Environment Tsurui Village in Hokkaido buys land to block solar panels near crane habitat

Tsurui Village in Hokkaido is moving to buy private land after discovering plans for solar panels near one of Japan's most famous crane-watching spots. The plot sits about 1.5 kilometres from Otowa Bridge, where photographers flock to capture red-crowned cranes against the scenic backdrop. That same backdrop was apparently earmarked for solar development by an Osaka company.


Now the village is in talks to purchase roughly 7.5 hectares just outside Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park to keep the view intact. Since the land falls outside park boundaries, existing regulations wouldn't be strong enough to block the development, so buying it outright seems like the only sure way to protect what locals and visitors value most - an unspoiled landscape for Japan's iconic cranes.

The red-crowned crane holds special status as a government-designated Special Natural Monument, making preservation of its habitat particularly important.

Have they started building the giant windmills in Japan yet ?

Grandpa Frank said:

Have they started building the giant windmills in Japan yet ?

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In Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, I often see wind power plants, but they seem to be stopped most of the time. It looks like companies such as Mitsubishi Corporation and Hitachi Zosen started developing offshore wind power, but it didn't go very well. In Kyushu, there was a time when too many solar power plants were built, and Kyushu Electric Power temporarily refused to purchase electricity.

Mitsubishi Corporation Withdraws from Offshore Wind Power Project: "Continuation of Development is Difficult"

Mitsubishi Corporation has announced its withdrawal from offshore wind power projects that had been planned off the coasts of Akita Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture.
Mitsubishi Corporation President Katsuya Nakanishi stated:
"We examined the matter from every possible angle, but ultimately concluded that it would be difficult to continue development."
The project was part of a government-backed initiative in which Mitsubishi Corporation had been working together with multiple companies.
At a press conference, President Nakanishi cited soaring construction costs—far exceeding the original estimates—caused by rising prices and the weak yen as reasons for the withdrawal.
Offshore wind power has been positioned as a key element in the expansion of renewable energy.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saito, after receiving Mitsubishi Corporation's report of withdrawal, expressed regret, noting that it could lead to delays in implementation. He also urged the company to respond sincerely to local stakeholders who would be affected.

The construction of solar power plants in the Kushiro Wetlands has become a problem, as developments are being carried out without the approval of the Hokkaido governor. Furthermore, there is concern that many of these solar power projects are developed by dubious Japanese companies and then resold to Chinese firms.

Adachi Oshima has 32MW of wind power in Nagasaki. Goto Floating Wind Farm is about to come online as well. Kyushuu has them too

On solar I did not hear about the overproduction, my family owns a small solar farm specifically an uncle in law who got it from my now passed grandfather in law. My father in law used to help cut grass and do some maintenence before he passed. I am not as up to date so interesting to hear.

salyavin said:

Adachi Oshima has 32MW of wind power in Nagasaki. Goto Floating Wind Farm is about to come online as well. Kyushuu has them too

On solar I did not hear about the overproduction, my family owns a small solar farm specifically an uncle in law who got it from my now passed grandfather in law. My father in law used to help cut grass and do some maintenence before he passed. I am not as up to date so interesting to hear.

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Answer by ChatGPT
Here are some English-language sources about Kyushu Electric Power suspending or refusing renewable energy purchases/connection:
Main News Sources (English)
Reuters (2014)
"Japan's Kyushu Electric shuts off renewable suppliers from grid"
Reuters link
Kyushu Electric Power said it would stop accepting further renewable energy supply because the grid was reaching capacity due to the rapid increase of solar power projects.
The Japan Times (2014, English edition)
Headline: "Kyushu Electric halts new solar energy applications"
(Archived, not always free to access)
Reported that Kyushu Electric temporarily suspended new applications from renewable (mainly solar) producers under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program.
Bloomberg (2014)
"Kyushu Electric Suspends Grid Access for Renewables"
Covered how Kyushu Electric stopped allowing new renewable producers to connect, citing grid stability concerns.
These reports mainly refer to the 2014 suspension of renewable energy (especially solar PV) grid connections under Japan's Feed-in Tariff program.