Japan’s wind power generation
land for plants is limited because there are few plains in this country. There are also constant complaints about noise from such plants.
The wind is more stable at sea than on uneven land. It is also easy to construct large-capacity facilities without worrying about noise.
Utilise nuclear power
Europe is leading the way in offshore wind power. In Germany and Britain, renewable energy reportedly accounted for about 30 per cent, mainly from wind power. However, the situations in Europe and Japan are very different.
The biggest obstacle in Japan is high costs. In Europe, a “bottom-fixed type” of wind power is the most common, which is laid on the seabed in shallow waters. As there are few such shallow seas in Japan, a “floating type” on the sea surface will be the mainstream. Construction costs will be higher than those of the bottom-fixed type.
There is a shortage of power transmission lines connecting suitable places for power generation, such as Hokkaido or the Tohoku region, with major energy-consuming areas such as the Tokyo metropolitan area. Equipping such lines also will cost a lot.
The unit costs of wind power generation in Japan are 1.6 times the world average. The public and private sectors should cooperate to reduce costs through mass production and technological development.
There are many typhoons in Japan. The equipment must be made more durable. It is also important to consider the natural environment and gain the understanding of local fishermen.
To both prevent global warming and ensure a stable power supply, it is necessary to expand the use of renewable energy while utilizing nuclear power plants, which do not emit greenhouse gases and generate stable power. The government should carefully explain to the public the importance of resuming the operation of nuclear reactors.