Powering Tomorrow: Japan's Balancing Act Between Climate Goals and Energy Security
*Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 10/8/2024 on Linkedin.
Welcome! I'm Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 125 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter📬, which has been curating Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 350 subscribers [ more than 2,550 on Linedin]. 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 LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene🙂🙇
*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 has been used for summary and translation assistance 🙂
Update: I was on a TV program discussing climate change and media the other day. The archive video is available here on FOD. Please take a look :) 🙂📺
[🇯🇵📰👀Japan Climate News Headlines]
【1】Attended GX Management Week [Autumn], SMART ENERGY WEEK
I recently participated in the autumn versions of GX Management Week and SMART ENERGY WEEK, typically held as major events every February.
While the February event featured 1,600 exhibiting companies, this autumn version, with about 500 companies, was smaller in scale (about one-third). Nevertheless, it provided insight into recent trends in energy, decarbonization, and GX (Green Transformation) fields.
Key observations:
At the Decarbonization Management EXPO, startups offering GHG emission visualization tools and services had a large presence with expanded booth sizes.
The newly launched "CCUS EXPO" didn't have many companies yet. Still, it attracted the attention of large corporations and startups developing CDR (Carbon Dioxide Reduction) technologies like CCUS and Direct Air Capture (DAC).
Chinese companies continued to have a strong presence in solar and battery storage exhibitions. There was much to learn from companies showcasing various technologies in wind power, hydrogen, and other areas.
Attending this type of exhibition allows me to sense what solutions are being developed in the business world and what trends are emerging.
【2】Japan’s New Economy Minister Seeks to Maximize Nuclear Restarts [10/2 Bloomberg🔏]
Japan's new economy minister, Yoji Muto, emphasizes maximizing nuclear power plant usage to meet increasing electricity demands driven by AI and data centers. Muto supports a dual nuclear and renewable energy approach to address growing power needs without increasing carbon emissions.
This stance aligns with former Prime Minister Kishida's pro-nuclear policy, despite initial hesitation from new Prime Minister Ishiba. The push for nuclear energy is a global trend as countries seek stable, emissions-free electricity. Muto also stressed the importance of developing next-generation reactors to protect Japan's atomic industry as the nation revises its strategic energy plan.
【3】Southeast Asia to adopt Japan's emission reporting system - Asia Zero Emission Community pact will propel Japanese business expansion [10/8 Nikkei Asia🔏]
Southeast Asian nations are set to adopt Japan's greenhouse gas emission reporting system, facilitating Japanese businesses' expansion in the region. This decision, part of a 10-year AZEC, the Asia Zero Emission Community, action plan, will be announced at a summit in Laos, marking new PM Shigeru Ishiba's first diplomatic engagement.
📺Japan eyes zero-emission action plan for Asia [10/8 NHK World]
Japan aims to lead Asian decarbonization efforts through AZEC, proposing a 10-year action plan to set rules and measures for reducing emissions in key sectors. This initiative is crucial for export-oriented Asian nations to remain competitive in global markets.
【4】Japan Power Market Set to Tighten on Nuclear Delays, BNEF Says [10/8 Bloomberg🔏]
Japan's power market is facing tightening conditions due to delays in nuclear reactor restarts and a slowdown in solar installations, according to BloombergNEF. The report predicts higher electricity prices for 2025, with monthly peaks reaching 16 yen per kilowatt hour in January. Nuclear power, once accounting for a quarter of Japan's energy mix, has declined significantly since the Fukushima disaster. Despite government efforts to restart reactors, strict regulations and local opposition have kept most offline. Additionally, increased demand from data centers and semiconductor factories is expected to boost overall power consumption, further straining the market.
【5】To empower Japan, new PM has to get hot on renewables - After an LDP race with no discussion of climate, the country’s clean energy future hangs in the balance [10/7 The Japan Times]
Japan's new PM, Ishiba, faces criticism for maintaining the status quo on energy policy despite Japan's commitment to triple renewable capacity. Experts argue that Japan has abundant renewable potential that could boost the economy and energy security. Business leaders are pushing for bolder climate targets.
【6】How climate change affects Japan's typhoons [10/3 The Japan Times]
Climate change is altering Japan's typhoon patterns. While the number of storms is decreasing, their intensity is increasing. This poses new challenges for disaster preparedness and coastal communities as stronger winds and heavier rainfall become more common.
【7】Key Issues to Address in Japan's Strategic Energy Plan - Can it Pave the Way for Decarbonization? [10/3 Renewable Energy Institute]
Japan's Strategic Energy Plan faces crucial challenges in balancing emission reductions with a stable, affordable energy supply. Experts debate policy directions, transition scenarios, and decarbonization strategies to guide Japan's energy future and meet climate goals.
【8】The Sweet Future of Vertical Farming | Hiroki Koga [ 2024 April, published on 10/3 on TED]
The presentation by Hiroki Koga, CEO of Oishii , a vertical farming startup, at TED, is incredibly inspirational and mind-blowing. I highly recommend watching it🙂🚀👍
"Can strawberries grown inside a building taste sweeter than those grown in a field? Farming entrepreneur Hiroki Koga explores how his team combines solar-powered vertical farms with AI, robotics and indoor bee colonies to grow delicious strawberries year-round — and how this practice, if widely adopted, could deliver a harvest of benefits for the future of food."
【9】Japan eyes wind farm off Hokkaido to power tech industry - Rapidus' cutting-edge chip plan and SoftBank data center would use electricity [10/6 Nikkei Asia🔏]
Japan's government will develop a 300MW wind farm off Hokkaido to support semiconductor production and data centers. The project addresses growing local energy needs and aligns with national goals for renewable energy expansion, targeting 36-38% of electricity from renewables by fiscal 2030. The project aims to meet increased electricity demand from the Rapidus chip plant and SoftBank data center. The Government targets 5,700MW of wind power by fiscal 2030, part of the renewable energy push
【10】Tokyo expands underground 'temple' complex to counter climate change rains [10/2 Reuters]
Tokyo is enhancing its underground flood control system to address climate change-induced heavy rains. The expanded "temple" complex can now hold massive amounts of water, while new projects are underway to improve drainage and protect against "guerrilla downpours" and typhoon-related flooding.
📬That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) 🙇. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!
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 Substack.
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ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)