Mitsubishi Electric Corp. says it has begun full-scale tests of smart grid and related smart-community technologies at the company’s production sites in Japan. The aim of the project is to develop and test products such as commercial systems, equipment and solutions, according to the company.
Since May 2010, Mitsubishi had been developing smart grid infrastructure worth about 7 billion yen, including systems for supply-and-demand management, next-generation distribution management, advanced metering and energy management.
Demand-supply balancing will focus on technologies and algorithms to manage a large amount of renewable energy connected to the power grid. Distribution network management will focus on technologies and equipment for voltage control to prevent instability caused by a large number of photovoltaic systems installed in buildings and residences.
Testing will also include the evaluation of an envisioned environment in 2020, when a large volume of renewable energy will be connected to the network and electricity demand will be aggregated in communities, the company explains.
In addition, tests will focus on the verification of smart grid technologies’ performances in very severe conditions, including loss of part of the grid by earthquake, lightning and other weather-related events.
