The Japanese government has decided to replace the previous 2020 target of 25 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 with a target of a 3.1 percent increase. This is the official document (in Japanese). Thanks to commentary at Kikonet here for the link. Adding insult to injury, the Japanese government tries toContinue reading “Great Japanese Failure”
Category Archives: Japanese energy law
20.91 GW of New Solar Approved in Japan Until May 2013
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Trade just published figures for renewable energy under the new feed-in tariff law in force since last July. Thanks to this tweet by Hiro Matsubara for the link. To state the result in very short terms, wind is struggling even with the very high tariffs in place, and solar is headed forContinue reading “20.91 GW of New Solar Approved in Japan Until May 2013”
Japan as Number One
Bloomberg says that Japan will take over from Germany as the World’s largest market for solar this year. They expect between 6.9 to 9.4 GW over the year. It will still be a close contest with China for the top spot. Again, according to the Bloomberg article, China will be between 6.3 and 9.3 GW.Continue reading “Japan as Number One”
12.2 GW of New Solar Approved Until February in Japan
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Trade just published figures for renewable energy under the new feed-in tariff law in force since last July. Thanks to this tweet by Hiro Matsubara for the link. To state the result in very short terms, wind is struggling even with the very high tariffs in place, andContinue reading “12.2 GW of New Solar Approved Until February in Japan”
Japanese Energy Statistics For 2011 Released
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry just released final numbers on the energy sector in Japan for 2011. Reporting is rather slow compared to Germany, where we already have the numbers for last year. From that we learn that CO2 emissions from the energy sector went up 4.4% compared to 2010, and 10.8% comparedContinue reading “Japanese Energy Statistics For 2011 Released”
Energy Policy Cabinet Decision in Japan
The Japanese Cabinet just adopted a decision on energy policy (in Japanese) reflecting the fact that a consequence of the elections last year the former opposition party LDP is now governing. Thanks to this tweet by Hiro Matsubara for the link. It doesn’t say much about renewable energy, or nuclear energy. Instead, the central points addressedContinue reading “Energy Policy Cabinet Decision in Japan”
New Japanese Feed-In Tariff Update
Yesterday, the Japanese Ministry of Economy and Industry decided to follow the recommendations of the expert committee I reported on earlier. It’s now official. Small rooftop solar will get 38 yen (around 40.3 cents U.S or 31.5 cents Euro at today’s rates), and everything over 10 kW capacity will get 37.8 yen, including the 5%Continue reading “New Japanese Feed-In Tariff Update”
New Japanese Feed-In Tariff Rates
This post was first published at Cleantechnica on March 25. I repost it here unchanged, except that I have removed images. This is also a good occasion to mention this development: Editor of Cleantechnica Zachary Shahan kindly invited me to become a contributor to that site, and I have accepted that. I am honored andContinue reading “New Japanese Feed-In Tariff Rates”
Japanese Feed-in Tariff System Problem
The Japanese Renewable Energy Foundation has published results of a survey of companies building solar projects in Japan, and this article at Yahoo describes them. Thanks to this tweet by Tetsunari Iida for the link. The Japanese system uses the concept of a contract between the solar owner and the utility, instead an obligation by lawContinue reading “Japanese Feed-in Tariff System Problem”
Good News: Former Prime Minister Kan Building Passive House
Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan just announced on his blog that he has rebuilt the house his mother is living in (where he is moving in as well) so as to produce more energy with solar panels than that house needs. If things proceed according to plan, the house will generate 107% of the energyContinue reading “Good News: Former Prime Minister Kan Building Passive House”
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