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TOKYO — A government-appointed expert panel on Wednesday largely endorsed Japan's new energy policy for the next few years that calls for boosting renewables for up to half of electricity needs by 2040 while maximizing the use of nuclear power as the country seeks to accommodate growing energy demand. In the era of artificial intelligence during the meeting Decarbonization targets.
The Ministry of Industry submitted the draft plan for final review by a 16-member panel of mostly pro-nuclear energy leaders from business, academia and civic groups. It calls for maximizing the use of nuclear energy, and reversing the phase-out policy adopted after the meltdown Fukushima Daiichi crisis The power plant was destroyed in 2011, leading to widespread population displacement and continued anti-nuclear sentiment.
The plan is due to receive Cabinet approval by March after a period of consultation, and will then replace the current energy policy, which dates back to 2021. The new proposal says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan's energy supply in 2040, up from just 20% of Japan's energy supply in 2040. 8.5% last year, with renewables expanding to 40-50% from 22.9% and power cuts Coal-fired capacity increased to 30-40% from about 70% last year.
The current plan sets a target of 20% to 22% for nuclear energy, 36% to 38% for renewable energy, and 41% for fossil fuels, by 2030.
Demand for low-carbon energy, such as renewables and nuclear power, is growing due to demand from AI-powered data centers and semiconductor factories across the country.
Industry Minister Yuji Muto, who attended the committee meeting on Wednesday, said Japan should enhance its energy security by not relying too heavily on a single source.
“How we secure carbon-free energy determines Japan’s future growth,” Muto said. It is time to stop debating the choice between renewable energy and nuclear energy. We must maximize the use of both renewable and nuclear energy sources.
Japan has set a goal to achieve Net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050A 73% decrease by 2040 compared to 2013 levels.
The draft energy plan places renewables as the main source of energy and calls for the development of a next-generation energy source, such as solar batteries and portable solar panels.
It identifies a number of risk scenarios, including the possibility of under-investment and cost-cutting in renewables. However, some experts said the plan lacks a 2040 feasibility outlook or a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels.
The plan also calls for accelerating the restart of reactors that meet safety standards after Fukushima, and proposes building next-generation reactors — at plants where existing reactors are decommissioned.
However, to achieve the 20% target, all 33 operable reactors in Japan must be restarted, with only 14 reactors returning to service after the Fukushima disaster. Given the current pace of safety checks conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, experts say achieving the goal will be difficult.
Despite criticism and doubts about its feasibility, Japan remains committed to its quest to develop advanced reactors and a spent fuel reprocessing program to achieve a complete nuclear fuel cycle.
