Press

Newsweek

Tanaka Hydropower Chosen by Newsweek Japan as one of the "100 Small to Midsize Companies that will Save Japan"

2011/12/7

100 Small to Midsize Companies that will Save Japan

６６　Tanaka Hydropower - A microhydropower plant manufacturer that has been in the spotlight due to the recent shortage of electricity.  While most of their installations are 1000kW or less, the ability to easily implement their systems within existing waterworks infrastructure make their solutions very appealing.  They are currently developing solutions which are even smaller in scale and can be using within irrigation canals.  The realization of these solutions, will help with the electrification of the rural areas of developing countries.  See article (Japanese)



The Denki Shinbun

Tanaka Hydropower - Recognized as "One of the Most Innovative Small Businesses" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

2009/07/23

President Akihiro Tamura holding the "One of the Most Innovative Small Businesses" award given by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

While Tanaka Hydropower (Kanagawa prefecture, Zama-city / President Akihiro Tamura) has only recently become an independent company, it has already been recognized as the top maker of small scale hydropower equipment.

As a very clean form of renewable energy without the need of a large dam, microhydropower has gained the attention of much of the world. However, up to now, it has often been overlooked due to its economic infeasibility as well as the lack of turbines optimized for microhydropwer. Responding to this opportunity, Tanaka Hydropower has focused it energies to create solutions which can expand the realization of economically viable small scale sites by lowering equipment costs, maintenance costs, and allowing for installation within space restricted sites. For its contribution, in April of this year, Tanaka Hydropower was recognized as one of the 300 most innovative small businesses.

Hydropower is centered around the use of head and flow of water. Depending upon the actual amount of head and flow, the most effective type of turbine varies. To address the head and flow parameters often seen in potential small scale sites, Tanaka Hydropower in conjunction with Tokyo Electric Power Company and Tokyo Electric Generation Company developed a unique type of turbine called the "Inline Linkless Francis Turbine". This turbine was first installed at a Nara prefecture water station in 2007 and has since been installed at 6 other sites.

The conventional Francis is the most widely used turbine in the world, but its design is complex and therefore is quite costly and require significant maintenance. Given these attributes, the use of a conventional Francis turbine within small scale sites has proved to be difficult. The Inline Linkless Francis Turbine addresses this problem since it maintains the benefits of the Francis turbine while having a lower cost and less maintenance. This new type of Francis turbine does not make use of guide vane rings or pins and instead, uses a gear structure which significantly simplifies the design and reduces the number of moving parts. Also, to mitigate issues concerning penstock pressure build-up, a emergency shut off valve has been incorporated into the design. Another added benefits of the Inline Linkless Francis Turbine is that it can be easily installed into existing water systems (pumping stations, filtration plants, etc.) due to its small and compact design.

Going forward, Tanaka Hydropower has stated that it is committed to promoting the small scale hydropower industry by proactively developing products which fit the changing needs of their customers.

Tanaka Hydropower Co., Ltd. 5-18-34, Hibarigaoka, Zama-shi, Kanagawa-ken, 252-0003, Japan

home page: http://www.tanasui.co.jp/   TEL : 046 (251) 8511


Vanuatu Daily Post

Japan officially hands Sarakata hydroelectric project to Government

2009/05/28

(Vanuatu Daily Post, Jane Joshua)  The Ambassador to Japan to Vanuatu H.E Yutaka Yoshizawa officially hanaded the upgraded Sarakata River Hydroelectric power station to the Government of Vanuatu, Monday.  The Sarakata river Hydroelectric power station generated around 70% of total power suppply.

The Goverment delegation led by Ministry for Public Utilities and Infrastructure Serge Vohor, Finance Minister Sela Molisa and Lands Minister Raphael Worwor were greeted with leis and treated to a custom ceremony by the renowned Fanafo people and chief Franky Stevens.  Minister Vohor, Minister Worwor, Sanma Province president Sebastian Alguet then joined the Ambassador Yutaka to unveil the plaque and give the invited guest and public a tour of the power station before sealing the event with a good round of kava.
 
The growing demand in Lugainville and renewed dependence on diesel power generation to meet the maximum power demand made it difficult for Vanuatu to upgrade the Hydroelectric Power station with its own budget.  Thus the main purpose of the funding, which is well over Vt 1.4 billion was made available through Japan's general Grant Aid scheme was to improve the Power station by installing hydraulic turbine generators as an environment friendly means to produce economical electricity for Vanuatu's needs.
 
Acknowledgement is due to the Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd. for the consultancy service and the Dai Nippon Construction (18-VGJ-199) for the construction work in this project.
At another major contribution to Vanuatu at the Port Vila Main wharf ground breaking ceremony Minister for Education Charlot Salwai thanked the Japanese government for another major infrastructure development that will assist in Vanuatu's development and advancement.  "I am proud to say that the hydro power plant will boost energy supply in Santo but above all, it is an incentive attracting investors to Santo,"he said.
 
The grant aid is in line with Japan's objectives to provide sustainable and constructive support for the development of projects that contribute to the improvement of essential infrastructural facitlities promoting socio-economic development and a sustainable power supply to stimulate further economic growth and development.