WIND ENERGY ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN

This paper describes recent activities on wind energy in Japan. The na tional ''Sunshine Project'' conducted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, was reviewed in 1990 to map out a new energy stra tegy in the Age of Global Environment. As a result, a new 500kW WECS R &D project has starred in FY1991 and the operation started in FY1996. A number of basic and applied studies have been undertaken at the NEDO , the MEL and many universities. Interests in utilization of wind ener gy have spread gradually among power company. From FY1991, the Tohoku Electric Power Company has operated a 2,875kW Windpark(5 units of 275k W machine and 5 units of 300kW machine) at Tappi, where the annual win d speed is as strong as 10m/s. Researches and demonstrations are also conducted by some other power companies. MHI has developed middle-size d commercial WTGs. More than 800 units were exported to the United Sta tes and UK. IHI also developed 300kW machines. Fuji Heavy Industry is developing new concept machine of small to medium size. (C) 1998 Publi shed by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.