Lessons from Interconnected Transmission lines Projects in the world and applications to Energy TPP(Trans Pacific Partnership)
Hiroaki Nagayama (Professor, The International Center, Kyoto University)
It is a great honor for me that my proposal concerning “Lessons from an International electricity interconnection project and application to the Asian and Pacific Region to realize an Energy agreement within the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) initiative”, was selected as the recipient of the 26th trans-Pacific academic research grant. I really appreciate the work of all the selection committee of Masayoshi Ohira’s Memorial Foundation. Following the disaster of the Fukushima 1st nuclear power plant, resulting from the Tohoku Earthquake on March 11th in 2011, it is time to reconsider the electric power system which has up to now been sustained under a reputation of being a stable supply. Although demand and supply was balanced in each regional power company’s area of operation, the disaster led to power supply shortages in Tokyo Electric Power Company’s area, and problems of power interchange have arisen because of insufficient capacities of interconnection lines and frequency converter stations. Some domestic and overseas agencies have started to examine international interconnections of electric power as the way to solve such problems. International electrical power supply interconnection projects can be effective in the establishment of regional security through more efficient power management in each area, a more diversified power supply mix and stable power supply. Moreover, power transmission and distribution system within the area encourages operation cost to decrease and electricity prices to decrease. Furthermore, the utilization of each country’s natural resources and renewable energy facilitates further electric power development and a more diversified and stable power supply can be ensured through market integration. From this viewpoint, in the present research, we will investigate international power interconnection projects which have already been established in other countries and clarify lessons and challenges. In addition, we will examine the challenge for realization of power exchange in the Asian and Pacific area with a focus on Japan, Korea and Russia. On receipt of the present research grant, I really would like to advance the research so that international power interconnection projects can be successfully realized at the soonest opportunity.
Profile
1988 Bachelor Degree, Keio University Major: Econometrics From 1988 to 1990 Research Associate, Industrial Economics Department, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. 1992 Completed Master Degree, MBA (1992), Yale University Completed Ph.D., Kyoto University (2007) From August 2004 to August 2005 Visiting Scholar, University of Cambridge (UK), Department of Applied Economics From 1992 to 2007 Senior Consultant, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. From 2008 to PRESENT Professor, the International Center, Kyoto University
