Japan's Power Market News 2023/W16

Japan looks beyond territorial waters for wind power amid green push

Japan plans to expand offshore #wind power generation to its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in a push to achieve carbon neutrality and ensure #energy security amid Russia's war in Ukraine. A panel of experts has recently concluded that such construction is possible as long as Japan backs it with domestic law. Officials said that, based on this view, the government is planning to prepare necessary legislation or a legal revision just as the country is set to update its marine strategy around May.

Russia's war in Ukraine has fueled energy supply concerns globally and heightened the need to diversify energy sources. As a resource-scarce nation, Japan has relied heavily on thermal #power but the rising global momentum toward #decarbonization is pushing the country toward alternative sources such as #renewables , which presently account for only a small portion of Japan’s energy mix. Some European nations, including the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, already have offshore wind farms in their EEZs. China and South Korea are also stepping up offshore wind power generation.

Japan’s cabinet approves use of nuclear reactors beyond 60 years

A new policy approved by Japan's cabinet will allow #nuclear reactors to operate beyond their current 60-year limit, alongside the building of new units, as part of efforts to cut #carbon emissions while ensuring adequate energy supply. The government's "green transformation" policy features extensive use of nuclear power along with #renewable energy and marks a major policy shift for the country.

The new policy will effectively extend the operating life of reactors beyond 60 years by excluding time spent on inspections and other periods they are offline from the service life calculation. The policy also calls for developing advanced reactors, regarded as safer than conventional ones, and only allowing them to be built within the premises of reactors destined for #decommissioning . The government aims to begin operating next-generation reactors in the 2030s. Bills to implement the new policy will be submitted to parliament during the ongoing session.

MLIT to begin certifying electrical construction machinery as “GX construction machinery” in FY2023 to encourage reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emission

In FY2023, MLIT will introduce an initiative to certify electrically operated construction machinery as "GX (Green Transformation) construction machinery" to support the development and implementation of non-CO2 emitting equipment in domestic construction, to replace diesel burning machinery.

Currently, small hydraulic excavators are the only #electric construction equipment being introduced in the market. To accelerate the implementation of such electrical machinery in the sector, authorities are considering incentives for participating companies and establishing relevant provincial regulations without initially setting a standard value for power consumption.

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