Wind Power in Japan


I have only ever seen wind power generators once in Japan, in Aomori prefecture, but it seems they are becoming increasingly popular. Engineer live reports that five wind power developers in Japan have joined together to promote the use of wind power and exchange ideas to support the growth of such technology in the country:

Tomen is one of the world's largest wind power developers, with more than 20 stations operating in Europe, the USA and Japan with a combined output of 700 000 kW. In 1999 the company started operation of its 20 000 kW power plant at Tomamae Green Hill Wind Park in Hokkaido - one of Japan's largest-scale wind power projects. It has also announced plans to build a 32 500 kW capacity plant in Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture, this year.

Actually, my local Seiyu, a Wal-Mart group company, promotes wind power. Does Wal-Mart do that in the US and elsewhere too? Seems we will see more wind mills in the future:

...a number of other developments have occurred which are designed to promote the use of wind power. One is the New Energy Act, which promotes and governs government subsidies to the renewable energy business. In addition, Japanese electric power companies have made environmentally-friendly energy a priority and have announced that they will sign long-term deals to purchase electricity generated by wind energy.
A further boost has come from the formation of a pan-political association to promote green/renewable energy. This body has been considering a bill which obliges electric power companies to purchase a fixed amount of wind power-generated energy. In October last year, the electric power companies themselves set up the Green Power Fund which is designed to encourage the use of natural energy and has a bidding system for new wind power generation projects.

(Photo from a MOF report about their "Fiscal Investment and Loan Program")

Comments

Pandabonium said…
There is a 15 megawatt wind power installation along the beach south of where I live. It is located in Hasaki Machi (may be part Kamisu City now) near the south end of Ibaraki. The 12 turbines are awesome site as the towers are 65 meters tall and the 3 bladed fans are 62 meters in diameter. I did a post with a pictures link in my May 2005 archive.

Long term, I think smaller, community based wind mills will be a better way to go, but welcome any move toward sustainability and away from fossil fuels.
12:07 pm, August 05, 2006
Spluch said…
Speaking of environmentally friendly way of generating electricity, you should be interested in this environmentally friendly pavilion located at my post

Eco Friendly Pavilion
11:17 am, August 07, 2006
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