The project is focused on the application of smart grids to the many communities in APEC that are located in remote or isolated areas with limited or no access to centralized energy supply infastructure. These areas tend to face bigger challenges of securing a stable and efficient local electric energy supply.

Smart grid is an emerging technology that has already proved its efficiency of transforming the electric supply industry from a centralized, producer-controlled network to one that is less centralized and more consumer-interactive.  Can this technology be an effective solution to the needs of remote/isolated areas? Does it require a special approach, given the small-scale generation, limited local demand and other constraints of local communities? What design a pilot project should follow to introduce smart/micro grid technology to less developed and perhaps economically disadvantaged communities?   These are the questions that the project seeks to address through a analytical and physical meeting activities. A workshop is planned in Vladivostok, Russia in May/June 2012 with a final report to be issued by December.

For additional information, please review this project’s proposal at upper right.