Toshiba Participates in International Smart Grid Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico

Toshiba International Corporation, September 19, 2013—Toshiba International Corporation took part in a $53 million state-of-the-art, international smart grid project that was commissioned in Los Alamos, New Mexico on September 17, 2012. The project demonstrates smart grid technologies and applications which contribute to international standards for energy solutions and minimize environmental impacts worldwide.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to culminate the 2.5 year project that involved collaboration between the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos County through the Department of Public Utilities, and several global Japanese companies including Toshiba Corporation, Kyocera, Hitachi, Sharp, Itochu, and NGK Insulators.

Toshiba provided overall site coordination for the smart grid project. Toshiba also provided its Micro Energy Management System (micro-EMS), which will balance the output power from the photovoltaic and battery storage systems. The micro-EMS will help to address the future stability challenges to the distribution grid as a result of the installation of the large scale PV generation systems. Power supply-demand balancing will be demonstrated by the integration of the micro-EMS and smart meter technologies. The micro-EMS uses smart meters to monitor energy demand and balances the demand response from the PV and battery storage system.

In addition to Toshiba’s micro-EMS, the Smart Grid system consists of 2 megawatts of photovoltaic power constructed on a recently capped landfill, 8.3 megawatt hours of battery storage with state-of-the-art controls, and a smart house which has its own photovoltaic and battery systems, along with a smart meter and smart appliances. Smart meters are also being installed at residential sites in Los Alamos. The 2 megawatts of photovoltaic power is able to provide power to 2,000 homes in Los Alamos.

Toshiba Corporation President & CEO Norio Sasaki spoke at the ribbon cutting event and stated, “The data gathered will be shared by both Japan and the U.S. in the interest of research collaboration for development of new and improved technologies.” Sasaki added, “The application of cutting-edge technology is expected to become a model for smart grid projects in the U.S.”

Toshiba International Corporation’s Transmission & Distribution Division is leading Toshiba’s aggressive efforts to develop and implement smart grid and smart community technologies in North American.

“The Smart Grid system at Los Alamos site is truly a successful creation of the efforts from the leading technology companies and will provide a very good opportunity to further refine and improve the technologies for smarter energy management that serves the global needs for the sustainable society,” said Toshiba International Corporation President & CEO Tatsuo Doko.