If we utilize the possibilities of
near-shore installations or even offshore installations in the future, that
will give us the possibility of continued use of wind energy. If we go
offshore, it's more expensive because the construction of foundations is expensive.
So we're creating increased interest in wind energy. If you compare it to other
renewable energy sources, wind is by far the most competitive today.
If we're able to utilize sites close to the sea or at sea with good wind machines, then the price per kilowatt-hour is competitive against other sources of energy, go the words of Svend Sigaard, who happens to be president and CEO of the world's largest wind turbine maker, Vestas wind systems out of Denmark. Vestas is heavily involved in investments of capital into helping Japan expand its wind turbine power generating capacity. Allowing corporations such as Vestas to get the nation running on more wind-produced energy is a step in the right direction for the Japanese people.
The production of energy through what is known as microhydoelectric power plants has also been catching on in Japan. Japan has a myriad rivers and mountain streams, and these are ideally suited places for the putting up of micro hydroelectric power plants, which are defined by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization as power plants run by water which has a maximum output of 100 kilowatts or less. By comparison, “minihydroelectric” power plants can put out up to 1000 kilowatts of electrical energy. Kawasaki City Waterworks, Japan Natural Energy Company, and Tokyo Electric Power Company have all been involved in the development of small-scale hydroelectric power plants within Japanese cities.
If we're able to utilize sites close to the sea or at sea with good wind machines, then the price per kilowatt-hour is competitive against other sources of energy, go the words of Svend Sigaard, who happens to be president and CEO of the world's largest wind turbine maker, Vestas wind systems out of Denmark. Vestas is heavily involved in investments of capital into helping Japan expand its wind turbine power generating capacity. Allowing corporations such as Vestas to get the nation running on more wind-produced energy is a step in the right direction for the Japanese people.
The production of energy through what is known as microhydoelectric power plants has also been catching on in Japan. Japan has a myriad rivers and mountain streams, and these are ideally suited places for the putting up of micro hydroelectric power plants, which are defined by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization as power plants run by water which has a maximum output of 100 kilowatts or less. By comparison, “minihydroelectric” power plants can put out up to 1000 kilowatts of electrical energy. Kawasaki City Waterworks, Japan Natural Energy Company, and Tokyo Electric Power Company have all been involved in the development of small-scale hydroelectric power plants within Japanese cities.
Greening Japan’s energy
As part of its policy of moving away
from nuclear power, the Japanese government is pushing ahead with renewables
and improved energy efficiency. The government has called for 15% cuts. Under
Japans existing basic energy plan, all lighting products were already meant to
be replaced by LED or other low energy lights by 2020.
Four different designs for offshore wind floating platforms will be installed off the coast of Fukushima in 2013 and 2014, as part of a demonstration project funded by $300m the Japanese government Ministry of Trade, Economic and Industry. Eleven companies and organizations will collaborate on ‘FORWARD’, the Fukushima floating Offshore Wind farm Demonstration project, with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni leading. Companies contributing innovative floating platform designs include IHI Marine United, Mitsubishi and Mitsui.
The government hopes that the Forward project will result in the emergence of one or more commercially-viable designs for offshore wind floating platforms.
Four different designs for offshore wind floating platforms will be installed off the coast of Fukushima in 2013 and 2014, as part of a demonstration project funded by $300m the Japanese government Ministry of Trade, Economic and Industry. Eleven companies and organizations will collaborate on ‘FORWARD’, the Fukushima floating Offshore Wind farm Demonstration project, with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni leading. Companies contributing innovative floating platform designs include IHI Marine United, Mitsubishi and Mitsui.
The government hopes that the Forward project will result in the emergence of one or more commercially-viable designs for offshore wind floating platforms.
A second demonstration project,
funded by Japan’s environment ministry. According to early reports, Japan could
have up to 1GW of offshore wind capacity in place by 2020,
The marine energy programed will be expanded in 2013 to include tidal and wave energy, along with OTEC ocean thermal gradient technologies. In parallel, the Ocean Energy Association of Japan (OEAJ) is to set up a Japanese Marine Energy Centre (JMEC), with help from EMEC in Scotland. The new wind tariff converts to about 18p/kWh, which compares to 5p/kWh (10p/kWh offshore) available for wind projects under the Renewables Obligation in the UK.
Geothermal energy is also being backed. Looking further ahead, the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF) and the German based Desertec Foundation have teamed up to promote an Asia Super grid to connect the national grids of Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia.
So Japan, with fewer areas on land in which to build renewable energy projects, could benefit from on-land wind power produced in places like Inner Mongolia, where potential capacity far exceeds demand, and possibly also from CSP solar projects in the Gobi desert. It says that ‘stronger renewable energy targets for Japan are essential. The government is about to produce a new long-term energy plan.
Offshore wind is an obvious option. There had already been calls for 25 GW on shore and 25 GW offshore and the Japanese Wind Power Association has put the longer-term wind potential at over 200 GW, on and offshore, even taking account of locational constraints. That is similar to Japans total present energy generating capacity.
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