THE JAPAN NEWS


 

The government is considering doubling the proportion of renewable energy use in the nation’s energy mix in fiscal 2030 to between 36% and 38% from the fiscal 2019 record, it has been learned.

The national energy plan is set to be revised this summer to present a basic direction of the energy policy, and the revised energy mix will be a pillar of the new plan.

Renewable energy accounted for 18% in the energy mix in fiscal 2019. The government originally sought to increase the rate to 22% to 24% in fiscal 2030, but it now believes the percentage should be higher to realize a decarbonized society.

Nuclear power will account for 20% to 22%, the same as in the current plan for fiscal 2030. There are only nine nuclear reactors in operation at present, so to achieve the target, the government’s view is that 25 reactors will need to be in operation.

On the other hand, thermal power generation, which creates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounted for 76% of the energy mix in fiscal 2019. In the soon-to-be revised plan, the government aims to lower that figure to 41% by also curbing the amount of power generated by high-efficiency, coal-fired generators, which emit relatively little CO2.

The percentage of coal-fired power generation stood at 32% in fiscal 2019, and will be reduced to 19% in fiscal 2030. CO2 emissions from power generation will account for 40% of total CO2 emissions.

The amount of electricity generated by currently available renewable energy sources is easily affected by weather conditions.

The government expects that the average household’s electricity bill will increase from ¥10,000 to ¥18,000 per year due to such factors as the introduction of new solar and wind power facilities.