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100% renewable energy in Japan
A recent study has shown that Japan has 14 times more solar and offshore wind resources than needed to supply 100% renewable electricity. It also has vast capacity for off-river pumped hydro energy storage to balance variable solar and wind.
Low-cost solar photovoltaics and wind offer a reliable and affordable pathway to deep decarbonization of energy, which accounts for three quarters of global emissions. However, large-scale deployment of solar photovoltaics and wind requires space, and may be challenging for some countries with dense population and high per capita energy consumption.
A recent study investigated the future role of renewable energy in Japan as an example. The study comprised an hourly energy balance model of a hypothetical 100% renewable Japanese electricity system using representative demand data and 40 years of historical solar and wind meteorological data.
Pumped hydro energy storage, high voltage interconnection and dispatchable capacity (existing hydro and biomass and a few percent of hydrogen energy produced from curtailed electricity) were included to balance variable generation and demand. Differential evolution was used to find the least-cost solution under various constraints.
Offshore wind is important in regions such as Japan, Korea, the Philippines, northern Europe (bordering the North Sea) and northeast USA. These regions have high population density but access to vast areas of windy seas. Co-location of solar with agriculture is also important. “Agrivoltaics” involves shading around 10-20% of crops and pasture with widely spaced solar panel rows. While some crops such as rice respond negatively, many others respond positively or are neutral to the shading. The solar electrical output amounts to a second cash crop for the farmer, similar to co-location of wind turbines in farmland. In Southeast Asia there is vast capacity for floating solar on calm tropical seas.
Solar and wind are being installed at scales above 200 GW per annum and doubling every 3-4 years. Prices continue to fall and are converging upon global norms, as is usually the case with very large industries.
In our study of Japan, we found that the levelized cost of electricity from a solar/wind dominated system is in the range US$86-110/MWh. These costs can be compared with 2020 average wholesale prices on the spot market in Japan of US$102/MWh. Cost of balancing 100% renewable electricity in Japan (included in the preceding figures) ranges between US$20–27/MWh.
In summary, Japan can be self-sufficient for electricity supply at competitive costs.
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