次世代送電網―「スマート」に低炭素を

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 3(IHT/Asahi: August 4,2009)
EDITORIAL: Next-generation power
次世代送電網―「スマート」に低炭素を

To stem global warming, the world is stepping up its efforts to achieve a low-carbon society. As one important component of that infrastructure, next-generation power transmission networks are attracting attention.
　地球温暖化を食い止めようと、世界は低炭素化を急いでいる。そのための基盤整備の一つとして、次世代送電網が注目されている。

The vagaries of weather can easily affect electricity generation systems that rely on solar and wind power, what with clouds obscuring sunlight and winds dying at nature's whim. Thus, the frequency of electricity generated by such sources tends to be unstable.
　太陽光や風力による発電は日照や風の強さに左右され、電気の周波数が安定しない。

There are also concerns that surplus electricity generated by household solar units could "flood" transmission systems, causing voltages to spike.
また、家庭の太陽光発電で余った電気が送電網に逆流して電圧が上がる恐れもある。

Because of these problems, Japan's electric power industry is reluctant to integrate a huge amount of power from renewable sources into its transmission systems. Too much too soon could threaten the stability of the power supply, companies say.
このため、電力業界は「安定供給が脅かされる」と、大量の自然エネルギーの受け入れには及び腰だった。

Expanding renewable power use, therefore, requires not just policy incentives such as subsidies and systems for the electric companies to purchase surplus power, but also an evolution of the transmission network.
　自然エネルギーを拡大するには、補助金や買い取り制度といった促進政策だけでなく、送電網の進化が必要だ。

We need an advanced power grid that can deal with a significant increase in renewable power sources. Otherwise, the government-set targets of a 20-fold increase in solar power generation by 2020 and a 40-fold jump by 2030 will be difficult to achieve.
でないと、太陽光発電を「２０２０年に２０倍」「３０年には４０倍」にするという政府目標の達成も難しい。

Responding to the challenge, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is starting test development of the next-generation power transmission system. The ministry will spend three years to identify key technological challenges by using power transmission networks on about 10 remote islands in Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture.
　そこで、経済産業省は次世代送電網づくりのための実験に乗り出す。九州と沖縄の離島１０カ所にある送電網を利用し、３年ほどかけて課題を洗い出すことにしている。

We are pleased the government is taking the first step toward development of a new power transmission system. But the ministry's project seems unlikely to lead to widespread adoption of renewable power.
　政府が一歩を踏み出すことには意味がある。だが、それで自然エネルギーの飛躍的な拡大につながるとは思えない。

As part of the tests, for instance, storage batteries will be incorporated into transmission networks to see whether a stable quality of electricity can be maintained.
By and large, the project seems to be aimed at improving the existing power grid. The project's objectives apparently don't include truly epoch-making innovations that can lead to next-generation technology.
実験では送電網に蓄電池を組み込んで、電気の質を保てるかどうかなどを確かめるが、既存の送電網の改良という印象が強い。次世代と呼べるほど画期的なものではないからだ。

It is necessary to think boldly outside the envelope if the nation is to dramatically expand the use of natural power sources.
　自然エネルギーを飛躍的に増やすには、既存の枠にとらわれず、さまざまな可能性を探らないといけない。

In Europe, for instance, various countries' power grids are closely interconnected in a structure that makes it easy to absorb changes in frequency and voltage.
　例えば欧州では、各国の送電網が密接に連携し、周波数や電圧の変動を吸収しやすい構造になっている。

Japan needs to create a more innovative system of power transmission, such as a network connecting the existing largely independent grids operated by different power companies.
電力会社ごとにほぼ独立している日本の送電網をもっと連携させるなどの思い切った仕組みを開発したい。

The United States and Europe are trying to develop next-generation transmission systems that are kinder to the environment.
　欧米はさらに踏み込んだ次世代送電網を模索している。

Such systems will be designed to contribute to energy conservation while promoting renewable energy.
自然エネルギーの拡大にとどまらず、省電力をも実現しようというものだ。

One notable example is the "smart grid" that is the centerpiece of U.S. President Barack Obama's Green New Deal, woven into his administration's economic stimulus package.
　代表例に、オバマ米大統領がグリーン・ニューディール政策の柱にすえたスマートグリッド（賢い送電網）がある。

The envisioned smart grid would use information technologies to control the power consumption of electric appliances at the user end of electricity distribution to save energy.
情報技術を活用して末端の電気機器までも効率的に制御し、電力消費を抑えることを狙っている。

The system would automatically switch on and off electric appliances in response to changing electrical charges. It would also make power consumption more efficient through regional interchanges of electricity.
Electric utilities would, for example, remotely control the temperature settings of air conditioners in homes and offices in response to daily changes in the overall supply and demand for electricity.
　その時々の電気料金に応じて家電を自動的にオン・オフする、地域内で電気を融通し合って無駄なく使う、全体の需給状況に応じて電力会社が家庭やビルの空調の設定温度を遠隔操作で上げ下げする……。

Such controls would be made possible by smart meters installed in homes and offices that would communicate to the power utilities on a real-time basis information about end-user consumption.
　新型計器のスマートメーターを家庭やオフィスに置き、電気の使用状況などを電力会社とリアルタイムでやりとりし、こうした制御を実現する。

In Japan, the ministry and the power industry are less than eager to work on such a system, claiming the domestic power transmission system is already "smart" enough.
　経産省や電力業界は、「日本の送電網はすでに十分スマートだ」と開発に消極的だ。

But developing a next-generation power transmission network represents an investment in the future to create new business opportunities in the low-carbon age.
だが、次世代送電網づくりは未来への投資であり、低炭素時代のビジネスチャンスでもある。

Both the government and the power industry should explore all options with a more flexible view.
もっと柔軟に幅広い選択肢を探るべきだ。