Dave Savastano02.13.14
The prefecture of Fukushima, which was struck by a severe nuclear accident three years ago, is aiming to become a new hub for renewable energy research. A new center, called the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, will open in April 2014. In order to promote close cooperation with Fraunhofer ISE, Europe’s largest solar energy research institute, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the prefecture Fukushima and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg on Feb. 12, 2014.
“Applied research is a key factor in the technological development of companies, especially in the field of renewable energy. It will assist in revitalizing and enhancing the industrial competitiveness in the Fukushima area,“ said Fukushima vice governor Fumio Murata.
“We are delighted to intensify our cooperation with Japan. Solar technologies will be a main pillar of the future energy system which will be sustainable and carbon-free. To this end, we must cooperate in research at an international level,” Prof. Eicke R. Weber, director of Fraunhofer ISE, added.
Scientific exchanges as well as joint workshops and symposiums make up the core of this new international cooperation between Freiburg and Fukushima. The idea of a partnership arose at the German-Japanese Solar Day, which took place in Tokyo in November 2012 and was further developed at the Renewable Energy Industry Fair (REIF) in Fukushima in 2013.
“Applied research is a key factor in the technological development of companies, especially in the field of renewable energy. It will assist in revitalizing and enhancing the industrial competitiveness in the Fukushima area,“ said Fukushima vice governor Fumio Murata.
“We are delighted to intensify our cooperation with Japan. Solar technologies will be a main pillar of the future energy system which will be sustainable and carbon-free. To this end, we must cooperate in research at an international level,” Prof. Eicke R. Weber, director of Fraunhofer ISE, added.
Scientific exchanges as well as joint workshops and symposiums make up the core of this new international cooperation between Freiburg and Fukushima. The idea of a partnership arose at the German-Japanese Solar Day, which took place in Tokyo in November 2012 and was further developed at the Renewable Energy Industry Fair (REIF) in Fukushima in 2013.