Analysis on impact of introducing renewable energy on local community: In case of micro hydro

After 3.11 (Great East Japan Earthquake), energy security has been one of the hottest issues in Japan. Since all of the nuclear plants were shut down, Japanese people have been carefully considering utilization of renewable energy. Among renewable energy, hydro energy (or Hydroelectric Power) has been occupying the largest share. However, a big hydroelectric power plant which requires a huge dam construction can not be built easily these days. Alternatively, a micro hydro which does not need to construct a huge dam is winning attention. A micro hydro generates just a small amount of electricity; but it brings many benefits-it does not need to construct a huge dam (thus do not destroy the nature), it uses a small river or an irrigation channel or water supply and sewerage works. Some communities have successfully revitalized their society by building a micro hydro and using the energy generated by the facility. This study is aimed at analyzing an impact of a micro hydro on a community and seek for an efficient way to introduce the most eco conscious renewable energy.