Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
projects are hindered by limited potential and siting permit barriers. Wind
power was the economically logical alternative to succeed under the RPS,
despite the double incentives given to solar PV projects.
As 2011 began, there were indications that bolder renewable energy
expansion targets would be initiated by the governing Democratic Party of
Japan, led by Naoto Kan.
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However, amidst party scandals, bloated iscal
deicits, and economic recession, Kan's administration was preoccupied and
slow in formulating a new renewable energy strategy that would deliver on
its campaign pledge to reduce Japanese GHG emissions to 70% of 1990 lev-
els by 2020.
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Incentive to speed up eforts was renewed on March 11, 2011,
when the Fukushima disaster took place.
With the fate of Japan's nuclear power program under intense public
scrutiny, the DPJ inally released a new renewable energy development pro-
gram that would go into efect on July 1, 2012. A series of feed in tarifs
(FIT) were announced with rates that were some of the highest in the world.
he FIT surcharge would be covered by passing the additional cost on to the
end-consumer. Wind power systems of 20 kW or more would receive ¥22
(approximately US$0.22) per kWh (after consumption tax), and wind power
systems of less than 20 kW would receive ¥55 (approximately US$0.55) per
kWh (after consumption tax). he program mandated that rates for the FIT
be reviewed on April 1 of every year. Under the new scheme, electric utili-
ties are obligated to enter into contracts with any wind power provider that
meets government certiication standards.
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Early indications are that solar energy technologies are clearly beneit-
ting from the new FIT system.
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However, continued opposition from util-
ities and project siting challenges have so far hindered the pace of wind
power expansion. In regard to wind power, the government appears to
see ofshore wind as possessing the greatest realizable potential. Recently,
Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara was quoted as anticipating an
ofshore development target of 1 GW by 2020, which he lauds as being
40 times greater than existing ofshore capacity.
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However, given that in
the previous seven-year period (2006-2012), onshore wind power capacity
grew by 1.159 GW, one wonders if the government truly expects the new
FIT to usher in meaningful change.
9.4 UNDERSTANDING THE GENERAL FORCES FOR CHANGE
9.4.1 Sociocultural Landscape
As was detailed in the introduction, the Japanese public has been heav-
ily inluenced by well-organized government campaigns to garner public
