AI.net has entered into a strategic partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) for the purchase of 1GWh of battery energy storage systems, marking its entry into the grid-scale storage market. The agreement, signed on October 27, covers 705.5kWh TENER Flex units for 2MW/8MWh installations as well as high-voltage equipment linked to the development of multiple storage sites in Japan.
Regional deployment and local integration
The Tokyo-based company stated that it would focus its initial deployments in the northern Kanto region. These projects will be developed in collaboration with local companies and regional authorities. AI.net aims to leverage these partnerships to secure land, permits, and grid connection agreements necessary for the swift rollout of its facilities.
Targeting 500MW of installed capacity
AI.net plans to commission 500MW of storage capacity by the end of March 2028. In parallel, the company is developing a digital system based on artificial intelligence to manage the intermittency of renewable energy sources. It has also begun procedures to become a certified energy aggregator, which would enable it to optimise storage and dispatch flows across the power grid.
Track record in renewable energy
AI.net is drawing on the experience of its affiliated companies in solar power generation. Its subsidiary Yamat currently operates 20 photovoltaic plants, mainly small-scale, with a total capacity of 1.4MWAC. All plants are registered in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) database under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme. IDT Holdings, another company led by President Masahiro Yamashita, also owns a modest solar portfolio.
The group has not disclosed investment amounts or financial terms of the partnership with CATL, but the scale of the contract and its strategy of technological integration suggest a plan to structure a comprehensive offer, from physical assets to digital aggregation.
