Two Renewable Energy Model Cities Chosen

Applications by Muroran City in Hokkaido in northern Japan and Susaki City in Kochi Prefecture on the western island of Shikoku to be part of the "Renewable Energy for CO2 Reduction Model Area Program" were approved by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment, according to an announcement made on August 25, 2005.

To promote model planning for intensive introduction of renewable energy to local municipalities, these ministries approve local project proposals that satisfy the model area program criteria and provide financial support such as facility operation costs to private firms involved in the projects. Both cities are planning to launch projects within fiscal 2005.

Muroran City plans to install wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the Irie district adjacent to Muroran harbor, as this area is appropriate for utilizing winds coming off the ocean. The electricity generated from these renewable sources will be supplied to the Irie district, where a number of major public facilities are located. Total wind power generation capacity is four megawatts (MW) (2 MW x 2) and the PV power generators have a capacity of 50 kilowatts (kW). A reduction of 3,140 tons of CO2 per year is expected, a reduction rate of 28 percent.

Susaki City plans to build PV power facilities that can generate a total of 1,000 kW. A biomass power station will also be installed on the site of the Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., located in Susaki. This plant can produce 61,000 kW of electricity by burning mixed wood chips from plantation thinnings in a thermal power station, and the electricity will be supplied mainly to public facilities in the city. This project is expected to reduce CO2 by 2,840 tons annually, a reduction rate of roughly 16.7 percent.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/

Posted: 2006/01/15 03:58:00 PM
Japanese version