Abstract
Small hydropower plants utilizing unharnessed energy in existing irrigation systems are a prominent source of renewable energy. In Japan, land improvement districts play a key role in the management of irrigation systems, but face serious problems in terms of management sustainability and require participation from non-farmers. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of residents’ involvement in small hydropower projects on their environmental awareness and understanding of the projects’ multifunctional regional value. We administered a questionnaire survey to 238 households in three areas: Itoshiro, Kashimo and Ibigawa. The respondents were categorized into four groups: participation, recognition, knowledge and control. Based on the degree of respondents’ involvement in small hydropower projects, inclusive relationships between their involvement and awareness were revealed. These relationships suggest that the trigger of resident involvement is a key factor in developing sustainable small hydro facilities within existing irrigation systems.
Highlights
Affordable clean energy is a key global challenge, and was raised in Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and we will increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 (SDG 7.2) [1]
The degrees of environmental awareness were significantly higher in the participation category than in the recognition category; 95% for domestic energy issues and 99% for local environmental issues and regional promotion
With respect to domestic energy issues and regional promotion, the degrees of awareness were significantly higher in the recognition category than in the knowledge category, at the 90% level
Summary
Affordable clean energy is a key global challenge, and was raised in Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and we will increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 (SDG 7.2) [1]. Renewable energy is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development [2], along with drinking water [3] and education [4]. Renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass, are dependent upon local resource availability [5,6]. A feasibility study of renewable energy in Australia, for example, examined only solar and wind because of the country’s abundant sunlight and wind flows [7], while a global meta-analysis concluded that wind and small hydro are the most sustainable sources of electricity generation [8]. Uddin et al [10] estimated the hydroelectric potential of Pakistan to be 60 GW, compared to the production of 7.2 GW in 2016–2017, and concluded that the theoretical potential could satisfy current and future demands by 2050
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