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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
‘I couldn’t get a TV signal’: The hidden downside of wind turbines in Japan’s Akita Pref.
AKITA – Wind power generation is being introduced across Japan both onshore and offshore as a pillar in the shift to renewable energy as a leading source of power. But the size of the wind turbines, which can tower as high as some tall buildings, and the rotation of their huge blades can apparently cause disruptions when they stand in the way of communication waves essential in people’s lives today. The city of Katagami in Akita Prefecture, which faces the Sea . . . Complete story »
Wind power infrastructure hindering Japan defense radars: sources
Wind energy infrastructure being installed across Japan was found interfering with Self-Defense Forces radars for detecting missiles, prompting the Defense Ministry to call for changes in some projects, multiple sources related to the matter said Saturday. In some instances, the ministry also called for such infrastructure not to be installed in areas that had been singled out by the government as favorable locations for offshore wind power generation, the sources said. The government is now considering reviewing rules governing wind . . . Complete story »
Rare birds found at site of planned wind farm in Hokkaido
Conservation groups are demanding a plan to build a wind farm in Hokkaido be rescinded after they confirmed red-crowned cranes, a bird species the government designated a special national treasure, are breeding in the area. The Wild Bird Society of Japan and other nature groups said the project, by a subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., should be scrapped to protect the rare birds’ natural habitat. “I would like company officials to fully grasp the significance of the newly discovered habitat,” . . . Complete story »
Victim of police privacy breach warns against new data laws
In July 2014, Miwa learned that his movements were being watched by local police and the information on him was passed on to a subsidiary of Chubu Electric Power Co. The subsidiary was planning to construct a wind power facility in Miwa’s community. So, Miwa and some like-minded neighbors opposed to the wind farm met to discuss the matter. It turned out that Ogaki Police Station officers kept a close eye on their meetings and shared the information with employees of the Chubu Electric subsidiary. Complete story »
Failure of world’s 1st offshore floating wind farm in Fukushima disappoints 3.11 survivors
FUKUSHIMA – About seven years after the world’s first floating wind turbine was installed off the eastern Japan prefecture of Fukushima, the Japanese government announced its withdrawal from the offshore wind farm, disappointing survivors of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. The turbine, dubbed “Fukushima Mirai (future),” was placed in the Pacific Ocean some 20 kilometers off the town of Naraha in Fukushima Prefecture, and unveiled to media in October 2013, about 2 1/2 years after the quake and . . . Complete story »
Expanding wind power use needs careful look at suitability of site
The Environment Ministry has started discussions on a possible revision of its environmental impact assessment system for planned wind farms. The discussions started after administrative reform minister Taro Kono called for a deregulation of the system to help expand the use of renewable energy sources, which is a pillar of measures for fighting the climate crisis. Using more renewables, which involve no greenhouse gas emissions, is, in fact, key to realizing a carbon-free society. We are facing the test of . . . Complete story »
Government to dismantle ¥60 billion wind power project off Fukushima coast
The government said Thursday it will remove the two remaining wind power turbines it installed off Fukushima Prefecture citing lack of profit in the project, which cost ¥60 billion ($580 million). The project was widely seen as a symbol of the reconstruction of the northeastern prefecture following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. The decision came despite Japan’s goal of raising its offshore wind power generation to up to 45 gigawatts in 2040 from a mere 20,000 kilowatts at . . . Complete story »
The answer is blowin’ in the wind: turbines blamed for Japan city’s TV signal troubles
AKITA – Residents of this northeastern Japan prefecture have been struggling with poor television service of late, with residents of the city of Katagami under particular difficulty when it comes to getting reception on the box. The disruption is believed to have blown in from an unexpected source: wind farms. So far, firms in charge of local wind power facilities have received over 1,700 enquiries about the issue, and work to try and reduce the disruptions has been expedited. But there . . . Complete story »
Bird-strike fears raised over plan for offshore wind farm in Kyushu
KITA-KYUSHU—Collisions with the propellers of windmills at a planned offshore wind power plant could further reduce populations of rare birds on islands here, the Wild Bird Society of Japan warns. The society in November submitted a set of recommendations to the Kita-Kyushu city government, calling for a review of the project planned by wind farm operator Glocal Corp. According to the plans of Glocal, a contractor based in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, two 6-megawatt windmills will be set up several hundred . . . Complete story »
Japanese team: Small wind farms a danger to birds
A Japanese research team is recommending that steps be taken to protect endangered bird species from the threat posed by small wind farms. To illustrate its point, the team released a video clip of a bird flying into a wind turbine at a small farm in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido. The farm chosen for the study has an output of less than 20 kilowatts. The experts, from Tokushima University, captured the moment that a white-tailed eagle, an endangered species, . . . Complete story »
