- Japanese government forecast tight energy supply
The government of Japan has issued a warning over the possibility of a tight energy supply and has urged Tokyo and some other nearby located residents to conserve energy. As highlighted by the government, the notice is a result of the earthquake that occurred in the northeastern region of the country, knocking out some power plants last week.
The earthquake’s impact on the grid could mean an energy shortage is on the horizon. This is because supply from the solar power plants is possibly going to be limited due to weather intermittency, even while there is an expected increased demand for heating.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the electricity shortfall could be the most severe that had happened since 2011, when there was a planned power outage during an electrical repair and maintenance following an earthquake and tsunami, alongside a nuclear meltdown at the country’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. TEPCO, the electrical utility company that supplies power to Tokyo and other neighbouring regions, has asked households and companies to be energy efficient by turning off unnecessary lights and reducing home heating to 20ºC.