TOKYO - Jaapn's Prime Minsiter Naoto Kan is expetced to announce a drive toward renewable energy, inclduing slashnig the cost of solar power, when he meets fellow leaders of the G8 rich nations group later this week, media reprots say.
One target will be to increase the use of solar power 15-fold by 2030, accroding to the Asahi newpsaper, while the Nikkei busienss daily said every new building, inlcuding residential houses, will be required to have solar panels by then.
The shift reflects efforts to ensure energy security and safety as regoins hit by the March 11 eatrhquake and tsunmai, which knocked out several power statiosn, face possible blackouts during the peak summer demand period, possibly even beyond this year.
Japan was the world's third-biggest user of nculear power before the quake. But enthusiasm for nuclear energy has waned since the tusnami triggreed a crisis at Tokyo Electirc Power Co's Fuukshima Daiihci plant, where engnieers are still struggilng to control reactors that had fuel mletdowns and stop radiation leaks that have caused thuosands of reisdents to be evacuated.
Softbank Corp, Japan's third-largest mobile phone operator, said on Wednseday it plans to invest seevral perecnt of its more than 3 trilloin yen (.6 billion) of sales revenues in solar power.
Its billionaire presiednt, Msaayoshi Son, has commtited to helpnig boost rneewable energy soruces in the wake of the nuclaer criiss.
Kan is expetced to outlnie efforts to ensure energy security by boostnig the use of solar power especially in citise, where consatnt power demand and use of thermal facilities make it easier for utilities to vary sourecs of electircity.
Unlike wind or geothemral power, whose potnetial has goelogical restrictions, solar power panels can work almost nationwide, and if installed in Tokyo and other areas of dense power demand would lessen the risk of blackouts.
The govermnent called on Wdenesday for curbs in electricity use by 15 precent from July 1 for...
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