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The Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund is engaging in its Eco Support Project under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. This initiative provides grants to purchase and install solar generating and storage facilities at public elementary and junior high schools in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. It also helps educate students about the benefits of clean energy.
The fund recently chose 24 schools as stage two grant recipients under this program. It received applications from 27 schools in these prefectures, including 12 in Iwate Prefecture, 11 in Miyagi Prefecture, and 4 in Fukushima Prefecture. The Fund’s selection committee chose the applicants in question after evaluating their operational and school environmental education plans.
The Fund will grant 1.5 billion yen from a total of 2.5 billion set aside for assistance to aid the reconstruction of public elementary and junior high schools damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake, which are purchasing and installing solar generating and storage facilities that can be used during disasters. The Fund aims to provide assistance to a total of 50 schools in three stages between Sept 1, 2011, and March 31, 2014. The Fund is paying a consumption tax inclusive grant of up to 30 million yen per school for solar facilities. They comprise an emergency solar generator with a maximum capacity of 20 kilowatts and storage batteries with an aggregate capacity of up to 16 kilowatts.
Stage one of this program saw 11 schools receive grants and complete solar facilities installations by the end of September 2012. The 35 Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefecture elementary and junior high schools chosen under stage two will similarly install solar facilities.
As well as helping public elementary and junior high schools in disaster-hit areas install solar generating and storage facilities, the Fund will also assist with constructing public facilities, including educational facilities needed to help local children rebuild their lives.
© Japan Today
5 Comments
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basroil
30 million yen is an average of 1500 yen per nameplate watt. That's three times the going rate for solar, and more than twice even including the batteries, inverters, and grid friendly meters.
They would be far better off if Cocacola just provided a 20kW gas turbine mini-generator with water heating co-generation. They could service four or five times as many schools, and nobody would have to worry about strong winds destroying panels, or lightning obliterating them.
basroil
A large school easily uses several times more than this plant can provide. Just lighting for 3 hours a day would be enough to drain the batteries.
For example, a K-8 at the same latitude with 27kW installed gets just 15kW on average. Even if they manage 15kW on 20kW installed, 15kW is just enough to run 100 lights and 50 computers, with just enough left over to charge the batteries.
This is simply a tax break for Coke rather than anything good.
Lets not forget that these things put off more CO2 in manufacturing than they reduce over the lifetime.
Open Minded
Basroil: progresses in renewable energy efficiency can happen only if the ones who are investing in R&D get some reasonable ROI. I agree with you that so far the energetic balance is questionable. However companies investing in these kind of new technologies must be supported to achieve sustainable energy supply in the long term I have no doubt that the human genius will make it. But for that we need to think out of the box. So, why blaming the ones who try? Even though it might take 20 years, we must kick it off now.
PS: IMHO Coca Cola has nothing to do in schools and this is pure PR to raise their image and defend the vending machines that I am definitely not a fan of. But still, any founding in this direction will accelerate the goal achievement. Thus I can only support this program if lead on the long term with engineers/universities with clear objectives.