Activities Policy Proposals


	Policy Proposals The New Energy Industrial Forum, an advisory body of the Chairman of NEF, formulates policy proposals aimed at reflecting views of private sector in the government new/renewable energy technology development programs and introduction schemes. The forum has eleven committees and a sub-committee as follows, and each of them is consisting of representatives of industries concerned. The committees compile draft of policy proposals based on their survey and research on their own categories. Planning Committee Planning Sub-Committee Fuel Cell Committee Coal Energy Committee Cogeneration Committee Wind Energy Committee Waste Power Generation Committee Biomass Committee Solar Energy Committee Indigenous Energy Committee Hydroelectric Power Committee Geothermal Energy Committee Besides the survey and research on fuel cell, NEF performs a role of the secretariat of Fuel Cell Commercialization Conference in Japan (FCCJ). FCCJ aims at early commercialization of fuel cell in Japan and was established with 127 member companies in March 2001.


	Public Relations Exhibitions The exhibitions are intended to show new energy in general, and include display of clean energy vehicles, trial rides in them, and presentations by local governments, universities, enterprises, etc. Each exhibition is designed to introduce new energy, mainly to people who do not have knowledge on new energy, in a manner that have them learn enjoyably. At the exhibition, we hold a character show as an attraction, a quiz meeting, and a family solar car workshop; a general new energy introduction corner; a clean energy car display and trial ride corner, etc. In FY 2000, 150 exhibitions were held throughout the country. "Clean Energy Festa" the largest scale exhibition allured 14,000 persons for two days. Symposium Symposiums are held in cooperation with local governments and regional Bureaus of Economy, Trade, and Industry, in respective places in Japan, with professionals of new energy as lecturers. The symposiums are aimed at having participants learn knowledge concerning new energy enjoyably, to contribute to the introduction of new energy. Information Provision Through Home Page The new energy home page on the Internet presents information concerning new energy, including various events, such as exhibitions to be held, subsidy programs, award programs, and results of various surveys, to improve knowledge of general people on new energy. Provision of Various Pamphlets Various pamphlets are prepared and distributed in the above exhibitions. They are prepared for various targets including children and people who have knowledge on new energy.


	Survey & Research Besides the survey and research concerning the committee activities, NEF collects basic data and information on the technology development and introduction schemes of new/renewable energy as follows. Fact finding Survey of Development and Use of New Energy in Japan NEF has conducted a survey of the actual development and use of new energy in Japan under the guidance of the Energy Conservation and Alternative Energy Policy Division of the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in 1995 and 1996. In 1995, NEF surveyed new energy facilities of local governments and semipublic corporations and compiled an approximately 270 page long "Report on the Fact Finding Survey of Development and Use of New Energy (Local governments / Semipublic Corporations)". In FY 1996, a survey is being conducted on the new energy facilities of the government and private companies. (continue to the details) Survey on Activities of Overseas Organizations and New/Renewable Energy Sites NEF dispatches staffs abroad to conduct surveys on the progress of new/reneable energy sources and related government promotion policies and publish reports on the results. FY 1990 Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium(EC), Italy, Greece FY 1991 U.K., U.S.A. FY 1992 Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Holland,France FY 1993 U.S.A. FY 1994 Denmark, Holland, Germany, Switzerland FY 1995 Thailand, Indonesia FY 1996 Taiwan, Malaysia FY 1997 Philippines, Vietnam FY 1998 Korea, Nepal, Holland, Belgium(EC), Italy FY 1999 Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A. FY 2000 Germany, Denmark FY 2001 India, Taiwan, U.S.A. Marine Resource Utilization System Research on resource and technology using the low temperature stability peculiar to marine deep water, and investigation for multipurpose industrial use are underway. Surveys Concerning the Development and Use of Hydroelectric Power To effectively promote the development of hydroelectric power generation, NEF carried out a "Survey to Formulate the Hydroelectric Power Development Site Plan (Fifth Hydroelectric Power Generation Potential Survey)," being commissioned by the national Government, and presented the entire picture of undeveloped potential water resources. The survey found undeveloped 2,800 sites and their average capacity is about 4,600 kW per site, which are small-to-medium-scale. Few sites are economically attractive. To promote development of these small-to-medium-scale sites, the "Basic Survey for Small-to-Medium-Scale Hydroelectric Power Development Promotion and Guidance Activities" is being conducted to examine development promotion measures, to investigate and examine approaches to improve the accuracy of individual construction plan for power generation site, to examine the potential hydropower resources of unused water head, and their development plans and to collect technology information concerning hydroelectric power development. NEF participates in the "Implementation Agreement on Hydropower Technologies and Programs" of IEA to collect information concerning hydroelectric power development. Also, conducts surveys on potential hydropower resources and demonstration tests and surveys on dispersed small scale hydroelectric power respectively in southeast Asian countries. Surveys Concerning the Development and Use of Geothermal Energy Various surveys are conducted to identify reserves of the geothermal resource, and to decrease the development risk of the geothermal resource, to promote the development of geothermal energy. These surveys include the terrestrial surveys, well surveys, environmental impact surveys and data processing respectively conducted in cooperation with the "Geothermal Energy Development Promotion Survey" conducted by the national Government (NEDO). Since the geothermal resource is located near natural parks and hot springs resorts, it is necessary to predict and assess the influence on scenery and hot springs, and the influence of diffused hydrogen sulfide. For this purpose, the Center conducts site surveys of development areas, and research to demonstrate environmental protection technologies. For effective use of the geothermal resource, it is necessary to consider regional characteristics and resource attributes, when formulating development plans, and constructing and managing systems. As such, conceptual designs of various supply and use systems, evaluation of economics, demonstration investigations, and the like are performed under commissions of the national government, and local governments. Furthermore, power generation and brine use systems, using hot springs steam and low-temperature hot water, are being studied, and advice is given as required. Upon request, the Center cooperates in surveys and research concerning geothermal energy development in both Japan and foreign countries.

Support & Subsidy

Subsidy Program for Residential Photovoltaic Power Generation Systems

From FY 1994 to FY 1996, NEF carried out the "Residential Photovoltaic Power Generation System Monitor Project" with the fund from METI. The purposes are:

To promote the mass production of PV systems and cost reduction by creating initial demand for the system.
To establish PV systems best suited to consumer's needs based on the operation data collected by monitoring.

Initially a subsidy covered about 50% of the total cost. Under this program, 3,590PV systems have been installed in 3 years with total power output 13MW, averaging at 3.7kW per system.

In FY 1997, in place of the above monitoring system, the "Program for Infrastructural Development of Introduction of Residential PV System" was started. It aims at large-scale introduction of solar power generation toward market independence after the year 2000. This program has the national budget multiplied from 4.1 billion yen in FY 1996 to 11.1 billion yen in FY 1997. With the expansion of budget, applications for subsidy increaed steeply and it reached 8,329 in FY 1997. Owing to the reduction in sytem price, the subsidy was reduced to about one third of the actual cost, and the selection was switched from lot-based one to first-come-first-served basis, so as to accept applications as many as possible.

In FY 1998, the application frame was expanded by installing that for "Local Government" in addition to those for "Private Housing" and "Housing Complex".

The budget of each fiscal year is as follows.

FY 1994	2.0	billion yen
FY 1995	3.3	billion yen
FY 1996	4.0	billion yen
FY 1997	11.1	billion yen
FY 1998	14.7	billion yen
FY 1999	16.0	billion yen
FY 2000	14.5	billion yen
FY 2001	23.5	billion yen
FY 2002	23.2	billion yen

Details of this program )))

Subsidy Program for Residential Solar Thermal Advanced Utilization Systems
From FY 2002, NEF started the "Subsidy Program for Residential Solar Thermal Advanced Utilization Systems" with the fund from METI. The budget for FY 2002 is approx. 5.8 billion yen.

A Solar Thermal Advanced Utilization System is constructed from a heat accumulator, a heat collector and a circulating pump which circulates antifreeze through the unit. The heat collector should be installed adequately on the roof. This system works for heating, cooling and hot water supply.

The purpose of this program is to reduce the cost to be affordable swiftly within several years in order to disseminate the system.

The gross area of this system (total area per heat collector x number of units) must be less than 25m². The amount of the subsidy is 150 thousand yen at the maximum per system.
Support Program for Regional Activities Concerning New Energy
The program aims to realize accelerated promotion of new energy introduction throughout Japan with positive efforts performed by private organizations such as NPO who can take regionally adapted effective measures at the grassroots level. Subsidies from the national government are used to partially cover the installation cost of photovoltaic power generation and the costs required to hold symposiums and lecture meetings.
Interest Subsidization Program
The program aims that businesses engaged in the thermal utilization of indigenous energy and power generation using geothermal and other renewable energy to be financed at low interest by financial institutions. NEF subsidizes financial institutions in interest, under subsidization by the national government. The value of each subsidies in FY 2001 is as follows.
1. Thermal utilization Projects
  - Interest subsidy for the loan up to 500 million yen
    Geothermal heat
    Waste heat
    Thermal energy conversion
  - Interest subsidy for the loan up to 300 million yen
    Heat of waste power generation
2. Power generation projects
  - Interest subsidy for the loan up to 400 million yen
    Wind power generation
    Power generation using waste heat
    Waste power generation
    Photovoltaic power generation
  - Interest subsidy for the loan up to 300 million yen
    Geothermal power generation
3. Small-to-medium-scale hydroelectric power plants
  - Interest subsidy = 841 million yen
Engineering & Technical Guidance
For hydroelectric power generation in the future, small-to-medium-scale sites must be developed, as many as possible, systematically, and the preparedness for this is insufficient. As such, in response to requests of public utilities, NEF extends guidance and engineering cooperation in the formulating of particular development plans, and in investigation, design, and construction at hydroelectric power sites. Especially for public utilities and the like that plan to develop such sites in the coming few fiscal years, and that are not sufficiently prepared in view of engineering and management, guidance activities are conducted, under government subsidies (subsidy rate 50%) .
And also NEF provides technical guidance for formulating development plans, designing, construction work concerning geothermal energy development in both Japan and foreign countries as well as lecture meetings and training course which help improve and nurture the skills of people engaged in the development and use of geothermal energy.

New Energy Award

In terms of warranting the energy security and conservation of global environment, the development and introduction of New Energy Equipment / System Category has increasing significance. For the purpose of promoting further introduction of new energy and enhancing the social awareness for the importance of new energy, the New Energy Foundation has instituted the "Commendations for the 21st Century Type New Energy Equipment / System Category" (New Energy Awards=formerly New Energy Vanguard 21) since FY 1996.

This institution is to invite public subscription of New Energy Equipment / System Category and their Application Category which may contribute to dissemination and promotion, and best of them will be honored with "New Energy Awards".

The commendation system is divided into two categories - the new energy equipment/system category and new energy system application category. After the severe evaluation and investigation by the examination committee, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize, Agency of Natural Resources and Energy Director-General Prize, and New Energy Foundation Chairman Prize are given to the outstanding entries of each category.

New Energy Award

2002 / 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998 / 1997 / 1996

2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996

Publication

New and Renewable Energy in Japan 2001

This publication reviews the current status of new and renewable energy in Japan and activities of New Energy Foundation.

New Energy Plaza

NEF collects new/renewable energy related information from inside and outside of Japan. Some of them are printed on "New Energy Plaza" in English. It is published three times a year and sent to energy related government organs, and private companies abroad.

Others

Overseas Relations

Overseas Seminar

NEF has conducted an annual seminar on "New and Renewable Energy Development and Utilization for Global Environment Protection" for energy concerned people working at government offices, institutes, electric companies, and universities in Asian countries from 1998 to 2001. Over 150 participants attended every seminar and studied and exchanged views very eagerly.

FY	1998	December 8-9, 1998 at MOD Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam
FY	1999	November 22-23, 1999 at Sol Twin Towers Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand
FY	2000	February 14-15, 2000 at Hotel Nikko in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FY	2001	Manila, October 17-18, 2001 at New World Renaissance Hotel in Manila, Philippines

Invitation Program of
Asian New Energy Specialists

NEF has invited energy concerned government officials and researchers from Asian countries to show new and renewable energy facilities in Japan for two weeks. The program aims to contribute to Asian countries for their further new/renewable energy introduction and utilization. From FY 1989 to FY 2001 total of 62 specialists of 11 countries have been invited to Japan.

Fiscal year	Participating countries
1989	Indonesia, Thailand
1990	China
1991	China
1992	Malaysia
1993	Indonesia, Nepal
1994	Vietnam
1995	Philippines, Sri Lanka
1996	Indonesia, Thailand
1997	Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand
1998	China, Philippines, Vietnam
1999	Korea, Nepal, Taiwan
2000	Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand
2001	India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Vietnam

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