Measurement and control technologies for sustainable low carbon society

Abstract

Energy management evolved as a part of industrial automation in the industry plants now clears the wall of the plants, and extends its coverage to the regional and to the global scale by enhancing ICT infrastructure. By connecting intelligent sensors, control devices and mobile terminals to the ubiquitous network, energy demand can be monitored and controlled from anywhere at anytime. This idea extends to a concept of smart grid developed in the power distribution system or to a concept of smart community in the social infrastructure domain. Measurement and control technologies developed in the industrial automation will enable raising energy efficiency of commercial and transportation sectors equivalent to that of the industry sector. Since the oil crisis era in the 70's, Japanese industries have kept growing economically without increasing energy consumption. Measurement and control technologies that have supported such harmonious economic growth now come into the next stage coordinated with ICT technologies, and build the foundations of so-called Green IT. The successful outcome of advanced Green IT is expected to be transferred to the emerging countries especially Asian countries. It will finally contribute to achieving sustainable low carbon society worldwide.