### History and Current Status of Small Hydropower at Kinko Dam, Kagoshima Prefecture

### History and Current Status of Small Hydropower at Kinko Dam, Kagoshima Prefecture

#### **Introduction and Early Efforts (2003)**
The Kinko Dam power plant is located at 2432 Osaka, Kinko-cho, Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and began operation in December 2003.
This power plant uses water from the Hase River of the Manose River system, generating power with a cross-flow turbine.
The plant has a maximum output of 170 kW, with an effective head of 41 meters and a water usage rate of 0.6 cubic meters per second.
It supplies power to the region and sells surplus electricity, contributing to a sustainable energy system.

#### **Development in Kyushu and Kagoshima Prefecture**
In Kagoshima, several small hydropower facilities utilize agricultural dams and water management systems, playing vital roles in both regional development and environmental conservation.
In Kyushu, small hydropower is expanding, leveraging the mountainous rivers. The prefectures of Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki have 9, 7, and 7 facilities, respectively.
These efforts support the establishment of sustainable energy resources and the revitalization of local economies.

#### **Current Situation and Challenges in the 2020s**
The operation of the Kinko Dam power plant has generated an economic impact of approximately 600 million yen in the local area.
Local companies participated in the construction, and the increase in property tax revenue has also supported the regional economy.
Additionally, the plant is being utilized as a tourism resource and an environmental education site.
However, water rights negotiations and complex permitting processes have posed challenges.
The construction of the Funama power plant was delayed from December 2012 to April 2013 due to difficulties in determining land ownership,
and the Shigehisa power plant in Kirishima City also experienced delays due to prolonged negotiations with local fishing cooperatives.

#### **Future Prospects and Administrative Efforts**
Kagoshima Prefecture is promoting small hydropower alongside wind and solar energy as a stable energy source.
Small hydropower is unaffected by weather and can provide power 24 hours a day.
The representative of Kyushu Power emphasized, "Although each plant is small, increasing the number can provide a significant amount of power."
In the future, administrative efforts will focus on streamlining procedures to facilitate the introduction of more power plants.
These initiatives aim to promote regional energy self-sufficiency and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.