NEC 2012 Annual Report Download - page 14

NEC is focusing on the smart energy
business, which will contribute to achieving a
low-carbon society, with the aim of creating
“an information society friendly to humans
and the earth.” NEC’s greatest strength in
this field is that it possesses both ICT,
including computer, network and cloud
technologies, and energy component
technology, such as energy storage systems
and charging systems for EV/PHV*1.
Leveraging this strength, NEC is working
to create new businesses by teaming up
with partners in various fields across different
industries and fusing one another’s
specialties and expertise. NEC has already
commercialized electrodes for automotive
lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, and small-
scale energy storage systems. In addition,
NEC has commercialized cloud-based
HEMS and cloud-based charging
infrastructure. Moreover, NEC is also actively
promoting field trials aimed at
commercializing energy storage systems for
buildings and commercial facilities, as well as
for the power transmission grid.
In April 2012, eyeing further business
expansion going forward, NEC established
the Smart Energy Business Operations Unit,
which will centralize the Company’s assets
related to development, manufacturing and
sales in the smart energy domain, with the
view to bolster business development
capabilities and speed up business
expansion. In July 2012, NEC began
shipping a cloud-based small-scale energy
storage system that is remotely supported
24/7, 365-days a year. Through these and
other products, NEC will strive to create
products and services that further integrate
energy components and ICT.
To answer global needs for more efficient
energy usage, NEC will accelerate the
launch of the smart energy business, with
the goal of helping to build a new energy-
efficient society.
Cloud-based small-scale energy storage system
fitted with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
*1 Plug-in hybrid vehicle
(4) Energy Business
Smart city projects and measures to make more
efficient use of energy are becoming increasingly
prominent around the world. Accordingly, this field
has immense growth potential. NEC aims to
generate new business through proactive
participation in smart city projects in various
countries worldwide. At the same time, NEC will
take steps to expand business focusing on the
electrode business for automotives, small energy
storage systems, and Home Energy Management
Systems (HEMS). Eyeing growth over the medium
term, NEC will develop a smart energy business
framework that integrates development,
manufacturing and sales. This will enable NEC to
create an energy service business that fuses its
energy components and ICT.
recovery efforts, regional restructuring of fire and
disaster prevention systems, digitization of wireless
communications networks and upgrades to the
second generation of ETC equipment. By steadily
capturing demand for these sorts of projects, NEC
aims to ensure a steady operating base.
Globally, there is heightened demand for reliable
and secure social infrastructure designed to prevent
terrorism and crime, and predict natural disasters,
among other ends. To address these needs, NEC
will endeavor to create businesses in public safety
fields based on its business assets. Examples
include surveillance systems for key facilities such
as airports and harbors, and disaster prevention
systems. Efforts will also be directed at
strengthening the operating base with an emphasis
on profitability, with the aim of driving the expansion
of these businesses.
Toward the Full-Scale Expansion of the Smart Energy Business
Energy Business
13 NEC Corporation
Annual Report 2012