Summary
Entrusted Work Concerning the Potential for the Introduction of Renewable Energies(FY 2020)
The introduction of renewable energies is important not only as a countermeasure for global
warming but also from such viewpoints as establishing energy security, developing autonomousand scattered energy systems and creating new industries and jobs. For this reason, in an effort
to develop basic data to examine measures to introduce and spread the use of renewableenergies in the coming years, the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) conducted the “Study onthe Potential for the Introduction of Renewable Energies” in FY 2009 and FY 2010, the“Development of Basic Zoning Information Concerning Renewable Energies” in FY 2011
through FY 2016 and the “Development and Disclosure of Basic Zoning Data Concerning
Renewable Energies” in FY 2017 through FY 2019, thereby estimating the abundance as wellas introduction potential of renewable energies (PV power, wind power, small and mediumscale hydropower, geothermal heat, solar heat and underground heat) in Japan and their possible
introduction amounts by different scenarios and, at the same time, developing basic zoning
information.
The work conducted in FY 2020 included enhancement of the functions of the WebGIS system
and revision of the summary document featuring the work in previous years concerning
information and tools developed so far by the MoE pertaining to renewable energies from theviewpoint of improving the convenience of such information, etc. for users. Moreover, a
database containing information on the introduction potential of renewable energies andinformation on disaster prevention and other matters related to local needs was created toprovide vital information which is easily accessible and understood by the public.
1. Arrangement of Information Related to Disaster Prevention
In view of the increased frequency of several natural
disasters in recent years, certain information,including  disaster prevention-related data which isbeing developed for the EADAS (Environment
Impact Assessment Database System) and 
information on disaster prevention facilities, etc.
promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, was superimposed on theRenewable Energy Potential System (REPOS) for thepurpose of promoting the establishment of renewableenergy facilities.

Fig. 1 Results of superimposition of disaster preventionrelated information on the REPOS

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2. Re-Estimation of Underground Heat
In view of the fact that the progress of innovation of open loop-type technologies was reducing
the once concerned ground settlement and environmental pollution by groundwater drainage, a
study on existing literature on open loop-type technologies and an interview survey wereconducted to understand the latest technological trends and their acceptability to society. A
further study was conducted on the actual introduction of cases of open loop-type technologies
and the advantages and disadvantages of such technologies were clarified. An estimation
method was then examined and its suitability was verified while listening to the opinions ofexperts.
3. Examination to Incorporate Check Dam Survey Data Relating to Small and Medium-Scale
Hydropower Generation in the REPOS
A suitable mechanism was examined to display data relating to check dams which was collectedin the “Entrusted Work to Study Various Factors for the Study on the Potential for Hydropower
Generation at Check Dams” conducted by the MoE in FY 2018 and FY 2019 on the REPOS.

Fig. 2 Results of the superimposition of check dam study data on the REPOS
4.

Study on and Sorting of Domestic and Overseas Trends Concerning the Introduction
Potential of Renewable Energies

Efforts were constantly made to obtain information on the environment for the introduction ofrenewable energies and relevant business environment and also on work undertaken by variousorganizations which could affect such environment. The results were sorted to summarize thetrends and to establish the relationship with the Entrusted Work and any room for the EntrustedS-2

Work to reflect such trends. Moreover, major overseas activities relating to information on thepotential of renewable energies were studied and arranged.
5. Examination of an Efficient Renewal Method for Information on the Introduction Potentialof Renewable Energies
In regard to information on the introduction potential of various renewable energy sources,continuous efforts were made to obtain information enabling the renewal of such information
at a low cost and as autonomously as possible and also to examine a desirable way to constructa related system. To be more precise, a calculation method (flow of estimation of theintroduction potential) using external information sources was examined regarding data, etc.
handled by the REPOS. The necessity for catch-up to respond to the frequency of the renewalof external data was examined along with the technical feasibility of the “automatization of thecalculation flow” using the REPOS. Further examination was conducted regarding thefeasibility of the efficient renewal of information in the case where the viewpoint of costeffectiveness is taken into consideration.
Table 1

Examination results of the feasibility of the efficient renewal of primary data by
category
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
TypeFeasibility for
Efficient Renewal
Disclosed to the Open-data
API disclosedA○publicDownloadingB△~ ×required
Not open-data
C×
Not disclosed toD×the public

6. Revision of Summary Document Prepared in the Previous Year Featuring the Introduction
Potential, etc. of Renewable Energies
The summary document prepared in the previous year featuring the introduction potential, etc.
of renewable energies was revised by making the necessary modifications.
7. Publicity of the REPOS
To improve the level of recognition of the REPOS, the basic policy (draft) for the formulationof a PR strategy was prepared, the target groups for publicity were determined and a PR strategywas examined along with publicity of the REPOS in environment-related magazines andwebsites.
8. Coordination for the REPOS
As it was necessary for the REPOS to develop and operate itself through cooperation between
the “work to prepare and consolidate data (main work)” and the “work for system installation,

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maintenance and operation” and also to establish a smooth link with systems, such as theEADAS, developed by other projects, the contents of the necessary coordination were designedwith reference to the “Basic Design Document” and “Detailed Design Document” prepared for
the Entrusted Work Concerning the Design and Development of a Transmission Site forInformation on Renewable Energy Potential in FY 2019”. This coordination was implemented
following the “Protocol for Coding” and “Rules to Ensure Information Security” as stipulated
as part of the development work based on the design contents.
9. Establishment and operation of inquiry window / Holding of work progress meeting
For inquiries regarding REPOS made to the MoE, e-mail address was assigned to receive andrespond the answers.
Work progress meeting was held once to share relevant information with MoE, to review work
principles, and to receive advice and suggestion from external advisory experts.

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