Experts from the US will share their experience in developing smart meters and smart grids at a seminar in Taipei today as Taiwan works to promote technologies that use generated electricity more efficiently, the semi-official Institute for Information Industry (資策會) said in a recent statement.
At the seminar, local experts will also give presentations on future plans for smart grid development in Taiwan and how the nation applies information and communications technology in the field, the institute said.
Smart grids and smart meters use the latest software to create applications that enable a more rational use and distribution of electricity.
More than 72 percent of the world’s power companies have engaged in establishing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems, according to recent figures released by consultancy firm IDC Energy Insights.
global leader
Taiwan has vowed to build a smart grid infrastructure and hopes to make the country one of the global leaders in the field.
In June, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) said it was planning to install smart meters for 23,000 industrial customers and 10,000 residential customers by 2012.
If the program promotes energy efficiency, the state-run utility said it would install smart meters for 1 million customers between 2013 and 2015.
Taipower said the first batch of residential customers to have smart meters would include 9,500 homes in the Greater Taipei area and 500 in Penghu County, which the government hopes to transform into the country’s first low carbon county.
infrastructure
The Institute for Information Industry has invited Belvin Louie, an information technology manager with Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) who is in charge of smart meter solutions, to address how the US set up smart meter infrastructure at the seminar.
Michael Navid, general manager of California-based Maxim Integrated Products Inc will deliver a speech on communication technology and interoperability for smart grid and AMI applications, according to the statement.
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