Japan’s Energy Alignment Goals

Charting a route to greater energy independence and net-zero

It has been 11 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster in Fukushima that would change the country’s energy landscape. Today, another energy shock is upon us, with the cost of imported energy commodities driving electricity prices to their highest level in a generation.

Japan’s electrical system was strained nearly to breaking point this summer, and the outlook for winter energy supplies remains unclear. At the same time, the crisis presents opportunities to reevaluate priorities, redirect investments, and focus on decreasing Japan’s exposure to international energy markets while also driving decarbonization.

Additional opportunities are arising as Japanese businesses—on a global and domestic level—are chasing aggressive carbon-reduction goals that will necessitate a massive increase in installed renewable energy capacity in the country.

For several decades, Japan has executed a successful strategy of importing its energy via long-term contracts and relationships. Meanwhile, renewable electricity supply has expanded greatly under the feed-in-tariff and feed-in-premium systems, known as FIT and FIP. But current circumstances pose a challenge that necessitates a new approach.

We are in a very difficult position due to these and other factors, with the global energy marketplace never having been as competitive as it is now and the security of energy suppliers in question.

Aggressive Carbon Reduction Goals

Japan’s carbon reduction goals have been described by observers as bold and ambitious, and marked by three key milestones.

The first is Japan’s commitment, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26 percent from 2013 levels by 2030.

The second is to promote the development of innovative technologies by 2050. They would enable Japan to contribute to the global reduction of accumulated atmospheric CO2 to a level the Japanese government has dubbed Beyond-Zero.

The third and most ambitious milestone, unveiled by former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in 2020, is for Japan to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. This would set the nation on a course to becoming carbon neutral in just 30 years.

But with the first milestone just 92 months way, action is needed now.

Demand for Change

Today, Japan-based corporations and international companies, including many members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), are leading the market towards decarbonization.

This can be seen from the sheer number of companies taking part in key corporate environmental initiatives. And, while nuclear energy is likely to play a role in a low-carbon future, many Japanese companies have already committed to increasing their consumption of renewable energy.

Japan represents one of the top three participating countries in each of the following global efforts:

• CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project): a reporting framework for carbon emissions
• RE100: a push by companies to use 100 percent renewable electricity in their operations
• The Science Based Targets initiative: a pathway for companies committing to specific carbon reduction targets
• The Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosure: a framework for divulging climate-related risks

There is also the Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership, in which 217 companies, including World Kinect Energy Services, participate.

Time to Align

To meet the goals of these organizations, participants require direct access to renewable electricity supplies. This can be achieved by a variety of pathways, including the tracking and tracing of environmental attributes.

Unfortunately, in Japan, the main system for tracking, auditing, and trading environmental attributes—called non-fossil fuel certificates (NFC)—is one of the most complex procedures in the world. Simplifying the system and bringing it more in line with international standards, such as the International Renewable Energy Certificate system, could help companies in Japan report their progress on reducing carbon emissions with greater confidence.

“Simplifying the system and bringing it more in line with international standards, such as the International Renewable Energy Certificate system, could help companies in Japan report their progress on reducing carbon emissions with greater confidence.”

Another key tool for reducing electricity-related carbon emissions is the renewable corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA). This enables a corporate end user of electricity and a developer to reach a long-term agreement on renewable energy for one or more projects.

CPPAs are considered a high-quality pathway to reducing carbon emissions and can help to drive private capital into the energy system. The ACCJ Energy Committee has been working closely with stakeholders to identify and reduce barriers to CPPAs.

Japan needs to improve its policy allowing renewable energy to connect to the grid as well as expedite the approval process for new projects which will provide short-term benefits.

For longer-term benefits, physical grid improvements will need to continue in an expedited and transparent manner, while including flexibility to integrate new technologies and grid-level storage.

Benefits for All

Whether supporting our clients with a CPPA or supplying energy attribute certificates, increased investment in renewable energy resources benefits not only the end user, but also the nation on its road to net-zero.

We recognize that the Government of Japan is making an effort to address these issues, but it needs to move faster to ensure that the nation remains at the forefront of evolving international standards.

In addition, Japan must consider and support to the fullest an array of technologies—including wind and geothermal—to meet future demand.

We want to see Japan be successful, and we invite ACCJ members to become more involved in the Energy Committee to help support the expansion of renewable energy opportunities in Japan.