Micro-hydro power electricity from a small hydroelectric generator
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Micro-hydro power electricity from a small hydroelectric generator
Micro-hydro power set to light up cherry tree
Chunichi ShimbunThe city of Motosu in Gifu Prefecture is planning to light up its famous Usuzumi Zakura cherry tree, said to be more than 1,500 years old,
during the "hanami" season using electricity from a small hydroelectric generator.
Thinking clean energy: Municipal officials from Motosu, Gifu Prefecture,discuss their plan to set up a micro-hydro generator to illuminate the city's famous cherry tree during the "hanami" blossom-viewing season. CHUNICHI SHIMBUN
Municipal officials plan to set up four 80-watt lights equipped with LED bulbs to illuminate the tree. The electricity will be generated by a stream in a nearby valley that flows into the park's pond, turning the waterwheel along the way.
The design will be completed this year and the construction costs of around ¥8 million will be included in the initial budget outline for the next fiscal year.
The tiny hydroelectric power system has been introduced in other areas of the country that hope to attract tourists and revitalize their communities.
The branches of Usuzumi Zakura, whose petals turn a very light gray just before they fall, span 27 meters. It is officially designated as one of Japan's top three cherry trees. Around 300,000 people a year visit Usuzumi Park, where the tree stands.
"This project will attract visitors to the park and also serve as a learning opportunity for elementary school students," said Kazunori Hatanaka, a municipal official, adding construction should be completed in time for the 2013 cherry blossom season.
Amid mounting opposition to nuclear power in light of the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 plant,
micro-hydro power generation is expected to become increasingly popular as an alternative — and renewable — energy source.
It is also likely to prove more popular than other forms of renewable energy, as micro-hydro systems are cheap to set up — they only need flowing water and do not involve the construction of large facilities.
And as micro-hydro systems are a form of renewable energy, the nation's 10 power utilities will be obliged to purchase all energy they generate at fixed, premium prices from July, when the feed-in-tariff law takes effect.
The city of Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture, which is known for the water that runs off Mount Fuji and flows beneath it, has installed waterwheels partly funded by residents. The electricity generated is already used to power City Hall.
Around 1,000 people visit Tsuru every year to check out the new clean energy system.
"If you can show how natural sources can be used to create energy, it boosts the community," said Wataru Yajima, a Tsuru municipal official.
Motosu is hoping to get the same boost from its micro-hydro generator plan.
In the city's mountainous areas, boars and monkeys regularly ruin crops. In response, Tsuru is considering setting up electric fences around farmland and installing micro-hydro generators to power them.
"We can add value and market rice produced locally by stressing that renewable energy was used to protect its cultivation. It would be perfect if waterwheels become widely used in people's lives, as we would be able to use it as one of the city's selling points," said municipal official Hatanaka.
This section, appearing Saturdays, features topics and issues from the Chubu region covered by the Chunichi Shimbun. The original article was published Oct. 21.Micro-hydro power electricity from a small hydroelectric generator
http://pumpandgenerator.com/micro-hydro-power-electricity-from-a-small-hydroelectric-generator/
http://pumpandgenerator.com/micro-hydro-power-electricity-from-a-small-hydroelectric-generator/
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