Wind power manifests force in Japan earthquake

When all the world's attention is focused on the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, when countries are arguing about the safety of nuclear power, few people notice that in this catastrophe, Japan’s wind power facilities are all safe. The land was preserved, and it contributed its own strength in the face of power shortages in Japan.

Since the earthquake in Japan, the Fukushima nuclear power plant leakage accident has almost occupied the headlines of major newspapers. The people of the world are holding their breath and are watching every dynamic of the Fukushima nuclear power plant event. However, few media have noticed that after the major earthquake, Japan’s wind power stations were almost intact, and at the most critical moment, continued power was supplied to this devastated country. Although many opponents of wind power claimed that the local wind power facilities could not be preserved in this major earthquake and the tsunami triggered by them, these wind power stations actually used facts and powerful counterattacks to counteract this kind of "deterrence."

Kamisu wind power station was only 300 kilometers away from the epicenter of the earthquake. However, after the most severe earthquake in Japan’s history, the wind power station “survived” and continues to generate electricity, especially after the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Since wind power plants do not have to be built where there is water, the risk of accidents is much less. Therefore, after people have witnessed the serious consequences of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, this simple and safe feature is even more valuable.

Yoshinori Ued, chairman of the Japan Wind Power Association, said after the earthquake that it had not received any reports of wind power stations damaging the earthquake and tsunami. Even Kamisu wind power stations that are not far from the epicentre of the earthquake are intact. If the Fukushima nuclear power plant delivered a bad answer in the earthquake test, then the Kamisu wind power station delivered a satisfactory answer and its excellent seismic design played a significant role.

Yoshinori Ued said that most of the wind power stations in Japan are currently operating at full capacity. The power companies even require some power stations to continue to increase power supply to ease the serious shortage of power supply in eastern Japan.

Eurus Energy is Japan's largest wind power company and has a 22% market share in Japan's wind power market. Recently, Eurus Energy announced that none of its 11 power stations in eastern Japan have been damaged by the earthquake. Eight of the power stations are operating normally, with a power generation scale of 174.9 megawatts. Three other nuclear power plants, including Kamaishi wind power station (42.9 MW), Takinekoshirai wind power station (46 MW) and Satomi wind power station (10.02 MW) were destroyed due to the earthquake. The power grid facilities in these areas are currently at a standstill.

Eurus Energy also said that these decommissioned wind power stations will soon be put into use again. Interestingly, Eurus Energy is the subsidiary of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which was notorious for the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. After the same disaster, both faced a completely different situation. It really deserves people to think deeply.