Japan Passes FIT Peak: Now What for 87 GW Renewable Queue, 2030 Energy Mix?

Published at RenewableEnergyWorld.com --- Between July 2013 and July 2015, the Japanese feed-in tariff (FIT) program has supported the installation of over 22 GW worth of renewable energy nationwide, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade (METI). That means, in only three years, the nation doubled its renewable energy capacity. Those renewable energy projects have cumulatively generated 66,854 GWh of renewable electricity, roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of the state of Minnesota, ranked 19th in the U.S. for clean power generation.

Source: Japan METI

The FIT program heavily skewed toward solar

Although the program supports five renewable technologies: solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, hydro (below 30 MW), geothermal and biomass, PV accounts for 96 percent of the 22 GW of installed capacity in the last 37 months.

Source: Japan METI

The FIT program aided Japan in its ascent towards becoming one of the world’s biggest PV markets in 2013 and 2014. According to METI’s data, Japan installed 8.51 GW of PV under the FIT program. In the first seven months of this year, Japan has already installed a little over 6 GW. If Japan manages to install 1 GW of PV every month from August to December of this year, Japan will hit, as many PV industry analysts have predicted, 10 GW and solidify its position at the top of the list again this year....Read More Here

米国防総省が2025年までに再エネ3GWを導入へ、安全保障とコスト削減を両立

Published at Nikkei Technology --- 　米国の陸軍、海軍、空軍、海兵隊の4つの軍を配下に抱える米国防総省は、2025年までに太陽光発電を含め出力3GWもの再生可能エネルギーの導入計画を掲げている。同省は、エネルギーコストの削減に加え、海外からの輸入燃料への依存度を減らすことで、エネルギーの安全保障と持続可能性を高める、というミッションを担っている。

　米国防総省は年間200億ドルをエネルギー調達に費やし、約50億ガロンもの石油を消費するという、世界でも最大規模のエネルギー多消費型の組織である。同省は2025年までに消費するエネルギーの25%を再生可能エネルギーで賄うというゴールを立てた。同省の配下である陸軍、海軍、空軍は、それぞれ2025年までに最低1GWの再生可能エネルギーを導入すると公約している。3つの軍を合わせると3GWになるわけだ。



Navy signs US largest solar deals with Sempra, Credit: US Navy

すでに再エネ比率は10％を超える

2015年5月に同省が発表したエネルギーマネジメントレポートによると、2014年度時点で、空軍は6.7％、陸軍11.3％、そして海軍は26.5％のエネルギー需要を再生可能エネルギーで賄っている。国防総省全体では12.3％になり、目標である25％の約半分まで達したことになる。

　2014年度時点で同省は、1130以上の再生可能エネルギーに関するプロジェクトを進めている。地熱発電が発電量では全体の約50％を占める。さらに、2014年に陸軍が60MWのバイオマスをフォートドラム（Fort Drum）基地に導入したことにより、バイオマスの割合が21％までに高まった。次に太陽光発電が11％を占める。太陽光は、米国内の基地に645のシステムを設置し、発電している。

　米国防総省の各組織は、軍事基地内に大規模・分散型発電所を建設する場合であっても、自らプロジェクトを所有せず、主にプロジェクトデベロッパーに開発・設置を委ね、長期間の電力購入契約（Power Purchase Agreement : PPA）を結ぶ。...Read More Here

What Do Noodles and Oranges Have in Common? Japanese Bioenergy

Published at Renewable Energy World --- San Diego, Calif. — In Japan, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has been a center of attention ever since the nation’s government launched a very rich feed-in tariff (FIT) program. Although they are not getting the spotlight, there are also several unique biomass projects in Japan, which fully utilize locally-available resources such as noodles and oranges, without directly competing with consumable food production.

Sanuki Udon Noodles Waste

Udon Noodles to Create Udon Noodles

Kagawa prefecture is well known as a home of “sanuki” udon — square shaped noodles made by kneading together wheat flour, salt, and water. Sanuki udon noodles have a strong “koshi” (an al dente or firm-bite consistency). While many people enjoy and consume udon noodles daily, the prefecture faced a problem with a massive amount of udon noodle scraps from noodle manufacturers and unsellable noodles at local noodle shops.

Chiyoda Seisakujo, an industry equipment manufacturer located in Takamatsu city, the capital of Kagawa prefecture, has been developing biogas plants since 2004. Two prefecture-owned technology research and development centers approached the company, asking to utilize udon noodle waste as an ethanol feedstock ....Read More Here