Abstract
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Accident (so-called 3.11), the Japanese government drastically changed its energy policy. Expanding the usage of renewable energy is an urgent matter in Japan. There are a variety of renewable energy sources available, including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small hydro energy. However, of these, small hydro energy is attracting much attention because it has many advantages: it is a stable energy source, no fuel is required, it is clean, it produces little CO₂ (greenhouse gas), it is a distributed energy source, and it is capable of long-term operation. In rural areas of Japan, many communities have been struggling with declining industry and a rapidly aging population, combined with a falling birth rate. Some of these communities are constructing and operating small hydropower plants to try to create sustainable communities. This study examines community revitalizing programs utilizing small hydropower plants in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, and analyzes the impact of these programs on the community.
