A Sociological Analysis of Linking Renewable Energy with Rural Regeneration

A feed in tariff system that was introduced after Fukushima nuclear accident has let people think that there are big business chances in the renewable energy’s market. Then, a lot of companies have tried to join to the market as electricity generator. In this presentation, we will examine the way of linking this market waking up with regenerations of rural economy from sociological perspectives.

 Because electricity generators need to sizable land for a facility, they install it in rural area. Rural areas where suffer from economic recession welcome it. However, if installers are only big companies whose main offices are in big cities such as Tokyo, economic benefits for rural areas will be limited.

 The scheme of our research group aims to link installs of renewable energy facility with spontaneous developments of rural areas. Based on this scheme, our group has researched and supported several projects that people living in rural area install renewable energy facilities.

 In the research, we have found that small entrepreneurs encounter a lot of barriers to install renewable facilities. Typical one is the negative attitude of local banks to financing them.

 Financing local companies by local banks is essential to the vitalization of regional economy. For promoting this finance, an analysis from sociological concepts such as social network is useful.

 To date, with overcoming barriers, lots of projects are ongoing by local people in Fukushima and other parts in Japan. For example, in Minami-Soma where is partially polluted by radioactive substances, farmers have installed PV panels on their farmlands. This project is called the ‘solar-sharing’ and will bring profits to farmers. In this case, a social network has played an important role.

 We will take some projects by local people and show the way in which people overcome financial and other barriers.