The Japan Times: Wave power excites as next energy source

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20111002a6.html

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

Wave power excites as next energy source

Kyodo

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Researchers have estimated that ocean waves could produce around the same amount of electricity for Japan as 36 nuclear reactors, but the development costs would be high and there are still many technological challenges before putting waves into practical use alongside solar power.

The government enacted a law in late August to promote renewable energy sources and require power suppliers to purchase electricity produced by other firms and households using renewable energy.

The government did not include tidal power on the list of such energy sources.

It nonetheless has decided to pay as much as ¥7.8 billion for a five-year feasibility experiment on capturing the energy of ocean waves and converting it into electricity, starting this fiscal year.

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