Japanese electric utilities plan to spend a total of 600 billion yen over the next decade to build smart grids, mainly as an aid to making optimal use of solar power and other renewables by stabilising voltage in power distribution networks.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. plans to install 100 000 sensor-equipped smart switches over the next 10 years, in addition to voltage regulators. These next-generation smart switches maintain the quality of power by activating regulators when voltage fluctuations occur. Other utilities are planning to introduce similar equipment, keeping pace with government plans to boost solar power generation to 28 GW by 2020.
Electric companies are also working to replace the power meters of 50 million households with next-generation versions. Tepco and Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503) are already installing smart meters for some customers.
