Shimizu Corp. to Put Microgrid Control System into Practical Use

Keywords:　Environmental Technology　Manufacturing industry　

Shimizu Corp., a major Japanese construction company, announced on February 28, 2011, that it has completed the design for its microgrid control system, Shimizu Smart BEMS, which will be installed in the general research building of the National Institute for Material Science. By controlling the microgrid in an integrated manner, Shimizu Smart BEMS enables the efficient use of multiple power sources. This is the first system of its kind in Japan to be put into commercial use.

The microgrid power supply system for the research building consists of commercial electricity, photovoltaic panels, storage batteries and emergency generators. Shimizu Smart BEMS comprehensively controls the microgrid to charge the batteries during the night and discharge them at peak hours in the daytime, while also charging them when solar power increases or electric load decreases. This will reduce peak-hour power consumption by 70 to 80 kilowatts (about 5 percent of the total). Furthermore, in the case of a commercial power failure, the microgrid will continuously supply electricity to important facilities without any interruption, functioning as part of the Business Continuity Plan (BCP), a plan of action that allows a business to continue its operations in the event of emergencies, such as earthquakes.

As society as a whole has started making serious efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in anticipation of the arrival of the Smart Community era, there has been an increase in the number of buildings with solar panels. This provides favorable conditions for the spread of microgrid systems that efficiently use natural energy as a power source.

Experimental Microgrid System on Outlying Islands Tested by Kyushu Electric Power (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030107.html
A Key to Urban Comfort and Efficiency -- Japan's District Heating and Cooling Systems
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/newsletter/pages/029184.html

Posted: 2011/07/09 06:00:15 AM