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Panasonic HD-PLC Eco for Smart Grid Application Ready for Licensing

April 19, 2012 by Jeff Shepard

Panasonic Corp. announced that it has started licensing its newly developed low power consumption high-speed broadband powerline communication technology HD-PLC Eco.

The new HD-PLC Eco technology realizes about 90% reduction of power consumption in comparison with existing HD-PLC adapters (BL-PA510) that has 4 watt power consumption. While realizing low power consumption, the technology is able to provide the stability and security unique to wired communication for a wider variety of devices. As a result, there is high anticipation for HD-PLC Eco’s application in power meters for smart grid systems and electric vehicles.

In addition to HD-PLC Eco, Panasonic has started the development of HD-PLC Inside as a network communications solution that enables lower cost and lower power consumption for home appliances and industrial equipment. The details of the licensing of HD-PLC Inside will be announced in the current fiscal year that ends March 2013.

Panasonic first began licensing its HD-PLC technology in 2010 and has since seen an expansion of the HD-PLC solution with examples such as the beginning of the sales of IEEE 1901 compliant HD-PLC LSI by Japanese LSI manufacturers.

To further expand HD-PLC solutions, Panasonic also announced it is licensing its HD-PLC technology to Alchip Technologies Ltd., a provider of silicon design and manufacturing solutions for system companies developing ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and SoC (System-on-a-chip) designs. With this licensing, it is expected that LSI corresponding with IEEE 1901 standard will be readily provided in the global market, thereby HD-PLC equipped products developed by various companies will increase and the PLC technology will become increasingly widespread.

Panasonic will continue to develop HD-PLC systems that can be used in various products as well as promote the licensing of HD-PLC solutions to manufacturers around the world. By doing so, Panasonic aims to expand the PLC technology and realize both a ubiquitous network society and smart grids that allow electricity usage to be visualized and power consumption supply and demand to be adjusted.

More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.