Asia starting to explore smart grid technology
September 21, 2011
Many governments across Asia have been starting to explore smart grid technology, while being cautious over security risks associated with new infrastructure. The region is still in the early stages of smart grid development, but there is expected to be a number of new pilot projects to be initiated in Asia over the coming year or so. Among interested vendors, Cisco has been particularly active in the smart grid space and has been working with a number of administrations in the region. There will certainly be a focus on managing security risks. Issues of authentication, authorisation, integrity, confidentiality and threat prevention will all no doubt receive attention in testing the security of smart grids.
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) launched a pilot of what it called the Electricity Vending System (EVS), where selected households were able to monitor their real-time electricity consumption using smart meters. The pilot program, initiated in late 2008, involved some 1,000 households in Singapore. As well as monitoring usage, participating users were able to use the EVS to select electricity packages from a retailer of their choice. In evaluating smart grid capability, the EMA said it was taking into account vulnerability to physical and cyber attacks on the country’s smart grid system.
In September 2010 the EMA appointed Accenture to carry out a S$30 million ($22.8 million) smart energy pilot. The project, funded by the Government of Singapore and Singapore Power, has been designed to cover 4,500 residential, commercial and industrial locations, including the Nanyang Technological University campus and the CleanTech Park at Jalan Bahar. Under the first phase of the three-year Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot, Accenture and Singapore Power are set to roll out smart meters and a communications system that will utilise Singapore’s new Next Generation Broadband Network (NGNBN). Phase two in 2012-2013 will see the pilot shift its focus to smart grid applications. The applications will include the future possibility of electric vehicles connecting to the grid, both to draw electricity from the grid and also to supply electricity to the grid during periods of peak demand.
Asia Smart Grid 2011, 2-4 November 2011 in Singapore, is the event for international smart grid providers and suppliers to exchange and share knowledge with Asia’s policy makers, regulators, utilities companies and system integrators. It is one of Asia's key platform for networking, exploring business opportunities and keeping abreast with industry developments. For more information on this event hosted by Reed Exhibitions see: http://www.asiasmartgrid.com.sg/
