The Japanese government has directed high-volume electricity users serviced by embattled Tokyo Electric Power Co. to reduce electricity demand by 15% in the face of the ongoing nuclear crisis at Fukushima, giving rise to on-site renewable energy production.
It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good they say and the nuclear disaster at Fukushima has seen Japan seriously reconsidering how it sources its energy; including possibly making solar power systems mandatory on all new buildings. Companies in affected areas are already responding to the current shortfall in electricity production by implementing more energy efficiency strategies and turning to wind and solar power.
Solar panel manufacturer Kyocera Corporation has announced it has significantly increased the size of the rooftop solar power system at its Tanagura manufacturing plant in Fukushima Prefecture by 194kW to a total of 230kW. What was previously more of a demonstration installation is now helping the company to meet the Japanese Government’s directive.
Kyocera says other energy efficiency measures it has implemented include setting air-conditioning to 28 degrees Celsius, turning off unnecessary lighting and setting all office computers to low-power mode.
Recently, the company also installed a 130kW system at Kyocera Elco Corporation’s new headquarters and a 58kW Kyocera solar panel based array at its Yokohama Sales Office.
While the Fukushima nuclear power station crisis may not occupy front page news as frequently these days, it has by no means subsided and the knock on effects continue to be felt throughout the world. Radioactive cesium-137 was recently discovered in Tokyo’s tap water and agricultural products have been found to be contaminated with cesium and iodine as far as 360 kilometres from the stricken power plant.
As a direct result of the Fukushima incident, several countries are turning their backs on nuclear energy based electricity production; including Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
