Wind Power News: Japan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Govt eyes relaxation of rules on construction of renewable energy plants
The government is considering relaxing regulations on building solar power plants and other renewable energy facilities to promote their use in the country, according to government sources. A Government Revitalization Unit subpanel tasked with discussing deregulation and system reforms intends to exempt solar power generation plants from acreage restrictions in the Factory Location Law. The subpanel, chaired by Sumitomo Corp. Chairman Motoyuki Oka, has drawn up a plan to relax regulations in 183 energy-related fields. The Government Revitalization Unit is . . .
Empty farms eyed for power generation
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has decided to take advantage of abandoned or dormant farmland to encourage power generation using renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power. The ministry plans to submit bills to the Diet in February revising the Agricultural Land Law, the Forest Law and other related laws to relax regulations on the use of farmland and forests. Furthermore, it also plans to offer financial assistance to agricultural production companies that also engage in the . . .
Fewer new wind power installations in Japan
Many of Japan’s politicians have said the country has to look to renewable energy sources for the future, yet the country’s new wind power installations will drop by 68 percent in the current fiscal year. About 82 megawatts of power will have been installed by the end of the fiscal year, a report by the Japan Wind Power Association points out. During the previous fiscal year, the country managed to install 256 megawatts. The reason for the significant drop in . . .
Japan wind power installations to drop 68% as subsidies halted
Japan’s wind power installations for the year ending in March will decline 68 percent after the government halted a program that provided subsidies for clean energy projects, an industry association said. The country will add 33 turbines generating 82 megawatts of wind power for the year ending March, according to an estimate by the Japan Wind Power Association released today. For the year ended March 2011, Japan installed 256 megawatts. Japan stopped direct subsidies in 2010 that paid for a . . .
Law eyed to let localities take control of unused land
The farm ministry is mulling a new law to promote power generation in farming and fishing communities using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, government sources said. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry aims to establish a system under which scattered unused farmland would be consolidated to make room for power-generation facilities. Municipal governments would be able to set up councils to coordinate between power operators, landowners and local residents, while the operators would be able to receive . . .
Gov’t eyes new law to promote renewable energy in farming communities
TOKYO (Kyodo) — The farm ministry is considering a new law to promote power generation in farming and fishing communities using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, government sources said Tuesday. The legislation, envisioned by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry which could be submitted during the upcoming regular parliamentary session starting this month, aims to establish a system under which scattered unused farmland would be consolidated to make room for power generation facilities. Under the legislation, the . . .
Lightning is nemesis of windmills, threatening Japan’s renewable energy campaign
SAPPORO — As Japan moves to shift away from nuclear power, wind power, a potential key player among renewable energy sources, faces a stubborn foe: lightning. Hokkaido hosts 266 windmills, the most among Japan’s 47 prefectures, and about 90 percent of them are located along the Sea of Japan coast, where lightning frequently occurs between fall and winter. But no definite way to solve the problem is in sight and operators of these windmills are struggling to cope with lightning-caused . . .
Firemen left red-faced after hoses too short to extinguish wind-turbine fire in Hokkaido
WAKKANAI, Hokkaido — Firefighters were left red-faced here after their hoses were too short to extinguish a fire in the turbine of a wind power generator in the area, it was revealed. The incident happened at around 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 2 on the premises of the wind power generation company, Sarakitomanai Wind Power Co., in the city of Wakkanai, northern Hokkaido. According to company officials, on Oct. 1 they detected warning signs for their No. 2 wind turbine and . . .
Northern utilities seeking expanded ewind power
Three regional electric utilities said Friday that they will conduct tests aimed at increasing wind power generation in northern Japan. The effort, tentatively scheduled for fiscal 2014, will involve Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (9509), Tohoku Electric Power Co. (9506) and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501), also known as Tepco. Electric companies use conventional power plants to compensate for swings in output from wind farms. Since both Hokkaido Electric and Tohoku Electric have scant fossil-fuel-based generating capacity, they have little freedom . . .
Wind power quest faces stability, regulatory hurdles
Like steady breeze and ideal sites, utilities’ commitment also eludes. MINAMIAWAJI, Hyogo Pref. — Southern Awaji Island is technically in Hyogo Prefecture. But its location — within sight of Shikoku just across the Inland Sea — bright sunshine, and strong gusting winds give it the feel of a subtropical island. The breezes are especially important, because the city of Minamiawaji, the main population center, is home to a wind farm that sits on a hilly area between 118 and 225 . . .
