73
There are already moves to increase the number and capacity of hydropower
projects in Japan. Imagineer Co., Ltd., known for the development of game content,
is working on a plan to expand small hydropower generation to agricultural canals
in collaboration with a land improvement district. According to Mr. Takayuki
Kamikura, CEO of the company, demonstration experiments are being conducted in
Miyagi Prefecture, and introduction of small hydropower plants with power generation capacity of 500 to 1000 kW are planned in Toyama Prefecture.
Since agricultural canals are generally similar in shape, if three or four propellers
are made, they can be installed in many places. However, there are some technical
hurdles, for example, the AC power generated by the propeller must be converted to
DC, re-converted to AC, and then linked to the grid. Collaborative research between
Yaskawa Electric Corporation and Japanese universities is being conducted to
improve efficiency.
To disseminate small hydropower generation, we must also overcome the hurdles of institutions and regulations. Agricultural canals were originally built for
agricultural use, and there are many water rights stakeholders. If these agricultural
canals were to be used for power generation, some people may disagree saying that
their agricultural applications would be affected.
To overcome these issues, Mr. Kamikura’s project is taking place in collaboration with a land improvement district. His company works to maintain a relationship
with the local people, municipal governments, and agricultural affiliated organizations, so it is easy to gain the understanding of the local community. Moreover, the
maintenance and management of the power generation equipment is entrusted to the
land improvement district. Power generation facilities are normally managed wirelessly, but staff members of the land improvement district will rush to the scene if
an error occurs.
Small hydroelectric power generation can be realized through improvement of
technology and the system, and can contribute to local production and consumption
of energy. Even if the steps are small, accumulating achievements will lead to low
carbon society.
4.1.7 The Potential of Biomass
Biomass has the potential to enable Japan to achieve a high energy self-sufficiency
rate as in the case of water resources.
In 1999, when I proposed Vision 2050, biomass plantations were drawing attention in the world. However, in recent years, biomass has rarely been addressed in the
public sphere. The cause of this decline in interest in biomass is economic rationality. Wood for construction is worth ¥50,000 per cubic meter, whereas wood for fuel
is worth about ¥5000 per cubic meter, which is the same level as coal. That is about
one tenth. Even if you were to operate a large-scale farm for biomass only, it would
not be economically viable.
4.1 Future Image of Renewable Energy
There are already moves to increase the number and capacity of hydropower
projects in Japan. Imagineer Co., Ltd., known for the development of game content,
is working on a plan to expand small hydropower generation to agricultural canals
in collaboration with a land improvement district. According to Mr. Takayuki
Kamikura, CEO of the company, demonstration experiments are being conducted in
Miyagi Prefecture, and introduction of small hydropower plants with power generation capacity of 500 to 1000 kW are planned in Toyama Prefecture.
Since agricultural canals are generally similar in shape, if three or four propellers
are made, they can be installed in many places. However, there are some technical
hurdles, for example, the AC power generated by the propeller must be converted to
DC, re-converted to AC, and then linked to the grid. Collaborative research between
Yaskawa Electric Corporation and Japanese universities is being conducted to
improve efficiency.
To disseminate small hydropower generation, we must also overcome the hurdles of institutions and regulations. Agricultural canals were originally built for
agricultural use, and there are many water rights stakeholders. If these agricultural
canals were to be used for power generation, some people may disagree saying that
their agricultural applications would be affected.
To overcome these issues, Mr. Kamikura’s project is taking place in collaboration with a land improvement district. His company works to maintain a relationship
with the local people, municipal governments, and agricultural affiliated organizations, so it is easy to gain the understanding of the local community. Moreover, the
maintenance and management of the power generation equipment is entrusted to the
land improvement district. Power generation facilities are normally managed wirelessly, but staff members of the land improvement district will rush to the scene if
an error occurs.
Small hydroelectric power generation can be realized through improvement of
technology and the system, and can contribute to local production and consumption
of energy. Even if the steps are small, accumulating achievements will lead to low
carbon society.
4.1.7 The Potential of Biomass
Biomass has the potential to enable Japan to achieve a high energy self-sufficiency
rate as in the case of water resources.
In 1999, when I proposed Vision 2050, biomass plantations were drawing attention in the world. However, in recent years, biomass has rarely been addressed in the
public sphere. The cause of this decline in interest in biomass is economic rationality. Wood for construction is worth ¥50,000 per cubic meter, whereas wood for fuel
is worth about ¥5000 per cubic meter, which is the same level as coal. That is about
one tenth. Even if you were to operate a large-scale farm for biomass only, it would
not be economically viable.
4.1 Future Image of Renewable Energy