Japan's Response to Nuclear Disaster

From Rigzone.com:

Under that growth strategy, Tokyo aimed to have the nation's economy expand a real 2% or more on average by fiscal 2020, by focusing budgetary allocations and accelerating deregulation on seven designated areas such as energy and the environment.

Under the revised growth strategy, however, Japan reportedly will put more emphasis on the development of renewable energy such as power generated by solar, wind, and geothermal heat, as well as the enhancement of electric accumulators.

More to the point, Japan will seek to secure electricity without depending on nuclear power too much. 

I have a bit of trouble sorting that out, but "accelerating deregulation on seven designated areas such as energy and the environment" suggests to me the Kyoto protocol is under scrutiny.

Without an engineering background, I don't know the technical difference between a battery, a storage battery, and/or an electric accumulator. Interestingly enough, the first three pages of "google" hits were not helpful. Until someone provides a better explanation, it sounds like the term "battery" is used when one is talking about a unit that provides electricity on a regular basis to operate a vehicle or power a flashlight. An electric accumulator, on the other hand, is a storage battery that "accumulates" electricity (is being charged) by the source it will eventually provide backup electricity under conditions when the primary source is not operating.

Aha, here it is:

Accumulator is characterized as an electrochemical device that can transform electrical energy into stored chemical energy and by reversing the process, release energy again.

Moreover, accumulator refers to an apparatus for accumulating or increasing the intensity of an electric charge. It is known as capacitator in modern terms.

That is, when wind turbines are turning, excess electricity is accumulated in a standby unit that will turn the turbine when the wind is not blowing or when there is an unexpected outage.

Had the Japanese had electric accumulators to back up the nuclear power plants, Japan could have returned to "normal" electric output sooner. Something tells me FEMA might be very interested in such technology.