LITE-ON eyes new smart grid technologies

February 21, 2022 Editor

LITE-ON-NTU-smart-meter-research-compressed — NTU Singapore and LITEON in collaboration to develop innovative technologies for homes and the power grid. (Clockwise from top left) NTU Singapore scientists Assoc Prof Xu Yan, Assoc Prof Tang Yi and Lead Principal Investigator Mr Nirupam S D; LITE-ON Singapore Ms Yang Jing, R&D Head Smart Grid, Core Competent Center, and Mr Srinivasan Lakshmanan, R&D Director, Optical Product Solutions. Image: NTU

LITE-ON is teaming with NTU Singapore to develop more power-efficient smart grid and smart home technologies.

The focus of the partnership includes a new smart power router, a smart home energy management platform and a big data aggregation platform.

LITE-ON Singapore is part of the Taiwanese LITEON consumer electronics company focussed on R&D on semiconductors and smart vehicle and power devices.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a research-intensive public university in Singapore.

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The four-year agreement forms part of LITE-ON’s strategy to invest in emerging technologies and will draw on NTU’s expertise in digital and urban solutions, according to a statement.

“We are delighted to partner with NTU Singapore on important technological development projects that are key to creating innovation that will help achieve sustainable urban solutions and enhance quality of life,” said Hai Huang, General Manager, LITE-ON Singapore.

Among the four main projects to be developed is a high-frequency bi-directional inverter and converter for the smart grid utilising silicon carbide technology, which will enable these devices to withstand higher temperatures and offer improved energy efficiency and power density.

The smart energy router is intended to flexibly manage power flow between renewable energy sources, energy storage and electric vehicles, which should lead to improved power quality and more reliable and cost-efficient operation of the grid.

The smart home energy management platform is intended for the consumer electricity market to leverage data to drive energy savings and carbon reduction.

The fourth key project named the ‘Data fusion software platform’ is intended to combine big data and artificial intelligence to enable visualisation and sharing of information to support the integration of technology across cross-disciplinary applications. Specifically, the platform is envisaged to increase reliability, security and energy efficiency in homes and power grid operations and reduce operational costs and impact on the environment.

Professor Lam Khin Yong, Senior Vice President (Research) at NTU Singapore, adds that the partnership with Lite-On aims to bring wide-ranging benefits for tomorrow’s homes and societies.

“The University recently unveiled its 15-year Sustainability Manifesto which aspires to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, and this collaboration is one of many partnerships that enables NTU to play a key role in building a more resilient and sustainable environment.”