Innovation by EKO, since 1927

Weather is often changeable; rain one-minute, blazing sun the next. Climate meanwhile takes a longer view. It’s the weather of a particular place seen over years, decades, maybe even centuries.

EKO Instruments was founded in a spirit of innovation, with a commitment to accuracy, at the heart of what we do. For over 90 years, that commitment has helped to drive the development of industry-leading solar energy sensors, and scientific instruments for environmental research.

Today, many of our customers' study weather and climate, in some cases looking towards the past to help predict the future. At EKO, looking back at our history helps us to look ahead; inspiring ideas for the future.

1955 

EKO Instruments successfully developed Japan's first pyranometer at the request of the ‘Japan Meteorological Agency’.

1985

Working with the Electronic Technology Research Institute (now the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), we successfully developed a new solar cell evaluation system for large outdoor arrays, the ‘IV curve tracer’.

1990

We developed the world’s first UV-B UV Radiometer.

2014

We opened the Ami Solar Park solar power plant, followed a year later by a second site at Inashiki. These plants not only generate electricity but provide a unique facility for comparative verification testing.

2016

We launched a new generation sensor, the MS-80 Class A Pyranometer. A patented design with unmatched zero offset, ultra-fast response, and Quartz diffusor, the MS-80 is an industry leader that we continue to develop with the new variants utilising the latest technologies.

2020

At the turn of the year EKO Instruments announced a global pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022; a major challenge but one made with an eye to the future; reflecting on our shared responsibility and desire to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment. We are also working on the new ‘MS-S’ Series of ‘Smart’ sensors, and the accompanying ‘Hibi’ app. Watch this space!

Looking Ahead

Whether it's developing a new generation of sensors, the next game-changing innovation in accuracy, or the apps and tools to make our instruments easier to use; we continue to look ahead to the future.

Find out more. Join us at events around the world, subscribe, and follow us on social for all of the latest news and exciting announcements from EKO Instruments.

Customer Story

PV Diagnostics (Mumbai, India) specialises in onsite testing services, providing quality control and diagnostics for solar power plants across India. The MP-11 I-V Checker is a portable, all-in-one measurement solution designed to deliver accurate on-site I-V performance measurements of PV modules and arrays.

In 2017, needing a new instrument for on-site measurement, PV Diagnostics decided to launch a comparative study of I-V Curve Checkers. EKO Instruments’ M-11 was chosen to face-off against two competitors, both similar devices, but with some key differences.

Each device was assessed independently, on-site, and in real working conditions. Features ranging from ‘accuracy’, through ‘robustness’, and ‘ergonomics’ were ranked from high to low. ‘Battery time’, ‘sensor range’, ‘sweep time’, and ‘wait time’ was also scored by the engineers testing each device.

The MP-11 scored high in each category. It was accurate; it was robust; it was fast and portable. It also had onboard memory, an in-built display, and supported integration with an external pyranometer; features not all shared by the competition.

“Three years ago, we had a tough choice to make. The volume of on-site tests that we conduct, plus the distances and geography we have to cover, we couldn’t afford to make a mistake” explained Pranav Maheshwari, an Engineer at PV Diagnostics. “Comparing different devices the way we did was a great way to establish beyond doubt that the MP-11 was the best option for us, and we haven’t been disappointed”.

Three years later and PV Diagnostics now operates seven MP-11 units, have measured more than 250k I-V curves, and describe the MP-11 as ‘the most effective device for on-site I-V curve measurement’ and ‘the easiest to use while conducting field measurements in large quantities’.

The MP-11 is distributed in India by Meteoxperts Solutions (Delhi, India). Find out more about EKO I-V Measurement devices and request a quotation at eko-asia.com.

The future of EKO Pyranometers

Regardless of whether your PV solar plant is large or small, hi-tech or low, maximising your energy yield ultimately depends on creating the perfect conditions. Many PV solar plants already have an onsite monitoring system, generating critical operating data about yield and performance-ratio, but with increasing energy demands, and increasing competition, its’ time to consider upgrading to ‘Smart Sensors’.

While there isn’t any single international standard that defines what makes a sensor smart, ‘Smart Sensors’ are typically characterised by onboard intelligence and the ability to communicate via a digital network. As with any new tool or technology, Smart Sensors used for control require trust. Trust that the sensor is accurate, calibrated, reliable, timely, and secure.

At EKO Instruments, we have been working to combine ‘trust’ with ‘smart’, taking our existing range of ISO9060 Class Pyranometers, proven over time and around the world, and adding new ‘smart’ features. Our goal, to launch a new ‘MS-S’ Series of ‘smart’ pyranometers, pyrgeometers, and UV sensors; upgraded ‘smart’ variants of the MS-80, MS-60, MS-40, MS-20, MS-11 and MS-10. 

The ‘MS-S’ Series will add value to any application with advanced performance and diagnostic functions. New features, including the ability to self-monitor tilt angle, temperature and inside humidity monitoring, and onboard diagnostic sensors will help to prevent unplanned sensor and system downtime; and have been designed to help significantly improve yield, efficiency, and performance.

The EKO ‘MS-S’ sensors will also combine efficient digital communications via ‘Modbus 485’ and ‘SDI-12’, with electronic analogue controls. The analogue 4-20 mA and 0-10mA output standards will support communication between sensors and data controllers with an analogue input, while 4-20 mA signals will also be largely immune to electrical noise. Per-point wiring has also been included in the design to ensure that communication is reliable and easy to troubleshoot.

And, with the imminent launch of our new free to download ‘Hibi’ software, we are also making data visualisation easier than ever. ‘Hibi’ means ‘day by day’ in Japanese, and with this programme, users will be able to visualise detection signals, set communication parameters, and rapidly troubleshoot any issues from day one.

The EKO ‘MS-S’ Series of smart sensors will bring together the quality and reliability of EKO solar sensors with our commitment to continuous innovation and are designed to play a key role in improving solar power plant monitoring and control. They will be Industry 4.0 ready, and capable of measuring rapid irradiance variations, with high reliability, stability, and accuracy across a wide operational temperature range.

Email the team at ‘info@eko-eu.com’ to register your interest or to find out more about the ‘MS-S’ Series of Smart Sensors.

This article was featured in EKO/Environment. Click here OR on the 'Subscribe' button below to register for future EKO e-newsletters.

A statement from EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa

On the 26^th of February, EKO Instruments Japan were due to begin exhibiting at Smart Energy Week 2020; a major 3-day local industry event where we had planned to have two booths, one for Wind and another for our PV products.

The whole team were looking forward to this event; with plans to debut new booth designs, a special social media-focused giveaway, and our widest range of products on display. Mainly, however, we enjoy these kinds of events because they...

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EKO Instruments Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) have issued a public pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022. The pledge, made globally via social media on 12/31, covers all of the companies own products, such as environmental sensors and other scientific instruments.

Many everyday items are categorised as single-use or disposable plastics, including plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, water bottles, packing materials, and most food packaging. The majority of these plastics are not recyclable.

Plastic pollution is one part of the wider ‘Climate Emergency’ and a rapidly growing problem. Roughly 300 million tons of plastics are produced each year globally[i], and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use, often ending up in oceans and landfill. It is estimated that the worlds’ oceans already contain more than 150 million tons of plastic[ii]. 

Speaking about the pledge, EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa said “We wanted to set an ambitious, but achievable goal. To take the first step, as a company, in addressing the global challenge of pollution and the climate crisis”. He went on to explain that “this isn’t a Japanese problem, a China, US, or European problem; it is a global problem, a human challenge.”

The pledge commits EKO to the re-design of all product packaging within three years. The initial goal will be to use less and more environmentally friendly alternatives, before finally transitioning to no single-use or non-recyclable plastics.

As EKO produces highly sensitive scientific instruments for use in the renewable energy industry, research, and academia, it is imperative that when products are packaged and shipped, often around the world, that they are safe from sudden drops, vibration, and other potentially damaging events or conditions.

Discussing the origin of the pledge, President Hasegawa explained that “it is an idea based on our corporate philosophy, that we have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment… it was also driven internally by our management team and colleagues; everyone expressed a desire to take action.”

EKO hope to use their experience to help educate other companies about the challenges and potential solutions to plastic pollution, with plans to document and share the lessons they learn, and their progress towards achieving their goal, via social media.

For more information about the pledge, please contact marketing@eko-instruments.com.

Supported by EKO Instruments

EKO Instruments Co., Ltd. supported Kogakuin University at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 (BWSC 2019) in Australia, held from the 13^th to the 20^th of October 2019, with a set of EKO designed and manufactured Pyranometers.

The Bridgestone World Solar Car Challenge (BWSC) is one of the toughest races in the world. Held every two years since 1987, the 2019 event saw 44 teams from 21 countries attempt to travel 3,000km (about 1900 miles) in intense conditions across Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide, in solar-powered vehicles.

Despite crashing twice due to adverse weather conditions and strong winds, the Kogakuin University team finished in 5^th and won the ‘CSIRO Technical Innovation Award’ for their unique hydro-pneumatic suspension system; the first time that such technology has been applied to solar-powered vehicles.

Why does a Solar Powered Car need Pyranometers?

A solar-powered car has only one source of power, the sun. To stand a chance of finishing, let alone winning, the BWSC teams must optimise energy management in their vehicles. In other words, they need to know precisely how much energy they are generating and using during the race. Measuring solar radiation and checking weather conditions via satellite data helps them to calculate how much energy will be generated.

At BWSC 2019 the Kogakuin University Solar Team used two EKO pyranometers; one installed on the accompanying ‘Scout car’ driving 200 to 300km ahead of the race car, and another on the ‘Strategy car’ driving close behind.

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