Start Construction of 40 MW Solar in Futtu, Chiba

The construction of a 40 MW solar power station was started in Futtu city of Chiba prefecture.

The biggest solar facility in the Kanto Plain so far is a 13 MW station in Kawasaki city of Kanagawa prefecture.

It is difficult to find a land lot around Tokyo enough large for a solar panels of megawatt scale.

This time, an old site of gravel collection is utilized for the power station. The land area is 200 square meters.

The station's annual production will be 42 million kWh. The construction cost is estimated to be about 10 billion JPY.

SmartJapan: 2013/05/02 07:00
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/smartjapan/articles/1305/02/news009.html

Solar Panels on Farmland in Ichihara, Chiba

A solar facility above farmland started operation last month in Ichihara of Chiba prefecture.
This is the first case of the kind in Japan.

Needless to say, the sunlight is requisite for plants to grow. However, too much sunshine is rather harmful to them.

Mr. Nagashima, 70, who used to work for a farming appliance company, turned his attention to this point and eventually developed the system, which is named "Solar Sharing."

With this system, farmers can cut down the amount of irrigation water because plants will not receive too much sunlight.

Chiba Nippo: 2013/05/01 10:24
http://www.chibanippo.co.jp/c/news/politics/134795

Nissan's 100% EV "LEAF" as Taxis in New York City

Six LEAFs were donated to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission as special taxis in the city.

Youtube: NissanNewsroom 2013/04/22
http://youtu.be/aEwZkkVphEY

Shindengen to Produce PCS in China, Cutting Cost by 20%

Shindengen will produce power conditioning subsystem (PCS) in China, starting from this summer. The PCS is for solar power systems.

The company said it could reduce production cost by 20% as compared with that in Japan.

The price of the subsystem will be 4 million JPY. Shindengen aims to sell 250 a year.

Nikkei: 2013/4/28 23:59
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD250F2_Y3A420C1TJC000/
Shindengen
http://www.shindengen.co.jp/top_j/

Algal Biomass Research Center Opened in Sendai, Miyagi

A research facility on algal biomass such as Aurantiochytrium was opened in Sendai city of Miyagi prefecture on 24th.

The joint research will be conducted by the city, Tsukuba university, and Tohoku university.

It is known that Aurantiochytrium absorbs organic matter and produces petroleum hydrocarbon, which is thought be an alternative to conventional petroleum fuel.

Also, the research team will pursue the best way to culture Botryococcus.

Kahoku Shinpo 2013/04/25
http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2013/04/20130425t15012.htm

FYI >> Asia Biomass Office:
http://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1109_01.html

Nippon Koei to Boost Mini Hydro Business

The technology consultant firm Nippon Koei is developing its mini hydro projects in Japan and overseas as one of the company's major business.

Shinsogi Hydro Power Station (490 kW: Isa city of Kagoshima prefecture), which had been fully invested by Nippon Koei, started commercial operation on 24th.

The company is also going to start construction of mini hydro station at existing Terayama dam (190 kW, Yaita city of Tochigi prefecture) in May.

Moreover, it has projects in Nagano (500 kW) and Miyazaki (700 kW) prefectures as well as in Java island of Indnesia (8 MW).

Kensetsunews.com: 2013/04/25
http://www.kensetsunews.com/?p=11342
Shinsogi Power Station by Nippon Koei
http://www.shinsogi.co.jp/

Development Bank of Japan to Invest Mini Hydro for First Time

Development Bank of Japan announced on 26th that it had invested, together with Kagoshima Bank, in Kyushu Electric Power about the power company's mini-hydro project in Kimotsuki town of Kagoshima prefecture.

Nikkei reported this was the first case for the bank to invest on mini hydro.

Development Bank of Japan: Press Release (in Japanese): 2013/04/26
http://www.dbj.jp/ja/topics/dbj_news/2013/html/0000012715.html
Nikkei: 2013/4/25 14:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD2501Y_V20C13A4MM0000/

21 Sites For Mini Hidro Identified in Shinshiro, Aichi

Shinshiro city of Aichi prefecture publisized on 26th the research result on suitable sites for mini hydro power station in the city. The research was a joint project with Aichi University.

There used to be 31 mini-scale hydro power stations in the city until decades ago.

The research team investigated these old sites and other suitable places to found 21 of them are good for hydraulic projects of today.

Yomiuri: Aichi Area: 2013/04/27
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/aichi/news/20130426-OYT8T01457.htm

14 Mega Solars Planned in Ibaraki and Chiba

The telecommunication constructor Tsukuba Electric Communication is going to install 14 mega solar facilities in Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures. The total output of the power stations will be 20 MW, which is said to be the biggest scale in the northern Kanto Plain.

Nikkei 2013/4/26 12:00
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO54379290V20C13A4L60000/
Tsukuba Electric Communication
http://www.t-ec.jp/