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TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced that the company will provide project management for a large scale proof-of-concept demonstration of demand response (DR) management in the residential sector. The test is part of the Yokohama Smart City Project (YSCP), an ambitious program to apply and verify a range of smart grid technologies in a modern city. It will start on July 1, with the participation of about 1,900 residences, and will test electricity demand management in the summer heat.

Japan's summers are hot and humid, and for many people the first response is to turn up the air-conditioning. The Yokohama project will test the usefulness of dynamic pricing¹ in lowering power consumption during times of peak demand.

Overall system management is carried out by a centralized Community Energy Management System (CEMS) that interfaces with a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) installed in each of the participating residences. When weather forecasts indicate that the following day will be particularly hot, the CEMS requests each residence to cooperate in cutting consumption in peak hours, and offers cash incentives to reduce electricity by such means as changing air-conditioner settings, switching off home appliances, shifting the time for doing the laundry or just going out. Amounts paid will be based on the scale of reduced electricity in each household.

The YSCP is promoting demand side consumption and testing the effectiveness of DR as a tool with a large number of consumers. The proof-of-concept test will monitor the effectiveness of DR against different levels of temperature and days of the week, and investigate how people respond to DR incentives.

"Toshiba is participating in numerous projects around the world to verify and test smart grid and smart community solutions, on both the supply and demand side," said Ryuji Maruyama, General Manager of Toshiba's Smart Community Division. "In the US state of New Mexico, we have been investigating grid management and stabilization related to the integration of renewable energy since September 2012. In Lyon France, we are applying smart community solutions to the revitalization of a city center district. Through these and other projects in Europe, Asia and Japan, along with the expertise we gain from YSCP, we aim to develop and expand our involvement in the smart community business worldwide."

Summary of DR demonstration test

1. Number of days: About 14 days between the period from July 1 to September 27.
2. Target times: From 13:00 to 16:00 on weekdays
3. Conditions: Days where supply is expected to be tight
4. Targeted reduction: Max. 20%
5. The number of residence participating: About 1,900

Overall image of YSCP and target scope of the demonstration test at this time

 

 

Note:

1

A method for promoting a change in the power consumption by consumers by varying electricity rates. Rates are higher in peak hours and lower in others.