Three-year deal to supply BESS cells for grid-scale deployments across Japan and international markets
TOKYO, April 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AESC and NEXTES, a Japanese energy storage integrator, recently announced a three-year strategic supply agreement at SMART ENERGY WEEK in Tokyo. Under the agreement, AESC will supply 1.5 GWh of energy storage cells beginning in 2026 — the largest single ESS cell order placed in the Japanese market this year.
Japan's energy storage market demands rigorous JIS certification, compatibility with the country's unique grid frequency and voltage characteristics, and long-term performance commitments including capacity warranties of up to 20 years. AESC's track record in large-capacity energy storage cell production — leading the generational shift from 300+ Ah to 500+ Ah to 700+ Ah — combined with a comprehensive global certification portfolio spanning JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission standards), and UL (Underwriters Laboratories standards) and zero critical safety incidents across more than 100 GWh of cells delivered worldwide, were decisive factors in NEXTES's selection.
As NEXTES expands its project pipeline beyond Japan, AESC's manufacturing footprint across Asia, Europe, and North America — with 14 gigafactories in Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain — enables both companies to serve diverse regional certification requirements and support long-term operational partnerships at scale. In Japan specifically, AESC's local R&D and manufacturing base in Yokohama provides NEXTES with direct access to technical support and supply chain proximity.
Japan's grid-scale energy storage market is projected to grow steadily, driven by accelerating renewable energy deployment and ongoing power market reform. The AESC-NEXTES partnership positions both companies to capture this growth with a supply chain built on proven safety, certified quality, and long-duration performance.
About AESC
AESC is a global leader in high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Founded in Japan in 2007 and headquartered in Yokohama, the company operates 14 gigafactories across Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. In the energy storage sector, AESC has pioneered early mass production of ESS large-capacity cells exceeding 300Ah, 500Ah, and 700Ah, demonstrating clear technological leadership. To date, AESC has delivered over 100 GWh of energy storage cells across more than 400 projects in over 20 countries, partnering with leading global system integrators including Envision Energy, Fluence, Nidec, and NEXTES.
About NEXTES
Founded in 2008, NEXTES has developed advanced in-house technology for efficient lithium-ion battery control and offers a broad portfolio of lithium-ion battery solutions integrated with its proprietary systems. Guided by its mission "THE ADVENTURERS – Adventurers solving energy challenges for the coexistence of people and the planet," the company delivers long-life energy storage systems through its innovative technologies. With the growth of renewable energy, its solutions have been widely adopted for grid-scale energy storage and other applications. NEXTES is also actively engaged in battery reuse initiatives, working toward the realization of a sustainable society. Addressing global energy challenges through professional technical expertise, NEXTES is committed to building businesses for a sustainable future. As part of its growth strategy, the company officially rebranded from its former name, NExT-e Solutions Co., Ltd., to NEXTES on April 1, 2026.
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AESC and NEXTES Sign 1.5 GWh Strategic Supply Agreement, Marking Japan's Largest Energy Storage Cell Order of 2026
HONG KONG, April 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- To enhance the business acumen and practical experience of students from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area (GBA) tertiary institutions, the Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS) at Lingnan University organised the third Business Case Competition (LUBCC) 2026. The Final Presentation Day and Award Presentation Ceremony were successfully held yesterday (12 April). This year's competition expanded for the first time to include five GBA universities: Shenzhen University, Jinan University, Foshan University, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and Guangdong University of Technology. The first-prize teams were Lingnan University and Foshan University.
A total of 445 students from 98 teams registered for this year's competition. This represents a significant 22.5 per cent increase in the number of participants compared with the previous year. The competition featured real-world business cases provided by various government departments and corporations, including the Hong Kong Police Force and MTR Corporation Limited, for participants to analyse collectively and devise optimal business strategies.
Prof Shi Shanshan, Associate Dean (TP Studies) of the Faculty of Business at Lingnan University, delivered a welcome address, noting that the inclusion of several GBA universities this year helped foster academic and cultural exchanges across institutions. She said "The number of participants this year reached a record high, reflecting the growing student demand for practical platforms that simulate the workplace. Participants are required to tackle real-world problems faced by different enterprises, gaining insights into diverse cultural and business contexts. They flexibly apply the theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom to solve business challenges with innovative solutions. Through cross-institutional competitions like this, the Faculty of Business aims to strengthen students' cross-border market mindset, enhance their analytical and problem-solving skills, and nurture future leaders capable of addressing global business challenges."
The business cases for this year's competition were provided by government departments and corporations, spanning areas such as public services, transportation, property management, and healthcare. These included the Hong Kong Police Force, Integrated Property Management Platform of China Resources Longdation Company Limited, MTR Corporation Limited, and New Town Medical Group (listed in no particular order). A total of 20 teams from the Undergraduate Division, Taught Postgraduate Division, and GBA universities advanced to the final round. Each team was required to conduct an in-depth analysis of the real-life business challenge provided by the supporting organisations and their strategic recommendations tailored to address the issues identified. Outstanding proposals may be considered as reference strategies by the respective organisations. The final judging panel, comprising industry experts and academics, engaged with the teams through insightful questions and feedback.
The Hong Kong Police Force invited students to propose a targeted, multi-channel mission-based marketing and education campaign to solve low public awareness and sustained engagement across demographics for the HKPF Super App. Integrated Property Management Platform of China Resources Longdation Company Limited requested students to formulate new strategies to solve client confusion by clearly unifying the CRLIPM Platform's brand and relationship structure across its three companies, and to enhance public engagement through its WeChat official account while making CRLIPM content trend on social media. The case topic for MTR Corporation Limited was developing a strategy and implementation plan to reduce fare evasion on MTR Light Rail. New Town Medical Group required students to provide a marketing and outreach strategy to raise public awareness of the CDCC scheme, attract eligible participants to pair with NTMG doctors, and retain enrolled participants for follow-up doctor, nurse clinic, and optometrist services—while promoting the role of nurse clinics in the co-care model. These real-world cases spanned diverse fields such as public services, property management, transportation, and healthcare, testing the students' cross-industry business analysis capabilities and innovative thinking.
The event concluded with the much-anticipated Award Presentation Ceremony. Prizes were awarded to the top-performing teams in various categories, recognizing their exceptional analyses and innovative strategies.
For the full list of awardees, please refer to the table below:
| Award | Team Name | Students Name | Case |
| First Prize-1 | B-LU-1 | Huang Guanzhe Yu Yunwen Zhong Zhiheng Lyu Yichen | MTR Corporation Limited |
| First Prize-2 | C-GBA-1 | Liu Danyi Shu Zhitong Jiang Yonglin Li Zhiyan | The Hong Kong Police Force |
| Second Prize-1 | A-LU-4 | Wang Xiaowen W Chenying Chen Yue Huang Zixuan Xue Lidan | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Second Prize-2 | A-LU-9 | Jiang Di Wang Gan AYIZIBA Awuti Liu Jie Zhang Xiaoxuan | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Second Prize-3 | C-LU-5 | Li Kun Zhang Xiaoyu Gao Jiaying Chen Tongfei Wu Jieyu | Hong Kong Police Force |
| Second Prize-4 | A-LU-8 | Su Siqi Yang Jingyao Xu Lu Cui Zhuo Xin | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Third Prize-1 | C-GBA-7 | Zhou Renhong Feng Yuhan Xiao Kailin Wang Zhe Yuan Yujie | The Hong Kong Police Force |
| Third Prize-2 | D-GBA-8 | Zhang Zhuoer Xu Xinyi Jiang Ao Liao Zihan Jiang Xinyue | New Town Medical Group |
| Third Prize-3 | D-LU-4 | Fan Ke Er Ji Yi Xu Yi Fan He Yu Jie | New Town Medical Group |
| Third Prize-4 | B-GBA-8 | Li Yiping Wu Liuchenchen Stefanie Marie Yin Zhuo Wang Yuefei Qiu Jiayi | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Third Prize-5 | C-GBA-3 | Liang Qian Liu Huiwen Liu Qian Tan Renqi Cai Anlin | The Hong Kong Police Force |
| Third Prize-6 | A-LU-2 | Zhao Jingyan Liu Xinyi Yang Siya Zhou Xingyu Lu Yuhan | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Best Presenter Award-1 | A-LU-2 | Lu Yuhan | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Best Presenter Award-2 | B-LU-1 | Huang Guanzhe | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Most Popular Video Award (First Prize) | B-LU-8 | Zhou Yifan Yang Yuhan Sun Yan Wu Fangdi He Yuchen | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Most Popular Video Award (Second Prize)-1 | B-GBA-8 | Li Yiping Wu Liuchenchen Stefanie Marie Yin Zhuo Wang Yuefei Qiu Jiayi | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Most Popular Video Award (Second Prize)-2 | C-LU-2 | Zhang Jianing Li Shujie Wang Ziheng Wei Yi Li Yuyi | The Hong Kong Police Force |
| Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-1 | B-LU-1 | Huang Guanzhe Yu Yunwen Zhong Zhiheng Lyu Yichen | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-2 | D-LU-3 | Huang Chen Xi Guo Ming Qi Wang Jing Rui Yu Zhen Yu | New Town Medical Group |
| Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-3 | A-LU-2 | Zhao Jingyan Liu Xinyi Yang Siya Zhou Xingyu Lu Yuhan | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Merit Award-1 | C-LU-2 | Zhang Jianing Li Shujie Wang Ziheng Wei Yi Li Yuyi | The Hong Kong Police Force |
| Merit Award-2 | B-GBA-2 | Yang Ziyang Li Xinyao Ma Yuan Lin Jiayu | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Merit Award-3 | A-LU-7 | Chen Jiawang Luo Yaxi Lin Qiuyi Yu Jiangnan Li Zihao | China Resources Longdation Company Limited |
| Merit Award-4 | D-LU-9 | Chen Junyi Zhou Yixuan Liang Lexi KANEDA Rippei He Ziyue | New Town Medical Group |
| Merit Award-5 | B-LU-8 | Zhou Yifan Yang Yuhan Sun Yan Wu Fangdi He Yuchen | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Merit Award-6 | D-GBA-2 | Hu Zhihao Qiu Liqing Wang Zhisheng Huang Jiaming Hong Kunpeng | New Town Medical Group |
| Merit Award-7 | B-GBA-1 | Lin Jiamei Ye Rui Deng Huinan Dang Hanmei | MTR Corporation Limited |
| Merit Award-8 | D-LU-3 | Huang Chen Xi Guo Ming Qi Wang Jing Rui Yu Zhen Yu | New Town Medical Group |
Award
Team Name
Students Name
Case
First Prize-1
B-LU-1
Huang Guanzhe
Yu Yunwen
Zhong Zhiheng
Lyu Yichen
MTR Corporation Limited
First Prize-2
C-GBA-1
Liu Danyi
Shu Zhitong
Jiang Yonglin
Li Zhiyan
The Hong Kong Police Force
Second Prize-1
A-LU-4
Wang Xiaowen
W Chenying
Chen Yue
Huang Zixuan
Xue Lidan
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Second Prize-2
A-LU-9
Jiang Di
Wang Gan
AYIZIBA Awuti
Liu Jie
Zhang Xiaoxuan
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Second Prize-3
C-LU-5
Li Kun
Zhang Xiaoyu
Gao Jiaying
Chen Tongfei
Wu Jieyu
Hong Kong Police Force
Second Prize-4
A-LU-8
Su Siqi
Yang Jingyao
Xu Lu
Cui Zhuo Xin
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Third Prize-1
C-GBA-7
Zhou Renhong
Feng Yuhan
Xiao Kailin
Wang Zhe
Yuan Yujie
The Hong Kong Police Force
Third Prize-2
D-GBA-8
Zhang Zhuoer
Xu Xinyi
Jiang Ao
Liao Zihan
Jiang Xinyue
New Town Medical Group
Third Prize-3
D-LU-4
Fan Ke Er
Ji Yi
Xu Yi Fan
He Yu Jie
New Town Medical Group
Third Prize-4
B-GBA-8
Li Yiping
Wu Liuchenchen
Stefanie Marie Yin Zhuo
Wang Yuefei
Qiu Jiayi
MTR Corporation Limited
Third Prize-5
C-GBA-3
Liang Qian
Liu Huiwen
Liu Qian
Tan Renqi
Cai Anlin
The Hong Kong Police Force
Third Prize-6
A-LU-2
Zhao Jingyan
Liu Xinyi
Yang Siya
Zhou Xingyu
Lu Yuhan
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Best Presenter Award-1
A-LU-2
Lu Yuhan
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Best Presenter Award-2
B-LU-1
Huang Guanzhe
MTR Corporation Limited
Most Popular Video Award (First Prize)
B-LU-8
Zhou Yifan
Yang Yuhan
Sun Yan
Wu Fangdi
He Yuchen
MTR Corporation Limited
Most Popular Video Award (Second Prize)-1
B-GBA-8
Li Yiping
Wu Liuchenchen
Stefanie Marie Yin Zhuo
Wang Yuefei
Qiu Jiayi
MTR Corporation Limited
Most Popular Video Award (Second Prize)-2
C-LU-2
Zhang Jianing
Li Shujie
Wang Ziheng
Wei Yi
Li Yuyi
The Hong Kong Police Force
Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-1
B-LU-1
Huang Guanzhe
Yu Yunwen
Zhong Zhiheng
Lyu Yichen
MTR Corporation Limited
Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-2
D-LU-3
Huang Chen Xi
Guo Ming Qi
Wang Jing Rui
Yu Zhen Yu
New Town Medical Group
Most Popular Video Award (Third Prize)-3
A-LU-2
Zhao Jingyan
Liu Xinyi
Yang Siya
Zhou Xingyu
Lu Yuhan
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Merit Award-1
C-LU-2
Zhang Jianing
Li Shujie
Wang Ziheng
Wei Yi
Li Yuyi
The Hong Kong Police Force
Merit Award-2
B-GBA-2
Yang Ziyang
Li Xinyao
Ma Yuan
Lin Jiayu
MTR Corporation Limited
Merit Award-3
A-LU-7
Chen Jiawang
Luo Yaxi
Lin Qiuyi
Yu Jiangnan
Li Zihao
China Resources Longdation Company Limited
Merit Award-4
D-LU-9
Chen Junyi
Zhou Yixuan
Liang Lexi
KANEDA Rippei
He Ziyue
New Town Medical Group
Merit Award-5
B-LU-8
Zhou Yifan
Yang Yuhan
Sun Yan
Wu Fangdi
He Yuchen
MTR Corporation Limited
Merit Award-6
D-GBA-2
Hu Zhihao
Qiu Liqing
Wang Zhisheng
Huang Jiaming
Hong Kunpeng
New Town Medical Group
Merit Award-7
B-GBA-1
Lin Jiamei
Ye Rui
Deng Huinan
Dang Hanmei
MTR Corporation Limited
Merit Award-8
D-LU-3
Huang Chen Xi
Guo Ming Qi
Wang Jing Rui
Yu Zhen Yu
New Town Medical Group
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Lingnan University expands Business Case Competition to Greater Bay Area with record participation
