Energy / Climate Change

January 27, 2012

 

Current Status of Wind Power in Japan (2011)

Keywords: Renewable Energy 

renewables2011-03_en.jpg
Total Installed Wind Capacity, by Country


While new wind power installations are skyrocketing globally, in recent years Japan has seen a stagnation of growth in its annual installed wind capacity. Reasons for this trend include limitations on the capacity that can be recruited in areas that already have many installations, because of restrictions on grid capacity. This leads to lotteries and bidding over installation rights. In addition, at a time when there are various location restrictions, the slump in electricity prices caused by the RPS law and the lack of transparency toward future laws also play a role. Moreover, the business profitability of wind power installations is worsening as installation costs increase, caused by the global increase in demand for wind power facilities and facility specifications unique to Japan.

Installed wind power capacity and policies promoting installations, by country, are as follows:

Capacity Installed in 2010, Total Installed Capacity at End of 2010,
and Policies Affecting Wind Power Generation, by Country

Country New Capacity 2010 (MW) Total Installed Capacity (MW) Policies, etc.
1 China 18,928 44,733 Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
2 U.S. 5,115 40,180 State policies (mostly RPS), and Federal Government's Production Tax Credit (PTC)
3 India 2,139 13,065
4 Spain 1,516 20,676 Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
5 Germany 1,493 27,214 Feed-in Tariff (total capacity)
Japan 221 2,304 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Law

* Japan's act on renewable energy came into effect on August 26, 2011, and the FIT scheme in total capacity will start from July 2012.


References:


Back to Current Status of Renewable Energy in Japan
Go to Current Status of Wind Power in Japan (2010)

* Updated figures and other data are shown in italics.



This information is provided with a grant from Artists Project Earth.

Japanese  

 

このページの先頭へ