Central Bank of Japan on August 30 held an emergency meeting, announced its benchmark interest rate keep 0.1% unchanged, and relief the implementation of monetary policy. Specific measures include: expand the scale of credit and period of low-interest loans. The decision is in line with market expectations. Shirakawa of the Central Bank said, a weakening U.S. economy and the strengthening of the yen is the main reason for the decision.
At the same time, the Japanese government announced in advance a total of 920 billion yen (about 10.8 billion dollars) in new economic stimulus plan. It is reported that funding for recovery from the budget for 2009-10 fiscal year, the government is prepared to fund the program plan submitted to Congress on September 10 for approval and implementation at the end of September.
In order to avoid appreciation of the yen led to the factory moved overseas, resulting in “industrial vacuum”, the government decided to set the subsidy systeme if determine establish LED and li-ion battery production base related to environmental protection, to promote domestic investment companies.
April 2010, the Government of Japan will begin to implement environmentally friendly products points system, buy LED green dots could exchange government grants.
The Trade Ministry in Japan has ordered Apple Japan to publish information on its website that users who are concerned about their iPod nano portable music player catching fire can receive a replacement battery.
The ministry ordered Apple to publish an “easy to understand” statement on its website explaining how users suffering from first generation nano battery overheating issues can receive replacement batteries and obtain advice, a spokesman for the ministry said on Friday.
The Japan arm of Apple, the world’s biggest technology company by market value, came under scrutiny last week when it was ordered to explain 27 incidents of overheating in some models of its first-generation iPod nano portable music players.
Japanese officials first issued a warning about possible overheating in the first-generation iPod nanos nearly two years ago, but regulators have continued to receive from consumers reports of “fire-related” incidents, prompting the further investigation. The company has long maintained a support document informing users of how to have their concerns address, but the Japanese order goes a step further in making the information more visible and easily understandable.
Japan trade ministry plans to create a storage or rechargeable battery that lasts 20 years–four times the life span of current batteries–produced at about 10 percent of current costs, with hopes to make such specifications international.
The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry wants to achieve this goal–through joint research carried out by the government and private sector–by the end of 2030, the sources said, adding that plans may be formalized in a new growth strategy paper to be mapped out by the government in June.
In efforts to tackle global warming and maintain a stable electricity supply during the evening and in times of bad weather, the ministry wants to popularize the residential and commercial use of rechargeable batteries producing electricity through solar power generation.
Despite the subsidies, each residence still cost about 2.4 million yen more than houses without the batteries installed.
Sekisui House Ltd. and Osaka Gas Co. are also experimenting with rechargeable battery use in the home. The two companies are collaborating on a house that generates power via a solar battery and fuel cell.
However, the widespread use of rechargeable batteries powering energy in the home is expected to take some time. Companies conducting innovative research in this field are experimenting with new materials (other than lithium) for battery development.
Rechargeable batteries in current use include nickel-hydrogen types and lithium batteries for powering cell phones, personal computers and electric cars.
Kyoto University researchers have developed a new fruit fuel cell, plug the battery electrodes in the apple or other fruits, you can make a light-emitting diode bright last for a whole night.
“Nihon Keizai Shimbun” reported on 15th that Kyoto University use the micro-organisms and enzymes break down fruit sugar, and thus generate current “biological fuel cell”, the key is paint two different enzymes on the battery poles. At present, such cell’s power is about 1 mW per square centimeter.
The researchers said that if appropriate mix the enzymes on the battery poles, and improve electrode structure, it is expected to bring the power up to five milliwatts per square centimeter, equivalent to one-third or one-half of the level of solar cells. In the event of a disaster, this battery can be used to charge the electronic products, and as long as there is fructose, it can continuously supply.
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