Japan

Radioactive material released into the sea in the Fukushima nuclear power plant is three times more the amount estimated by plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co , Japanese researchers say.

Tokyo Electric Power Co used a record amount of LNG for power generation last month as the No.1 and No.7 units at its sole online nuclear plant in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa were shut for maintenance. It left only two reactors in operation.   TEPCO used 2.079 million tonnes of LNG in August, exceeding the previous monthly record marked in August 2007.

Japan will end mandatory energy curbs in greater Tokyo and northern areas damaged by the March earthquake and tsunami.

Masayoshi Son  said wind and geothermal power will likely be key components of his new power generation business, along with solar power.   The billionaire founder of Japanese telecom firm Softbank Corp , Son placed 1 billion yen of his own money to create the foundation in the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis, said Softbank will invest 10 to 20 billion yen or $129-$257 million in the new business that it aims to set up by the spring of 2012.

Mitsui and Toshiba are jteaming up to build Japan’s largest PV system.

Kansai Electric Power has started commercial operation of its 10MW PV plant in Sakai City, Osaka.

China's Trina Solar forecasts a stronger second half helped by increasing orders from new markets after last quarter's demand slump in Germany and Italy.

Samsung SDI expects the global solar cell market to be worth $70 billion by 2020.

NTN Corp.expects sales of the devices used in wind-power generators to exceed target after the Fukushima disaster spurred demand for alternative energy sources.

It is the first dedicated support network of its kind for PV installers.

Shikoku Electric Power postponed its planned maintenance work at its 450MW No 3 unit at the Anan plant in Japan.

TEPCO announced plans to increase the power supply to Tohoku Electric Power to more than 3,000MW this month.

Tohoku Electric Power will establish a new solar power generation business in a joint venture with Toyota Motar Corp and the state of Miyagi.

The question is, can the country live without nuclear power?

The unit's steam turbine was automatically shut down while generating 400MW of power.

Tohoku Electric restarted the operation of its No. 2 power generator at its thermal plant in the city of Akita after replacing a cracked pipe connecting the boiler to the turbine.