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Energy revolution underway in Japan as dozens of towns go off the grid

11 Comments
By Aaron Sheldrick and Osamu Tsukimori

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11 Comments
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I drove though this area last Sunday. Couldn't help noticing the solar panel arrays everwhere, but was not aware that they (the folks in Higashi Matsushima) had planned the system this well.

Am sure that there is a certain amount of hype in this article, re "the independent distributed micro-grid can sustain power even if the surrounding area is having a blackout."

However, kudos to them for thinking and acting outside the box.

Gary

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Some good news for a change.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Japan will figure this out, and I believe will come out much stronger and become a world leader in some kind of localized power generation. Like I always say, 頑張れ。。。

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is great. decentralized energy production and distribution. Edison would be proud!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

LED lamps to save electric power was invented in Japan, also renovated cars of good mileage to consume fuel + eco-clean (hybrid) electrical powered ones, developed microwaves+convenient instant prepared food + frozen food, etc...And this energy revolution surely will be an ignition for more inventions, renovations and developments from Japan to the world.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Am sure that there is a certain amount of hype in this article, re "the independent distributed micro-grid can sustain power even if the surrounding area is having a blackout."

What's hype about that? If you have a independent micro-grid not connected to the main one, then said micro-grid wouldn't be affected by blackouts or other issues on the main grid. Unless we're talking about an EMP going off, but then you have much larger issues anyways.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It takes years in temperate climate for a tree to grow but once it is made into chips it will burn within minutes or hours so how this process can be a sustainable one?

Bamboo grows fast, yes, but it is empty inside and contains a lot of moisture so it is hardly a good fuel.

In Hokkaido, near Chitose Aiport, they cut hectares of forest to put a solar panel farm. Again, silly idea if you ask me. Solar should be installed on low value land not suitable for farming or other purpose but do not cut tree to do so.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What's hype about that?

It's hype if it doesn't works as reported. Unfortunately, the information is a little vague. For example:

as well as batteries to store power that can keep the city running for at least three days

Does that mean enough power to continue everyday activities or just enough to cover basic services?

I don't want to knock the idea. It's a great idea. But I'd like to be better informed about the limitations as well as the benefits.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Peter K, may be the least wasteful places to put up solar there are forest land. there is so much of that in northern honshu and hokkaido.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Good news. Hope the renewables continue to go forward. Hope Japan can be a world leader in renewable energy technologies.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The headline tells us that "dozens of towns go off the grid", the only example we get is one city that gets around 25% of its energy off grid on average.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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