New energy sources contribute 7 % of Japanese power production

New energy sources, including solar power, make up 7 % of Japan's total electricity production, according to a group associated with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
In a survey, the New Energy Foundation reported electricity production capacity from new sources stood at 15.52 million kW as of August 1996 which was 7 % of Japan's total electricity production.
In the five years leading up to 1996, solar power production capacity grew 20 times while wind power production capacity grew 13 times, the foundation said.
Solar power production jumped to 20,000 kW in 1996 from 1,000 kW in 1991, while wind power production also rose to 13,000 kW from 1,000 kW in 1991, it said.
Around Japan, facilities for the producing energy from new sources numbered 7,611 places, of which cogeneration facilities - those which produce both electricity and heat - numbered some 27 % of the total, the survey said.
Small-sized dams and hydropower plants numbered some 22 % of thetotal number of facilities, solar heater facilities were about 17 % and solar electric power facilities were some 13 %, it said.
Of the total electricity production capacity from new sources, hydropower came to about 64 %, while cogeneration contributed 22 %, the foundation said.
The foundation sent questionnaires to 5,522 groups including local, public facilities and organisations, and private corporations, to which there were 3,856 respondents.