Japan's Search for Energy Balance

Atypical Geographic Conditions

The “Land of the Rising Sun” is an archipelago made up of nearly 7,000 islands and islets. The four largest – Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku – account for 97% of Japan’s total surface area. With its 127 million inhabitants concentrated along the narrow coastal plains, the country ranks tenth worldwide in terms of population despite its declining demographics. Greater Tokyo is the world’s most populated metropolitan area, with more than 30 million residents.

Japan is located in a volcanic zone on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area where several tectonic plates meet. The consequences of this geological configuration are a virtual absence of fossil fuelFuel is any solid, liquid or gaseous substance or material that can be combined with an oxidant... resources and frequent seismic activity, some of which can be very destructive, putting lives at risk and disrupting powerIn physics, power is the amount of energy supplied by a system per unit time. In simpler terms, power can be viewed as energy output... grids and industrial facilities.

The country has the world’s third-highest gross domestic product (GDP), with a strong industrial sector, particularly in high-tech segments such as automobiles and electronics.
 

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Reliance on Oil and Gas

Japan is a major consumer and importer of energy¹. Fossil fuels, particularly gas, account for 88% of its energy consumption, almost all of which is imported.

This dependence on fossil fuels was worsened by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident caused by the March 2011 tsunami, which led to the closure of the Japanese reactor. In the months that followed, Japan took unprecedented steps to reduce its consumption including fewer trains, scheduled power outages, mandatory restrictions for industrial companies, flexible working hours, and calls for the participation of citizens.

Despite these efforts, the nuclear shutdown resulted in:

• A surge in the country’s trade deficit, as it had to import coalCoal is ranked by its degree of transformation or maturity, increasing in carbon content from... and preservation (hydrocarbons)The final phase in petroleum system formation, after a deposit has accumulated... .
• Raised electricityForm of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles (electrons) through a conductor... costs for households and companies (which lost competitiveness).
• Increased CO₂ emissions, which peaked in 2013 and only came back down to their 2009 level in 2019.
   

Climate Objectives

Like the European Union, Japan aims to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, meaning producing no more CO₂See Carbon Dioxid  emissions than can be captured.

To transition from a carbon-heavy energy mixThe range of energy sources of a region. to net-zero emissions, Japan has established several pathways involving incredible technological advances – only fitting given its history as a leader in technology:

• The restart of 33 of its existing nuclear reactors, following the nine that resumed activity in 2019, while the search for new, safer and more efficient generations continues.
• The development of all forms of renewable energyEnergy sources that are naturally replenished so quickly that they can be considered inexhaustible on a human time scale... .
• Carbon capture from power plant waste systems, CO₂ storage and its reuse in any way possible.
• Systematic improvement of energy efficiencyIn economic terms, energy efficiency refers to the efforts made to reduce the energy consumption of a system... , again through technology. Energy consumption decreased by 16% between 2010 and 2020.
• The rapid transition toward a hydrogenThe simplest and lightest atom, the most abundant element in the universe. society to use this new energy on a large scale in industry, transportation and housing (see close-up : Japan and Its Advanced Hydrogen Research).
   

The Limits of Renewables

Japan forecasts surges of 200% in the use of biomassIn the energy sector, biomass is defined as all organic matter of plant or animal origin... , 300% in geothermalDescribes the technology used to tap subsurface heat to produce energy...  and wind power, and a huge 600% in solar photovoltaics by 2030.

However, the country faces underlying challenges. For historical reasons, the power grid does not function at the same frequency in the west and the east of the country, which makes it difficult to optimize the system.

The country’s shortage of space is not conducive to large solar or wind farms. Japan has long been the world’s leader in photovoltaic solar power, even ahead of Germany. In 1994, the authorities implemented a program to help spur growth in the sector by encouraging the installation of rooftop photovoltaic systems. Japan has also launched original innovations such as the creation of floating solar power plants on lakes and bodies of water. For wind power, the country focuses investments on offshoreRefers to sea-based oil exploration and production operations, as in "offshore license" or "offshore drilling". floating wind farms.