Renewable Energy: Impressions from Japan

US-Japan Renewable Energy Roundtable

January 8, 2012

Jeff Miller, Director, DOE Japan Office Email: MillerJA6@state.gov

Overall Landscape in Japan

New Government; same challenges and opportunities

Electricity generating challenges

Energy policy in flux

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Prime Minister Abe and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) assumed power in December 2012. The previous Administration led by former Prime Minister

Noda and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) established an energy policy in September 2012, but details were not finalized before the transition of power. The LDP will likely establish a new energy policy by the end of summer 2013. Regardless, Japan may encounter electricity generating power deficits this

winter and next summer as there is a paucity of nuclear power on the grid. Pre-Fukushima, Japan derived ~30% of electricity from nuclear energy.

Clean/Renewable Energy Policy

DPJ energy policy was oriented toward green growth Feed-in-Tariff continues as the leading green

growth policy Strong energy security focus

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We anticipate continuity in policy regarding renewable energy. However, we expect lower feed-in-tariff (FIT) pricing next spring when the FIT law is reviewed. LDP support for DPJ efforts on deregulation is not clear. LDP may increase support for nuclear energy. Fossil energy policies (coal,

diversity of LNG sources) would also likely remain the same.

Clean Energy Technologies (Trends)

Eco Cities Microgrids

Renewable energy

Electricity optimization and conservation

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Pilot projects are being implemented through public and private partnerships in which Japanese companies are generally

demonstrating their own technologies in these conceptual areas. However, Japanese companies are also open to incorporate best of

class technologies from other countries.