Nuclear power has figured prominently in headlines on Japan’s energy sector this summer, whether due to the serious continuing challenges at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, or efforts to bring idled nuclear energy plants back online as the Japanese government works to boost economic growth. Somewhat lost among the heavy attention on nuclear energy has been developments in Japan’s efforts to increase renewable energy generation capabilities, which were boosted last summer with the introduction of a new feed-in tariff policy among other initiatives. More than one year later, how are these initiatives performing?
Newly-released statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) show that renewable energy generation in Japan increased by 2.08 million kW in FY 2012, and by 1.28 million kW during FY 2013 (from April 1 through May 31, 2013). This is roughly equivalent to the amount of energy generated by three nuclear reactors. Driving this growth has been the rapid entry into operation of new photovoltaic (PV) energy generation facilities. Starting from a total installed capacity of residential PV energy facilities of 4.4 million kW in FY 2011, 1.269 million kW of residential PV capacity entered into operation in FY 2012, and 279,000 kW has entered into use in FY 2013 so far. Non-residential PV power generation capacity has also increased markedly. From 900,000 kW combined total capacity in FY 2011, 706,000 kW of capacity came online in FY 2012 and an additional 961,000 kW has entered into operation during FY 2013.
Wind and biomass energy generation capacity have also increased, albeit at much more modest levels. New wind power generation capacity of 63,000 kW came online in FY 2012, adding to an existing base of 2.6 million kW; 2,000 kW capacity has been added in FY 2013 so far. Biomass power generating capacity grew by 36,000 kW in FY 2012 and by 38,000 kW in FY 2013. In contrast, increases in geothermal and small hydropower have been minuscule, reflecting in part some of the well-documented challenges these kinds of projects face and the significant lead time required to install and bring these types of facilities online. While the rapid increase in PV power in Japan is impressive, the yawning gap between solar and other renewable resources revealed by these statistics indicates some of the issues Japanese policymakers will need to address as they work to increase Japan’s renewable energy base and broaden the country’s energy portfolio.
