sustainable hydropower toward community development

8/17/2019 Sustainable Hydropower Toward Community Development

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International Conference on Hydropower for Sustainable DevelopmentFeb 05-07, 2015, Dehradun

229

SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER TOWARD COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF JAPANESE RURAL AREA

Tokihiko Fujimoto, Dr.Eng, Asso,prof.Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University and Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University

[email protected]+81-54-238-4866

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy is noted all over the world because of energy problems and global warming by CO2 emission. Especially in Japan, renewable energy got more attention due to the accidentat “Fukushima” of nuclear power plant (11/3/2011). Technologies of renewable energycontribute not only to CO2 emission reduction but also to community building and regionalsustainability by utilizing local resources (in this paper, we will focus on Small Scale

Hydropower=SHP).

I want to insist on that we pay attention to SHP toward community development installing bycommunity power. In the aspect of community building, SHP has a lot of potential. Thedevelopment of SHP can create not only jobs but also democratic dialogue for sustainablecommunity. The purpose of this paper is to make practical methodology, compute possibilityof developing SHP for sustainable community: a case study of the Gokase river systemcatchment area in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

The Gokase River has a lot of suitable points of hydropower. Therefore, 22 hydroelectric power plants and many dams were built already. But, the Gokase river still has highundeveloped potential (50-200kW). It is very important to build up basic concept of “energyfor community”.

This study shows clearly how to build up future plan with legitimacy. As a result, we revealedconditions and viewpoints that SHP make the biggest impact on reconstructing communityand generating subjectivity.

Keywords: small scale hydropower (=SHP), community development, consensus building,Japanese rural area, Gokase River system catchment area

1.

INTRODUCTION

Today, renewable energy is receiving plenty of attention by following two points; 1)environmental issues like energy sustainability and global warming, and 2) potential ofundeveloped regional activation. Community-based renewable energy, especially SHP, is

expected to contribute to community development.So, in this paper, we are going to pay attention to conduct case studies in Gokase-town. Innational energy program, we have only focused on where we can build big scale energy plant(e.g., thermal power plant and nuclear power plant). On the other hand, when we think aboutrenewable energy, we need to make a great effort for consensus building with local residents.



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Because, the renewable energy resources are community-ownered property. We are going tosuggest the possibility of community-based as an alternative way of national scale centralizedsupply.

2. LOCAL HISTORY OF GOKASE RIVER SYSTEM CATCHMENT AREA

Figure 1 shows locations of already existing hydro power plant. In the Gokase river systemcatchment area, hydropower energy has been used early since 1917 (see Table 1). Now, thereare 22th hydropower-plants in this area (see Figure 2). In this area, There are many know-howand experience of hydropower. But, long time passed until now, There are no memory abouthydropower as local resources.

Ohita PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture

Gokase town

Dam

Power plant

1

2

43

6

5

87

10

9

1

1

13

12

1

5

14

16

18

17

20

19

22

21

Fig. 1: The Gokase River system catchment area and the position of hydropower plants

Table 1: The hydropower plants of Gokase River system

15 Hoshiyama Gokase River 12,200 49.000 1939. 09. 04 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

12 Gokase River Gokase River etc. 13,500 29.700 1922. 05. 06 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

10 Suigasaki Gokase River etc. 16,000 24.200 1949. 10. 31 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

9 Takachiho Gokase River etc. 12,800 19.480 1925. 12. 02 Chisso Corp.

8 Kuwanouchi Gokase River etc. 6,400 15.000 1925. 12. 02 Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc

5 Mamihara Gokase River 5,000 5.000 1922. 10. 09 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

(originally Mitsubishi Materials Corp.)

Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

(originally Mitsubishi Materials Corp.)

13 Shinsugabaru Aminose River etc. 7,500 5.500 1958. 01. 20 Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc

2 Kawabashi River First Kawabashi River 2,000 2.960 1924. 06. 17 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

7 Kawabashi River Second Kawabashi River etc. 3,200 4.580 1924. 06. 17 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

1 Hakusui Kawabashi River etc. 1,500 2.540 1956. 01. 18 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

4 Sangasho Sangasho River 1,400 2.920 1925. 11. 11 Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc

6 Magaribuchi Sangasho River 1,100 2.450 1925. 12. 02 Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc

19 Hamago Houri River 2,400 12.000 1988. 10. 28 Miyazaki Prefecture18 Houri Houri River etc. 16,800 8.000 1969. 02. 27 Miyazaki Prefecture

17 Kamihouri Houri River 3,300 2.300 1971. 12. 08 Miyazaki Prefecture

22 Shimoaka Kita River 1,700 20.000 1961. 03. 15 Oita Prefecture

21 Kita River Kita River etc. 25,100 25.000 1961. 03. 17 Oita Prefecture

20 Kuwabaru Kuwabaru River 2,800 1.950 1959. 08. 12 Oita Prefecture

11 Hinokage Hinokage River 2,300 1. 440 1980. 08. 19 Hi nokage Land I mprove me nt Di stri ct

3 Shimotakishita Yunotani River 68 0.139 1920. 11. 03 Kyushu Electric Power Co.,Inc

138,198 237.499

1920. 07. 14

Number Plant River Maximum output（kW）Maximum amount of the

water taken（m3/s）

Initial permission date Establisher

14 Kurohara Aminose River 650 1.670 1917. 07. 07

The total amount

Yanazaki Aminose River 480 1.67016




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3. SHP TOWARD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -- A CASE STUDY OFGOKASE-TOWN

The Gokase town is located on the upper reaches of the Gokase River. The Gokase town belongs to Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki-prefecture of Kyushu. The total area of the town is171.77km

2, and the forest occupies 88% in this town. The current population is 4,332 people,

and a number of households are 1,358 (01/01/2012).

According to The report about energy-saving measure of Gokase-town (2006), energyconsumption in Gokase-town (2005) was 1,965kWh. [1] In Figure 2, we can see that Gokase-town has already 3 hydropower plants and their total amount of electric generation is 8,900kW(maximum).

Moreover, Figure 2 show that GIS analysis of hydro power generating capacity in Gokase-town based on ministry of environment’s study (2010). [2] As a result of this GIS analysis, Ifound that the estimation of potential amount for hydro power generation is 17,127kW(included existing hydropower plants). Thus, I show that 8,027kW undeveloped hydro power

potential exists in Gokase-town. In figure2, we can see many undeveloped points which havesmall scale hydropower’s potential. I should consider utilizing the hydropower for communitydevelopment based on the consensus building.

Fig. 3: Potential map of hydropower in Gokase-town

④

⑥

⑧ ⑨ ⑩

⑤

③

Small scale hydropowerPotentialCapacity(kW)



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Table 2: Result of discharge in Gokase-town

0.0399 ①

0.1288 ②

19 1.0986 ③

16 0.2942 ④

0.7540 ⑤

0.6439 ⑥

11 0.0490 ⑦

22 0.0441 ⑧

13 little ⑨

18 little ⑩

number of point

28

Motoyashiki

settlement number of households

10

flow rate(m

3/s)

Ohishi

Haki

Ohara

Aradani

Tokoji

Kasabe

Nagasako

Table 2 shows that the results of discharge which I carried out in Gokase-town on October 22and 23, 2011. [2] In winter season, flow rate is decreasing. So these values are smaller thangeneral seasons.

The number in figure 2 indicates the number of point in table 3. In③, where showed the biggest flow rate, if we utilize 0.5 m3/s which is half of the flow rate and build hydropower plant at the place where the head is 100m, we can generate about 350kW of electric powerTheoretically. If the yearly operating time is for 6,500hours (270days) / year, we can generate2,275,000kWh of electric power.

If we sell the electric power for 20yen/kwh by Japanese Feed-in Tariffs, we can earn

45,500,000yen / year. This is enough income for small scale community.

Ｐ

Selling electricity Feed-in Tariffs of r enewable energy）

Unit of

community

Ｐ

Ｐ

Ｐ

Ｂ

Ｂ

Private power generation

Private power distribution

In-house use

Waterway

Management and

maintenance of water

intake and waterway

Power plant for

Community self-support

60～80kwh

Power plant for selling electricity 350～400kwh

Private power generation

1～3kwh

Head

100m

Flow rate

0 5m3/s

Head

100m

Flow rate

0 1

m3/s

Ｐ

Ｂ

Power plant

Battery

Mainstream

Branch

Haki and Motoyashiki

(the number of households: 47)

Fig. 4: Model community image (i.e., Haki and Motoyashiki)




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Figure 4 shows that sustainable community image based on small scale hydropower energy.

This is Haki and Motoyashiki communities in Gokase-town (①～③ in table 3).

This image has three size power plants from small to large. To start with, large power plantgenerates electric power about 350-400 kWh (the head is 100 meter and the discharge is 0.5m3/s). We are selling all amount of electricity by Feed-in Tariffs of renewable energy.Secondly, we estimated that middle power plant generate electricity from 60-80 kWh (thehead is 100 meter and the discharge is 0.1 m

3/s). Haki and Motoyashiki community have 47

households. So, we can supply enough electricity with these communities. Instead, thecommunities have to manage and maintain water-intake and waterway daily. Finally, smallsize power generator (1-3kWh) is for backup. Generated electricity is charged storage batteryfor each. This provides the community with electricity during power failure. Therefore,community will be strong and robust against disasters. This is how to develop energy-independent community.

March 2013, I and Gokase member has started to set up SHP system(=5kW×2) on site fordemonstration(Figure 5). Before planning, we had 3 times consensus building meeting. Iworked hard to promote civic participation and consensus building process. I used local woodfor powerhouse by local people (Figure6).

Fig. 5: Power house of Haki SHP Fig. 6: Made by Local people

I’ve coordinated local power in constructing process; taking in water, water supply canal andconduit, electrical work. It is very important to build “community of practice” about SHP, forrealization of energy-independent community model.

3.

CONCLUSIONS

I’m talking about outlook for the future. Gokase-town consists of 14 districts. We are going to plan energy independent-community for each district. For this, we’d like to accumulate know-how from practice in the model district. And we hope to realize renewable energy town in the

whole of Gokase-town.

To do that, we’ll need to consider other renewable energy (i.e., wind power, solar power etc.),too. The most important task will be consensus building because renewable energy resourcesare local community’s property. January 2013, Gokase Project leader, his name is Isamu Ishii,organized social venture association on site (= Research Institute of Renewable Energy in



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Gokase). We would like to continue to promote community development based on renewableenergy while discussing with local residents. In order to solve various environmental issuesand depopulated issues, renewable energy is required (See Figure 7). [3]

In this paper focused on Community based action toward sustainable community by practicalusing natural source energy. We have to understand that renewable energy is local commons.From this case study, there were some matters that require attention about how to reachagreement and contract among community members. Hydropower energy is highly public, butthere are no rules how to use. Once again, to promote community based action through

practical using natural and local resource energy, it is important to reach social-agreementamong community members and to develop sustainable and autonomous local communities.Therefore, we are challenging to put diverse positions together, in which local residents andstakeholders can share a vision of the community's future.

Fig. 7: Research Institute of Renewable Energy in Gokase [3]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank “Japan Science and Technology Agency Research Institute of Scienceand Technology for Society (JST-RISTEX)” for a grant that made it possible to complete thisstudy.

REFERENCE

[1] The Government Office of Gokase.2006, The Report about Energy-Saving Measure of

Gokase-Town. Japan.[2] Ayaka Yasunaga, Tokihiko Fujimoto, Yukihiro Shimatani, 2012, SHP towardcommunity development, Proceedings of the 4

th ICAE2012; 302-208.

[3] Yukihiro Shimatani, Terukazu Yamashita, Tokihiko Fujimoto, 2013, Community-Energy, Noubunkyou; 177-198.

sustainable hydropower toward community development

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