A recently-installed floating wind turbine off the Japanese coast marks the second operating floating project in Asia. Located about 12 miles off the coast of the site of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power disaster, the government-funded project is being developed by a consortium led by Marubeni Corp. So far, it consists of a single 2-megawatt Hitachi turbine coupled with a floating substation, with near-term plans to add two 7-megawatt Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. turbines, and a longer-term vision of installing 1,000 megawatts of capacity.
The Fukushima project follows a 2-megawatt floating offshore wind project installed off Nagasaki. The Nagasaki project is located about 1 kilometer off the island of Kabashima, a 9-sq.-km island with some 110 households, and followed a 100-kilowatt test project deployed in 2012.
Japan's push for offshore wind development is motivated in large part by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Before 2011, nuclear power provided about 30% of Japan's electricity, but all 54 of Japan's nuclear reactors were shut down or inoperable after the disaster.
As an island nation with extensive coastal resources and little if any native fossil fuels, offshore wind may be a natural fit for Japan. Relatively deep waters surrounding Japan make seabed-mounted towers impractical, so floating platforms may enable greater use of renewable wind energy. The floating pilot projects off Nagasaki and Fukushima are designed in part to test different technologies, and may help reduce the costs of future projects.
Under the Japanese approach, each of these projects is funded by a
separate ministry: the Fukushima project is supported by the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry, while the Nagasaki project is funded
chiefly by the Environment Ministry.
Will Japan continue to develop its deepwater offshore wind resources? Will floating platforms and turbines play a significant role in powering Japanese society? Will the pilot projects lead to engineering and manufacturing knowledge that could place Japan at the forefront of the growing deepwater offshore wind industry?
Energy powers society; society's choices shape energy policy. A blog about our energy resources and the choices they present for society.
Showing posts with label Fukushima. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fukushima. Show all posts
NRC approves Georgia nuclear reactors
Friday, February 10, 2012
Federal regulators have approved the construction of two nuclear reactors in Georgia. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the addition of two Toshiba/Westinghouse AP1000to Southern Co.'s existing Vogtle nuclear power plant, despite a dissenting vote by NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko. (Here is the NRC order.) This represents the first NRC approval for construction of a new reactor since 1978.
31 states are already home to commercial nuclear reactors. The U.S. power industry's nuclear fleet includes 104 reactors at 65 power plants. (EIA provides a nice map with generalized locations of nuclear power plants.) Most are located near water sources, in the eastern half of the country. Illinois alone is home to 11 reactors.
Over the last two decades, nuclear energy has provided about 20% of our electricity supply. For example, in 2010, U.S. nuclear plants generated 807 billion kilowatt-hours out of nearly 3,884 billion kWh total supply. This amounts to about 8% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. from all sources.
The Vogtle project's projected cost is $14 billion, with a targeted operational date as early as 2016. The reactors approved for Georgia each have a nameplate capacity of 1,154 megawatts, making them significant sources of power. The reactors chosen for the project are designed to have simple fail-safe mechanisms to protect against the kind of catastrophe that occurred at Fukushima.
The NRC approved the project by a 4-1 vote. Chairman Jaczko cast the dissenting vote, noting in his written dissent, "I simply cannot authorize issuance of these licenses without any binding obligation that these plants will have implemented the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident before they operate."
By majority vote, the NRC authorized its Director of the Office of New Reactors to issue the work authorizations and licenses needed to allow the construction and operation of Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
31 states are already home to commercial nuclear reactors. The U.S. power industry's nuclear fleet includes 104 reactors at 65 power plants. (EIA provides a nice map with generalized locations of nuclear power plants.) Most are located near water sources, in the eastern half of the country. Illinois alone is home to 11 reactors.
Over the last two decades, nuclear energy has provided about 20% of our electricity supply. For example, in 2010, U.S. nuclear plants generated 807 billion kilowatt-hours out of nearly 3,884 billion kWh total supply. This amounts to about 8% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. from all sources.
The Vogtle project's projected cost is $14 billion, with a targeted operational date as early as 2016. The reactors approved for Georgia each have a nameplate capacity of 1,154 megawatts, making them significant sources of power. The reactors chosen for the project are designed to have simple fail-safe mechanisms to protect against the kind of catastrophe that occurred at Fukushima.
The NRC approved the project by a 4-1 vote. Chairman Jaczko cast the dissenting vote, noting in his written dissent, "I simply cannot authorize issuance of these licenses without any binding obligation that these plants will have implemented the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident before they operate."
By majority vote, the NRC authorized its Director of the Office of New Reactors to issue the work authorizations and licenses needed to allow the construction and operation of Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
March 22, 2011 - Maine wind news roundup
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Today, a quick roundup of recent news about Maine wind energy projects and policies:
The Bangor Daily News ran an editorial in support of renewable energy -- including wind, solar, and tidal power -- arguing that the Fukushima I nuclear disaster in Japan highlights the need for less harmful ways to power our society. The editorial concludes, "The developed world will face either an apocalyptic, painful end to its reliance on fossil fuels — wars, shortages, famine — or it will embrace the new paradigm willingly. But the new technology must be jump-started with investment, much of it public funds." Thus in the editorial board's view, society should support renewable projects with public dollars, at least to prime the pump to bring renewables to a more cost-competitive level.
The BDN also ran a letter to the editor from wind developer TransCanada's operations manager for the Kibby Project. Writer Greg Shelton told his story of how the development of wind projects in Maine enabled him to return to his family from out of state, where he had traveled to find work. Mr. Shelton described the value of renewable power development in creating jobs and economic development.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based Eolian Renewable Energy has proposed a 10 megawatt wind project in the Maine town of Frankfort. The $25 million wind project would entail four to six turbines atop Mount Waldo. Eolian described its strategy as developing projects that fit better into communities and landscapes by siting smaller wind energy projects in areas with existing infrastructure like radio towers (Mount Waldo sports three such towers already) and roads. To promote its cause, Eolian points to the potential tax benefits to a host community, suggesting that a 10-megawatt project might generate $100,000 in annual local tax revenue.
The Bangor Daily News ran an editorial in support of renewable energy -- including wind, solar, and tidal power -- arguing that the Fukushima I nuclear disaster in Japan highlights the need for less harmful ways to power our society. The editorial concludes, "The developed world will face either an apocalyptic, painful end to its reliance on fossil fuels — wars, shortages, famine — or it will embrace the new paradigm willingly. But the new technology must be jump-started with investment, much of it public funds." Thus in the editorial board's view, society should support renewable projects with public dollars, at least to prime the pump to bring renewables to a more cost-competitive level.
The BDN also ran a letter to the editor from wind developer TransCanada's operations manager for the Kibby Project. Writer Greg Shelton told his story of how the development of wind projects in Maine enabled him to return to his family from out of state, where he had traveled to find work. Mr. Shelton described the value of renewable power development in creating jobs and economic development.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based Eolian Renewable Energy has proposed a 10 megawatt wind project in the Maine town of Frankfort. The $25 million wind project would entail four to six turbines atop Mount Waldo. Eolian described its strategy as developing projects that fit better into communities and landscapes by siting smaller wind energy projects in areas with existing infrastructure like radio towers (Mount Waldo sports three such towers already) and roads. To promote its cause, Eolian points to the potential tax benefits to a host community, suggesting that a 10-megawatt project might generate $100,000 in annual local tax revenue.
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