Natural World Heritage Site Yakushima Aims for Fossil Fuel-Free Society

On Japan's Yakushima Island, famous for its 7,200 year-old Jomon Sugi (Jomon cedar tree), a project has been launched that aims to create a hydrogen-based society that uses only renewable, clean energy. The project, called "Yakushima Clean Energy Partners," (Y-CEP) is promoted by the local power supplier, Yakushima Denko Co.,Ltd.

Yakushima Island is located off the southern tip of the island of Kyushu and has a population of 14,000. Its 2,000-meter mountains and abundant annual rainfall of 4,000 to 10,000 millimeters provide hydroelectricity far exceeding the power demands of the entire island. The Y-CEP project has several main components that will use this surplus electricity, including the production of hydrogen, compression, storage, and transportation to supply facilities on the island, and this hydrogen will be used for test driving fuel cell- and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Y-CEP organizers are also considering the possibility of supplying compressed hydrogen to neighboring islands in the future. Y-CEP aims at creating the world's first complete "hydrogen society" by between 2020 and 2030, by converting the island¡Çs 9,500 fossil fuel-burning vehicles and all ships to hydrogen.

Yakushima Island has a flourishing tourist industry, featuring the island's famous Jomon Sugi, which has triggered a boom of tree-watching visitors. The island has been keen to address environmental issues and demonstrated its commitment by being quick to introduce environmental initiatives such as the use of electric vehicles, eco-tours.

http://www.yakuden.co.jp/hp/htmycepe/frmycepe.htm

Posted: 2003/02/14 09:59:10 AM
Japanese version