Towards Sustainable Energy Systems Through Deploying Smart Grids: The Japanese Case

The deployment of smart grids has a major role to play in Japan’s aspiration to achieve sustainable energy systems. A smart grid in Japan is designed to have an intelligent monitoring system, which not only keeps track of all the energy coming in from diverse sources but also can detect where energy is needed through a two-way communication system that collects data about how and when consumers use power. This chapter examines the vision, concepts, and elements of Japan’s smart grid development. Smart grids are a part of the Japanese government’s ‘go green’ effort to bring Japan to a leadership position in environmental and energy sustainability. This analysis provides an overview of Japan’s major initiatives in deploying smart grids, including smart communities, large-scale smart grid pilot projects in four major cities, as well as overseas collaboration. Major smart grid awareness promotion bodies in Japan are discussed along with their important initiatives for influencing and shaping policy, architecture, standards, and traditional utility operations. Implementing a smart grid will not happen quickly because when Japan does adopt one, it will continue to undergo transformation and be updated to support new technologies and functionality.