Wind Energy secures Electricity Generation in Japan after earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident

Kamisu offshore wind farm became the first survivor against a tsunami in the world. There are seven units of 2 MW SUBARU80/2.0 wind turbines on monopile foundations, about 40m offshore from the coast. Kamisu is located about 300 km from the epicenter of the earthquake, and an about 5 m height tsunami hit this area. But the Kamisu offshore wind farm has survived and is now in operation.

Also these results suggest that the anti-earthquake construction design of wind farms in Japan is very reliable. Japan has proven to be a world leader in such so-called "battle proof design".

Most of the wind turbines installed in Japan are in operation now. As the electricity is temporarily running short at the Eastern part of Japan, these wind turbines contribute to the national electricity supply.

WWEA Vice President Prof. Chuichi Arakawa: "Now we have to make strong efforts in Japan to focus much more on renewables, especially wind power, for the next road map of energy and environment. Various studies have shown that Japan is blessed with an abundance of wind and other renewable resources which can be used to rebuild and strengthen our country. We need some time to summarize this situation while taking Japanese mentality into account. However, I am confident that Japan will draw the necessary conclusions from the recent incidents and hopefully start to become a renewable energy nation."

WWEA Secretary General Stefan Gsänger: "It will be of crucial importance for Japan, like for any other country, to reduce dangerous impacts of hazardous nuclear power on its citizens and to replace nuclear power as soon as possible by renewable energy sources. The worldwide wind community offers its advice to the Japanese people and government in order to help the country to overcome the terrible disasters and to make the country a global leader in renewable energy technologies."

Japanese authorities detected high level of radioactivity at a reactor in the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on Sunday, local media reported. In addition, more than 1,000 millisieverts per hour was found in the water at the No. 2 reactor Sunday. That’s 10 million times the radioactivity level when the reactor is operating normally.

The operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said the extremely contaminated water may come from the damaged fuel in the reactor. Japanese authorities also found radioactive iodine 134 was extremely high in water at the reactor. Workers working at the reactor were temporarily evacuated due to the high radiation.

Radioactive iodine which is 1,850 times the legal limit was found in sea near the troubled plant, according to Kyodo. The level had surpassed the figure detected near the drain outlets of the plant on Saturday.

The government’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has found radioactive iodine 1,250.8 times above legal limit in sea near the plant on Saturday. The readings were taken Friday morning about 330 meters south of the plant, near the drain outlets of the reactors at the utility.

The agency added that the radiation will not have a significant impact on fishery products because fishing is not conducted in the area within 20 km of the plant.

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