Seeking a new and democratic reform of Japan’s energy system

We now need to find viable alternatives to nuclear power. It is clearly necessary to make greater use of alternative power sources, such as renewable energy, small gas-powered turbines and surplus power from independent generators installed by companies and rooftop solar panels at households……replace the centralized generation approach with a decentralized system based on distributed energy facilities

To promote such dispersed generation, transmission services should be separated from the production of electric power to ensure fairer operations

EDITORIAL/ Seeking a society without nuclear power generation: Let consumers regain leadership in developing energy policy, The Asahi Shimbun, July 13

This is the last of a five-part editorial series proposing ways for Japan to achieve a society that does not depend on nuclear power generation for its energy supply.

Two key factors for producing necessary electricity while reducing our reliance on nuclear power are “distributed generation” and “the separation of generation and transmission.”

For decades, Japan has been building giant nuclear power plants near the seashore that send electricity over long distances to large cities that consume huge amounts of power.

The disastrous accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has dramatically demonstrated that such centralized power generation, which was promoted as the best approach to ensuring a stable power supply, could cause widespread power disruptions and enormous economic damage when a major disaster takes place.

To create a power supply system less vulnerable to disasters and crises, it would be better to use distributed power sources with the help of independent local power generators instead of depending solely on existing regional utilities.

It would also help to expand the use of technologies, such as photovoltaics, to generate more power in small quantities close to where it is needed.

Establishing a decentralized electricity generation system requires allowing various independent power suppliers to connect their facilities to the power grid on fair terms….

the proposed separation of power generation and transmission has been on ice because of strong opposition from electric power companies.

The existing large power utilities have been restricting connections to their networks of high-voltage transmission lines under the pretext of ensuring stable power supply. The fees charged on newly arrived independent power producers for using transmission lines are so high that they discourage new entries into the business….

To promote such dispersed generation, transmission services should be separated from the production of electric power to ensure fairer operations.

That would increase competition among power generators and retailers, thereby helping to keep down electricity bills.

As a negative result of the virtual monopoly of regional power markets by big utilities, however, their transmission line networks are separated and not effectively interconnected with each other…..

The power supply reforms to reduce the nation’s dependence on nuclear power and replace the centralized generation approach with a decentralized system based on distributed energy facilities would mean a shift from a society dependent on a limited number of power suppliers to a self-sustaining one. Every member of society would be involved in the pursuit of the best ways to produce, distribute and consume power.

In other words, this will be a process for consumers to regain leadership in the development of the energy policy.

In such a society, consumers will examine the costs and risks involved in various power generation methods, select power sources on their own and shoulder the burden of necessary costs. This is an evolutionary path for democracy.

It is time for us to take the step in a new direction instead of fearing change.

These reforms would lead to new lifestyles, new jobs and new ways of working.

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201107180308.html