Energy and Power Infrastructure / エネルギーと電力インフラ

[ukiyo]

This thread is about everything energy related in Japan!

[ukiyo]

Tepco, Kawasaki City Flip Switch On Giant Solar Plant

The Ukishima plant produces enough electricity to power up to 2,100 households
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110810D1008N01.htm

KAWASAKI, Kanagawa Pref. (Nikkei)--Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501) and the Kawasaki city government said Wednesday that their joint solar power station has begun commercial operations.The Ukishima solar power plant produces up to 7,000kw, or enough electricity to power 2,100 households, generating energy from roughly 38,000 solar panels made by Sharp Corp. (6753). The facility takes up 11 hectares at a Kawasaki city waste disposal facility, which sits on an oceanfront section of the city near Tokyo's Haneda airport.

At a nearby 23-hectare site owned by Tepco, another joint solar plant is being built toward a December start-up. The Ohgishima solar power station will use about 64,000 Kyocera Corp. (6971) solar panels to generate as much as 13,000kw.

The combined maximum output of roughly 20,000kw can meet the power needs of 5,900 households, making these facilities collectively one of the biggest solar power projects in Japan.

The plants will eliminate an estimated 8,900 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, equivalent to the emissions from 1,700 households, according to the Kawasaki city government.

[ukiyo]

Japan Set to Pass Law on Renewable Energy
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...770587244.html

TOKYO—Japan's parliament is set to approve a landmark bill on renewable energy that was championed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan as a way to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear power, and which would break the monopoly of the 10 major utilities.

The final passage of the bill, which aims to bolster investment in renewable energy following the worst nuclear-plant accident in the country's history, is expected by the end of the month. Its approval also paves the way for the unpopular prime minister to step down.

Mr. Kan has predicted the legislation would spark "explosive growth" in solar and ...

Main points of the bill

- Require the power sector to buy electricity from a wider range of renewable energy sources at preset prices for preset periods in a so-called "feed-in" tariff scheme.

- Expand the range of renewable sources from the existing pilot scheme for surplus electricity from small-lot solar suppliers to all renewable types, paving the way for more investors and businesses to enter the clean-energy market.

- Require the government to review the scheme covering solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small-size hydro power and make necessary adjustments when its post-Fukushima energy policy is fixed, expected by the end of this year. A review is also required at least every three years.

- The more renewable power is introduced, the more electricity bills rise as utilities are allowed to pass their costs to end-users equally. The revised bill, however, includes special provisions for energy-intensive industries to allow them to pay less than what the rest is surcharged.

- Trade Minister Banri Kaieda has said the government wants to cap the surcharge in electricity bills to 0.5 yen per kwh when 10 years are passed after the scheme is launched

- There is no reference to such a cap in the revised bill and instead the government is called to take into account an appropriate return for investors who start renewable energy projects within the three years of the launch to accelerate investment during the promotion period.

- A group of experts appointed upon approval by parliament will decide a price and a period for each renewable type, instead of renewable types divided into only two categories of solar and non-solar in the original bill. Trade Minister may turn up prices and periods every six months if necessary.

- Require the power sector to make efforts to lessen the surcharge on end-users.

- Require the government to consider deregulation and other policy steps to support the renewable energy sector.

[ukiyo]

Japan's industry at first was worried about this bill because of higher costs but the government will fix that with this:

Big industry to get 80-percent discount on renewable energy premiums
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201108130274.html

Industries that consume large amounts of power will get a huge break on their electricity bills, according to a revised draft of a special measures bill on renewable energy obtained by The Asahi Shimbun on Aug. 12.

The draft, which has been agreed upon by the ruling and opposition camps, will force power companies to buy all electricity generated by solar and wind power stations.

It stipulates that different prices will be attached to electricity from different energy sources, and that the extra cost of purchasing the power will be added to electricity bills in the form of universal premiums.

Those premiums will be slashed by more than 80 percent for steel, chemical and other industries.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party agreed on Aug. 12 that the Lower House will pass the renewable energy bill on Aug. 19. It is expected to be enacted on Aug. 26 and come into effect in July next year. Enterprises and households in regions hard hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake will be exempted from the electricity bill premiums until March 2013 so as not to hamper rebuilding efforts.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry estimates that the renewable energy bill, if it comes into effect, will add 0.5 yen per kilowatt-hour to the household and business electricity bills by fiscal 2020. The average household can expect to pay 150 yen extra a month.

Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Japan's largest business organization, had criticized the very large premiums for big users of electricity, saying it would hurt corporate competitiveness. The issue was covered in discussions between the main parties over the passage of the bill.

In the revised draft, electricity bill premiums will be slashed by more than 80 percent for enterprises that use more than eight times the average power consumed by a manufacturer. Likely beneficiaries will include steelmakers that use electric arc furnaces to melt scrap iron and chemical companies.

The cost of the concessions to big business will be deducted from the special account for energy measures to avoid increasing the premiums for other electric power users and is likely to be at least partly covered by increased revenues from petroleum and coal taxes, levied on electric power companies.

"Suspension of nuclear power plants will increase demand for petroleum and coal, and accordingly also the tax revenues from them," an LDP Lower House member said.

Earlier drafts of the legislation had proposed that power from all natural energy sources other than solar power should be bought at a unified rate of about 20 yen per kilowatt-hour.

However, after lobbying from new entrants to the power generation business saying that the pricing system should be more sensitive to investment costs, the revised draft says that prices should be decided by the minister of economy, trade and industry and should vary according to what energy source they came from and the output levels of the originating power plant.

Wind, geothermal and biomass power from small or large plants might all be bought at different rates.

The industry minister will be advised by a newly created panel of third-party experts. The panel will consist of five members, and their appointment will be conditional on Diet approval using a similar mechanism to the appointment of the Bank of Japan governor.

[ukiyo]

Mitsui, Toshiba plan Japan's largest solar plant
http://af.reuters.com/article/commod...7JJ3EN20110819

Aug 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsui Chemicals Inc , Mitsui & Co and Toshiba Corp plan to construct the country's largest solar power facility with an output of 50,000 kilowatts (KW), the Nikkei business daily reported.

The project is in anticipation of the passage of a bill that will require utilities to purchase electricity from renewable sources at fixed rates, the paper said.

The daily said the proposed plant will be built on 800,000 square meters of land owned by Mitsui Chemicals in Aichi Prefecture and have a 6,000 KW wind farm.

The companies, which plan to sell the power produced at the plant to Chubu Electric Power Co from 2013, have asked Chubu to participate in the project, while Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co and Toagosei Co may also join the project, the Nikkei said.

The government-backed Development Bank of Japan is to provide a low-interest loan to cover about 90 percent of the project's estimated 20 billion yen ($262.3 million) cost, the business daily added.

The renewable energy legislation is currently being discussed and is expected to take effect in July 2012, the paper said.

[ukiyo]

Japan: Renewable energy signed into law‎
http://af.reuters.com/article/energy...7JQ0TT20110826

TOKYO Aug 26 (Reuters) - Laws to promote renewable energy in Japan passed a final hurdle on Friday, with the upper house of parliament formally approving a scheme that investors hope will ramp up spending on solar, wind and other green energy.

The laws will require utilities to buy any amount of electricity generated from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small-sized hydro power plants at preset rates for up to 20 years.

(More in link)

Japan Solar Shipments May Jump 10-Fold, Industry Group Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...p-says-1-.html

Japanese domestic shipments of solar panels may increase by as much as 10 times in “a fairly short period” after the government approved renewable energy subsidies, a solar industry group’s chairman said.

“Legislation passed today will secure purchase of power generated by solar panels for a long time period,” Mikio Katayama, chairman of the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, told reporters in Tokyo today. “That will help a rapid expansion of industry-use and utility-use solar systems.”

(More in link)

And for Wind Power

New law forcing utilities to buy renewable energy expected to give wind power a boost
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news...na008000c.html

The operation rate of wind power generators, which cannot be operated without wind, is 20-30 percent on average, well above the 12 percent for solar power generators, which cannot generate power at night. The cost for wind power generators to create power is more than 10 yen per kilowatt per hour, which is higher than liquefied natural gas-powered generators (7-8 yen) but well below that of solar-power generation (40 yen).

Noting that a large wind power generator consists of about 20,000 parts, as many as those for a small vehicle, a high-ranking official with an electric power company pointed out that if wind power generation becomes widespread, it will vitalize manufacturers of parts such as motors and bring about positive economic effects. Moreover, the spread of wind power generation will help create jobs in communities that host such facilities.

(more in link)

And it's not only solar and wind. All forms of renewable energy will see a boost: Geothermal, tidal etc.

[ukiyo]

Quake-prone Japan looks at geothermal energy
http://www.japantoday.com/category/n...thermal-energy

HACHIMANTAI — The forces that make Japan one of the world’s most quake-prone and volcanic countries, and sparked a nuclear disaster, could become part of its long-term energy solution, experts say.

Steam and hot water billow and gush from deep below the ground at Japan’s tens of thousands of famed hot springs and could be harnessed to drive turbines that generate electricity in a clean, safe and stable way, they say.

Although Japanese high-tech companies are leaders in geothermal technology and export it, its use is miniscule in the island nation, which has for decades relied heavily on imported fossil fuels and atomic power.

The Diet passed a law Friday to promote renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal by forcing power utilities to buy it at fixed prices and letting them pass extra costs onto consumers.

“Japan should no doubt make use of its volcano, magma and other geothermal energy,” said Yoshiyasu Takefuji, professor of Tokyo’s Keio University and a prominent researcher of thermal-electric power generation.

(More in link)

Japan invents wind turbine design with triple energy production!

[Jeremyy]

That bill is great news, lots of cool stuff happening.

[ukiyo]

I missed this one

Toyota eyes solar power in Miyagi Prefecture
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201108250265.html

Toyota Motor Corp. will begin a solar power generation project in an industrial complex in Miyagi Prefecture where the power supply has been tight after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The joint effort with the Miyagi prefectural government is aimed at generating power through renewable energy sources at the complex in the prefecture, where Toyota's affiliates' plants are located, sources said Aug. 24.

Toyota will set up solar power panels on the 600-hectare segment on the complex hosting plants of Central Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Tohoku Corp., its affiliates, and others in the central part of the prefecture.

(more in link)

[ukiyo]

Cosmo Oil Goes On Wind Power Offensive
http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110829D2908A06.htm

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Cosmo Oil Co. (5007) is set to flip the switch on three large-scale wind power stations in the Kanto, Chubu and Kansai regions as early as 2014, supplying roughly 90,000 kilowatts of electricity -- enough for 30,000 households.

[ukiyo]

Already signs the bill is doing its job!

Japanese venture companies take novel approaches to renewable power
http://e.nikkei.com/e/ac/tnks/Nni20110901D3ZHH411.htm

Venture companies are seizing a business opportunity in Japan’s renewable energy market following the Diet’s passage of a feed-in tariff law on Aug. 26.

Despite high installation costs and relatively low generating efficiency, they are moving to carve out a share of the market in wind, office-based solar, and small-scale hydroelectric power generation.

Next spring, Niigata-based WINPRO Co. will begin making midsize wind turbines with an output capacity of around 10kw. The turbines generate electricity with three blades that rotate around a pole. Compared with the propeller-type models that dominate the wind power market, WINPRO’s turbines are quieter and can generate electricity in wind speeds as low as 1.5 metes per second. They sell for about 5 million yen each.

The firm foresees demand for the turbines, which could be installed on building rooftops in big cities or vacant lots, creating small power stations. WINPRO has commissioned five companies to manufacture parts for the turbines, aiming to sell 1,000 of them in fiscal 2012.

Another venture, EneDream, has developed propeller-type turbines with a ring that encircles the blades. That helps the turbine rotate at a constant speed, generating a steady flow of electricity. The Kanazawa-based company has built a power plant with a capacity of 20kw in Shikamachi, in northwestern Ishikawa prefecture, and plans to start conducting tests by year’s end.

Solar power is another area drawing interest. PVG Solutions Inc. is making experimental solar cells that can generate electricity on both sides. The company aims to raise efficiency using double-sided panels. Another solar cell venture in Tokyo buys double-sided solar panels from an Israeli firm and is trying to create a market for the product, which would be installed along rooftop fences or on sound baffles along highways.

Hydroelectric turbine maker Seabell International Co. is entering the power generation business. It sets up small turbines that can crank out electricity even in rivers with little change in elevation. The firm hopes to obtain funding from local governments and banks to build power plants equipped with 100 of the turbines.

(The Nikkei Aug. 31 morning edition)

Japan study boosts nuclear power's cost estimates

TOKYO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The cost of generating nuclear power in Japan is one-third higher than Tokyo's last cost assessment in 2004 and 50 percent higher if compensation costs for the recent nuclear crisis are included, but still cheaper than fossil fuels, a study showed this week.

The study by the country's top energy research firm could provide fodder for both sides of Japan's nuclear power debate, which is expected to heat up amid public wariness over nuclear safety despite the prospect of protracted power shortages.

Lawmakers and officials are working to come up with a new energy policy after the Fukushima radiation crisis made it difficult, if not impossible, to build more reactors in the world's third-biggest nuclear generator.

More in link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7K10BE20110901

[ukiyo]

Noda Seeks To Bring Idled Nuclear Plants Back Online

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wants to restart nuclear power stations taken offline for regular maintenance once their safety is confirmed.

"After checking safety and making sure localities are given sufficient explanations, we want to put them back in service," he told a news conference Friday.

He said the resumption is necessary in order to avoid a power supply shortage next year, which could hamstring the economy.

More in link: http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110902D0209A18.htm

[ukiyo]

Nuclear Minister Eyes Standards For Reactors' Lifespan
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110904D04NY782.htm

TOKYO (Kyodo)--Goshi Hosono, a minister tasked with handling the country's nuclear crisis, said Sunday that the government needs to set definitions and standards for how long existing nuclear power reactors should be allowed to operate before they are decommissioned.

[ukiyo]

Kansai Elec's Huge Solar Farm Springs Into Service
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110907D0709N03.htm

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503) on Wednesday began the full operation of its 10,000kw solar power plant in the city of Sakai.

Located on a roughly 210,000 sq. meter site owned by the Osaka prefectural government, the sprawling solar farm, one of the largest currently online in Japan, is capable of generating enough power for roughly 3,000 typical households from some 74,000 thin-film solar cells manufactured by Sharp Corp. (6753) in Sakai.

The western Japan power utility has also begun trials on a supply-demand control system based on nickel-metal hydride batteries at a nearby substation, with the goal of smoothly integrating solar farms into the grid.

Fukushima No. 3 reactor cooling down

The temperature of the Fukushima No. 1 power plant's No. 3 reactor is below 100 degrees, indicating that a cold shutdown may be within reach, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Monday

It is the first time the temperature at the bottom of unit 3's pressure vessel has fallen below 100 since the nuclear crisis was triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Reactor 1 is even lower — below 90 — but Tepco said it is too early to determine whether it achieved cold shutdown because it needs to re-evaluate the amount of fuel left inside.

More: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0110906a3.html

[ukiyo]

Edano Supports Bringing Idled Nuclear Reactors Back Online

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Nuclear reactors that are currently offline for routine inspections should be brought back into service once their safety is confirmed, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano said at his inaugural news conference Monday.

"While working to ensure the reactors' safety, we'll also ask nearby residents for their understanding to restart nuclear reactors," Edano said.

As for Tepco's plans to raise rates, Edano assured the public that the utility will not receive his permission easily. "The company needs to first thoroughly review its own expenses," he stressed.

On the fate of nuclear power in Japan over the medium to long term, Edano promised to hold a public debate at the government's energy and environment council. "By promoting conservation, we must create conditions, under which the nation's power needs can be met even if nuclear plants are reduced to zero," Edano said.

More: http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110912D1209A22.htm

Softbank's Son eyes wind power, geothermal

(Reuters) - Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder of Japanese telecom firm Softbank Corp, said wind and geothermal power will likely be key components of his new power generation business, along with solar power.

"Globally, wind power in particular has very good cost performance," Son said Monday on the sidelines of a symposium held at the launch of the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, which he founded.

Son, who put in 1 billion yen of his own money to create the foundation in the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis, said Softbank will invest 10 to 20 billion yen ($129-$257 million) in the new business that it aims to set up by the spring of 2012.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...78B10U20110912

[ukiyo]

August Power Output Falls 12.1%, Record-Low Nuke Power
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110913D13SS617.htm

TOKYO (NQN)--Electricity generated by Japan's 10 power companies declined 12.1% on the year to 84.18 billion kilowatt-hours in August, down for the sixth straight month, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by the Federation of Electric Power Companies.

The utilization rate of nuclear power plants, including those at Japan Atomic Power Co., fell 43.8 points on the year to a record-low 26.4% because many reactors have been shut down since the March 11 earthquake out of safety concerns. Others are offline for regular maintenance and their restarts have been delayed.

The nuclear reactor utilization rate fell below 30% for the first time since records since records began in April 1977, when the figure stood at 30.3%.

Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (9501) power output slid 17.7% to 25.9 billion kilowatt-hours, while Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s (9506) dropped 18.1% to 6.81 billion kilowatt-hours.

The declines were the largest ever for August for both companies, due to cooler weather this summer and the effects of the power-saving drive.

Electricity generated by nuclear power tumbled 60.4% to 9.63 billion kilowatt-hours, as a total of three reactors at Tepco and Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (9509) remained offline in August.

Electricity generated by fossil fuel-fired plants fell 8.2% to 53.7 billion kilowatt-hours.

[ukiyo]

Japan plans floating wind power for Fukushima coast

(Reuters) - Japan will join the race to develop floating wind turbines to use in deepwater off its tsunami-stricken northern Pacific coast as it rethinks energy sources after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

It aims to outpace the leaders in the sector in Europe, trade ministry official Masanori Sato said on Tuesday.

"In order to take lead in offshore wind power, we want domestic studies and developments to take place and manufacturers to boost capabilities," said Sato.

"From the viewpoint of supporting reconstruction and promoting wind power, we believe it is good to pursue research and development for offshore wind farms," he said.

In the next five years, Japan plans to spend 10 to 20 billion yen to install six or more floating turbines off the northeast coast. It will work with firms including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries, Sato said.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...78C41M20110913

Noda pledges new basic energy plan by next summer

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda pledged Sept. 13 to come up with a new basic energy policy by next summer to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear energy.

Noda, making his first policy speech, said: "It is unproductive to perceive energy policy as a confrontation between those who call for a move away from nuclear energy and those who promote nuclear energy."

He also indicated he would allow a resumption of operations at nuclear reactors that were shut down for periodic inspections as long as the safety of the reactors has been confirmed.

Noda also said an advisory panel, bringing together representatives of business, the bureaucracy and academia, would be in place by the end of the year to help compile a strategy for the revitalization of Japan as well as other key policy areas.

More: http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201109130342.html

Edano's comeback ruffles feathers in industry ministry, power industry

The appointment of Yukio Edano as new industry minister has not gone down well with the ministry he now heads, or the electric power industry.

In his old job as chief Cabinet secretary, Edano was the government's spokesman in dealing with questions about the disaster at the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

In that position, he supported Naoto Kan, then prime minister, on lessening Japan's dependence on nuclear power generation.

A key issue that is now attracting attention is whether Edano can dissolve what is known as the "nuclear power village." Under this cozy arrangement, electric power utilities and bureaucrats with vested interests work closely to promote nuclear power generation.

As for the idea of splitting electric power companies into separate divisions, each responsible for power generation and transmission, Edano said in the Sept. 12 news conference, "I will tackle this issue from scratch."

An industry ministry official labeled Edano a "leftist," on grounds that he takes a strict stance against big companies.

"There is a strong possibility that he will promote the division of electric power companies (into two separate entities)," the official said.

More: http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201109130341.html

[ukiyo]

Japan Vows At IAEA Confab To Stabilize Fukushima Daiichi By Year-End

VIENNA (Kyodo)--Japan pledged Monday to move up the deadline for bringing the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to a stable condition, telling an International Atomic Energy Agency conference it will do so by year-end.

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110919D19JF147.htm

[ukiyo]

Geothermal Power Sites Seen Supplying 170,000kw In Tohoku

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Geothermal power sources in six Tohoku prefectures could be developed relatively quickly to generate a total of 170,000kw, the Japan Geothermal Developers' Council said Thursday.

Output could reach 740,000kw when including potential sites in national parks, where the development of geothermal plants is restricted, added the council, which comprises geothermal businesses such as Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (5711).

The estimates are based on underground temperatures, topographic features and other data. Using the results from its studies, the council will call on the government to relax restrictions and provide development assistance.

The council studied the Tohoku region first because developing geothermal power sources could spur earthquake recovery efforts. But tapping these sources would take roughly 10 years due to the lengthy environmental impact assessment and earth work.
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni201...09N02.htm?ep=2

Kansai Elec, 5 Other Utilities Plan Joint Fuel Purchases

OSAKA (Nikkei)--Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503) will jointly procure fossil fuels and share power supplies this winter with five other electricity providers in central and western Japan, President Makoto Yagi said Thursday.

The growing number of nuclear power plants being idled for regular inspections is forcing the companies to increase their use of fossil-fuel-burning power plants. By teaming up, they hope to trim costs.

Japanese Premier Pushes Nuclear-Plant Restarts

TOKYO—Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, brushing aside mounting popular opposition to nuclear power, said he was determined to restart idled reactors by next summer, adding that it was "impossible" for the country to get by without them or to consider a quick phaseout of nuclear energy.

"If we want to go down to zero, development of alternative energy must be advanced considerably," Japan's new leader said in an interview Tuesday, his first since taking office on Sept. 2. "It's still too early to say if we can get to that stage," he added.

More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...847767666.html

[ukiyo]

Reactor No. 2 cooled to below 100 C

The temperature at the base of the No. 2 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant fell below 100 C for the first time since the March disaster, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co.

TEPCO said the temperature was 99.4 C at 5 p.m. Wednesday. This means TEPCO has brought the temperatures at the base of the Nos. 1 to 3 reactors at the crippled plant to below 100 C, meeting one of the two conditions for the reactors to be in a stable cooling state, known as cold shutdown.

More: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110929006221.htm

Tohoku Electric aims to triple wind power by 2020

TOKYO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Tohoku Electric Power Co said on Friday it aims to accept more than triple the capacity of wind power to its grid at 2 gigawatts by 2020 to meet needs to build wind farms in the region whose wind potential is among the highest in Japan.

Some local governments in the Tohoku region are hoping to rebuild from the March earthquake and tsunami by fostering the renewable sector, as the planned launch next July of a scheme to require utilities to buy any electricity from renewable power suppliers is expected to lure investors.


Tohoku Electric said it is starting to accept applications from wind farm developers for the joint study to increase wind capacity by 200 megawatts (MW) a year over the next two years.

More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7KU1B920110930