Wind Power News Archive: Japan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Accidents spur mandatory wind turbine safety checks in Japan
The Japanese government announced plans to hold periodic safety inspections of wind turbines in response to several recent accidents, as the country’s operators were urged to fit lightning protection systems. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) established a working committee earlier this week to discuss the safety inspections. The Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) has drawn up a list of recommended safety guidelines and plans to cooperate with METI on the inspections. The organisation – which collects data on . . . Complete story »
Utilities limit access as clean energy tests Japan’s grid
Shikoku Electric Power Co. (9507) will temporarily suspend grid access to new renewable energy projects, becoming the latest among Japan’s regional utilities to limit an influx that’s testing the nation’s electricity grid. Shikoku Electric will suspend responding to new applications from clean energy producers beginning tomorrow, the utility said in a statement on its website today. The decision, and a similar move last week by Kyushu Electric Power Co., threatens to undermine Japan’s push to expand renewable energy supply in . . . Complete story »
Renewable energy use must not result in excessive financial burdens
It is important for solar, wind and other renewable energy sources to be widely used at affordable rates, a task that must be completed without imposing an excessive financial burden on ordinary households and the corporate sector. About two years have passed since the launch of the government-backed renewable energy purchase program. The number of power generation plans approved under the system has been increasing faster than expected. If all approved renewable energy production plans are put into action, the . . . Complete story »
Gifu police leak data to private company on local opposition to turbine project
Officers with the Gifu Prefectural Police leaked personal information to a Chubu Electric Power Co. subsidiary about residents and others opposed to a plan to construct wind turbines in their neighborhood. Their actions could constitute a violation of the Local Public Service Law that imposes confidentiality obligations on local government employees. Nagoya-based C-Tech Corp. plans to construct 16 wind turbines in the Kamiishizu-cho district of Ogaki and the neighboring town of Sekigahara capable of generating a maximum of 48,000 kilowatts . . . Complete story »
Post-Fukushima Japan chooses coal over renewable energy
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing Japan’s coal industry to expand sales at home and abroad, undermining hopes among environmentalists that he’d use the Fukushima nuclear accident to switch the nation to renewables. A new energy plan approved by Japan’s cabinet on April 11 designates coal an important long-term electricity source while falling short of setting specific targets for cleaner energy from wind, solar and geothermal. The policy also gives nuclear power the same prominence as coal in Japan’s energy . . . Complete story »
Shifting winds of Japan’s energy policy
Japan’s vision of a bright solar-powered future has clouded over. The likelihood of an abrupt change of tack in energy policy toward wind power became clear earlier this week when the government told an expert panel that feed-in tariffs for solar power “should be cut appropriately.” In a report to the panel looking at Japan’s future energy mix, the economy ministry emphasized the importance of wind power, describing it as “reasonable and competitive” in terms of cost. Japan introduced feed-in . . . Complete story »
Renewable energy push blunted as ad-hoc rules stymie private upstarts
Ever since Japan kicked off a system to encourage the use of renewable energy for electricity in July 2012, businesses, civic organizations and even local government bodies have been trying to break into the tightly held power market. Under the so-called feed-in tariff system, utilities are required purchase any generated electricity derived from five types of renewable energy for a fixed price and a set time. But the momentum seems to be slowing. Several potential power suppliers are dropping their . . . Complete story »
Japan’s high-cost renewable energy curbs subsidy impact
Japan must cut the cost of installing solar panels and wind turbines to take full advantage of clean energy incentives three times as generous as those in Germany and Sweden, an official at the energy foundation set up by billionaire Masayoshi Son said. High costs are one of the largest impediments to a wider uptake of clean energy in Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and nuclear meltdown, said Tomas Kaberger, the executive board chair of Son’s Japan Renewable Energy . . . Complete story »
Japanese storm badly damages JSW 2MW turbine
Spring storms over the weekend broke off wind turbine blades at the Tsu IV wind farm in western Japan. The 20MW project is the northern part of the Aoyama highlands between the cities of Tsu and Iga in Mie prefecture, western Japan. It uses 19 2MW turbines manufactured by Japan Steelworks (JSW). The damage was caught on Japanese TV. Footage from Asahi Television earlier Monday showed the three blades scattered on the ground and the tower dented. The damaged turbine is . . . Complete story »
Govt seeks review of turbines plan
The Environment Ministry has urged a wind power company to review its plan to erect 15 wind turbines in northeastern Aomori Prefecture, as an environmental review compiled by the company estimated that 1,200 birds could die annually as a result of crashing into the turbines. Kuroshio Furyoku Hatsuden, based in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, plans to install wind turbines with a supply capacity of 34,500 kilowatts along the southern coast of Lake Jusan. It plans to start operations in March 2015, . . . Complete story »
