Japan to raise renewable-power goal

subscribe

The government said that it wanted to expand the amount of electricity that Tokyo Electric Power and other utilities were required to generate from solar power and other renewable energy sources.

The Trade Ministry said it had drawn up a plan requiring Japanese power producers to generate 16 billion kilowatt-hours of energy from renewable sources by March 2015. This would be an increase of 31 percent from the target of 12.2 billion kilowatt-hours, equal to 1.35 percent of total output, set for March 2010.

Japan, a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol on cutting the production of greenhouse gases, wants to expand generation from clean energy sources, particularly solar panels, to help the nation meet emissions targets.

"The proposed target is very tough, and it isn't acceptable," said Mamoru Muramatsu, general manager for planning at the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan. "We don't even know whether we can meet the requirement" for 2010.

To reach the 2010 target, utilities need to invest about 100 billion, or $820 million, he said.

Related News

EDF isrish deal

Utility giant Electricite de France acquired 50pc stake in Irish offshore wind farm

PARIS - It’s been previously estimated that the entire Codling Bank project, which will eventually see hundreds of wind turbines erected about 13km off the Co Wicklow coast, could be worth as much as €100m. The site is set to generate up to 1.1 gigawatts of electricity when it’s eventually operational.

It’s likely to cost well over €2bn to develop.

The other half of the project is owned by Norway’s Fred Olsen Renewables, with tens of millions of euro already reportedly spent on surveys and other works associated with the scheme. Initial development work started in 2003.

Mr Barrett will…

READ MORE
wires logo

Senate Committee Advised by WIRES Counsel That Electric Transmission Still Faces Barriers to Development

READ MORE

electricity in restaurant

Extensive Disaster Planning at Electric & Gas Utilities Means Lights Will Stay On

READ MORE

weed zapper

A robot is killing weeds by zapping them with electricity

READ MORE

Grid coordination opens road for electric vehicle flexibility

READ MORE