An internet-inspired electricity grid

Japan´s plan to phase out its nearly 50 gigawatts of nuclear capacity over the next two to three decades has opened a window for renewable energy in the country. But swapping wind and solar power for that nuclear generation, which produced 30 percent of Japan´s electricity prior to the 2011 Fukushima crisis, could also lead to major disruptions in energy supply, warns Rikiya Abe, a University of Tokyo professor. The problem, says Abe, who came to academia after working in the electrical generation industry for 30 years, is that Japan´s grid-and indeed that of many developed countries-is set up to be centrally controlled. The utilities have to carefully regulate the grid´s frequency and voltage by maintaining a fine balance between power generation and changing demand. A diverse group of large Japanese firms is starting to explore a solution-a gradual reorganization of the country´s power system so that in the end it resembles the Internet, routers and all.