name

スマートソーラー株式会社

Website

https://smartsolar.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Smart Solar Japan is a vertically integrated solar energy developer that designs, builds, owns, and operates utility-scale solar plants, residential and municipal solar-plus-storage systems, and grid-scale battery storage assets, serving homeowners, municipalities, and commercial customers in Japan and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy and Battery Storage Systems

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Solar power generation
• Battery storage systems
• Photovoltaic EPC
• Home energy management
• Solar PPA services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mega Solar Development, EPC, and IPP Ownership: Develops, designs, procures, constructs (EPC), and operates utility-scale solar power plants (mega-solar). Acts as a vertically integrated developer owning some plants directly and co-investing in others. Generates revenue from plant ownership (feed-in tariff sales), EPC fees, O&M contracts, and project finance arrangement. Current portfolio: 229MW mega-solar.
2. Residential Storage System D2C Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of the Smart Storage System (smart蓄電システム) to homeowners with existing solar installations (post-FIT). Revenue is one-time product sale plus installation fee. Products sold include Storage System-T, Hybrid System-S, Hybrid System-T, and Smart Storage System II. LIXIL TEPCO Smart Partners distributes via the '建て得でんち' new-home channel.
3. Smart City / Public-Industrial Solar Systems: Design, supply, installation, and O&M of solar-plus-storage systems for municipal government facilities (schools, town halls, water treatment centers) and commercial/industrial facilities. Business model includes PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) structures where Smart Solar owns the equipment and sells electricity to the facility. Includes microgrid projects with Kushiro Town, Takioue Town, and others.
4. O&M (Operations & Maintenance): Long-term operations and maintenance contracts for solar power plants owned by Smart Solar and third-party investors. Covers remote monitoring (I-V curves, string-level analysis), preventive maintenance, and reactive service. Currently managing 135MW under O&M.
5. Smart Electric (Retail Electricity Sales): Smart Solar's subsidiary スマート電気株式会社 operates as a retail electricity provider (小屋電気事業者), purchasing surplus solar power from customers post-FIT and reselling to households and businesses. Also provides VPP aggregation services coordinating household batteries into demand response programs.
6. Grid-scale Battery Storage Systems (系統蓄電事業): Development and operation of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage grid-connected battery storage systems to stabilize renewable energy output and participate in capacity and balancing markets. The company targets 1GW across 150 sites by 2030, starting with the Nogi Grid Storage Power Plant (1.99MW AC / 8.1MWh).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smart Solar Japan develops, finances, constructs, and operates utility-scale and distributed solar-plus-storage energy systems. Core offerings include the Smart Storage System (residential lithium battery storage with proprietary Smart AI HEMS), mega solar development and EPC services, municipal/commercial smart city solar-plus-storage projects delivered via on-site PPA, long-term O&M contracts for solar plants, retail electricity supply (Smart Electric), and emerging grid-scale battery storage.

Product overview

Smart Solar Japan operates as an integrated solar energy company offering both consumer products and enterprise-scale services. The core consumer offering is the Smart Storage System (スマート蓄電システム) — a residential lithium battery storage system combined with the proprietary Smart AI HEMS controller, available in Hybrid and Storage configurations. The system comprises interworking components: Smart Storage Battery (S/T types), Hybrid PCS or Storage PCS, Smart Switch Box (S/H types), and Smart AI. A second-generation Smart Storage System II was introduced in 2025. Enterprise offerings span mega solar development and EPC, operations & maintenance, public/industrial solar solutions (Smart City), and retail electricity (Smart Power). The company also operates grid-scale battery storage (系統蓄電) as a new business vertical. Products are sold primarily D2C with installation partner networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Storage System (スマート蓄電システム): Residential lithium-ion battery storage system with AI-powered HEMS control, available in Storage and Hybrid variants (SMP5510TA, SHY5512 series), targeting post-FIT residential solar customers.
• Smart AI (スマートAI)
• Smart Electric (スマート電気)
• Smart Sumasola Denki PPA (スマソラでんきPPA)

Products and services

• Smart Storage System (スマート蓄電システム) A whole-home residential battery storage system with AI-powered HEMS. Combines lithium battery, hybrid/storage power conditioner, smart switchbox, and Smart AI controller. Designed for post-FIT solar users to maximize self-consumption and provide backup power during outages. Sold direct-to-consumer (D2C) at significantly below industry average price (~¥90,000/kWh at launch). Available in Storage System-T, Hybrid System-S, and Hybrid System-T variants.
• Smart Storage System II (スマート蓄電システムⅡ) Second-generation residential storage system launched in April 2025. Features a new multi-power conditioner and Smart AI-II controller. Sold under model numbers SMP5510TA and SMP5515TA, representing a mid-cycle refresh of the core storage product.
• Mega Solar Development & EPC (メガソーラー開発・EPC) Full-service mega solar (utility-scale PV) development covering site identification, permitting, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). Smart Solar Japan has developed over 229MW domestically and internationally, including floating installations, agricultural land projects, and large battery-integrated plants.
• O&M Operations & Maintenance (保守メンテナンス事業) Operations and maintenance services for solar power plants, leveraging proprietary IoT-based monitoring with remote I-V curve measurement and AI-powered fault diagnosis. O&M portfolio covers approximately 71-135MW of installed capacity across owned and third-party plants.
• Smart City / Public-Industrial Solar (公共・産業用太陽光事業) Solar-plus-storage solutions for municipal and commercial facilities. Includes on-site PPA models, solar carports, building-integrated PV, and disaster-resilient microgrid systems for public institutions and businesses. Segment capacity approximately 29.3MW.
• Smart House / Residential Solar (住宅用太陽光事業) Residential photovoltaic systems with or without battery storage. Includes new-build ZEH-configured systems and retrofit storage solutions for existing residential solar installations. Supports subsidy applications and D2C sales model. Segment capacity approximately 27.3MW across 6,700+ households.
• Smart Power / Retail Electricity (スマート電力小売電力事業) Retail electricity sales under the Smart Electric (スマート電気) brand operated by subsidiary Smart Denki K.K. Purchases surplus electricity from customers' solar systems at preferential rates (up to 24 yen/kWh for post-FIT customers) and resells non-fossil electricity to residential and commercial consumers. Also provides VPP aggregation services.
• Solar Carport with EV Charging (ソーラーカーポート) On-site PPA solar carport installations combining photovoltaic canopies with EV charging stations. Deployed at public facilities (e.g., Kushiro Town office: 177kW canopy + 50kW fast charger). Provides renewable power for facility self-consumption and emergency backup.
• Grid Storage System (系統蓄電システム) Large-scale battery storage systems connected to the power grid for frequency regulation and supply-demand balancing. Smart Solar Japan plans to develop 150 high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage grid storage installations totaling 1GW by 2030, partnering with aggregators for market trading.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residential electricity cost reduction: households save ~¥100,000/year after FIT contract expiry by switching to self-consumption mode with Smart Storage System
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Asia Gateway CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Business partnership agreement signed May 2025 (press release in Japanese). Scope of collaboration not specified in available source materials.
• FUKU CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2025Business partnership for promoting energy conservation and renewable energy. Announced March 5, 2025. Scope of collaboration covers energy efficiency services and renewable energy deployment.
• Second Foundation a.s. / Second Foundation JapanmajorTechnology or Integration · 9 October 2024Czech-headquartered AI and algorithmic trading company. Selected as aggregation partner for Smart Solar's grid-scale battery storage business. Will handle VPP market operations (EPRX and JEPX) for the Nogi Grid Storage Plant (1.99MW AC / 8.1MWh) in Tochigi Prefecture using AI-powered analysis and algorithmic trading.
• Takioue Town, HokkaidocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024On-site PPA agreement for public facility renewable energy deployment. Smart Solar will install solar PV (282kW total) and battery storage (717kWh) at municipal clinic and town hall under a 20-year PPA. Part of Takioue's Zero Carbon Biomass Eco-Town plan targeting 51% CO2 reduction by 2030.
• Tribhuvan University (Nepal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2023Partnership for donating battery-integrated solar PV systems to support Nepal's renewable energy research and human resource development. Formalized through a collaboration agreement; equipment donated October 2023.
• KIC Holdings CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2023Tokyo-based logistics real estate developer. Three-project PPA collaboration for rooftop solar-plus-storage (total 1,188kW PV) at logistics facilities in Saitama and Kanagawa. Smart Solar provided HES (Hybrid Electric Supply) systems; KIC arranges PPA contracts with facility tenants.
• Shizen Energy Inc. (VPP Aggregator)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2022Leading Japanese renewable energy aggregator. Coordinated a 9-company VPP demonstration (Dec 2022–Jan 2023) using household batteries from 5 manufacturers including Smart Solar. Smart Solar participates as a battery manufacturer, contributing ~2,200kW of adjustable residential energy capacity. Shizen Energy's 'Shizen Connect' platform manages the aggregated fleet.
• Itochu ENEX Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2022Strategic collaboration on development and ownership of solar power generation facilities. Joint announcement August 2022 (press release link to PDF). Combines Smart Solar's development/EPC capabilities with Itochu ENEX's energy trading and retail electricity platform.
• LIXIL Corporation / LIXIL TEPCO Smart PartnerscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 22 January 2021LIXIL adopted Smart Solar's residential Smart Storage System as a core component of the '建て得でんち' (Tatoku Denchi) new-home bundled energy service. LIXIL conducted quality due diligence and selected Smart Solar based on product quality, price competitiveness, and alignment with LIXIL's sustainability values. Service launched April 1, 2021.
• Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University (Nepal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2020Nepal's top universities. Smart Solar recruited 10 graduates (2019) and established Smart Solar Nepal Corp. (2020) for AI/IoT engineering. Donated battery-integrated solar PV systems to Tribhuvan University, contributing to Nepal's renewable energy R&D. University recognition received December 2023.
• Kushiro Town, HokkaidocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2020Municipal disaster resilience and decarbonization partnership. Smart Solar to install solar-plus-storage at multiple public facilities, creating a microgrid. Town负担 zero capital cost. Project part of government-supported 'disaster prevention + low-carbonization' program. Subsequent phases: solar carport PPA (177kW), microgrid full operation 2025.
• Lisa Partners Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2017Tokyo-based financial/consulting partner for the Hokkaido Kushiroeno Solar Park (26MW + 14.5MWh battery storage). EPC performed by Kandenko Co., Ltd. Project company: Kushiro Megatsolar合同会社.
• Sermsang Power Corporation (SSP) — ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2016Thai solar power company (headquartered in Bangkok, 52MW of operating solar assets). Strategic co-development partner for the New Hidaka Solar Park (17MW solar + 9MWh battery storage) in Hokkaido — SSP's first Japanese investment. Project company: SS Hidaka no Mori合同会社. Jointly developed with Smart Solar as EPC and project manager.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Pacifico Energy: Japanese mega-solar and battery storage developer/operator with significant utility-scale PV portfolio. Closely comparable in EPC and IPP ownership model, including grid-scale battery storage development.
• Renova, Inc. Tokyo-listed independent power producer focused on renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass) development in Japan and abroad. Comparable as a vertically integrated renewable developer with EPC, O&M, and IPP functions overlapping Smart Solar's mega-solar business.
• SoftBank Energy (SB Energy): Major Japanese solar and wind developer under SoftBank Group with multi-gigawatt pipeline and battery storage investments. Comparable as a vertically integrated utility-scale renewable developer competing for the same mega-solar and PPA opportunities.
• Shizen Energy Inc. Japanese renewable energy IPP, VPP aggregator (Shizen Connect), and retail electricity provider. Comparable as a vertically integrated renewable energy company, partner on the VPP demonstration, and a competitor in the residential DER aggregation space.

Broad incumbents

• LIXIL Corporation (Smart House Division): Major Japanese housing products company and a strategic partner/distributor of Smart Solar's storage systems via the '建て得でんち' program. Competitively comparable for residential ZEH/solar-plus-storage bundled offerings, although LIXIL is a much larger incumbent spanning broader housing products.
• Eurus Energy Holdings: Established Japanese renewable energy developer with broad wind and solar portfolio. Comparable as a diversified IPP competing for utility-scale solar and storage projects, with deeper institutional backing.
• Kyocera Corporation: Major Japanese electronics conglomerate with significant solar PV manufacturing and residential/mega-solar project development operations. Comparable in residential and utility-scale solar plus storage offerings.
• Sharp Corporation (Energy Solutions): Historic Japanese solar manufacturer and integrator offering residential PV, storage, and HEMS solutions. Comparable across Smart Solar's residential Smart House business and mega-solar components, though Sharp is a far larger diversified electronics incumbent.
• Tesla Energy (Japan operations): Global battery storage (Powerwall) and solar provider with growing Japanese presence. Comparable in residential battery storage and grid-scale storage markets where Smart Solar plans 1GW expansion by 2030.
• Panasonic Corporation (Solar/Storage): Global electronics incumbent with residential PV, lithium-ion storage systems, and HEMS products in Japan. Comparable in residential solar-plus-storage market and competes directly with Smart Storage System / Smart AI in post-FIT segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart Solar Japan