Modern society derives most of the power it requires from large-scale electric power generating facilities. Recent years have brought the development of small-scale residential generating systems using sunlight, wind and other renewable resources. It is generally believed that the use of such large- and small-scale systems in an organic and flexible manner would make it possible to meet growing energy needs. However, there are technological limitations to the integration of power from dispersed natural energy resources into the conventional power grid. This motivated Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL) and Sony Energy Devices Corporation to research aimed at realizing an open energy network capable of transmitting and distributing power from dispersed energy sources. As part of this effort, the companies developed a prototype system for deployment in rural, nonelectrified areas of northern Ghana with the aim of harnessing solar energy to power audiovisual (AV) equipment used in public viewings of FIFA World Cup™ soccer games.

The system used in the public viewings in northern Ghana used solar panels to generate and store energy and supply power directly to AV equipment. The critical component of the system was an energy server consisting of 200 lithium-ion batteries and a newly developed battery charge and discharge control device, power conditioner and input/output voltage control circuitry. To facilitate use in the public viewings in Africa, the companies emphasized durability and portability in designing vibration- and dust-proof housing. The companies also designed an original base sheet that made it easy to transport standard commercial flexible solar panels and to increase the number of panels in use if necessitated by weather conditions. The sheet greatly enhanced the system's maneuverability on the ground.

With the exception of a few specific devices, equipment used in the public viewings -- including a high-definition projector (370 W), Blu-ray Disc player (30 W) and active speakers (20 W) -- was driven by direct current. This is a concept essential not only to reduce power lost through AC-DC voltage conversion, but also to the creation of open energy networks for the future.

The public viewings in Ghana used two prototype units. Under fair weather conditions, batteries charged for four hours from solar panels were sufficient to enable visitors in a single location to enjoy an entire match.

The concept behind the system is also underscored by WCDMA/GSM and GPS capabilities. As a consequence, the system can communicate positioning and battery and operational information via a dedicated server to PCs and smartphones situated some distance away.

Representing the culmination of research conducted to date, the system used for the public viewings in Ghana was designed specially for the FIFA World Cup™. The experimental deployment for this purpose brought to light many issues that must be addressed to realize open energy networks that facilitate the supply of power to nonelectrified rural communities. Sony CSL and Sony Energy Devices will apply the experience gained through this initiative to further their research in this area.

Development of olivine-type lithium-ion iron phosphate secondary cell that provides a long lifespan, a high level of safety and a smaller environmental footprint

Since commercializing the world's first lithium-ion battery in 1991, Sony has continued to focus efforts on the development and commercialization of technologies for lithium-ion batteries, which boast excellent energy efficiency and high energy/power density, among other superior properties. In recent years, Sony has also utilized its accumulated technologies and know-how in product development in the energy storage field, which continues to benefit from rapidly rising demand in Japan and abroad across a wide range of applications, such as emergency backup power sources for hospitals, schools and offices, as well as energy storage systems for group housing complexes. In 2009, Sony brought to market a proprietary lithium-ion battery that uses an olivine-type lithium-ion iron phosphate as the cathode material, and took a solid step forward into the field of energy storage.

Development of energy storage module and storage battery that will help to build backup power sources and encourage peak energy shift

After shipments of the olivine cell began, Sony developed an energy storage module with a 1.2 kWh capacity that uses the inherent proprietary technologies applied to such cells. In April 2011, Sony commenced mass production of these modules. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, Japan has seen a rapid rise in interest in the storage of electricity for later use from a broad range of electricity consumers, from infrastructure facilities to residential homes. Energy storage battery technology is thus attracting significant attention from both businesses and households as a means of reducing electricity consumption and as a backup power source in the event of a sudden power outage. Against this backdrop, Sony will continue to mobilize and apply its technical capabilities in the energy storage field with the aim of realizing innovations in sustainability. Plans for the Japan market include commercializing an integrated energy storage battery unit for commercial use and a small energy storage battery unit for household use.

Integrated energy storage battery unit for commercial use
Sony commenced shipments of an integrated energy storage battery unit for commercial use in September 2011. Combining such components as an energy storage module mounted with the Company's own long-life cells, a controller, inverter and converter, this battery delivers a maximum storage capacity of 2.4 kWh. The unit has six power outlets and can function as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for commercial users.

Small energy storage battery unit for household use
General sales of Sony's Home Energy Server, which targets the household market, were launched in Japan in October 2011. This unit features several long-life cells developed in-house by Sony to deliver maximum energy storage capacity of 300 Wh. Boasting a compact design and user-friendly operation, the Home Energy Server may be utilized by home users both for power saving and as an emergency backup supply in case of a power outage.

In collaboration with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation (OIST), Sony Group research institute Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Sony CSL), is conducting demonstration tests for an open energy system (i.e., a distributed smallscale energy network) that features an energy storage system with our energy storage module and renewable energy (solar and wind power, with commercial power as an auxiliary power source). Sony CSL is currently building an energy storage system at OIST's campus in Onna Village, Okinawa, scheduled to open in 2012. The system features a Sony 8.4 kWh energy storage module and is connected to commercial power as well as solar and wind power generation systems, using renewable energy to, among others, operate on-campus projectors and monitor stored-energy volume, wind power, temperature, and lighting intensity. Sony will also take part in the Pecan Street Smart Grid Demonstration Project, in Austin, Texas, which begins in 2012, and plans to participate in a variety of demonstrations and verification tests utilizing its independently developed technology for predicting electricity demand and energy storage units, among others.

Cell Broadband Engine™ and Distributed Computing
Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.) on PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) is a powerful new microprocessor that achieves a computing speed approximately 10 times faster than that of a standard PC. Cell/B.E. facilitates the real-time processing of massive amounts of data, inviting a broad range of potential applications not only in next-generation computer entertainment systems and digital electronic products, but also in workstations for movie production and computer simulations in science and technology. Additionally, Cell/B.E. makes it possible to run multiple operating systems (OSs), meaning real-time OSs used in conventional PCs and workstations can run together, as can OSs used in digital consumer electronic products and computer entertainment systems. Distributed computing is a technique for obtaining significant computing capacity by leveraging the capacity of multiple computers, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated supercomputer. This technique is used primarily by universities and research institutes. Calculations are divided into smaller units, i.e., packets, which are then distributed to participating computers. When the computers have finished processing the calculations, they send the data back. Accordingly, more computers on the network mean greater computing capacity. With these technologies, PS3™s connected to a network together act like a supercomputer.

Analyzing Protein Folding on PLAYSTATION®3
Misfolded proteins in the human body are linked to a number of diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer. Analyzing protein folding to identify the causes of this phenomenon requires massive computing capabilities. Computer simulations are essential because the folding process is extremely complicated, but with an average PC one simulation would take about 30 years.

Folding@home™ is a distributed computing program established by Stanford University to study protein folding. Participating computers are sent packets of complicated calculations over the Internet. These computers simultaneously process these packets of calculations, greatly reducing the time needed to complete the calculation. Once the computers have finished processing their packets, the resulting data is sent back over the Internet to the Stanford University server.

In March 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. began offering PS3™ owners a software application enabling them to donate capacity to Folding@home™. PS3™s, backed by the tremendous computing capacity of Cell/B.E., are thus contributing to efforts to identify the mechanics of several diseases. Since Folding@home™ for PS3™ was released in March 2007, a huge number of PS3™ users from around the world have taken part. As of May 2010, the amount of donated computing capacity had increased to more than 24 times the pre-release capacity.

Folding@home™ Project Listed in Guinness Book of Records Thanks to PS3™ Power
On September 16, 2007, the Guinness Book of World Records certified the Folding@home™ project as the world's most powerful distributed computing network after it broke the one-petaflop barrier for computing capacity. Thanks to the tremendous computing capacity of the PS3™, the project became the first ever to reach the one-petaflop mark in distributed computing.