In the wake of the Japanese earthquake and the nuclear disaster that followed, the way in which Japan generates its electricity is the subject of fresh debate. As part of its response to the recent national catastrophe, the Japanese Environment Ministry has published a report which highlights the potential of wind power and other natural energy sources.
The Japanese Environment Ministry published its own report on 21st April 2011, which stated that wind power could be used to generate as much electricity as what is currently produced by 40 of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors. The ministry’s data suggests that even if wind turbines aren’t always turned on, or are affected by technical or land-use restrictions, they can still match that energy output.
The modelling, which also took the feed-in tariff system and other new policies that promote renewable energy into account, as well as factoring in an assumed 24% utilisation rate, showed that wind power could generate between 24 million and 140 million kilowatts of energy. Whilst there are some technical difficulties associated with wind power, it could still supply a surplus of electricity in some regions. At the moment, however, it looks like the various logistical obstacles to implementing wind power generation on a large scale may prove to be a major stumbling block.
The ministry also investigated the potential of solar power generation and small-scale hydroelectricity operations, but concluded that these energy sources wouldn’t be able to provide electricity at the levels Japan requires.
At this stage, it’s too early to determine exactly what impact the Fukushima nuclear disaster has had on the environment and on the population, but if the evidence points to wide-ranging negative effects, this may well give additional momentum to those parties that support renewable energy projects and help motivate Japan and other countries to pursue a more sustainable programme of energy solutions.
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