Japan should decarbonise supply with renewables and nuclear – IEA

IEA) has called upon Japan to balance and diversify its energy mix through a combination of renewables, nuclear energy and efficient thermal power generation.

The IEA says Japan should look towards improving its low carbon technologies and focus on renewable energy, due to  projected falling costs. In its latest review of Japan’s energy policies the IEA said that the country’s efforts to decarbonise its energy supply would help build a more secure and affordable energy system.

The report also states that nuclear power should be phased gradually back into Japan’s energy market, once sufficient health and safety regulations have been established for its re-use.

Japan’s fossil fuel consumption has risen since the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and the resulting Fukushima nuclear accident, which led to the gradual closure of all of the country’s nuclear power plants. Increased fuel imports, rising carbon emissions and unsustainable electricity prices followed.

Japan needs to fully introduce its intended electricity and gas market reforms too, says the IEA, so that in the long term a fully independent transmission system operator can be established.