Japan's Daiwa House Industry Co. has begun generating wind power at a resort hotel in its network. At the Noto Royal Hotel in Ishikawa Prefecture, wind power generation now accounts for 30 percent of its total electricity consumption.

With the hotel facing the Japan Sea (East Sea), strong seasonal winds blow in winter with a wind velocity of approximately 20 meters per second. At peak production, the wind turbines generate 1,200 kW, of which 400 kW is surplus electricity. The hotel sells the excess electricity through a connection with the grid of Hokuriku Electric Power Company, the local power utility. The sales price of electricity, at 13 to 14 yen (approximately U.S.11 cents) per kWh, is the same as the contract purchase rate, based on the utility's rate schedule for the purchase of the surplus electricity from wind power. "It has so far been operating without any serious trouble," the hotel reports.

The hotel generated one third of the 2.7 million kWh consumed in the year since full-scale operation began the previous July. According to the hotel, the 900,000 kWh of annual power generation from wind is equivalent to a reduction of 380 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The hotel has been receiving a positive response from its guests, who enjoy the close up view of the giant wind turbines. The hotel has seen some impressed guests come back to visit. Daiwa House Industry Co.is now considering the selection of the next hotel following on Noto Royal Hotel and Okinawa Zanpamisaki Royal Hotel in its network to install wind turbines.


Posted: 2002/11/11 05:40:02 AM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Global warming , Non-manufacturing industry