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ABSTRACT
Renewable energy is noted all over the world because of energy problems and global warming
by CO2 emission. Especially in Japan, renewable energy got more attention due to the accident
at Fukushima of nuclear power plant (11/3/2011). Technologies of renewable energy
contribute not only to CO2 emission reduction but also to community building and regional
sustainability by utilizing local resources (in this paper, we will focus on Small Scale
Hydropower=SHP).
I want to insist on that we pay attention to SHP toward community development installing by
community power. In the aspect of community building, SHP has a lot of potential. The
development of SHP can create not only jobs but also democratic dialogue for sustainable
community. The purpose of this paper is to make practical methodology, compute possibility
of developing SHP for sustainable community: a case study of the Gokase river system
catchment area in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
The Gokase River has a lot of suitable points of hydropower. Therefore, 22 hydroelectric
power plants and many dams were built already. But, the Gokase river still has high
undeveloped potential (50-200kW). It is very important to build up basic concept of energy
for community.
This study shows clearly how to build up future plan with legitimacy. As a result, we revealed
conditions and viewpoints that SHP make the biggest impact on reconstructing community
and generating subjectivity.
Keywords: small scale hydropower (=SHP), community development, consensus building,
Japanese rural area, Gokase River system catchment area
1.
INTRODUCTION
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Because, the renewable energy resources are community-ownered property. We are going to
suggest the possibility of community-based as an alternative way of national scale centralized
supply.
2.
Figure 1 shows locations of already existing hydro power plant. In the Gokase river system
catchment area, hydropower energy has been used early since 1917 (see Table 1). Now, there
are 22th hydropower-plants in this area (see Figure 2). In this area, There are many know-how
and experience of hydropower. But, long time passed until now, There are no memory about
hydropower as local resources.
Kumamoto Prefecture
Ohita Prefecture
1
20
2
3 4
5
17
9
10
1
1
22
18
12
Gokase town
21
1
5
13
14
19
16
Power plant
Dam
Fig. 1: The Gokase River system catchment area and the position of hydropower plants
Table 1: The hydropower plants of Gokase River system
Number
Plant
River
15
12
10
9
8
5
Hoshiyama
Gokase River
Suigasaki
Takachiho
Kuwanouchi
Mamihara
Gokase River
Gokase River etc.
Gokase River etc.
Gokase River etc.
Gokase River etc.
Gokase River
16
Yanazaki
Aminose River
Kurohara
Aminose River
14
13
2
7
1
4
6
19
18
17
22
21
20
11
3
Shinsugabaru
Aminose River etc.
Kawabashi River First
Kawabashi River
Kawabashi River Second
Kawabashi River etc.
Hakusui
Kawabashi River etc.
Sangasho
Sangasho River
Magaribuchi
Sangasho River
Hamago
Houri River
Houri
Houri River etc.
Kamihouri
Houri River
Shimoaka
Kita River
Kita River
Kita River etc.
Kuwabaru
Kuwabaru River
Hinokage
Hinokage River
Shimotakishita
Yunotani River
The total amount
Maximum outputkW
12,200
13,500
16,000
12,800
6,400
5,000
water takenm3/s
49.000
29.700
24.200
19.480
15.000
5.000
480
1.670
1920. 07. 14
650
1.670
1917. 07. 07
7,500
2,000
3,200
1,500
1,400
1,100
2,400
16,800
3,300
1,700
25,100
2,800
2,300
68
138,198
5.500
2.960
4.580
2.540
2.920
2.450
12.000
8.000
2.300
20.000
25.000
1.950
1.440
0.139
237.499
1958. 01. 20
1924. 06. 17
1924. 06. 17
1956. 01. 18
1925. 11. 11
1925. 12. 02
1988. 10. 28
1969. 02. 27
1971. 12. 08
1961. 03. 15
1961. 03. 17
1959. 08. 12
1980. 08. 19
1920. 11. 03
230
1939. 09. 04
1922. 05. 06
1949. 10. 31
1925. 12. 02
1925. 12. 02
1922. 10. 09
Establisher
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Chisso Corp.
Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
(originally Mitsubishi Materials Corp.)
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
(originally Mitsubishi Materials Corp.)
Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc
Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc
Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
Hinokage Land Improvement District
Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc
3.
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number of
households
Haki
28
Motoyashiki
Nagasako
19
16
Ohara
10
Aradani
Tokoji
Kasabe
Ohishi
11
22
13
18
Table 2 shows that the results of discharge which I carried out in Gokase-town on October 22
and 23, 2011. [2] In winter season, flow rate is decreasing. So these values are smaller than
general seasons.
The number in figure 2 indicates the number of point in table 3. In , where showed the
biggest flow rate, if we utilize 0.5 m3/s which is half of the flow rate and build hydropower
plant at the place where the head is 100m, we can generate about 350kW of electric power
Theoretically. If the yearly operating time is for 6,500hours (270days) / year, we can generate
2,275,000kWh of electric power.
If we sell the electric power for 20yen/kwh by Japanese Feed-in Tariffs, we can earn
45,500,000yen / year. This is enough income for small scale community.
Mainstream
Management and
maintenance of water
intake and waterway
Waterway
Unit of
community
Head
100m
Flow rate
0.5m3/s
Power plant
Battery
Head
100m
Flow rate
0.1m3/s
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Figure 4 shows that sustainable community image based on small scale hydropower energy.
This is Haki and Motoyashiki communities in Gokase-town ( in table 3).
This image has three size power plants from small to large. To start with, large power plant
generates electric power about 350-400 kWh (the head is 100 meter and the discharge is 0.5
m3/s). We are selling all amount of electricity by Feed-in Tariffs of renewable energy.
Secondly, we estimated that middle power plant generate electricity from 60-80 kWh (the
head is 100 meter and the discharge is 0.1 m3/s). Haki and Motoyashiki community have 47
households. So, we can supply enough electricity with these communities. Instead, the
communities have to manage and maintain water-intake and waterway daily. Finally, small
size power generator (1-3kWh) is for backup. Generated electricity is charged storage battery
for each. This provides the community with electricity during power failure. Therefore,
community will be strong and robust against disasters. This is how to develop energyindependent community.
March 2013, I and Gokase member has started to set up SHP system(=5kW2) on site for
demonstration(Figure 5). Before planning, we had 3 times consensus building meeting. I
worked hard to promote civic participation and consensus building process. I used local wood
for powerhouse by local people (Figure6).
Ive coordinated local power in constructing process; taking in water, water supply canal and
conduit, electrical work. It is very important to build community of practice about SHP, for
realization of energy-independent community model.
3.
CONCLUSIONS
Im talking about outlook for the future. Gokase-town consists of 14 districts. We are going to
plan energy independent-community for each district. For this, wed like to accumulate knowhow from practice in the model district. And we hope to realize renewable energy town in the
whole of Gokase-town.
To do that, well need to consider other renewable energy (i.e., wind power, solar power etc.),
too. The most important task will be consensus building because renewable energy resources
are local communitys property. January 2013, Gokase Project leader, his name is Isamu Ishii,
organized social venture association on site (= Research Institute of Renewable Energy in
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