Since Google Inc. of the US revealed the Google PowerMeter application in 2009, visualizing equipment power consumption and other data, the company has given priority to development for the Smart Grid next-generation commercial power network. Firms in the energy business are getting quite nervous about it, because it is hard to see exactly what Google's aim is. We spoke with Norio Murakami about Google's intentions for the Smart Grid business.
Norio Murakami, Chairman Emeritus at Google Japan Inc. (Photos: Ichiro Miyahara)
Q: Why is Google so interested in the Smart Grid?
A: We have always worked to increase the quantity of Internet-connected devices, because the more types of equipment there are, the more opportunity there is for someone to use our search services. That directly raises the value of advertising. It's quite simple.
A breakdown of connected equipment shows about a billion PCs, and about twice that many mobile phones and smartphones. We recently announced Google TV, mounting the Android platform for embedded equipment, and if you count TVs, there are about four billion of them.
The Smart Grid is an extension of this approach. We position the Smart Grid as the "Internet of Things," by which we mean interconnecting various things through the Internet. For example, that includes swapping information on energy consumption and other things between the air conditioner and the TV. The Smart Grid will mean a staggering number of connected devices. That's why we developed the Google PowerMeter, to use the Internet to collect information on device power.
Q: This "Internet of Things" concept seems quite similar to the networked home idea promoted by the appliance manufacturers.
A: Development of Smart Grid-compliant home appliances has begun in the US; they're called "smart appliances." Basically they are appliances with communication functions. I think all home appliances will eventually support the Smart Grid, and yes, that is exactly what the networked home concept means. It's more than just the home, though: we're talking about including electric vehicles (EV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and renewable energy systems like solar cells.
For example, solar cells generate a relatively small amount of electricity, so the EV's storage batteries might be used as power in the home. Or if the EV is being used elsewhere, maybe the thermostat will be adjusted to reduce power consumption. This sort of thing will become possible.
