GE, Fuji Electric Create Smart Grid Venture "GE Fuji Meter Ltd"
Fuji and GE have created a new Smart Grid solution company (GE Fuji Meter Ltd) to provide smart grid technology to the Japanese market. According to both companies the joint venture is to design, build, market and service a new generation of electric meters, supporting Japan’s advancement to a smart grid infrastructure. The joint venture was finalized on February 1, 2011 and they have selected GE Energy’s Daniel T. Nakano to head the new venture.
"GE and Fuji Electric Holdings Co., Ltd. announced a joint venture to design, build, market and service a new generation of electric meters, supporting Japan’s advancement to a smart grid infrastructure. The newly formed joint venture, GE Fuji Meter Co. Ltd, builds upon GE’s proven smart meter technology and Fuji Electric’s leading Japan-based manufacturing and sales network to provide quality, cost-effective meters to the country. Smart meters provide utilities and consumers with information to help them better monitor, understand and control energy usage.
“With decades of experience working with Japan’s utility companies to deliver world-class performance, GE is right at home joining forces with Fuji Electric,” said Luke Clemente, general manager, metering and sensing systems—digital energy for GE Energy Services. “GE’s smart meter technology provides the precision, accuracy and networked communications technology Japan utilities seek as they look to implement smart grid technologies to improve efficiency and reliability.”
“GE technology and smart grid thought leadership are pluses that can help us power Japan’s standard of living more economically and with more options for the future,” said Michihiro Kitazawa, president and representative director of Fuji Electric. “Combined with our manufacturing expertise and sales network, this joint venture makes great sense.”
In addition to efficiency and reliability gains, smart grid advances made possible through smart metering include easier integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. From large wind plants to rooftop solar panels, Japan will be better equipped to use more zero-emission energy and shrink its carbon footprint. The potential efficiency gains and generation alternatives can also fortify Japan’s energy security as the country currently depends on imports for more than 80 percent of its energy needs.