Smart Grid Expo 2014 and ECO House & ECO Building Expo 2014 both kicked off at Tokyo Big Sight located in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan. The Smart Grid Expo 2014 alone attracted over 100 booths that displayed the latest electronic grid system. System integrators including Panasonic and NEC plus component manufacturers Omron and Edison Power have all listed power systems as a part of smart grids, according to observations by EnergyTrend, a subsidiary of TrendForce. The Taiwan pavilion also displayed excellent components ranging from energy storage to smart meters.
▲Green building exhibition conditions
1. The international area
Edison Power displayed in-house solar energy systems, and also displayed power storage related systems. To compensate tip off-peak electricity EPUPS system lifetime can reach 3,000 runs. It especially features power switching within 5ms, and under multiple output conditions can be preset to conserve power. The production capacity covers 2.7 kWh to 8 kWh, which meets most medical and commercial building demands. EBESS also uses large capacity of 8 kWh to 16 kWh, but is mainly for power source designs. In terms of commercial applications, the design is already applied in gasoline stations in Japan.
▲Green building expo conditions
NEC displayed a 5.53kWh energy storage system for daily use, since it belongs to outdoor device designs the product emphasizes unusual heat monitoring and noiseless design. The energy storage incorporated batteries for large vehicles were used to ensure the batteries durability. In addition, the batteries added can cope with normal and heavy loading and guarantee reserved power supply can optionally provide electricity during a power out. The system is already operating in gasoline stations and convenient stores.
▲ NEC shows off smart power saving system and economic benefits
Omron, which is focused on inverters, has mostly adopted Si material in the past. The company announced a Si-C material system to be launched in 2015. The inverter’s size can be further reduced by half, and equipped with the product’s scalable AICOT software to upgrade the future system’s scalable performance.
▲ Omron showcases new generation of inverters
Honda displayed its Fit EV and Plug-in Hybrid at the smart grid expo. Under pure electric driving mode, the company’s PHEV can cover 37 Km, and can be recharged in 90 min. The PHEV has also developed portable emergency battery module EE30i (image below), which has a power output of 3kVA. In addition, the company’s has previously developed HEV and FCEV electric cars. Honda is developing to offer full range of car models. According to Honda staff at the show, the company’s brand strategy is focused on propulsion driving system to meet different area demands. Therefore the company is also offering more diverse car models.
▲ Honda displays different types of EV
After the rise of Tesla Motors, Panasonic battery business also grew. The company announced its decision to invest US$1 billion to build a battery factory in the U.S. on Feb. 25, 2014. To solve issues of Japanese apartment’s limited space, the company also displayed its Wall-Mounted Residential Power Storage System (batteries included) that has a storage capacity of 1kWh. The fuel cell is being sold at JYP 399,000 (US$ 3,935.34) and expected to create a new topic for Panasonic.
▲Panasonic showcases Wall-Mounted Residential Power Storage System
Denso displayed a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that can fully control the household’s energy consumption and electricity generation. A key module such as storage and heat pump, and even HEMS were manufactured by Denso. This reflected the company’s characteristic vertically integrated manufacturing process.
▲Denso displays highly automated energy management system
2. Taiwan pavilion area
Taiwanese company Changs Ascending Enterprise displayed two portable energy saving modules that have a capacity of 1kWh to meet demands of convenient. The company’s energy saving systems are already in operations in Japan and includes Yamagata’s automatic energy storage system assembled with large solar panels, the energy capacity even reached 1MWh. In addition, emergency back-up power systems with a capacity of 0.7 MWh also began operations in Tokyo.
▲Changs Ascending Enterprise displays new products and case studies
Fuel cell module ANEWPOW displayed scalable cell module systems, as well as case studies in Taiwan over the past year. This included 24 gridded independent storage systems (2.6kWh) that were deployed in Taiwanese universities and by Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau. The company’s emergency backup energy system (48V, 42~80Ah) for telecommunication base stations is also being used by Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile.
ANEWPOW displays scalable energy saving systems and application examples.
Japan INABA’s energy saving supplier Lifetech and Glife displayed respective energy storage systems. Lifetech showcased a solar power integrated energy storage system, while GLife displayed an off peak buffer device. The former two products mainly use Iron Lithium as the battery cell, and are expected to be widely applied in new battery cells in 2H14 to reduce the system’s size and increase its marketability.
▲INABA’s diverse product applications
Chroma ATE displayed a 61800 type regenerative grid stimulator that can supply PV inverter and smart grid related application tests. The cell’s rated capacity of 45~60 kVA can mostly recycle most energy input, and through 17020 and 17011 model applications, the recharged energy test device and regenerative electric power can be combined with the tested device to insure the battery tested fully absorbed all electricity during tests.
▲ Chroma ATE Displays Regenerative System
In smart grid systems, monitor display systems are mandatory Winstar displayed 2”~4” OLED products, which are much lighter, have high contrast and consumes less energy. These products have a thermal resistance between -40~80 degrees Celsius, and are made with Winstar’s glass deposition technology. Yield rates for standard size have reached above 90 percent, although OLED and LCD panels have a price difference ranging from two to three times, the company has also supplied three solutions including graphic, Character and ICON. Companies can choose the most economic display.
▲Winstar Display’s OLED Display
Tatung displayed one-phase and three-phase smart power meter AMI to meet home and industry applications. The power meters have the advantages of preventing power theft and simplifying electricity readings. The smart meter can be connected to the electric terminals of power stations and homes. The system uses Zigbeeor G3PLC for two-way communication, and can even cut power from long distances. In addition, Tatung has also diligently worked on Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) to meet the challenges of EMI charged environments. Tatung currently is mainly offering testing modules, and allowing clients to take the lead in communication modules to meet cross-industry alliance.
▲Tatung displays AMI
