Author(s)

H. HAMASAKI

Abstract

This paper focuses on large-scale renewable electricity production and aims to identify key factors which affect renewable energy popularization, Japan’s carbon emissions, energy independence, and system costs. Based on these factors, we will propose a new energy system for an alternative energy era, using a detailed sub- regional electricity technology model, the Japan Multi-regional Transmission (JMRT) model. Intermittency and geographical sensitivity are the two main factors that differentiate renewable electricity from conventional sources. Seasonal and diurnal variations in wind/solar electricity necessitate the use of backup capacity and storage. Furthermore, the most renewable source in Japan – onshore wind – has better potential in regions with low electricity demand. This makes integrating the more or less isolated (10) grids of Japan a very important issue. The JMRT model employs 1 km2 grid GIS information on wind speeds, distances from the nearest road and from electricity grid for a very detailed description of wind potential.  This project uses a systems analysis approach, which is the dissection of a system into its component pieces to study how those pieces interact and work together.

Keywords

GIS, renewable energy, technology model