#None #Renewable Energy #Solar Power #Energy Storage

Challenges in Municipal Renewable Energy Initiatives: Insights from Recent Survey

In recent findings from a survey conducted by Kokusai Kogyō Co., Ltd., significant insights into the challenges faced by municipal staff working with solar power and battery systems have been revealed. The survey, which included responses from 104 municipal workers involved in renewable energy projects, sheds light on the pressing issues and perceptions surrounding the implementation of these sustainable technologies.

Key Findings of the Survey

The survey indicated that a staggering 92.3% of respondents felt they faced challenges in their roles related to solar and battery systems. When queried about specific hurdles, the most cited challenge, with 60.4%, was a lack of specialized knowledge and experience. This was followed closely by 55.2% acknowledging limited annual budgets and financial resources as a significant obstacle.

Furthermore, the report revealed that 91.4% of respondents recognized the benefit of outsourcing tasks related to these technologies. The most outsourced area was the simulation of power generation, self-consumption, and sales, at 40.4%.

Detailed Areas of Responsibility

When examining the specific duties of these municipal workers, the survey showed the following responsibilities:

• - Encouraging the installation of solar power and battery systems in municipal facilities (56.7%)
• - Promoting the adoption of residential solar power and battery systems (47.1%)
• - Facilitating the installation of solar systems in private facilities (35.6%)

These figures highlight a clear trend: municipal staff are expected to champion renewable energy initiatives at various levels, yet they are often hampered by a lack of resources and knowledge.

Complex Challenges in Execution

Delving further into the challenges encountered during the design and simulation phases, the survey highlighted that predicting power generation, self-consumption, and sales figures are the most strenuous tasks faced by the workers in this field. Additionally, budget estimation that factors in installation costs and available subsidies was also noted as time-consuming and complex, each representing 21.1% of the challenges identified by workers.

Outsourcing Needs

The data also revealed a significant reliance on external expertise. Approximately 40.4% of the municipalities reported outsourcing their predictive simulations for power generation and sales. The cost of these outsourced services typically ranges between ¥1 million to ¥3 million annually, with growing concerns about the availability of specialized service providers.

A vast majority (91.4%) of respondents expressed that outsourcing these time-intensive tasks is beneficial, yet substantial barriers remain, particularly regarding budget constraints (52.9%) and skepticism regarding the effectiveness of outsourcing (39.4%).

Conclusion

The survey vividly illustrates that while municipal workers are highly engaged in renewable energy initiatives, there are stark challenges in specialized knowledge and resource allocation. Many municipalities can benefit from the insights gained through this report by considering partnerships with specialized service providers to alleviate these issues.

As the drive towards achieving carbon neutrality intensifies, the role of municipalities becomes increasingly crucial. Efficiently navigating the complexities of solar and battery systems is vital for sustainable progress. The provision of professional BPO services would not only lighten the workload of municipal employees but also help bridge the expertise gap, thus ensuring the successful implementation of renewable energy projects.

For more information about our services supporting renewable energy initiatives, visit エネがえるBPO/BPaaS.

Company Overview: Kokusai Kogyō Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1947, Kokusai Kogyō Co., Ltd. specializes in geospatial information technology, offering consulting services across various sectors including disaster prevention, administrative management, infrastructure management, and environmental sustainability.