Tag: — Asia

Pingtung County, Chinese Taipei

Pingtung, Chinese Taipei

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Smart grids and solar farms
  • Implementation: In 2009, Taiwan experienced Typhoon Morakot: the deadliest recorded typhoon to ever impact Taiwan, which resulted in failure to the main power grid.  Pingtung County consequently resolved to to ensure that its community can be energy self-sufficient in the event of any natural disaster, or for at least one week in the event of failure of the grid. In July 2016, under the leadership of the head of government Magistrate Men-An Pan, the County departments and civil society gathered in Pingtung's 1st Forum on resilience and renewable energy to discuss a pathway to transition to 100% renewable energy and energy self-sufficiency. During the Forum, the Magistrate made a public commitment to explore a 100 renewable energy target and to be an active participant in the Global 100% Renewable Energy Cities and Regions Network. Projects implemented so far include several smart grid and solar farm demonstration projects.
  • Population: 839,001 (2016)
  • Area: 2,775.6003 km2(1,071.6653 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.globalresearch.ca/taiwans-green-energy-transition-under-way/5616625
Pingtung, Chinese Taipei

Sumba Island, Indonesia

Sumba Island, Indonesia

  • Target: Electrify 95% of the island and exclusively provide  power from renewable energy until 2025
  • Status: In progress - 10% of electricity production from solar, biogas and hydro.
  • RES: Most of projects rely on solar PV, biogas, or micro-hydro systems.
  • Implementation: The Dutch global energy consultancy company KEMA had assessed the potential of wind and hydropower  to power the entire island with renewable energy at low costs. Based on this study and together with Hivos, a Dutch development organisation, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources decided to implement the 100% renewable energy target on Sumba Island. Today, the Iconic Sumba project consists of a conglomerate of international donors and the local government. The Asian Development Bank as well as the Dutch and Norwegian governments also financially support the initiative.
  • Population: 755,849
  • Area: 11059.6 km²
  • Link: http://en.sumbaiconicisland.org
Sumba Island, Indonesia

Yakushima, Japan

Yakushima, Japan

  • Target: Become a carbon free island by achieving a 100% renewable energy target.
  • Status: Achieved
  • RES: Hydropower, windpower, electric vehicle (EV) system.
  • Implementation: Yakushima is the fifth biggest island in Japan, located South of Japan's main island, and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. The island’s main economic activity is the production of SiCO3. The total electricity consumption of 7500 million kWh per year is completely covered by renewables. Because of its unique scenery and specific ecosystem, most of the Island is part of the Kirishima-Yaku National Park and World Heritage Site. In 2009, the municipality committed to a “Carbon Free Island Yakushima” initiative and a 100% RE target. To achieve this, the plan was to expand hydropower, wind power systems, and install an electrical vehicle (EV) system. Since the power grid of the island is owned by Yakushima municipality, rather than Japan's mainland monopolies, the island is able to split its electricity services between three distinct activities; generation, distribution and supply side. The municipality owns the power grid, and three local cooperatives are distributing and supplying the electricity in the island, along with Kyusyu Power Company. Finally, Yakushima Denko Company is producing the electricity consumed on the island. It has been operating since the late 1950’s. The island benefits from excellent hydropower potentials: rainfall is around twice as much compared to the rest of Japan (4,500 mm per year) and the island has many waterfalls. In 1953, the island's first waterfall hydropower plant, Chihiro (1,000Kwh) began supplying the island with most of its electricity. Since then, the Awa hydropower plant (capacity of 10,9000Kwh) and the upgrading of the two power plants in 1979 – from 1,000 to 1,300Kwh for Chihiro and from 10,9000 Kwh to 32,000 Kwh for Awa power plant has been in operation. In addition, auxiliary thermal generators are used as backups in case of low rainfall and during maintenance, critical as the island is a closed electricity grid. For Yakushima’s community and stakeholders, renewable energy systems have provided the most robust and safe solution for them since the island is repeatedly impacted by water disasters such as typhoons or floods. In cooperation with Kagoshima prefecture, Yakushima has been investigating the potential of new transport technologies, such as EV, HEV and Fuel Cell Cars since 1990. The share of EV is still only in 1% in the island, but the local governments are now working with Nissan and Mitsubishi to develop new electrical vehicles completely powered by renewables. In order to promote EV, Kagoshima prefecture is offering financial incentives to buyers, as high as half the price of the vehicle. In relation to energy saving and awareness among civil society, the island promotes educational programs in school and public seminars, as well as a contest called “CO2 Diet” among inhabitants, to reduce energy consumption through behavioural and lifestyle changes.
  • Population: 13,178 (2010)
  • Area: 504.88 km2 (194.94 sq mi)
  • Link: http://www.globalislands.net/greenislands/index.php?region=9&c=45
Yakushima, Japan

Yusuhara, Japan

Yusuhara, Japan

  • Target: Supply 100% of the electricity needed for housing, the business and industry sector with local renewable energy by 2050
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Wind, hydro, biomass, solar, and geothermal
  • Implementation: Yusuhara Town is a small remote town in Kochi prefecture, Japan. It is one of 13 cities in Japan to have been awarded the ‘Environmental Model City’ label. Today, the town utilizes alternative renewable sources of energy, namely wind, water, biomass, solar, and geothermal. Due to its location with the most optimum wind conditions in the country (an annual average speed of 7.2m/s), generating power from wind energy has been the most efficient for Yusuhara. Since 91% of the total area of 23,651 ha of Yusuhara Town is forest, the town employs forest thinning and uses forestry waste to generate heat energy. Forest thinning helps reduce and prevent overcrowding and competition for sunlight and nutrients. Smaller trees that are chopped down are either used to create new furniture or to produce wood pellets for fuel. Hence, the woody biomass aids in the revitalisation of the local economy. And by substituting other materials such as cement with this wood, it helps to reduce pollution.
  • Population: 3,640 (2017)
  • Area: 236.51 km2 (91.32 sq mi)
  • Link: Eco-Model City Initiatives in the Town of Yusuhara
Yusuhara, Japan