A Wind Farm, Giving Us a Foretaste of the 21st Century

From ancient times, human beings have made use of wind power as a convenient source of energy. We often see photographs and TV shots of scenes with rows of hundreds of electric-power-generating windmills. In English they are called wind farms. It is a good name for them, with a feeling of productiveness. Just as the windmills in the story of Don Quixote symbolized a new age, the huge windmills used to generate wind power may be thought of as objects which give us a foretaste of the 21st century.


Wind Power Generation Spreads Across the World

At present, electricity generated by wind power in Europe and North America is the main form of natural energy. Wind power generation does not pollute the atmosphere or emit CO₂. It is cheaper than other forms of natural energy, and is suited to the geographical conditions in the countries of Europe, where the wind blows reliably. Several countries have pushed for governmental aid policies, such as systems requiring the purchase of electric power, so that Germany has outstripped the US as the world's top nation in terms of wind power. Denmark, which holds third place, has also become a major exporter of generating systems. In 1999, the world's cumulative amount introduced exceeded 14 million kW, and every year several million kW are brought in anew.

In Japan also, in response to this movement, instances of local economic development projects all over the country have risen, due to wind power generation. The projects undertaken in Tachikawa Township in Yamagata Prefecture and in Matto City in Ishikawa Prefecture are well known. In Hokkaido, Tomen, the trading company, was much discussed when it opened up a wind farm in Tomamae Township. These projects show that wind power on a commercial basis is feasible. The accumulated amounts introduced thus far now total over 100,000 kW, and very soon we should reach the target of "300,000 kW by the year 2010."


New Energy Made Possible by a Revolution in Technology.

Wind power generation has grown to the point where its commercialization is possible, due to a revolution in technology and increased size. The cost of generating power has declined to the point where it can be compared to that of thermal power generating plants. At the present time, one 750 kW level generator set up in the standard manner supplies enough electricity for 750 households (at average wind speeds of 10 m/s), supplying 360 MkW (megakilowatts) of electricity per year. In environmental units this is 4,300 eu per day, or the equivalent of the food energy required by 4,300 people per day.


Possibilities for Japan

Japan has the equivalent of over 30 million kL of oil in usable energy from wind speeds of over 4m/s. This amounts to 30% of the electricity used here in a year. Although the full amount's, of course, unattainable, the utilization of a certain portion is fully possible. That means that 3 eu per day per citizen of wind power resources lies unused. The wind, seemingly nothing much, in fact hides tremendous possibilities. Some believe that if we also install the kind of ocean-based facilities recently being developed in several countries of Europe, the harnessing of at least the whole 30% of energy needs would be possible.

Huge facilities are not the only option. Small equipment that can be installed in homes exists. Selling the power is not realistic in terms of cost, but it is effective when used as a hybrid with solar batteries. We hear that there are also highly efficient models based on research into our own Japanese wind conditions. The photo shows the equipment installed on the roof of the environmental condominium Kinari no Ie ("The Organic House"), in Ecovillage Bonten-yama, built recently in Tokyo's Hino City. The electricity is stored in a battery and used to power the lights in the common areas, as well as the water pump for the roof garden.
(By Shinji Yagi)