Japan Okays Plan To Push Clean Energy, Nuke Power Plants

Japan adopted a new energy policy late last week that promotes nuclear and renewables as sources of clean energy to achieve the country’s pledge of reaching carbon neutrality in 2050, Mari Yamaguchi reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

The new basic energy plan, adopted by the Cabinet just in time for the climate summit in early November, calls for drastically increasing use of renewable energy to cut fossil fuel consumption over the next decade as Japan pushes to meet its ambitious emissions reduction target.

Japan has been undecided over what to do about its nuclear power industry since the 2011 Fukushima plant disaster. It now says reactor restarts are key to meeting emissions targets as Japan tries to step up in the global effort against climate change.

The 128-page plan compiled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry says Japan should set ambitious targets for hydrogen and ammonia energy, carbon recycling, and nuclear energy. It also calls for promoting offshore wind power and the use of rechargeable batteries that have potential for growth.

“We will mobilize all options” to achieve the emissions target, the plan said, adding that the “supply of stable and low-cost energy is a prerequisite.” The changes in the plan are meant to achieve the carbon emissions reduction target announced in April by former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

His successor, Fumio Kishida, a backer of nuclear plant restarts, took office this month. Japan has pledged to reduce its emissions by 46% from 2013 levels, up from an earlier target of 26%, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japan says it would try to push the reduction as high as 50% to be in line with the European Union’s commitment.

China has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2060. The energy plan says renewables should account for 36-38% of the power supply in 2030, up from the current target of 22-24%, and that newly introduced fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia should comprise 1%.

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