Antinuclear

Solar oversupply leads southwest Japan utility to offer limited ‘free’ power.

The electric utility for Japan’s southwest Kyushu region announced here on
Sept. 28 that electricity will effectively be free for some households on
October and November afternoons thanks to high solar power generation.

Power output at solar plants frequently needs to be lowered on sunny autumn
days in Kyushu as oversupply could damage equipment. Accordingly, sales
offered by Kyushu Electric Power Co. (Kyuden) over certain time slots on
fair-weather days aim to both expand and level out energy demand. The deal
will be available to customers signed with the company’s energy plan for
homes running only on electricity who have smart meters installed.

Users also need to register with the company’s energy-saving “Kyuden Eco” app
once a flash sale is announced the day prior. During the sale’s designated
hours, users will accumulate points on the PayPay e-payment app matching
their energy usage. Sun-drenched Kyushu, which is blessed with ideal
weather for solar energy generation, also generates electricity through
nuclear power. Solar energy producers are thus frequently asked to halt
their operation because power transmission equipment could be damaged if
supply and demand are not in balance.

Mainichi 29th Sept 2023

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230929/p2a/00m/0bu/036000c

October 5, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized