日本轉向地熱能源的開發
Japan turns to geothermal power Japan has been struggling to find alternative energy resources, since March of last years, when a tsunami created by an earthquake destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi unclear power plant. The country’s 54 unclear reactors were shut down, and only two have resumed operations. Nuclear plants supplied 30 percent of Japan’s electricity, and the shutdown led to a national energy shortage. The Japanese government said it would aim to triple renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy, by 2030. The are now 17 geothermal plants nationwide. In 1974, environmental concerns led to a ban on further development. Unlike solar or wind energy that can vary in output due to weather conditions, geothermal energy is pretty consistent and stable in output. But close to 80 percent of Japan’s geothermal reserves are in area designated as national parks and monuments. The government in March lifted its ban to allow geothermal projects in five new potential sites in national parks and monuments. That decision has inevitably caused tension between conflicting local business interests, environmentlists and geothermal energy developers. Still, development in the area has won the backing of local municipal officials. Geothermal power developments outside Japan have caused two hot springs to dry up, but the technology to pick up underground movements and simulation technology has really improved in the last two decades, so the risk is much lower. It typically can take 20 years to develop a geothermal plant, if only because it takes time to earn the trust and cooperation of local people. 因為去年三月大海潚所引發的地震,日本福島的核電廠被摧毀,日本苦於尋找其他替代能源。當地54座的核電電廠停止供電,只有兩座恢復運轉。 核能電力僅供應日本全國約百分之30的電力,因為電廠的停工,造成全國電力的短缺。 日本政府表示,至2030年該國將會致力於增加三倍的電力供應,其中包括地熱電力的供電。目前全國只有17座地熱發電廠。在1974年時,因環保意識的抬頭,限制了地熱更進一步的開發。 太陽能或是風力發電均會受天氣環境的因素而影響產量,而地熱的產能,就相對的較為持續及穩定得多了。但是日本境內約有百分之80的地熱源保護區,均在國家公園和山林保護區內。日本政府在三月,解除了五處國家公園及山林保護區境內的新地熱開發案的禁止令。這項決議無可避免的造成當地經濟利益、環保團体及地熱能源開發商之間的緊張關係。最後,當地的開發案贏得了當地市政府的支持。 日本境外的其他地區的地熱開發案,曾造成二處溫泉的枯竭,進二十年科技的進步,得以預測地底運動及模擬實驗,使得危險下降許多。要開發地熱供電廠的話,基本上需要20年的時間來獲得當地居民的信任和合作。
