Alternative energy often demands one resource that Japan is short on...space.
It goes without saying that Japan, as small as it is geographically, is a densely populated country and that puts space for installations at even more of a premium. That makes the Japanese market for alternative energy sources somewhat more difficult compared with other markets. If we make use of near-shore installations or even offshore installations in the future, that will give us the possibility of continued use of wind energy and possibly solar energy as well.
If we try to go offshore, it's more expensive because the construction of foundations is expensive. On the other hand, often the wind is stronger offshore, and that could offset the higher construction costs. The equipment for wind power is getting more and more competitive. The price—if you measure it per kilowatt-hour produced—is going down, due to the fact that turbines and other components are getting more efficient.
So, there is increased interest in wind energy. If you compare it to other renewable energy sources, wind is by far the most competitive today. If we're able to use sites close to the sea or at sea with good wind machines, then the price per kilowatt-hour is competitive against other sources of energy. These are the thoughts of of Svend Sigaard, who happens to be president and CEO of the world's largest wind turbine maker, Vestas wind systems, out of Denmark. Vestas is heavily involved in investments of capital into helping Japan expand its wind turbine power generating capacity. It is seeking to get offshore installations put into place in a nation that it says is ready to reap the fruits of investment into alternative energy research and development.
The Japanese know that they can never again become subservient to the energy supply dictates of foreign nations. World War II taught them that, as the US decimated their oil supply lines and crippled their military machine. They need to produce energy of their own, and, being an isolated island nation with few natural resources that are conducive to energy production as it is presently defined, are very open to foreign investment and foreign development as well as the prospect of technological innovation that can make them independent. Allowing corporations such as Vestas to get the nation running on more wind-produced energy is a step in the right direction for the Japanese people.
The production of alternative energy through what is known as microhydoelectric power plants has also been catching on in Japan.
Japan has many rivers and mountain streams, and these are ideally suited places for the putting up of microhydroelectric power plants, which are defined by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization as 'power plants run by water which have a maximum output of 100 kilowatts or less".
Just for comparison, “minihydroelectric” power plants can put out up to 1000 kilowatts of electrical energy.
In Japan, the small-scaled mini- and micro-hydroelectric power plants have been regarded for some time as being suitable for creating electricity in mountainous regions, but, through refinement, they have come to be regarded as excellent for Japanese cities as well. Kawasaki City Waterworks, Japan Natural Energy Company, and Tokyo Electric Power Company are a few entities which have been involved in the development of small-scale hydroelectric power plants within Japanese cities.
Synthetic Motor Oil for energy savings. Help reduce dependence on foreign oil.