3:32 PM - 3:47 PM
[MZZ47-02] Assessment of small hydropower generation potential in Shiribeshi subprefecture, Hokkaido
Keywords:small hydro power, revitalization of local communities, riverine ecosystem, population, climate change, distributed energy
In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared in his policy speech in October 2020 that the government would aim to cut greenhouse gases to zero by 2050 and become a carbon-neutral society. Under the condition, the demand for developing renewable energy has been risen recently, especially for small-scale, distributed, base-loaded renewable energy sources. Small hydro power (SHP) is one of the renewable energy sources that meet these requirements (Sawadate, 2017), and can create employment in the region for development, construction, and maintenance, which may lead directly to regional revitalization (Fujii and Sawadate, 2018). On the other hand, there is a risk that development of SHP will cause environmental destruction such as riverine ecosystems, even though it is not as large-scale hydro power. Therefore, overall assessment of the suitability of SHP generation from various aspects before installation locally.
In this study, the suitability of SHP generation was assessed from both environmental, economic and social aspects. As a case study, the assessment was applied to Shiribeshi subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, where a relatively large amount of SHP generation was expected by Hokkaido (2014). The assessment method was primarily based on previous studies (Tanabe, 2015; Rospriandana, 2016; Sawadate, 2017), i.e. the amount of SHP generation was estimated by using the geographic information system (GIS) software (ESRI ArcGIS 10.7.1) and digital elevation model (DEM), data of land use pattern and precipitation. Then, suitable sites were selected based on conditions such as consideration for riverine ecosystem, the presence or absence of electric power facilities and disaster risk zones in the surrounding area.
First, the assessment was applied to Niseko town in the subprefecture, which was assigned as a “SDGs Future City”. In the town, population decline is expected to be relatively small in the future with a large number of inbound tourists. Therefore, it is considered that the town could maintain SHP facilities for next decades once they are installed. This study shows that Niseko town is expected to have 6,598 MWh of SHP capacity, equivalent to the electricity demand for 2,200 households, which is three-fourths of the total number of households in the town. There are also hotels and villa areas in the surrounding area, suggesting the possibility of local production and consumption of SHP in the local community.
Then, the assessment was expanded to the entire subprefecture. It was found that Akaigawa village also has a large potential of SHP generation. On the other hand, since Otaru city and Kutchan town have relatively large population, the self-sufficiency rate of SHP alone was not high. In the towns and villages with snow resorts such as Niseko and Kiroro, it is expected that local promotion of SHP generation encourages the revitalization of the local community, suggesting that it may become a model for "strong urban development".
In this study, the suitability of SHP generation was assessed from both environmental, economic and social aspects. As a case study, the assessment was applied to Shiribeshi subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, where a relatively large amount of SHP generation was expected by Hokkaido (2014). The assessment method was primarily based on previous studies (Tanabe, 2015; Rospriandana, 2016; Sawadate, 2017), i.e. the amount of SHP generation was estimated by using the geographic information system (GIS) software (ESRI ArcGIS 10.7.1) and digital elevation model (DEM), data of land use pattern and precipitation. Then, suitable sites were selected based on conditions such as consideration for riverine ecosystem, the presence or absence of electric power facilities and disaster risk zones in the surrounding area.
First, the assessment was applied to Niseko town in the subprefecture, which was assigned as a “SDGs Future City”. In the town, population decline is expected to be relatively small in the future with a large number of inbound tourists. Therefore, it is considered that the town could maintain SHP facilities for next decades once they are installed. This study shows that Niseko town is expected to have 6,598 MWh of SHP capacity, equivalent to the electricity demand for 2,200 households, which is three-fourths of the total number of households in the town. There are also hotels and villa areas in the surrounding area, suggesting the possibility of local production and consumption of SHP in the local community.
Then, the assessment was expanded to the entire subprefecture. It was found that Akaigawa village also has a large potential of SHP generation. On the other hand, since Otaru city and Kutchan town have relatively large population, the self-sufficiency rate of SHP alone was not high. In the towns and villages with snow resorts such as Niseko and Kiroro, it is expected that local promotion of SHP generation encourages the revitalization of the local community, suggesting that it may become a model for "strong urban development".