Tokyo drive for renewable energy expected

Following the devastating Tsunami in Japan earlier this year, Tokyo is expected to announce a major push for renewables as public confidence in nuclear power dwindles.

Reports suggest that Japan will aim for a 15 fold increase in the use of solar power by 2030. One idea is that every new building will have to incorporate solar panels by 2030.

Japan was the world's third biggest user of nuclear power before the 'quakes.

And it's not just the Japanese government stepping forward. Big business leaders are also joining the renewables cause with one billionaire president planning to invest over 3 trillion yen (which equals over $36 billion dollars) of its sales revenue in solar power (source Reuters).

Perhaps other countries (including the UK) should take note and not wait for a national disaster before starting similar programmes of mass renewable installation.

photo credit: francois rejete

The two faces of Nature

Nature, yes, it can be harnessed, but as we've all witnessed over this weekend, through the continuing images and reports of destruction in Japan, nature can also be very, very destructive.

As teams of helpers continue to arrive in the stricken nation, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan and their plight.

"Clouds come from time to time -
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon."

- Basho - 16th Century Japanese Haiku Poet


photo credit: karin dalziel

Space - The final Solar Power frontier

Japan, a country with few energy resources of its own, instead relying heavily on oil imports has already set ambitious co2 gas reduction targets this year but that is nothing compared to one of the boldest plans ever announced - the Space Solar Power System.

The idea is to place huge arrays of photovoltaic solar panels - several miles across - in space to collect the sun's rays. The energy would then be transmitted to the ground via clusters of microwaves or lasers. On the ground, huge antennae would be needed to collect the energy.

Researchers are hoping to build a 1GW system (equivalent to a medium sized atomic power plant) which would be able to produce electricity at around 5p per kilowatt-hour - 6 times cheaper than the current cost in Japan.

You can read the full details and see some pretty artist impressions of the project on Sky News website (click here).

We loved the last line "Jaxa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) said the technology would be safe but conceded it might have to dispel fears of laser beams from above roasting birds or slicing up aircraft in mid-air". Great stuff.

photo credit: mightyohm