Socio-economic Impact of Small Hydropower on community: A new local electricity biz in Kyushu to bring benefit to local community

Abstract

Japanese energy policy had heavily relied on nuclear energy until the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (called 3.11). However, after 3.11, the Japanese government was forced to change its energy policy and now the government is putting an emphasis on utilizing renewable energy. Among types of renewable energy, small hydropower generation is winning attention because it provides many advantages such as being a chisan-chisho (produced locally and consumed locally) typed energy, produces little Greenhouse gas, constantly produces energy, having many potential sites around Japan, and having a long life time. This study selected Kyushu Hatsuden, a new corporation in Kagoshima Prefecture established by local firms and influential people to promote small hydropower generation in the prefecture as a case study. This study conducted a socio-economic analysis using several analytical methods. The results of the series of analyses showed that the small hydropower business of Kyushu Hatsuden has a positive impact on the local community.