Smart Grids

Toshiba Group is working to develop various technologies for next-generation power distribution systems that optimize the balance between energy demand and supply, including use of renewable energy.

• Toshiba's Technology “The Smart Grid: A Next-generation Energy Supply System” (Video Content) (A separate window will open.)

Toshiba playing a leading role in verification tests for next-generation energy supply-demand control system

Smart grid (next-generation power distribution network) technologies are attracting attention as technologies for using renewable energy which are likely to be used more widely in the future. The amount of power generated by power generation methods relying on renewable energy sources such as sunlight and wind varies with the weather. Therefore, when renewable energy is introduced in large amounts, the frequency and voltage of power distribution systems will be affected and such fluctuations must be adequately controlled. In the past, by combining functions for predicting energy supply and demand in addition to output control functions realized using storage batteries, Toshiba has created community-wide energy control systems to conduct verification tests. For example, we delivered a microgrid system for remote islands to the Okinawa Electric Power Company, which has been testing the system on Miyakojima Island since the fall of 2010. We also delivered a smart grid system to Italy's ACEA Distribution S.p.A. in the winter of 2011 in order to minimize the impact of an electric vehicle charging system on the electricity network. These smart grid systems achieve stable operation by appropriately controlling photovoltaic and battery systems.

Contributing to the world with a wide range of solutions

Based on the power distribution technologies that it has developed in the past, Toshiba Group provides various smart grid-related solutions.

μEMS*: Grid monitoring/control device

The Micro Energy Management System (μEMS) is one of the core technologies that serves as the brain of a smart grid by monitoring and controlling the local supply and demand of electricity. It improves overall energy efficiency by controlling electricity supply and demand, including absorbing variations in power consumption within a grid and minimizing the effects of these variations on the electricity network. It becomes particularly important to accurately predict and control electricity supply and demand when introducing photovoltaic power generation and new large-scale transportation systems that feature electric vehicles which may change the demand side considerably. In addition to being involved in the verification test project conducted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in cooperation with the state government of New Mexico, the United States, Toshiba has also received a contract for a verification test project to carry out optimum energy control initiatives in Gongqingcheng City of Jiangxi province in China.

*

μEMS (Micro Energy Management System)

Smart meter

Smart meter Landis+Gyr AG Focus AXR-SD3

A smart meter is a high-performance system that collects data on power consumption and transmits the data to power utilities. It is able to collect detailed data on power consumption in buildings and houses and transmits such data to power utilities via the network. Users can also obtain information on their power consumption charges in real time. Smart meters are capable of two-way communication. When receiving an order from the grid monitoring system to reduce power demand (demand response program), the smart meter manages the power consumption of the connected appliances for which consumption is to be reduced. In July last year, Toshiba acquired Landis+Gyr AG (headquartered in Switzerland) and Ecologic Analytics (EA), a subsidiary of Landis+Gyr AG, as a Toshiba Group company. EA has an advanced meter data management (MDM) technology for managing some 10 million smart meters and provides highly scalable solutions. Toshiba will continue to expand its smart community business globally.

Smart battery, a stationary storage battery system

Smart batteries (10 kWh to 45 kWh)

In response to increased awareness regarding energy conservation and disaster prevention, storage batteries are used more and more frequently to store renewable energy (e.g., sunlight and wind energy). Toshiba has developed a stationary storage battery system using the SCiB™ rechargeable lithium ion battery, which is designed to guarantee safety and long life and has a large input and output capacity. Using this battery system, Toshiba has released a lineup of scalable products that cover a wide range of uses, from small and medium-scale industrial systems to large-scale power systems. We will continue to contribute to realizing a sustainable low-carbon society by providing smart battery solutions that promote massive introductions of renewable energy and efficient use of low-carbon energy.