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Through the global deployment of our latest technology, we will boost the ratio of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to help achieve a sustainable society.
Surging global economic and social activity is raising demand for energy, water, and other resources, as well as increasing the CO2 emissions that cause global warming. To build a sustainable society and reduce CO2 emissions, we need to limit using increasingly scarce natural resources, such as fossil fuels, and boost the ratio of renewable energies, such as wind and solar power.
Renewable energies are both inexhaustible and easy on the environment, but issues remain for cutting generating costs and ensuring a stable supply. Feed-in tariffs and similar programs encouraging renewable energy development began appearing in the 1990s, and are now being used in close to 100 countries and regions. Japan introduced an energy feed-in tariff in 2012, and demand for large wind and solar power systems is growing as investors and companies join in.
Hitachi's record on renewable energy development includes highly efficient generation and transformation technologies and batteries, as well as the control systems that ensure a reliable supply of power. We will use the power system technologies and knowhow that we have developed over the years to help resolve global social issues and achieve a sustainable society.
Reserves to Production Ratios (Worldwide)
Solar power generation fluctuates with the weather and the hours of sunshine. One of Hitachi's strengths is stable generation, due to highly reliable products and control systems, including our Power Conditioning System (PCS) with its increased efficiency for conversion. We also have a strong track record in large-scale power plant EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction). For example, Hitachi handled the entire process from engineering through procurement, production, installation, and final adjustments for Japan's largest-class solar power plant, the Oita Solar Power Plant, which began operating in March 2014. The plant uses a photovoltaic module fault monitoring algorithm developed by Hitachi's Central Research Laboratory to boost operating efficiency. This fault monitoring system detects faults and aging at a level beyond the capacity of conventional monitoring technology.
Building a mega solar plant presents more issues than just equipment selection and design-licensing and interconnections with power companies, for example. In fiscal 2013, we launched a solutions business that uses our extensive knowhow and we combined strengths to supply mega solar system packages from capital funding to EPC (20 years of operation, maintenance, and repair) for local authorities, companies, and individuals wanting to build megawatt-capacity plants.
Outside Japan too, Hitachi has now launched local PCS production for solar power plants to meet the expected demand in Asia and other markets. We will continue to supply mega solar system solutions not only in Japan but across the globe.
This mega solar power plant on a 105-hectare site in Oita City, Oita Prefecture, has around 340,000 solar panels and a capacity of 82,020 kW. It is forecast to generate 87 million kWh per year (the equivalent annual power consumption of around 30,000 households).*1
Large-scale wind farms and other forms of wind power generation have traditionally been set in Europe and the United States where winds blow steadily throughout the year over relatively flat terrain. Japan's many mountains and hills, frequent natural disasters, and erratic wind direction and strength require wind turbine systems geared to a much harsher environment.
Hitachi wind turbines use a unique system that positions the rotor downwind so that the turbine can efficiently catch the wind blowing upward along mountains or hills. This boosts generating efficiency, as well as reduces the stress on equipment during high winds. Hitachi's power generator produces stable power, even when the wind changes. As well, our charging technologies and control systems operate under the harshest conditions. These features will create growing demand for both our land and offshore wind turbine systems.
The Kamisu Wind Farm, a full-scale offshore operation in Ibaraki Prefecture, had no damaged despite shocks reaching a JMA seismic intensity of six+ and tsunami waves of around five meters during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Hurdles need to be overcome when building wind farms, including responding to environmental impact assessments, cutting costs, and getting local people's approval. However, these massive structures, made from around 20,000 components, promise to stimulate industry and create an economic ripple effect. Our aim is to increase the ratio of renewable energy, which currently accounts for 1.6 percent*1 of Japan's total energy generation (excluding hydro).
Outside Japan, we will begin rolling out safe, reliable wind turbine systems in Taiwan, Philippines, and other areas of tropical cyclone-prone East Asia from fiscal 2015 onward.
Wind Power Ibaraki Co., Ltd., Kamisu Wind Farm The Kamisu Wind Farm, where turbines are fixed to the seafloor, is offshore of Kamisu City in Ibaraki Prefecture, The 15 downwind turbines making up Hitachi's 2000 kW wind turbine generation system have a total output of 30,000 kW.
Further Evolution Ahead for Hitachi's wind Turbine Systems
For resource-poor Japan, wind power is an extremely important power source. Wind power generation is evolving on all fronts-turbines, construction technologies, control systems, and maintenance technologies-and I feel confident that it will grow into an even bigger industry.
In Ibaraki Prefecture, the Wind Power Group uses 16 Hitachi turbines to produce a generating capacity of 32,000 kW-the equivalent of power for 16,000 households-at the Hitachi Chemical Wind Power Station operated by the Wind Power Group, Wind Power Kamisu DAIICHI Offshore Wind Farm, and Wind Power Kamisu DAINI Offshore Wind Farm. I was pleased with the Wind Power Group and Hitachi's success with the Wind Power Kamisu DAIICHI Offshore Wind Farm in 2010, a frontrunning project that was the first major offshore wind farm to be built in Japan.
Wind farms will shift from sheltered bays and inlets to offshore areas as wind power systems become more and more massive. I look forward to the evolution of Hitachi wind power systems contributing to countries and regions, and indeed to the global environment.
President, Wind Power Group