Japan will raise its target for renewable energy in the country’s electricity mix for 2030 as it pushes to cut emissions to meet commitments under international agreements on climate change, according to a draft of its latest energy policy.
The country’s revised basic energy strategy leaves unchanged its target for nuclear power, even though the country has struggled to return the industry to its former central role after the Fukushima disaster of 2011.
The industry ministry’s policy draft released on Wednesday says renewables should account for 36-38 percent of power supplies in 2030, double the level of 18 percent in the financial year to March 2020. The earlier target was for renewables to contribute 22-24 percent of electricity in 2030.
The use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, will be reduced to 19 percent from 26 percent under the new plan.
Gas, which comes to Japan in the form of imported liquefied natural gas, will make up most of the rest of the fossil fuel portion of the target energy mix, which was set at 41 percent, down from 56 percent.
Japan’s nuclear target was left unchanged at 20-22 percent. New fuels like hydrogen and ammonia will account for about 1 percent of the electricity mix in 2030, the draft said.
As the urgency to tackle climate change grows, the revised 2030 energy plan is an “ambitious one,” instead of “an ideal vision” as in the past, an official at the industry ministry said.
The draft did not mention building new nuclear plants or replacing plants.
A Japanese teenager performs during the Tokyo 2020 skateboarding test event on May 14 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: VCG
