Integrated policy for making the most of community energy and community finance based on interregional cooperation
Major aims of this research project can be summed up as follows:
Q1: Is there enough potentiality of renewable energy in north Tohoku district to cope with enormous energy demand of grand cities such as Tokyo?
Q2: In order to foster community-based renewable energy projects, what framework conditions are necessary?
Q3: In order to foster community-based renewable energy projects, what”integrated business promoting model” is effective and necessary?
Q4: Presupposing social customs in Japanese financial business world, what is the adequate method to mobilize money for renewable energy projects?
Based of various research methods such as a systematic interview, survey research and participant observation; we analyze key factors that are decisive for the success or failure of renewable energy projects. Using our research result, we propose an “integrated business promoting model” which is addressed to all stakeholders of renewable energies. The core idea of this model is a five steps model of key actors development. Key actors for renewable energy projects should consist of a core group and a network between it and various actors that can bring about resources and expert knowledge to the core group. The role of municipalities and its collaboration with residents are very important in this five steps model. Every village, town and city should encourage its residents to organize a core group and a cooperative network for renewable energy and set a continuous meeting for a community based renewable energy project. It is also recommendable that each municipality prepares adequate institutional frameworks such as a guide line for social acceptance of renewable energy projects.
