社説：再生エネ法 着実に取り組む体制を

(Mainichi Japan) August 17, 2011
Renewable energy expansion proposed in bill an unavoidable step for Japan
社説：再生エネ法　着実に取り組む体制を

A bill requiring utilities to purchase renewable energy at fixed prices is now expected to pass in the Diet.
　再生可能エネルギー固定価格買い取り法案が成立の見通しとなった。

While many challenges still lie ahead, the establishment of a sustainable energy system is something that Japan cannot avoid, and we throw our support behind the development.
解決が必要な問題が数多く残されているものの、持続可能なエネルギーシステムの構築は、避けては通れない課題だ。利用が着実に拡大するよう、後押ししたい。

According to the proposed bill, utilities will buy electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal power, the cost of which utilities can then add to consumers' electricity bills.
　太陽光や風力、地熱など再生可能エネルギーによってつくられた電力を電力会社が買い上げ、そのコストを電力料金に上乗せして回収するのが、この法案のポイントだ。

Utilities heretofore have bought only surplus energy from home solar systems, but passage of the bill will require utilities to purchase electricity generated by outside providers solely for sales purposes as well.
これまでは自家使用を除く余剰分の買い取りだったが、純粋に販売目的の電力も新たに買い上げの対象となる。

The original goal of the bill was to curb the emission of greenhouse gases.
　温室効果ガスの排出抑制がこの法案のもともとの目的だった。

However, after the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, the bill took on a whole new meaning.
しかし、東日本大震災に伴う福島第１原子力発電所の事故を経て、原発への依存の見直しという観点が加わった。

As circumstances today differ drastically from when the bill was first drawn up, it's only natural that the bill has been revised.
　法案策定段階と状況が大きく異なっており、修正が加えられたのは当然の成り行きだ。

The prices at which utilities will purchase electricity will be based on deliberations conducted by a third-party commission, whose members must be endorsed by the Diet.
　買い取り価格は、人事に国会の同意が必要な第三者委員会の検討をもとに決める。

A new proviso has also been added to the bill ensuring the implementation of measures to aid industries that consume large quantities of electricity.
また、電力使用量が多い産業には負担軽減措置をとるといったことが、新たに盛り込まれた。

Both maintaining transparency in the process by which electricity prices are set and offering special considerations for industries that will be greatly affected by the developments are crucial.
　価格の決定過程を透明化し、影響の大きな産業に配慮することは必要な措置だ。

Prices must be set high enough to provide an incentive for private corporations and other parties to break into the business of energy generation.
　ただ、買い取り価格がある程度高くないと、参入意欲は高まらない。

If set too high, however, the new electricity surcharges could pose too much of a burden on large-scale energy consumers, which may then result in the hollowing out of industry and increased unemployment.
かといって、価格が高くなりすぎると負担が大きくなり、産業の空洞化による雇用などへの影響も心配しなければならなくなる。

As such, prices must strike the right balance.
バランスのとれた価格設定が重要だ。

The unstable supply and the varied voltages and frequencies of solar- and wind-based energy are an additional concern.
　また、太陽光や風力による発電は、発電量が不安定なのに加え、電圧や周波数といった電力の質の面での問題も抱えている。

Furthermore, as the power distribution networks currently used by individual utilities will not be sufficient to accommodate the new energy system, arrangements such as the widespread use of various power distribution networks must be made.
現在の電力会社ごとの送電網運用では導入に限界があるため、送電網の広域運用など導入量を増やす仕組みを構築する必要がある。

The strategy of initially storing generated electricity in batteries set up by households and businesses before stabilizing the energy is another way to expand the use of renewable energy.
　家庭や事業所に設置した電池にいったん蓄え、安定化を図るといった方策も、再生エネルギーの活用拡大につながるだろう。

Although one of the original motivations behind the increased use of renewable energy sources had been the reduction of greenhouse gases, in light of the nuclear disaster and the nuclear power plants that are currently not in operation as a result, we have no choice but to increase our use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal for the time being.
　再生可能エネルギーの活用に期待されていたのは、温室効果ガスの抑制だったが、原発の停止にともない当面は、石油や天然ガス、石炭といった化石燃料に頼る分を増やさざるを得ない。

This means we have a huge task ahead of us: reducing our dependence on nuclear power while also aiming to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
　その分も含め、原発への依存度を下げつつ温室効果ガスの排出抑制も目指さなければならない。ハードルは高い。

Realizing the widespread use of electricity generated from renewable sources is something we cannot postpone. 　ただ、持続可能なエネルギー供給の実現は不可避の課題だ。

And we must not forget that adopting the new energy system will promote the growth of new business opportunities, including the creation of a smart grid -- the digitization of electrical grids through collaboration with the communications industry.
また、そこには新しい産業を育てる面があることも忘れてはならない。通信と連携して賢い電力の使い方を探るスマートグリッドなどだ。

We hope to continue promoting the expansion of renewable energy, along with energy conservation and related policies.
　省エネなど他の方策とも合わせて、着実に取り組んでいきたい。

毎日新聞　2011年8月17日　東京朝刊