Japan - Strong support for wind energy prevailant

Japan's government will provide funds for generating wind power in order to reach the state's output goal of 3 million kilowatts by 2010. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will offer financial support starting in 2006 to help stabilize the output of wind power electricity, the Asahi Shimbun reported this week. Because the power output varies depending on wind strength, electric companies have been reluctant to build plants for wind power electricity.

Ministry officials are considering technology that minimizes fluctuations in electricity output through the use of accumulator batteries installed at power plants or transmission grids. The technology is still expensive, but it is expected to be available soon, officials said. The ministry's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy is set to offer assistance to utilities that plan to develop operating systems that include the accumulator batteries. The goal of 3 million kilowatts is equivalent to the capacity of three nuclear power plants. Wind power generation, solar energy and biomass fuels are forms of clean energy that are expected to play a major role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the battle against global warming.