The Japanese Smart Grid Initiatives, Investments, and Collaborations

A smart grid delivers power around the country and has an intelligent monitoring system, which not only keeps track of all the energy coming in from diverse sources but also can detect where energy is needed through a two-way communication system that collects data about how and when consumers use power. It is safer in many ways, compared with the current one-directional power supply system that seems susceptible to either sabotage or natural disasters, including being more resistant to attack and power outages. In such an autonomic and advanced-grid environment, investing in a pilot study and knowing the nation’s readiness to adopt a smart grid absolves the government of complex intervention from any failure to bring Japan into the autonomic-grid environment. This paper looks closely into the concept of the Japanese government’s ‘go green’ effort, the objective of which is to make Japan a leading nation in environmental and energy sustainability through green innovation, such as creating a low-carbon society and embracing the natural grid community. This paper paints a clearer conceptual picture of how Japan’s smart grid effort compares with that of the US. The structure of Japan’s energy sources is describe including its major power generation plants, photovoltaic power generation development, and a comparison of energy sources between Japan and the US. Japan’s smart community initiatives are also highlighted, illustrating the Japanese government planned social security system, which focuses on a regional energy management system and lifestyle changes under such an energy supply structure. This paper also discusses Japan’s involvement in smart grid pilot projects for development and investment, and its aim of obtaining successful outcomes. Engagement in the pilot projects is undertaken in conjunction with Japan’s attempt to implement a fully smart grid city in the near future. In addition, major smart grid awareness activities promotion bodies in Japan are discuss in this paper because of their important initiatives for influencing and shaping policy, architecture, standards, and traditional utility operations. Implementing a smart grid will not happen quickly, because when Japan does adopt one, it will continue to undergo transformation and be updated to support new technologies and functionality.