A Study of Hydro-electric Generation in Japan

Abstract

The progress of hydro-electric industry in Japan is related, considering the post-war power situation in Japan, for the purpose of overall development of rivers, the necessity of development of hydraulic power is stressed. In former days, supply of electricity in dry season, the decrease of hydro-electric power was mainly covered by thermal power to keep the balance. The reasons are :
1. Thermal generating plant was damaged by war amounting to 1, 467, 730 kw (51% of power plant.).
2. Exceedingly high cost of coal.
It became unpractical to use power both of hydraulic and thermal. In other words, it became more economical to cover the shortage of power in dry season by the hydro-electricity generated with water in reservoir than thermal power. The reservoir in our country, its capacity to keep water is considerably small in comparison with he size of darn, owing to unfavorable topographic features as shown in table 5-The means to overcome this defect is open for planning reservoirs, considerations should be made by taking in various economic sections, such as electricity, irrigation, water control together. Reservoirs for these three sections if planned, the construction expenses being shared by three parties, will be comparatively lightened. Consequently the quantity of reserve water in need, can be available.
Our economic rehabilitation is facing two contradicting phases : need of repressing inflation in reconstruction of industry and rehabilitation of damages caused by disasters, however, necessary to be accomplished vigorously. It is believed that measures of an increase of power sources including augmentation of food production and water control should necessarily be promoted.
Construction Bureau of Economic Stabilization Board, for the purpose of developing reservoirs, for common use of irrigation, water control and power generating, is investigating over sixteen rivers since 1947. The outline of this plan is. related hereby.