DEMONSTRATION PROJECT OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES AT ASHIKAGA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

摘要

Recently, the global environmental problems became more and more a serious matter of concern among peoplein the world and AIT also has been devising some practical measures on enlightenment and dissemination ofnatural energy utilization. In March 1995, “Wind and Solar Square” consisting of small wind turbine generatorand hybrid system was installed at A.I.T. We extended 'Wind and Solar Square' locating near our campus onJune 2001, expecting the following three roles. The first role of the square is an outside experimental field tolearn how to make use of the natural energy. The second one is a theme park to enlighten and educate on theenvironmental problems. And the third one is a workshop to acquire appropriate technologies for supportingdeveloping countries. The total area of the square is 12,000 m~2 and it consists of four sub-themes, i.e. wind,sun, water, and wood. In the square, the all-inclusive small-scale wind turbines, solar panels, water liftingpumps, and other devices utilizing the natural energy are on display, as shown in Figure 1. In the site, wehave a biotope pond as natural ecosystem, a deck made of lumbers from thinning out as an outside classroom,and the natural energy mini museum as exhibition hall. On the first floor of the two-story museum as shownin Figure 2, various micro-scale wind turbines, models of windmills, and other goods about “wind” aredisplayed. The second floor is dedicated to solar cookers and each type of representative solar cookers in theworld, including Chinese reflecting type, Indian heat box type, and American panel type solar cooker forback-packers, etc. are displayed. This square has been the observation site for the visitors from developingcountries by the program in the agricultural machine course in Tsukuba International Center of JICA, AsianRural Institute, New Energy Foundation, etc. since its establishment for six years. We also have beenassisting introduction of wind-powered pump systems to Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal and Peru as an activity totransfer technology to developing countries applying the measures we worked out in this square.