To achieve carbon neutrality in Japan, it is necessary to expand the popularization of renewable energy such as solar power generation. At the deliberation meeting of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to formulate a new "Basic Energy Plan" last year, relevant experts said that if Japan wants to introduce a large amount of renewable energy, it will not be necessary to "respond to power fluctuations", "ensure transmission capacity", "maintain the stability of the power system" and "respond to natural Condition and social constraints" and "cost acceptance" and other issues, it is urgent to propose solutions.
Based on this, we next focus on 3 problems that have to be overcome in the future development of solar energy in Japan. They are "Location Constraints", "Social Acceptance" and "Power System Constraints". Below we will analyze these three issues one by one.
Question 1: Site selection constraints
According to a survey by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, the potential for introducing solar power in Japan is 2,746GW. Among them, it is the easiest place to install solar power generation equipment, with a capacity of 699GW. After the FIT started, the land and space suitable for solar power generation in Japan became less and less. Houses, factories, rooftops of public facilities, and leisure places have begun to be candidates for installing solar power generation facilities in Japan. In addition, more and more agricultural land in Japan is also being used for solar power generation, but there are many restrictions on the conversion of agricultural land, which has a limited effect on the popularization of solar power generation in Japan.
Including forests that have obtained development permits, abandoned arable land and agricultural wasteland in Japan can also be converted into solar power generation land for effective use. At present, Japan's abandoned arable land has reached 420,000 hectares. If these lands can be used as solar power generation land, it will not only contribute to the popularization of renewable energy in Japan, but also to local income generation in Japan and the utilization of national land. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is re-examining the system for converting agricultural wasteland into solar power generation land, but Japan will always avoid excessive appropriation of agricultural land.
In 2019, more than 2,000 agricultural light projects were added in Japan. This increase is not too much. Although the number of agricultural light projects in Japan will increase in the future, as the agricultural committee of Japan becomes more and more strict in the audit of agricultural light land, the number of agricultural land that cannot pass the audit will also increase.
The population of Japan's rural areas is gradually shrinking, and solar power generation will also be included as an option in the Japanese government's re-planning of rural areas.
Question 2: Social Acceptance
Although solar power generation has sustainable advantages, it is difficult to successfully introduce solar power generation even on land suitable for installation of solar power generation facilities without the understanding of local residents. While solar power has broad acceptance in Japan, it may be overlooked by local development plans after the FIT ends.
At present, there are some disputes and disregard of relevant regulations around the introduction of renewable energy such as solar power generation in some areas of Japan. Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy said that if solar power generation is to gain the same status as other main power generation methods, it is necessary to eliminate local and social concerns. This is a measure that must be done even if the import of some solar power generation is reduced.
From April 2020, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment began to consider solar power plants of more than 30MW as the target of environmental impact assessment. A power station to reach this capacity must also ensure that its construction is fully approved by local authorities. Therefore, the introduction of solar power generation in Japan should not only consider the power generation potential, but also consider whether it is integrated with the characteristics of various parts of Japan.
On this issue, the corresponding laws and the central government of Japan will play a great role. For example, the "Renewable Resources Law of Japan's Agriculture, Mountains and Fishing Villages" implemented in 2014 stipulates that the development of renewable energy should be led by local governments, and energy Importing must reach a consensus with the locality and provide returns for the locality. The "Climate Warming Countermeasures Promotion Law", which was implemented in March last year, also stipulates the production locations and targets of locally-led renewable energy. In addition, Japan's government agencies have the disadvantage of being independent, and in order to popularize renewable energy locally, relevant Japanese government agencies must strengthen cooperation.
In Japan, in addition to the central government, local governments also have a certain degree of decision-making power over local affairs. Therefore, whether renewable energy can be popularized locally also depends on whether the authority of the local government can be utilized. As of 2019, a total of 68 municipalities, municipalities and villages have formulated basic plans for local renewable energy in accordance with the "Renewable Energy Law for Farming, Mountains and Fishing Villages" promulgated by the central government of Japan, and a total of 80 equipment improvement plans related to renewable energy. According to the above-mentioned laws, Japanese local governments can explore the potential of renewable energy production in their regions, confirm the significance of introducing renewable energy in their regions, and increase the acceptance of renewable energy in their regions.
In addition to the support of the central and local governments, legal protection and public acceptance, the acceptance of renewable energy by enterprises is also very important.
RE100 is an initiative convened by The Climate Group to promote the use of 100% renewable electricity by the world's most influential businesses. Benefit from pushing businesses to use 100% renewable energy, helping to expand the use of renewable electricity globally. Ricoh is the first company in Japan to join RE100 and the first company in Japan to introduce a comprehensive evaluation system for renewable energy power dispatch. Ricoh's evaluation system not only evaluates the environmental impact of the energy used by the company, but also takes into account the local investment ratio and contribution to renewable energy. So even if it is renewable energy, if it is not accepted locally, Ricoh will not use it.
Problem 3: Power System Constraints
Currently, Japan's grid and AC frequencies are not uniform. Instead, it is divided into several areas under the jurisdiction of the electricity company in that area. Due to this special situation of Japan's power grid, the power fluctuation of renewable energy in Japan's power grid, ensuring the maintenance of transmission capacity and power system stability, etc., have become several major issues to be solved for the widespread popularization of renewable energy in Japan.
Taking the guarantee of transmission capacity as an example, the power grids in various regions of Japan flexibly use existing equipment and develop a "connection management" system. Since January 2021, Japan has started nationwide measures to connect the power grid with backup power, and the renewable energy generation capacity that can be connected to the grid when the power system is busy will reach 2,231MW in a month, including 1,775MW of offshore wind power and 1,775MW of solar power. There are 183MW.
With the improvement of these problems, the cost of solar power generation in Japan is expected to be further reduced, and the scale of introduction of solar power generation equipment for private consumption by corporations and other corporations is expected to be further expanded. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the introduction cost of solar power generation equipment for commercial use has dropped from 422,000 yen per kilowatt-hour in 2012 to 266,000 yen. The spread of renewable electricity has not only cut carbon dioxide emissions, but is also expected to cut electricity bills, allowing more businesses and households to introduce solar power.