Hurray for Putting One's Money Where One's Mouth Is!

Renewable power, not nuclear power! Sounds good, but can it be accomplished? Japan has taken a big step toward making electricity from renewable sources practical--supporting the development of a storage battery for the proverbial rainy day.

Here's how Jiji news in The Japan Times online reports the new development:


Big battery eyed as green energy cure

Six-story Hokkaido cell to keep power flowing on dark, windless days


JIJI

Sep 25, 2013


Japan will build the world’s largest storage battery system in Hokkaido as early as this autumn in a bid to rectify fluctuations in the electricity produced by renewable energy sources.

The project is aimed at promoting renewable energy by addressing a key defect — inconsistent power generation.

The nation’s utilities are required to buy electricity generated by solar, wind and other green power sources at fixed prices under the feed-in tariff system introduced in July 2012.

But the electricity generated by such sources accounts for only 1.6 percent of the nation’s total, partly because solar and wind power are dependent on the vagaries of the weather.

To raise renewable energy’s role the national energy mix, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry pushed for the development of a large storage system that would store electricity when weather conditions are favorable and dispense it when the weather fails.

Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. and Hokkaido Electric Power Co. are leading the storage project, and the ministry has provided ¥20 billion to cover all development and manufacturing costs.

“A subsidy in full is the exception of exceptions,” a senior METI official said.

Bring on the Sun!

Here's some good news about solar power:

Thursday, April 5, 2012


Softbank plans huge Hokkaido solar plant
With output of 200,000 kw, facility will be nation's largest
Kyodo


Softbank Corp. has selected Tomakomai, Hokkaido, as the site for Japan's largest solar power plant, with an output capacity of at least 200,000 kw, industry sources said Wednesday.

Softbank subsidiary SB Energy Corp. is planning the facility in anticipation of cashing in on the government system that starting in July will oblige power utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy sources generated by households and other firms.

The plant will have a maximum output capacity of 340,000 kw to cover some 100,000 households, and SB Energy is negotiating with Hokkaido Electric Power Co. over electricity purchases through the so-called feed-in tariff system, according to the sources.

The utility has responded that it can accept some 200,000 kw, based on the existing infrastructure for electricity delivery, they said.

Here Comes the Sun...

...to help fill our need for electrical power.

Here's what the Japan Times online reports about a solar energy project in Yamanashi Prefecture:

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012


Huge Yamanashi solar farm online
Kyodo
KOFU, Yamanashi Pref. — A solar power plant with a capacity of 10 megawatts began operating Friday in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

The Komekurayama power station, built by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on a 12.5-hectare site, is one of the largest photovoltaic facilities in Japan and produces enough electricity to power around 3,400 homes.

The site is being leased to Tepco for free by the Yamanashi Prefectural Government.

Landlocked Yamanashi receives plenty of sunshine and is trying to attract solar power plant projects. In addition to the one in Kofu, other projects are proceeding in the cities of Kai and Nirasaki.

Tepco is struggling to resolve the triple-meltdown crisis at its Fukushima No. 1 power plant.