ACCEL LAB Ltd.

ACCEL LAB Ltd. was established in July 2017 as a Japanese developer and provider of smart home applications. The company’s proprietary “Smart Life Platform” provides users with smart home services using the “Smart Home as a Service” business model. Users will be able to automatically or remotely control their smart home devices through the client-developed application “SpaceCore.” SpaceCore supports controlling devices from 17 different manufacturers and 20+ types of smart home devices, making it one of the most comprehensive applications on the market in terms of device compatibility. As of December 2021, there are 18,000 actual users who have downloaded the app, with a MAU (monthly active users ratio) of 67.7%, higher than Japan’s Facebook MAU (56.1%).

• To collect operation status, power consumption/generation/storage, and other relevant information from distributed low-voltage energy devices (smart meters, distribution boards, solar power generating equipment, fuel cells, batteries, EV chargers/charging piles, heat pumps, water heaters, etc.).
• To reflect energy-related information (e.g., power consumption, generation, and storage) in the SpaceCore smart home app, and develop a card visualization and remote control functions for energy devices to meet ZEH subsidy application requirements.

【Overview】

The Japanese government has proposed reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 in response to global warming. To achieve this vision, the Japanese government announced in 2021 that new buildings should meet the energy-saving standards of the ZEH (Zero-emission House) after 2030. Among them, those who install solar photovoltaic equipment need to reach 60%, and actively allocate ZEH subsidy funds to implement policies. Since the ZEH assessment criteria are three major elements of energy saving, new energy and heat insulation, under the trend of vigorous policy promotion, how to utilize Home Energy Management (HEMS) to visualize energy consumption and increase awareness of energy saving, and effectively manage solar energy and fuel cell New energy equipment such as batteries and battery chargers for electric vehicles have become key to the development of smart homes.

【Challenges】

The government has included energy visualization and equipment control features as criteria for the ZEH subsidy application. In order to implement HEMS features within existing smart home applications, it is necessary to build an energy device networking architecture and perform data collection and control of devices.

• Provided “Ecogenie+ Smart Living Services” SDK development kit to help ACCEL LAB Ltd. achieve the following goals:
  • Use the “SpaceCore” smart home mobile application to connect NextDrive energy meters and ECHONET Lite energy devices to establish an energy Internet of Things system architecture.
  • Provide an IoE Suite Ecogenie+ operational management interface to help the client understand how their HEMS is being used by end users.
• Provided “Developer Program” solutions to help ACCEL LAB Ltd. achieve the following goals:
  • Provide APIs to help the client obtain energy data and display the data on SpaceCore smart home application, the client can also control energy devices through the application.
  • Create a sandbox environment for developing and testing the “HEMS Visualization and Device Control” function.

HEMS features will be supported in the existing SpaceCore smart home application starting in May 2022. Since NextDrive energy gateways are light and can be installed retrospectively, the new features will be widely promoted in various forms of new and existing residential buildings, which can improve the comfort and convenience of users’ living space, and help users apply for ZEH subsidies. In the future, SpaceCore HEMS functions will be promoted by cooperating with real estate companies and contractor stores.