Ensuring Safety in an Electric World

To begin, when we look at today’s energy supply infrastructure, it is becoming increasingly complex. New changes require infrastructure that supports electricity, batteries, and IoT, and at the same time, expectations around safety and reliability are growing significantly. Your organization plays a very important role in this environment. Before we move into more detailed questions, could you first share your overall perspective on this situation?

As you mentioned, both globally and in Japan, we are seeing a steady increase in electricity demand. At the same time, countries around the world have set greenhouse gas reduction targets and are actively working toward achieving them. In that context, efforts toward energy transition are accelerating. When we talk about energy transition, I believe it essentially means balancing three elements: stable energy supply, economic growth, and decarbonization. One of the core pillars of this transition is securing low carbon power sources, along with ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply. To achieve this, various initiatives are progressing, such as the expanded introduction of renewable energy, strengthening and upgrading power grids, deploying large scale and distributed battery systems, and utilizing demand response mechanisms. These needs and the measures taken to address them are, in my view, the social and technological driving forces behind the development of more advanced testing, certification, and quality assurance frameworks. At this stage, it is difficult to clearly separate which factors are purely social and which are purely technological, and I expect that distinction will emerge through further discussion. However, taken as a whole, these combined factors are what I see as the fundamental drivers.

In addition to those points, global competition in these product and technology markets is intensifying. Do you think the need for standardization and the effective use of certification systems to maintain competitiveness is also part of the background?

Yes, I do believe that is an important factor. As competition in global markets becomes more intense, companies need to demonstrate compliance with international standards, assure safety and build trust efficiently. Standardization and certification play a critical role in enabling that, and they are increasingly being used as strategic tools to support competitiveness by manufactures and companies involved.

Demand for these products and technologies is clearly growing, but at the same time, safety is not always fully assured in practice. Looking ahead over the next five years, in which regions and technological fields do you think certification will become most necessary?

It is difficult to say definitively which area will see the highest demand, but from a regional perspective, I expect growing demand in the Asia Pacific region, including Southeast Asia and India. From a technological standpoint, the energy and power sectors are likely to see particularly strong demand for standardization and certification related to safety and reliability. The reasons for this can be attributed to factors such as the population and its growth trend, rapid industrial and economic development, the spread of high-tech products, the maintenance and updating of infrastructure, as well as increasing interest in safety, quality, and environmental considerations accompanying social development and maturation.

Next, I would like to talk about the factors shaping this evolution, and to do so, I would like to consider some more concrete examples. When we say evolution here, we are referring to the evolution of frameworks and systems. Is that correct?

Yes, that is correct. We are talking about evolution in the sense of how frameworks and systems develop over time. Regarding the evolution of frameworks, it is clear that various technologies and initiatives will be necessary to address issues such as global warming. In addition to certifying products as has been traditionally done, there is also the idea of certifying such technologies and initiatives. The factors influencing the evolution of frameworks with regards to standards and certification systems include heightened safety awareness, increased concern for quality, a lifecycle perspective, the circular economy, and carbon footprint, among other keywords.

In addition, many existing frameworks have traditionally been based on new products. Going forward, however, the need for standards and certification for reused products is also expected to grow. How do you view this trend?

I agree that this is an important area. As reuse and second life applications expand, particularly for products like batteries, it becomes increasingly necessary to establish appropriate standards and certification schemes that address safety and performance throughout extended life cycles.

For example, we believe that the reuse of batteries used in electric vehicles is important from the perspective of a circular economy. Traditional product certification applies to unused products, and product safety standards are also intended for unused items, so there is a need to consider standards and certification for reused products. Taking these factors into account, JET has assumed that the reuse of electric vehicle batteries will increase, and we have started a business to certify reused batteries as early as possible including raising interest among relevant stakeholders.

Now, moving on to the next question. Could you explain the role of JET in supporting decarbonization and energy transition initiatives?

JET evaluates conformity with standards and regulations for electrical products, components, and materials from a third party perspective. In addition to assessing compliance, we also verify manufacturers’ quality management systems and then provide certification services. Through certification marks, safe and high performance electrical products are introduced into society with trust. In this way, JET plays a foundational role that supports decarbonization. Furthermore, as part of efforts to ensure stable power supply from renewable energy sources, the adoption of stationary lithium ion battery systems is accelerating. We also provide testing and certification services for these battery systems, for power conditioners used in distributed power generation that are becoming larger and more sophisticated, and for large scale EV chargers. As certified products become more widely adopted in society, JET contributes indirectly but meaningfully to the realization of carbon neutrality.

TEAM EXPO 2025

You also mentioned new safety frameworks and certification approaches. Could you elaborate on that?

Yes. Drawing on our long accumulated expertise, we are exploring balanced certification approaches that reconcile safety and decarbonization. For example, certifying products for long term use can support sustainability because safe products can be used longer. However, there are also cases where safety and decarbonization can conflict. Products designed to be highly fire resistant may require materials or disposal processes that generate higher CO2 emissions. In such situations, it becomes necessary to carefully balance safety and environmental impact. For instance, fire resistant products may be difficult to burn during disposal, which can result in higher CO2 emissions due to prolonged incineration. These trade offs must be thoughtfully considered.

Could you also explain the S-mark (Safety Mark) certification system?

The S-mark is a third party certification scheme that complements the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act. Regarding models, product tests and factory inspections are conducted, including safety tests and measurements of noise resistance (EMC tests), and a certificate is issued for those that comply. Additionally, regular inspections and market sampling are carried out to maintain and monitor certification.

Voluntary inspections under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act are conducted by the manufacturer itself to confirm safety, and the mark is displayed accordingly. There are also electrical products and components that are not subject to the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act. The S-mark system clearly indicates that the product has been evaluated by a third-party certification body and has been correctly confirmed to meet the standards for such products. The regulatory framework under the law and the S-mark function like two wheels of the same vehicle, working together to ensure product safety. It is important not only to develop new schemes, but also to increase awareness and proper use of existing schemes like the S-mark so that they are fully understood and effectively utilized.

What do you see as JET’s core strengths?

JET has a long track record of testing and certification for consumer electrical products and wiring devices. Through this work, we have accumulated extensive knowledge and experience, and we are well recognized by manufacturers and importers, particularly in Japan. In addition, we have expanded our certification activities into renewable energy, medical devices, and management systems.

We believe that a major strength lies not only in test certification but also in providing comprehensive support services such as assisting in standards development, offering in-depth explanations on laws and technical standards, and proposal-based testing services which include accident cause investigations and the evaluation on newly developed products. We believe that JET's core strength lies in its extensive and long-standing experience in the limited field of electrical products, backed by technical expertise. Even when we simply say 'testing,' there are various types such as safety tests, environmental tests, and grid connection tests, and the fact that we can carry them out in a one-stop manner is another point that allows us to confidently recommend JET to our customers.

At the same time, how do you view future challenges?

While we are proud of our current strengths and competitive advantages, they do not guarantee future success. We must continue to address challenges such as human resource development and retention, responding to international standards, developing new business areas, and improving the efficiency of testing and certification operations. In this way, over more than 60 years, JET has boldly transformed its business model, portfolio, and other aspects in response to changes in the business environment. It can be said that this has helped build a certain tradition, which, in a way, could also be considered a strength.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) semi-anechoic chamber, a specialized laboratory environment used to test electronic devices. 

Could you give some concrete examples related to batteries?

For batteries, it is important to confirm safety at the cell level, as well as safety during use, including secondary use. For battery systems, our approach is to ensure that even if a single cell ignites, the fire does not propagate. From this perspective, JET has prepared several certification programs for batteries.We conduct component certification for lithium storage batteries, certification for home storage systems, and propagation tests for lithium batteries to prevent fire spread.

What message would you like to convey regarding battery adoption?

Attention often focuses on performance and economic efficiency, but we believe it is equally important to understand and properly manage safety. By leveraging our extensive evaluation and analysis experience and diverse testing facilities, JET will continue to support the safe adoption of batteries and battery systems through our testing and certification services.

At that time, it is important to ensure safety not only for the present but also for future generations, and we will develop our business from that perspective as well. We are developing reuse battery certification schemes to certify components necessary to integrate batteries removed from electric vehicles into stationary storage systems.

JET operates overseas testing facilities. Could you explain your international expansion, particularly in Thailand?

JET Thailand (JETT) was established as an overseas base to expand our testing and certification activities internationally, and this year marks its tenth anniversary. Through the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) certification business, we support Japanese electrical manufacturers as well as manufacturers in Thailand and neighboring Asian countries. In 2025, JETT relocated and expanded its facilities, increasing floor space and strengthening testing chambers to address latent demand and enable a wider range of services in the future.

JETT are strengthening its collaboration with JET and actively engaging in testing and factory inspections, as well as application support services for S-mark, Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), and IEC electrical equipment safety standard conformity tests (IECEE CB Scheme), to support our customers' global business expansion.

You have also obtained recognition related to UL 1741. Why is this important?

In July 2025, JET obtained U.S. NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) accreditation for certification based on U.S. product standards (UL1741) for power conditioners (PCS). This is the first accreditation of its kind by an Asian organization, and we believe it is significant as this certification service will make it easier to access the promising U.S. PCS market. The demand for PCS testing and certification is expected to grow in line with the expansion of renewable energy adoption and advancements in grid operations. JET intends to actively leverage this NRTL accreditation to engage in the certification business, including prior testing and evaluations.

JET Thailand supports not only Japanese companies but also local and regional companies. Do you plan to further expand business with overseas companies?

Yes. Through international certification cooperation, we aim to strengthen services that support domestic companies in obtaining overseas certifications and overseas companies in obtaining Japanese certifications. We will continue to deepen our collaboration with overseas testing and certification organizations, utilizing local test results, supporting business operators' applications, and engaging in multilateral certification through the IECEE CB Scheme. In addition, by collaborating with testing and certification organizations and manufacturers in Asia, or European organizations with a presence in Asia, we will promote testing according to Japanese standards in the countries where overseas companies manufacture their products, thereby supporting exports to Japan. We intend to continue strengthening such collaborations in the future.

At JET, we provide services that support understanding of laws and standards, such as explanations of interpretations of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act and interpretations of established standards (what we call comprehensive support services). We also assist overseas manufacturers in determining compliance with standard requirements through partial testing. Additionally, our Customer Service Center offers guidance on applications in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, and we accept inquiries. We hope you will make use of these services.

Finally, Newsweek is read by 75 million people in 59 countries, including overseas manufacturers, exporters, global energy infrastructure developers, regulators, policymakers, and international institutions. If you were to introduce JET to this global audience in one sentence, how would you describe your organization?

If I had to express it in one sentence, I would say that JET is a testing and certification organization that drives transformation based on proven achievements and deep expertise in the field of electrical product safety.

For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.jet.or.jp/en/