RE on the rise in Japan

JAPAN: The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) compiled the figures regarding the present status of introduction for facilities generating renewable energy as of November 30, 2012 (preliminary figures), and announced the result.

The total combined capacity of such facilities between April 1 and November 30, 2012, reached 1,443,000 kW, an increase of 288,000 kW from the previous month, among which photovoltaic power facilities accounted for 1,398,000 kW, an increase of 272,000 kW from the previous month.

ANRE also approved those generating electricity by combusting mixtures of coal and other materials which started operation from April 1 to November 30, 2012, from which 350,000 kW of electricity could be generated.

However, ANRE considers that it is not appropriate to calculate all the electricity as the output from biomass power generation facilities. Based on this viewpoint, the capacities of such facilities are not taken into consideration as a matter of convenience.