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News Release
Experts from Japan and German discussed smart grids, smart communities and electric mobility
13 August 2012
VDI/VDE-Innovation + Technik GmbH
Aiming at a more sustainable electricity supply system Japan and Germany intend to increase the share of renewable energy sources and to raise the efficiency of energy use. The intelligent management of energy which is required for this may be achieved by integrating control and storage capabilities with the power grid. Recently, experts from Japan and Germany met in Frankfurt for an exchange of views and a discussion of potential cooperation in this domain.
Combinations of smart grid technologies and stationary batteries or batteries of electric vehicles appear to be promising solutions for the intelligent management of energy and power which is a major societal need of the future. However, challenges in terms of technology development, interoperability standards and infrastructure deployment remain. In their roles as program management agencies in Japan and Germany the New Energy and Technology Development organization (NEDO) and the VDI/VDE lnnovation + Technik GmbH in July 2012 held a 1st Joint Workshop on Smart Grids, Smart Community and Electric Mobility in order to start the bilateral dialogue on this matter.
The objective of this workshop, which was opened by Mr. Hidekazu Takakura, General Director of the Smart Community Department at NEDO, and Mr. Wolfgang Gessner, Head of the Department Future Technologies and Europe at VDI/VDE-IT, was the exchange of information on industrial research and development activities, standardization needs and local infrastructure deployment issues in the domain of smart grids, smart community and electric mobility. Participants were about 50 representatives of Japanese and German companies of the automotive, electronics and utilities sectors, standardization bodies and local governments. Speakers from corporations of both countries introduced their activities and exchanged their opinions on topics like energy management, international standardization and telecommunication technology which connect electrical vehicles, houses, and grids.
The fruitful dialogue will be continued and shall lead to an understanding of how a potential bilateral cooperation based on knowledge from both countries can be strengthened in the future.