Soden Enters the Electricity Retail Market and Launches “BANSO-GX,” a Collaborative Decarbonization Solution 

Soden Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Rui Iino; hereinafter “Soden”) announces its full-scale entry into the electricity retail market and the launch of “BANSO-GX,” a collaborative decarbonization solution designed to support businesses in their decarbonization efforts over the medium to long term.

BANSO-GX combines electricity retail contracts, solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) with contract terms starting from five years, battery energy storage systems, and environmental attribute certificates. The service provides comprehensive support, from developing energy strategies to implementing them, tailored to each company's business challenges and decarbonization goals.

To date, Soden has primarily focused on the energy supply side, including the development of battery storage facilities and solar power installations, as well as the construction of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) systems. With this expansion into electricity retail, Soden is extending its business into corporate electricity procurement and energy consumption, helping companies optimize electricity costs while advancing decarbonization.

Service Website: https://retail.soden-inc.jp/

Background of the BANSO-GX Launch

In recent years, growing volatility in electricity prices and increasing societal expectations for decarbonization have made energy strategy a critical business priority. Requests from business partners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, along with greater scrutiny of environmental initiatives by customers and investors, have made decarbonization an important management issue affecting corporate competitiveness and business continuity.

At the same time, many companies face challenges such as not knowing where to begin or being unable to take on the risks associated with long-term investments. To address these challenges, Soden developed BANSO-GX, a collaborative decarbonization solution that enables businesses to pursue decarbonization at a manageable pace according to their individual business circumstances.

Three Key Features of BANSO-GX

1. Flexible Decarbonization Plans Tailored to Each Business

In addition to electricity retail contracts, BANSO-GX combines short-term solar PPAs with no upfront costs and contract terms starting from five years, as well as battery energy storage solutions that can help reduce electricity costs and support business continuity planning (BCP).

Soden proposes tailored plans based on each company's business challenges and progress toward decarbonization.

2. Continuous, Hands-On Support from GX Consultants

GX consultants with specialized knowledge of decarbonization support companies from energy strategy development through service implementation and execution.

Rather than focusing solely on one-time equipment installations or electricity contract reviews, Soden provides ongoing, long-term support that adapts to changes in each company's business environment and plans, helping businesses achieve their decarbonization goals.

3. Cost Efficiency and Flexibility Through Vertical Integration

Soden operates a vertically integrated energy business encompassing the installation and maintenance of solar power and battery storage systems, as well as electricity supply.

By coordinating across these business activities, Soden reduces intermediary costs and optimizes equipment deployment, electricity procurement, and operations as an integrated process, delivering cost-efficient and flexible solutions.

Main BANSO-GX Service Offerings

Electricity Retail Contracts

Soden offers a “100% Renewable Energy Plan” that achieves effectively zero CO2 emissions through the use of environmental attribute certificates, as well as a “Basic Plan” for businesses focused on reviewing and optimizing electricity costs.

Companies can choose from fully fixed-price, partially fixed-price, and market-linked pricing options according to their needs.

Short-Term Solar PPAs (Starting from Five Years)

While conventional solar PPAs often require long-term contracts of approximately 10 to 20 years, Soden offers contracts starting from five years, with contract terms available in five-year increments, while maintaining the benefit of zero upfront installation costs.

This approach reduces the burden associated with long-term commitments and makes renewable energy adoption more accessible to businesses.

Battery Energy Storage Solutions

Soden helps businesses reduce electricity costs through peak shaving and peak shifting.

With the appropriate system configuration, battery storage can also serve as backup power during disasters or outages, contributing to business continuity planning (BCP).

Depending on the installation conditions and applicable requirements, businesses may also qualify for tax incentives.

Environmental Attribute Certificates

Soden supports corporate decarbonization by facilitating the procurement of environmental attributes, including non-fossil fuel energy certificates and J-Credits, while allowing businesses to retain their existing electricity supply contracts.

This provides an option for companies to advance their decarbonization efforts without installing new equipment, supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and various disclosure requirements.

Future Outlook

Through BANSO-GX, Soden will promote corporate decarbonization initiatives starting with electricity procurement and expand its support for the adoption of solar PPAs and battery energy storage systems.

Leveraging the technologies and expertise developed through its battery storage and VPP businesses, Soden will continue to contribute to electricity cost optimization and sustainable decarbonization by addressing both the energy supply and demand sides.

About Soden Inc.

Soden is a VPP startup driven by its mission to “Create an open world where everyone can freely control electricity.”
The company operates across a broad range of energy-related businesses, including the development of grid-scale and distributed battery storage facilities, VPP system development, and support for solar power installations. Its activities also encompass electricity retail and the provision of decarbonization solutions for businesses.

Company Name: Soden Inc.
Representative Director: Rui Iino
Founded: June 30, 2022
Tokyo Office: 6F, Ginza PREX East, 2-1-4 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan

Website: https://soden-inc.jp/