Smart Grid

Realizing a low-carbon society requires efficient use of renewable energy as well as a means of conserving energy. Since renewable energy sources such as sunlight and wind are affected by weather conditions, it is particularly important to find an appropriate method of incorporating these energy sources into power supply systems. Consequently, in energy conservation initiatives there is a need to visualize and optimally control energy consumption in homes, buildings and factories. The spread of electric vehicles and charging stations will also greatly affect local energy, rendering it necessary to create a new framework, local electricity infrastructure. Toshiba Group aims to develop a system for next-generation energy designed to optimize the balance between supply and demand, thereby contributing to the realization of a low-carbon society.

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

Smart Grids, the Next-generation of Power Supply Networks

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. On Miyakojima Island, for example, the Okinawa Electric Power Company has been testing the microgrid system installed by Toshiba for remote islands since the fall of 2010. Toshiba's microgrid system, which adequately controls energy by using stationary storage battery facilities, ensures stable operation of the power supply system on the island, where electricity generated by large-scale photovoltaic and wind power generation facilities is incorporated into a small-scale power supply network by reverse power flow*.

*

A flow of auxiliary electricity created by photovoltaic and other power generation systems in the direction opposite the electric flow running through the electric company's power supply network

µEMS: Grid monitoring/control device

A grid monitoring/control device, the Micro Energy Management System (µEMS) is one of the core technologies that serve as the brain of a smart grid by monitoring and controlling the local supply and demand of electricity.

The µEMS is a system for controlling electricity supply and demand, which is designed to absorb variations in power consumption within a grid and to minimize the effects of these variations on the electricity network. The system performs three functions: formulating comprehensive plans for energy supply and demand; controlling the allocation of economic load; and controlling load frequencies in real time. It is particularly important to predict and control electricity demand when introducing new large-scale transportation systems that feature electric vehicles and other new types of transportation that 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 test verification project to carry out optimum energy control initiatives in Gongqingcheng City of Jiangxi province in China.

HEMS, BEMS and FEMS

Toshiba provides commercial systems designed to optimally control energy use in homes, buildings and factories in accordance with the type and size of the facility.

A HEMS connects electrical home appliances, while BEMS and FEMS connect equipment in buildings and factories, respectively, allowing automatic control of energy use which in turn facilitates visualization of the status of electricity consumption and optimal operation of facilities. We will take an active part in developing the most advanced management systems that can be used in combination with smart meters and smart grids while providing products and management services to realize smart communities.

CEMS (Community)

One of the new functions made possible by smart grids is the capability to adjust energy supply and demand based on demand response, allowing electricity providers to control energy use on the demand side. To this end, a new system that collects information from the energy management systems installed in individual buildings and homes must be created which can adjust supply and demand throughout the entire local community. Such a system may create a need for groups to manage a number of buildings in local communities and to develop systems for energy lending and coordinated energy control. Through efficient demand control based on real-time load data, smart grids will provide options for conserving energy smartly.

Smart meter

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 data of consumption in buildings and houses in realtime, providing the data to power utilities through network. Also users can obtain the information for their power consumption charge. A smart meter is capable of two-way communication. When it receives demand from grid monitoring system to reduce the power demand, a smart meter will control power consumption of connected appliances to be reduced. Toshiba acquired Landis+Gyr AG (headquarters in Switzerland), which has the largest share in the global smart meter market, as a Toshiba Group company in July 2011, and is ready to expand its smart community business globally.