Joint Japan-US smart grid project gets underway

Hitachi also said, according to the news source, that it has already implemented an electric vehicle energy control center, distribution management system and an energy management system to optimize the new efforts being undertaken. These tools will be used to balance supply and demand on the island while utilizing direct load control systems to influence consumer supply and fluctuations of power usage within the home.

While many of the improvements are focused primary on electric vehicle usage and the benefits this can provide, the implementation of enhanced system controls and smart grid technologies will provide significant advantages in other ways as well. From the reduction of utility costs to enhanced disaster response and recovery in a nation that has its fair share of natural crises, smart grid deployments could be very beneficial in Hawaii and other pacific islands.

Of course, an investment into such efforts has to be accompanied by the proper hardware, such as terminal servers, serial to Ethernet converters and the like. These tools help to minimize latency within the power data network and ensure that energy providers and consumers are getting the best possible service at both ends of the network.

Perle offers a range of cost effective serial-to-Ethernet converters to help meet NERC-CIP compliance for the protection of critical cyberassets in substations. The IOLAN SDS HV/LDC Terminal Server is designed to meet harsh environments associated with Power Substations with attributes such as support for substation AC and DC voltage ranges, extended operating temperatures and meeting emission, immunity and safety approvals associated with substation IT equipment.