🌡️ Japan Faces Record Heat Wave as Floating Wind Power Launches New Renewable Energy Era
It looks like this year's unusually long summer is finally coming to an end. This week brings a packed event calendar, including Climate Week NYC and the weekend "Renewable Energy Day"
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 9/24/2025 on Linkedin.
🎧🗣️Audio Versions of this newsletter are available thanks to NotebookLM
In English🇺🇲: Japan Climate Curation vol. 171 [5:42 min.]
In Japanese🇯🇵: Japan Climate Curation vol. 171 [8:19 min.]
🚀Now, the English audio digest of a sister publication, Climate Curation, which covers mainly non-Japanese global climate news topics, is available in English.
🇺🇲Climate Curation vol. 176 audio summary in English [5:29 min.]
🇯🇵Climate Curation vol. 176 音声概要 [8:02 min.]
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 170 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating hand-picked Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 470 subscribers [ more than 2,970 on LinkedIn]. You can subscribe by clicking on the Linkedin page or the form below.
I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!
Found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on your preferred network – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
*note : "Climate Curation" a different climate newsletter in Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin / note / theLetter. It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you like it.
【Digest of this week's topics】
Japan’s climate crisis intensified as July 2025 recorded the nation’s hottest temperatures ever at 2.89°C above normal, while the country launched its first commercial-scale floating wind farm off Goto Islands toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Transportation electrification advanced through Toyota’s proprietary 6-kilowatt home chargers offering double competitor performance and RAV4 becoming electric-only, yet hydrogen fuel cell trucks cost ¥150 million with only 149 stations nationwide. Carbon management progressed with Metropolitan Area CCS Project targeting 1.2 million tons annually by 2030, while Japan’s bilateral carbon offset scheme saw Cambodia deforestation triple after launch. International dynamics shifted as EU-Japan battery alliance agreements targeted recycling development and China’s Yadea entered Japan’s market with electric mopeds 30% cheaper than Honda. Environmental tensions escalated with 40% of municipalities reporting mega solar conflicts and Aboriginal Australians opposing gas development involving JERA’s 12.5% stake and JBIC’s $346M financing.
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 4 and NotebookLM have been used for summary and translation assistance. 🙂
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】🌡️ Season of Disaster: Downpours and Heatwaves Becoming the Norm as Japanese Summers Get Hotter and Longer [9/22 nippon.com]
July 2025 recorded Japan’s hottest temperatures ever, averaging 2.89°C above normal, with Isesaki in Gunma reaching 41.8°C. Rising ocean temperatures were the primary driver, with Pacific waters warming 3-4°C in just one week. Three high-pressure systems - Tibetan High, Pacific High, and northern Japan high-pressure - created a heat dome. Climate change is increasing severe rainstorm risks and causing erratic typhoon paths. Future extreme weather events are expected to intensify further.
【2】💨 Floating wind power sets sail in Japan’s energy shift [9/21 The Japan Times / AFP-JIJI]
Japan’s first commercial-scale floating wind farm off the Goto Islands will begin operations in January, serving as a cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to make renewables the primary power source by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While floating turbines suit Japan’s deep coastal waters and offer stability against earthquakes and typhoons, significant challenges persist including rising costs, Mitsubishi’s withdrawal from three projects, and inadequate infrastructure. Expanding wind power from the current 1% to 4-8% requires installing 200 turbines annually, while coexistence with fishing industries remains crucial.
【3】🔌 Toyota to sell proprietary home EV chargers in Japan [9/24 Nikkei Asia]
Toyota Motor will launch proprietary home EV chargers in Japan this fall to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. The 6-kilowatt output charger offers double the performance of competitors and costs around 200,000 yen, with 100,000 yen points for vehicle buyers. Eight-hour charging provides 300km range, with overnight charging ensuring full battery by morning. This strategy addresses declining EV/plug-in hybrid sales and aims to improve competitiveness through charging infrastructure and customer retention. The RAV4 will also discontinue gasoline versions, becoming electric-only.
【4】🏭 3 firms plan to pipe CO₂ under the sea in global warming fight [9/21 The Asahi Shimbun]
A major CO₂ storage project is planned in Chiba Prefecture involving three companies in a joint venture. The Metropolitan Area CCS Project, led by INPEX, Kanto Natural Gas Development, and Nippon Steel, aims to begin operations in 2030. The project will capture CO₂ from factories and transport it through a 73-74cm diameter pipeline crossing the Boso Peninsula to underground storage off Kujukuri. With initial capacity of 1.2 million tons annually, expanding to 5 million tons, the project faces local concerns about safety raised during community briefings, highlighting the importance of public acceptance.
【5】🚛 Toyota unit Hino to launch fuel cell truck amid hydrogen headwinds [9/18 Nikkei Asia]
Hino Motors will launch the hydrogen fuel cell truck “Profia Z FCV” in October, developed jointly with Toyota. This is Japan’s first commercial FCV truck with a 650km range and 15-30 minute refueling time, but costs around 150 million yen, several times more than diesel trucks. With only 149 hydrogen stations nationwide, initial sales will focus on Tokyo and Nagoya regions through leasing, targeting about 100 units. The global FCV market faces challenges, with Honda and Stellantis scaling back their plans.
【6】💰 As governments bet on carbon trading, Japan’s early scheme spotlights pitfalls [9/18 Climate Home News]
Japan’s pioneering bilateral carbon offset scheme under Paris Agreement Article 6.2 (JCM) reveals serious flaws. A forest protection project in Cambodia saw deforestation triple after launch. The mechanism has light regulations and limited oversight, raising concerns of unleashing fresh greenwashing waves. Japan plans to meet 15% of its 2030 emission reduction targets through offsets, but experts warn of integrity risks due to lax standards and inadequate verification processes. The scheme primarily benefits Japanese corporations while potentially compromising environmental goals.
【7】🤝 InnoEnergy and European Battery Alliance deepen EU–Japan cooperation with agreements on clean tech [9/16 InnoEnergy]
InnoEnergy and the European Battery Alliance (EBA) strengthened EU-Japan industrial ties by signing two cooperation agreements with key Japanese partners on September 15-16. In Tokyo, they signed a MoC with JETRO and GX Acceleration Agency targeting clean tech innovation in batteries, hydrogen, and solar. In Osaka, European and Japanese battery industry associations signed an MoU to enhance cooperation across the entire value chain, focusing on recycling, data sharing, and workforce development. These agreements concrete the commitments made at the EU-Japan Summit in July 2025, aiming to build resilient and competitive clean tech supply chains.
【8】☀️ Local Governments Struggle with Mega Solar Plants, Look for Ways to Protect Environment [9/20 The Japan News]
Local governments across Japan struggle with conflicts between residents and businesses over mega solar plant installations. Kushiro enacted ordinance to protect red-crowned crane habitats. Post-Fukushima expansion via FIT system caused environmental concerns including light pollution and landscape destruction. 40% of municipalities report problems, seeking balance between environmental protection and renewable energy goals.
【9】🛵 China’s Yadea to take on Honda in Japanese two-wheeler market [9/18 Nikkei Asia]
China’s Yadea Group Holdings, the world’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer, will enter Japan’s market in November with its Porta electric moped priced at 217,800 yen—about 30% cheaper than competitors like Honda. This strategic move coincides with Japan’s tightened motorcycle emission regulations, while existing Japanese manufacturers’ electric models cost around 300,000 yen. Japan’s two-wheeler market has shrunk from 3 million units annually in the 1980s to 320,000 in 2024, but regulatory changes create opportunities for emerging players. Yadea operates in over 100 countries and aims to capitalize on the electrification trend for growth.
【10】⛽ As Japan keeps buying gas, Aboriginal Australians pay the price [9/21 The Japan Times]
Aboriginal residents of Australia’s Tiwi Islands strongly oppose the Barossa gas field development involving Japanese companies. The project, with JERA holding a 12.5% stake and JBIC providing $346M financing, threatens Indigenous sacred sites and cultural heritage. While Australia strengthens climate policies, it continues fossil fuel exports with Japan as a key driver of LNG development. Residents fear health impacts and environmental pollution, protesting developments proceeding without proper Indigenous consultation across decades.
📬That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) 🙇. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!
Did you found this week's news insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
The "Climate Curation" newsletter in 🇯🇵Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin and theLetter.
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