Japan2008 Energy Policies

I N T E R N AT I O N A L E N E R G Y A G E N C Y
Energy Policies
of IEA Countries
Please note that this PDF is subject to specific restrictions that limit its use and distribution.
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JAPAN
2008 Review
Energy Policies
of IEA Countries
JAPAN
2008 Review
Declaring climate change and environment as a top priority of the 2008 G8

Summit in Hokkaido, host country Japan has demonstrated its commitment to pressing
ahead in these domains. Already a world leader in advancing energy technology
transfer and environmental policy, the country is determined to further improve its
domestic policies, moving it towards a more sustainable and secure energy pathway
for the long term. Along with other accomplishments, government support for
energy R&D is very strong and policies to enhance the efficiency of appliances
both for domestic consumption and export are models for other countries.
Yet there is still room for progress. Most importantly, a greater reliance on
market forces throughout the system could lead customers to choices that
enhance security, raise economic efficiency and promote environmental
protection. Particularly with respect to climate change goals Japan is
the worlds fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter strengthening the value
on greenhouse gas emissions would help give consumers the appropriate
signals they need to make the right choices. Enhancing energy savings
through efforts aimed at particular sectors (sectoral approaches)
could be a part of the overall policy mix, along with ongoing
leadership in promoting energy efficiency. The government should
continue to work to complement existing voluntary instruments
with stronger ones, including ones that rely more on market
incentives, and standards and requirements.
This review takes an in-depth look at the energy
challenges facing Japan today and provides critiques
and recommendations for policy improvements
to help guide the country towards a more
sustainable energy future.
(61 2008 18 1 P1) 75

ISBN 978-92-64-04335-0
-:HSTCQE=UYXXZU:
I N T E R N AT I O N A L E N E R G Y A G E N C Y
Energy Policies
of IEA Countries
JAPAN
2008 Review
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous body which was established in November
1974 within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) to implement an international energy programme.
It carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among twenty-seven of the
OECD thirty member countries. The basic aims of the IEA are:
n To maintain and improve systems for coping with oil supply disruptions.
n To promote rational energy policies in a global context through co-operative relations with
non-member countries, industry and international organisations.
n To operate a permanent information system on the international oil market.

n To improve the worlds energy supply and demand structure by developing alternative
energy sources and increasing the efciency of energy use.
n To promote international collaboration on energy technology.

n To assist in the integration of environmental and energy policies.
The IEA member countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. Poland is expected to become a member in 2008.
The European Commission also participates in the work of the IEA.
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The OECD is a unique forum where the governments of thirty democracies work together to
address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalisation. The OECD is also at
the forefront of efforts to understand and to help governments respond to new developments
and concerns, such as corporate governance, the information economy and the challenges of an
ageing population. The Organisation provides a setting where governments can compare policy
experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and work to co-ordinate
domestic and international policies.
The OECD member countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.
The European Commission takes part in the work of the OECD.
OECD/IEA, 2008
International Energy Agency (IEA),
Head of Communication and Information Ofce,
9 rue de la Fdration, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Please note that this publication is subject to specic

restrictions that limit its use and distribution.
The terms and conditions are available online at
http://www.iea.org/Textbase/about/copyright.asp
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Continuing International Leadership and Technology Collaboration
Complementing Existing Voluntary Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Further Enhancing Market Signals and Incentives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Better Integrating Internal Energy Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
10
11
12
13
14
PART I: POLICY ANALYSIS

2
GENERAL ENERGY POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Country Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply-Demand Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy forecasts and scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government, Regulatory Institutions and Other Organisations . . . . . .
Key Energy Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview of key policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policy evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International Collaboration and Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G8 presidency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy ministers meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Encouraging energy efficiency improvement and technology co-operation.
Energy Taxes and Subsidies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taxation on fossil fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taxation on electricity consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy subsidies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
17
18
18
18
20
21
28
29
29
31
32
32
32
34
36
37
37
38
40
43
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Climate Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carbon dioxide emissions profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Climate change policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trends in energy efficiency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policies and measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monitoring and evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
45
45
47
53
53
58
73
75
82
ENERGY SECURITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy Security by Fuel and Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Preparedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Development of Oil and Gas Transport Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Upstream Hydrocarbon Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
85
85
86
87
87
88
89
90
91
92
92
94
96
PART II: SECTOR ANALYSIS

5
FOSSIL FUELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply and consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coal industry and policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply-demand balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Industry structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transport fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply-demand balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Industry structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gas network and infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gas market regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
99
99
100
100
100
105
105
108
108
108
109
110
112
116
117
119
ELECTRICITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capacity, Generation and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Market Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regulation and market design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Environmental regulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Industry Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
121
121
121
122
123
125
126
127
130
130
131
Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmission and distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Costs, Economic Efficiency and Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wholesale electricity prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Network costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retail prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity sector efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
131
134
136
136
136
138
138
141
145
RENEWABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply-Demand Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Primary energy supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transport fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policies and Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Targets, strategies and objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policies and measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
147
147
147
150
152
152
152
154
156
157
157
160
NUCLEAR ENERGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current status of nuclear power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power plant age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policy Framework and Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nuclear safety regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Waste disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public Acceptance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
161
161
161
162
164
164
166
166
168
173
174
174
175
175
177
180
PART III: ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

9
ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R&D priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Organisational overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
183
183
183
184
185
R&D Programmes and Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Technology programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funding allocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public-private partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Road-mapping and strategic organisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Critique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
189
189
192
192
194
196
197
198
PART IV: ANNEXES

A
ORGANISATION OF THE REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Review Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Organisations Visited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Review Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
201
201
202
203
ENERGY BALANCES AND KEY STATISTICAL DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . .
205
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY SHARED GOALS . . . . . . . . . .
209
GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
211
List of Figures, Tables and Boxes

FIGURES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Map of Japan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Final Consumption by Sector, 1973 to 2030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CO2 Emissions by Fuel, 1973 to 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview of Kyoto Emissions Target and Measures to Achieve the
Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy Intensity in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries,
1973 to 2010 (in year-2000 exchange rates) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1973 to 2010 (in year-2000 prices and PPP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Japans Energy Use by Sector, 1990 to 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changes in Energy Consumption per Unit Production in Selected
Industries, 1965 to 2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commercial Sector Energy End Use, 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diffusion Rate and Electricity Consumption of Home Appliances . .
16
20
45
48
53
54
55
55
56
57
11. Schematic of Process for Setting and Evaluating Top Runner

Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. Example of Energy Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13. CO2 Emissions by 35 Industries in the Industrial and EnergyConversion Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14. Share of Oil Imports from the Middle East in IEA Countries, 2005 . .
15. Refining Capacity and Capacity Utilisation Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16. Total Refinery Product Imports and Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17. OECD Unleaded Gasoline Prices and Taxes, Fourth Quarter 2007.
18. OECD Automotive Diesel Prices and Taxes, Fourth Quarter 2007 .
19. LNG Importers, March 2007. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20. Map of the Japanese Gas Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21. Gas Market Liberalisation Time Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22. Gas Prices in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries, 1980 to
2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23. Electricity Generation by Source, 1973 to 2030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24. Final Electricity Demand by Sector, 1990 to 2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25. Supply Areas of General Electric Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26. Transmission Interconnectors in Japan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27. JEPX Spot Prices in 2006 and August 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28. Electricity Prices in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries,
1980 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29. Generation and Transmission Capacity by Fuel Source . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30. Renewable Energy as a Percentage of Total Primary Energy Supply
in IEA Countries, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31. Installed Capacity of Wind and Solar PV, 1992 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . .
32. Energy Self-Sufficiency in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries,
2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33. Nuclear Power Plants in Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34. Number of Nuclear Power Plants vs. Service Years, August 2007 . .
35. Number of Automatic Shut-downs in Japan and the United States . . .
36. Capacity Utilisation Comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37. Causes of Nuclear Plant Unavailability in Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38. CO2 Emissions Intensity in the Electricity Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39. Administrative Organisations for Nuclear Energy Policy . . . . . . . . . . . .
40. Long-Term Framework for Nuclear Energy in Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41. Outline of Nuclear Safety Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42. Government Spending on Energy R&D, 1996 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43. Expenditure on Public Energy Research as a Share of GDP in Selected
IEA Countries, 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44. Key Innovative Technologies towards Cool Earth 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45. Example of NEDO Funding Support Levels for the Development
of Energy Conservation Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46. Energy R&D Technology Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63
66
69
102
103
104
106
107
110
111
114
117
123
124
132
135
137
139
141
149
150
161
163
165
165
166
166
168
170
172
173
189
190
195
195
196
TABLES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Supply-Demand Balance, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy Taxes in Japan, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy Subsidies as of 1 January 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy-Related CO2 Emissions by Fuel, 1970 to 2030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Policies and Measures in the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan. .
Summary of International Greenhouse Gas Credit Purchases . . . . . .
Extract of Japans Energy Efficiency Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subsidy Programmes and Budgets for Promoting Energy-Efficient
Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Target Year and Effects of Top Runner Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Results of Top Runner Programme in Selected Categories . . . . . . . . . .
Energy-Saving Labelling System for Retailers (Applicable Products) . . .
Coal Consumption by Sector, 1970 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil Supply-Demand Balance, 1970 to 2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural Gas Consumption, 1970 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LNG Import Capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current Pipeline Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power Generation Capacity in Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plants under Construction or Planned by VIUs, J-Power and Japan
Atomic Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renewable Primary Energy Supply, 1970 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renewable Electricity Generation, 1970 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2010 Renewables Targets and Current Progress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renewables Obligations, 2003 to 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
METI Budget for Renewables and New Energy, 2006 and 2007 . .
Prices for Selected Renewables, 2003 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Future Nuclear Capacity Construction Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Five Basic Guidelines for Nuclear Energy Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Implementation Policies in Japans Nuclear Energy National Plan.
Degree of Knowledge about Nuclear Power Generation . . . . . . . . . . . .
Energy RD&D Funding, 1996 to 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
22
25
38
39
46
49
52
60
61
64
65
67
99
101
109
113
116
122
133
147
151
153
155
156
157
162
169
171
176
186
BOXES
1. Overview of the Cool Earth Promotion Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. International Efficiency Efforts through Sectoral Approaches in the
Asia-Pacific Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. IEA G8 Energy Efficiency Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Resource and Energy Diplomacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Oil Stock Agreement between Japan and New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Overview of JOGMEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. NEDOs Solar Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. Technology Transfer and Collaboration in Asia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
35
77
89
90
93
191
192
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
The second-largest economy in the IEA, Japan is a world leader in progressing
energy and environmental policy. The country is actively engaged in the
international policy-making process and is committed to guiding the worlds
economies along a sustainable and secure energy pathway. In the environment
arena, Japan has led by example, committing to meeting its own climate
change targets while urging global action for the long term. It has also shown
leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, helping to drive technology transfer and
collaboration with its neighbours helping expand energy efficiency and, as
a result, increasing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
With its 2008 presidency of the G8, Japan is resolved to continue to elevate
the issues of climate change and energy efficiency.
There is much to praise in Japans domestic energy policies. It has a
well-developed and robust energy R&D programme, to which significant
government resources continue to be devoted. In fact, its commitment to
energy R&D spreads benefits beyond Japan. The country is also steadfast in
its commitment to nuclear energy as a major component of its energy mix,
extracting the significant benefits of this greenhouse gas-free generation
source. Its nuclear industry is also prominent globally, supplying the
international market with state-of-the-art technologies. Similarly, Japans
renewables industry, particularly solar photovoltaics, and its electronics
industry supply the world with cutting-edge technologies that reduce global
greenhouse gas emissions and increase global energy security. Turning to
fossil fuels, the country is a pioneer in the industry with strong policies to
ensure security of supply and a well-developed infrastructure that has laid the
foundation for the global trade in liquefied natural gas. The country makes
energy security through energy diversity a top priority. It also helps underpin
a secure oil supply for IEA countries by holding much more than its required
share of oil stocks. Finally, the IEA sees that enhanced competition can bring
to Japan important benefits such as global competitiveness and security of
supply. To that end, we are pleased to note the efforts the country is now
making towards liberalising its gas and electricity markets.
One policy area that deserves particular notice is energy efficiency. The
government puts tremendous effort into increasing energy efficiency in the
country and has established some innovative policies, including the Top
Runner programme for product efficiency. The programme drives domestic
efficiency, but also spurs international gains given Japans position as a major
exporter of electronics and vehicles. Notably, it is designed to continue to
9
1
place pressure to improve energy efficiency, and thus has a built-in mechanism
to drive energy improvement over the long term without continued policy
negotiation. In general, we commend the government for its strong leadership
in energy efficiency and urge it to continue to refine and improve the
programme. Japans commitment to energy efficiency helps underpin global
gains in energy efficiency.
Building on this strong progress, this report explores areas of energy and
environmental policy where improvements can be made to ensure that Japans
policies fully balance the 3 Es of sound energy policy Energy security,
Environmental sustainability and Economic efficiency. As in all countries, further
progress can be made, and given the strong leadership Japan continues to show,
the country is up to the task. In describing the challenges that Japan faces, three
themes emerge the need to complement existing voluntary measures and
regulations with stronger policies in some areas; the need to enhance market
signals and create the right incentives in the economy; and the need for more
integration of its internal energy markets. Improvements in these areas have
many benefits, most notably long-term, stable security of energy supply and the
ability to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we
urge the country to continue its strong leadership in the area of international
collaboration and technology transfer.
CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

AND TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION
Recently, Japan has been an active member of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on
Clean Development and Climate (APP), in particular playing a leading role
in the steel and cement sectors by taking a sectoral approach, which aims to
identify the energy conservation and CO2 reduction potential of each country.
Japan is promoting the application of this approach as an effective tool for
setting objective and fair targets. Japan also regards energy conservation
as a means for simultaneously solving issues in relation to energy security,
the strengthening of competitiveness of the national economy and climate
change. The country has demonstrated leadership in the Asia-Pacific region,
such as at the East Asia Summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation
(APEC), by setting individual goals and formulating action plans voluntarily
for improving energy efficiency. Moreover, Japan has been encouraging the
transfer of know-how and technical knowledge in the field of energy efficiency.
With its 2008 presidency of the G8, Japan is working to raise the profile of
the issues of climate change and energy efficiency. It has already done so
through the recent launch of the Cool Earth Promotion Programme at the
World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2008. In this programme, Japan
advocates that in order to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by half
by 2050, technological innovation is critical in coping with climate change.
10
With this perspective, the government will focus on R&D investment in the
environmental and energy sectors, injecting about USD 30 billion into these
sectors over the next five years. The government also states that it is necessary
to establish a framework for accelerating technological development and
sharing the resulting achievements through close partnership with the IEA and
other relevant parties. The IEA encourages Japan to continue its international
leadership on climate change as this can help foster important dialogue
for the future. We also appreciate Japans efforts to diffuse energy-saving
technology in Asian countries, including China and India, by dispatching
energy-saving experts, accepting trainees and supporting energy-saving
projects. The countrys good work to enhance technology transfer in the Asian
region thereby helping lower global energy demand is a model for other
countries and the IEA urges it to continue.
COMPLEMENTING EXISTING VOLUNTARY MEASURES

Japans government has strong energy and environmental policies in place.
Among these policies, there is strong emphasis on voluntary approaches,
particularly with industry, as this is seen to allow greater flexibility and
less government involvement. Many countries rely on voluntary agreements
with industry and Japans programme is notably comprehensive. In many
cases, in fact, the voluntary approaches are voluntary in name only and the
success rate has been very high companies that commit to trying to meet
the standard or requirement always do. This is the case with the Keidanren
agreements with industry, where companies have an excellent record of
fulfilling their goals. In general, however, there is room to complement the
existing voluntary measures with other policies. This is true most notably in
the housing sector, where the largely voluntary approach leaves room for
efficiency improvements. Though some of the benefits of stronger building
codes take longer to materialise owing to slow building stock turnover, the
housing sector offers one of the largest opportunities for efficiency gains
and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Therefore we are pleased to see
the recent efforts to specify energy efficiency standards that apply to a
greater share of large buildings. Nevertheless, most other IEA countries have
recognised the effectiveness of standards in improving energy efficiency in
buildings and have made these standards mandatory.
Strengthened regulations could also benefit the gas and electricity sectors,
where some of the rules in place may not be strict enough to achieve the
necessary result, though they are in the process of being revised. In both the
natural gas and electricity sectors, the incumbent utilities do not yet seem to
have sufficient incentives to level the playing field for smooth energy trading.
In the electricity sector, clearer requirements on third-party access would
enhance competition. Moreover, there should be strong rules governing the
balancing market and allocation of inter-regional transmission capacity.
11
In the nuclear sector, the clarity in the organisation of the safety regulator
could be improved as such clarity is critical for public support of nuclear power.
The IEA does not doubt the independence of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety
Agency, but it is important that the public and investors are also convinced.
In short, perception is important and more needs to be done to clarify and
highlight this independence. In addition, the lack of irrefutable clarity on
regulatory independence may lead regulators to be overly conservative as
a means to counter the publics perception ultimately undermining the
economics of more efficient operation of nuclear facilities.
FURTHER ENHANCING MARKET SIGNALS

AND INCENTIVES
Enhancing the existing policies and complementing the voluntary ones does not
require imposing cumbersome regulations. Creating market signals throughout
the economy is the clearest way of driving sustainable policy outcomes, but
one that does not require imposing strict regulations. Particularly with respect
to climate change goals, putting a value on greenhouse gas emissions in
the economy will naturally drive consumer choices towards technologies and
behaviours with lower emissions. Consumers need market signals to make the
right choices. In some cases, standards and other policies can be the more
appropriate way to drive energy policy. Sectoral approaches could also be a
part of the overall policy mix. In addition, taxes, emissions trading schemes and
other market-based policies could create the right signals and encourage the
more efficient use of resources throughout the economy. Such signals are also
necessary to help balance measures to reduce CO2 emissions and ensure that
reductions are undertaken in the parts of the economy where the costs of doing
so are lowest. Thus we are pleased to see the voluntary trading scheme currently
in place as well as discussion of a proposed carbon offset scheme aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from small and medium-sized enterprises.
Building on these efforts, the government should work to create a market signal
for greenhouse gas emissions that spreads throughout the economy.
Turning back to the electricity sector, stronger market signals would also help
enhance energy security. In its current state, the partial liberalisation of the
sector risks undermining the regulatory certainty that companies require
to make the large, capital-intensive investments in new electricity capacity,
particularly nuclear capacity. Rather than trying to ensure that policy priorities
are met in a partly regulated and partly competitive market, it can be more
efficient, transparent and secure to ensure policy objectives through direct
incentives, such as by reflecting the value of low-CO2-emitting energy sources.
The combination of stronger regulations and proper market incentives and
price signals would also lead to better performance of the electricity capacity,
including nuclear capacity, resulting in higher capacity factors overall. It
12
would also create a framework for competition to develop, giving confidence

to market participants to enter and invest in the market.
BETTER INTEGRATING INTERNAL ENERGY MARKETS

As discussed, enhanced competition in Japans gas and electricity markets
could help further improve energy security, which would be accomplished by
greater physical and market integration throughout the country. Owing to the
historical development of the electricity grid in Japan, the power sector has ten
vertically integrated utilities covering all its geographic regions. The regions
are integrated, but interconnections are generally weak and regulations do
not sufficiently encourage inter-regional trade. In the gas sector, the country
has grids centred near LNG import terminals. The trunk pipeline networks of
these grids are not fully interconnected across the country.
In the electricity sector, the benefits of greater reliance on trade across
regions are clear. Long-standing power system operations rely on trade to
enhance system security; the larger a regional grid, the greater the options
for managing system load by relying on this larger suite of resources to either
increase or decrease total supply. Within an adequately regulated framework
and with independent system operations, the right incentives would be in
place to ensure efficient sharing of resources across jurisdictions. This would
help enhance system security in Japan which already has very high system
reliability compared to world levels in a more cost-effective manner. In
the gas sector, there are clearly costs for greater interconnections across the
rugged geography of Japan. Nevertheless, commendably, the government
has put in place fiscal policies to encourage greater integration, enhancing
competition. However, as currently structured, a more integrated system is
more likely to materialise if incumbents are given the right incentives.
Better integration of the electricity network also affects renewables deployment.
As in all countries, Japan faces the challenge of securing an electricity grid
with greater amounts of intermittent renewables, particularly wind. Growing
experience and new research from the international community suggests that
grids are able to handle higher levels of renewable resources than previously
thought. Nevertheless, greater integration can be more easily managed if
there is a larger, more integrated grid with more liquid trade of electricity.
This will be particularly important in Japan, where the country currently has
relatively low levels of renewables deployment. Not only is it important to set
more ambitious targets for renewables, taking into account the natural and
geographic conditions in Japan, but it is also critical to continue to streamline
and harmonise market rules on grid interconnections in general and on the
connection of renewables to the grid while continuing to pay due attention to
the effects of increased intermittent sources on the network.
13
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
The government of Japan should:
Continue to take a leadership role in the global dialogue on energy and the
environment, building on the success of Japans domestic efforts to improve
energy efficiency, such as through sectoral approaches, and to develop lowcarbon energy technologies.
Maintain the countrys global prominence in energy technology development

and transfer.
Complement existing energy and environmental policies with stronger

options, including sector-specific benchmarks, standards, regulations, taxes
and trading schemes, and continue to strengthen regulations for gas and
electricity markets.
Enhance the role of market signals in the economy, in part by strengthening

the value on greenhouse gas emissions, in order to further improve energy
security and environmental sustainability.
Continue to work to create more integrated gas and electricity markets,

particularly in light of the benefits on security of supply and renewables
deployment.
14
PART
POLICY ANALYSIS
16
Kyushu
Shikoku
RUSSIA
Honshu
JAPAN
Sea of Japan
Tokyo
Pacific Ocean
Hokkaido
Km
100
200
Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the IEA.
Source: IEA.
Okinawa
REPUBLIC
OF KOREA
NORTH
KOREA
CHINA
Map of Japan
Figure 1
GENERAL ENERGY POLICY

As an island nation that relies on imports for a very large share of its total
energy supply and nearly all of its fossil fuel imports, Japan ranks energy
security at the top of its policy priorities. The country is a pioneer in the
liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, and the largest LNG importer in the world.
It is also now actively pursuing upstream hydrocarbon and minerals investment.
Japan makes extensive use of nuclear power, and is set to maintain the strong
position of nuclear in the energy mix in the future. Japan also makes energy
efficiency a top priority, helping achieve the twin goals of energy security and
environmental protection. The country relies heavily on voluntary agreements
with industry to achieve its climate and efficiency policy.
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
A mountainous island nation off the eastern coast of Russia, China and Korea,
Japans total land mass is slightly smaller than California and larger than
Germany at just under 400 000 square kilometres (km2). The country has
almost 30 000 km2 of coastline (see Figure 1). The climate is largely temperate,
though summers can be hot and tropical, particularly in the south, and winters
can be quite cold throughout the country. Arable land covers just under 13%
of the total area.
With almost 130 million inhabitants, Japan has the fourth-highest population
density in the OECD. The country has a nearly flat population growth rate,
0.06%, and the highest life expectancy in the world. Japan has many very
large cities, besides Tokyo, which has a population of over 8.5 million. Twelve
cities have more than a million inhabitants. Cities continue to draw inhabitants
from rural areas, resulting in urban migration.
With a gross domestic product (GDP) of almost USD 4.4 trillion in 2006,1
Japans economy is the second-largest in the world and about one-third the
size of the United States economy. The economy is driven by its manufacturing
sector particularly electronics and vehicles which makes up over a fifth of
the total. The country also has some of the largest iron and steel works in the
world, relying heavily on imports of raw materials given the very limited
domestic endowment. Japan has a small agricultural sector and one of the
largest fishing fleets in the world catching about 5% of the worlds fish.
1.
On average in 2007, JPY 118 = USD 1 = EUR 0.73.
17
2
0
Japan Nippon phonetically in Japanese is a constitutional monarchy

with a parliamentary government. While the symbol of the State and of
the unity of the people is Emperor Akihito, the head of the government is
the Prime Minister, who is the head of the Cabinet and names and
dismisses the ministers of State. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was
appointed on 26 September 2007 by the Emperor, after being designated
by the Diet. The Diet, or Kokkai, is the bicameral legislature, made up of
the House of Councillors, or Sangi-in, and the House of Representatives,
or Shugi-in. Members of each house are elected for six- and four-year terms,
respectively. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a conservative party, is in
a majority coalition government with the New Komeito Party. The Prime
Minister comes from the LDP. The long-ruling LDP lost control of the upper
house, the House of Councillors, in the September 2007 election. The
country is divided into 47 prefectures, or administrative and political
regions.
SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE
SUPPLY
Japans total primary energy supply (TPES) was nearly 530 million tonnes of
oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2006, a small decrease, 0.2%, from the previous year
and a 0.2% increase from 2000 (see Table 1). Japans fuel mix is reasonably
well diversified, with four fuels making up most of the total. Oil supplies the
largest share, at just under one-half of TPES, the seventh-highest share in the
IEA and above the IEA average of 40% (2006 estimated data). Coal provides
the next largest share, one-fifth. Nuclear and natural gas make up 15% each.
In total, renewables make up 3.2% of TPES, excluding industrial and nonrenewable municipal waste.
Coal makes up a similar share of TPES as it did in 1970, though it dipped a
bit lower in the 1980s and 1990s. The share of oil in TPES has fallen from over
70% in 1970 to less than half in 2006. This decrease has been taken up
primarily by natural gas and nuclear.
DEMAND
Total final consumption of energy (TFC) in Japan was 352 Mtoe in 2006, with
almost 40% of all consumption in the industrial sector (including non-energy
use). The next largest share of consumption, 26%, was in the transport sector.
The residential sector used 14%, with the remainder (20%) in the commercial
and other sectors.
18
19
48.6
71.8
43.6
527.6
351.8
Residential
Other final consumption5
Other
Total consumption
Total final consumption
201.1
240.6
16.9
25.0
14.7
89.5
71.9
22.5
46%
240.6
5.1
244.9
0.7
Oil
31.1
112.4
20.1
0.6
0.0
0.0
30.4
61.3
21%
112.4
0.4
112.0
0.0
Coal
0.0
79.1
0.02
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
79.1
15%
79.1
0.0
0.0
79.1
Nuclear
31.2
77.4
2.7
14.3
9.2
0.0
7.7
48.9
15%
77.4
0.1
74.2
3.2
Natural
gas
0.0
7.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.4
1%
7.4
0.0
0.0
7.4
Hydro
2.7
7.1
0.02
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.6
4.4
1%
7.1
0.0
0.0
7.12
Biomass1
0.8
3.6
0.0
0.2
0.6
0.0
0.0
2.8
1%
3.6
0.0
0.0
3.6
Other
renewables
84.9
0.0
9.4
31.7
24.1
1.6
27.6
94.3
0%
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Electricity
and heat
1. includes industrial and municipal waste. 2. estimated. 3. In this row, electricity and heat inputs are shown as positive numbers in the columns from oil to other
renewables; electricity and heat output is shown in the last column as a negative number; and the total column represents the transformation losses. 4. includes nonenergy use. 5. includes commercial/public services, agriculture/forestry, fishing and non-specified.
Source: Energy Balances of OECD Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
91.1
140.3
Industrial consumption4
Transportation
132.1
Electricity and heat production3
Demand
100%
Share
4.6
Other
527.6
431.1
Imports (net of exports)
Total primary energy supply
101.1
Total
Production
Supply
Unit: Mtoe
Supply-Demand Balance, 2006
Table 1
The share of consumption in the industrial sector has declined dramatically

from the high of nearly 70% in the late 1960s, though since 2001 it has been
increasing slightly. The share of consumption in the transport sector reached
a peak in 1998 and has decreased slightly since then. The shares in the
remaining sectors have been largely flat in recent years, having increased
somewhat through the 1990s (see Figure 2).
Figure 2
Total Final Consumption by Sector, 1973 to 2030
500
Mtoe
400
Industry
300
Residential
200
Transport
Other*
100
0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
* includes commercial, public service, agricultural, fishing and other non-specified sectors.
Note: Forecast data are to be revised by the Japanese government in 2008.
Sources: Energy Balances of OECD Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007 and country submission.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
In 2006, almost 1 100 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity were generated
in Japan, a 4% increase from 2000 and a 31% increase from 1990. As
shown in Figure 23 in Chapter 6, the two largest and almost equal shares,
nearly 28%, are supplied from nuclear and coal. The next largest share
comes from natural gas, which provides almost a quarter of the total. Oil
provides a very high share compared to other IEA countries, 11%. Hydro
provides 8% of the total and biomass, 2%. Other renewables contribute
a negligible share, though this segment has been growing rapidly in
recent years.
20
ENERGY FORECASTS AND SCENARIOS

The governments first energy supply-demand outlook was established in
1967, and has been revised approximately every two to five years since then.
The most recent outlook was completed in March 2005. In April 2007, the
Demand-Supply Subcommittee commenced work on the fourteenth outlook,
which is the final product of the Demand-Supply Subcommittee and is
approved by the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy upon
consultation with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The outlook
includes forecasts for energy demand by sector, primary energy supply by fuel,
electricity generation plant capacity by fuel, electricity generation by fuel and
energy-derived CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions. Among others, two primary
outlooks to 2010 are modelled, namely the case with existing countermeasures
and the case with additional countermeasures. The second case assumes
technological progress, increased environmental awareness, various outlooks
for nuclear power and external changes in macroeconomic and social trends,
among other things.
Since the most recent outlook was released in 2005, a number of changes have
taken place in the international arena, including very high world oil market
prices and growing interest in environmental issues. At the same time, the
government has adopted new energy measures to respond to these additional
resource and environmental pressures. The additional measures include policies
under the May 2006 New National Energy Strategy and the Basic Energy Plan
revision of March 2007, and are incorporated in the updated outlook.
The results from the countermeasures scenario are presented in Table 2,
including both the low and high cases. Low and high refer to the minimum
and maximum expected impact of the additional policies. Additional forecasts
to 2020 and 2030 are presented in Table 3. These outlooks represent three
cases: the technology frozen case, the continuous effort case and the
maximum introduction case. Under the technology frozen case, new technology
is not introduced after the base year of 2005, and the efficiency of equipment
remains unchanged. Under the continuous effort case, efforts to improve the
efficiency of equipment are to be continued along the current trajectory.
Under the maximum introduction case, the energy-saving performance of
equipment is expected to drastically improve through leading-edge technology
at the commercial level deployed to the greatest extent possible, but in a
reasonable manner (e.g. without legally forcing the purchase of this particular
equipment).
The results of the previous reference case are the basis for the IEAs forecast
data used in figures and tables throughout this report (including Annex B).
IEA forecast data will be updated to reflect Japans updated case with existing
countermeasures and the continuous effort case when the data are submitted
to the IEA by the Japanese government in 2008.
21
22
Oil, etc.
19
85
54
49
LPG
Coal
Natural gas
Nuclear
23%
10%
11%
17%
4%
52%
83
Transport
15%
265
52
Commercial
12%
100%
43
Residential
26%
50%
508
95
Residential and commercial
Domestic primary energy supply
181
Industry
100%
359
Share
Supply-demand balance
Unit: million kilolitres (Mkl) crude oil equivalent
1990
69
88
123
18
255
587
98
78
56
134
181
413
2005
12%
15%
21%
3%
43%
100%
24%
19%
14%
32%
44%
100%
Share
2010
83
89
114
18
223
568
94
76
52
128
173
15%
16%
20%
3%
39%
100%
24%
19%
13%
32%
44%
100%
Share
Low case
83
89
113
19
218
566
93
76
51
127
172
392
15%
16%
20%
3%
39%
100%
24%
19%
13%
32%
44%
100%
Share
High case
Additional countermeasures scenario
395
Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010
Table 2
23
Other
New energy, etc.
Nuclear
Geothermal
201.4
1.5
27%
0%
29%
210.8
Oil, etc.
22%
163.9
LNG
10%
61%
71.9
448.1
1%
11%
12%
Coal
Thermal
78.8
Conventional
9.3
88.1
Hydro
Pumped storage
737.6
Total
Share
3%
13
New energy, etc.2
Electricity generation3
Unit: TWh
0%
4%
22
1990
Geothermal
Hydro
1%
5.6
4.4
31%
0%
11%
24%
26%
61%
1%
7%
8%
Share
3%
0%
3%
304.8
3.2
107.2
233.9
252.9
597.3
9.9
71.4
81.3
984.5
16
17
2005
2010
10.2
366.4
3.2
65.1
252.0
222.3
542.6
17.4
78.0
95.4
1 014.6
20
19
4%
0%
3%
0%
1%
36%
0%
6%
25%
22%
53%
2%
8%
9%
Share
Low case
10.2
366.4
3.2
65.0
251.2
221.8
541.1
17.4
78.0
95.4
1013.1
24
19
4%
0%
3%
0%
1%
36%
0%
6%
25%
22%
53%
2%
8%
9%
Share
High case
Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010 (continued)
Table 2
24
79
257
239
174
413
452
1 201
16.5%
18.1%
45.4%
36.4%
41.5%
6.1%
13.4%
Growth
relative
to 90FY
2005
66
243
210
141
351
428
1 089
2.3%
11.9%
27.9%
10.9%
20.5%
11.3%
2.8%
Growth
relative
to 90FY
Low case
66
240
208
138
346
424
1 076
2.3%
10.3%
26.5%
8.5%
18.6%
12.1%
1.6%
Growth
relative
to 90FY
High case
2010
Note: May not sum to total because of rounding. The share of primary energy supply from new energy is higher than that from electricity because the electricity data
only include new energy produced and purchased by utilities, not self-generation by companies or households.
1. includes LPG, other gases and bituminous compounds other than oil.
2. includes the use of energy from top-pressure recovery turbines (TRT) in addition to new energy.
3. based on data for general electric utilities only.
4. refers to the unidentified power source categories in which those traded in the Japan Electric Power Exchange are included.
Source: Outlook for Long-Term Energy Supply and Demand, Demand-Supply Subcommittee, METI.
68
164
Commercial
Energy conversion sector
127
Residential
217
292
Residential and commercial
Transport
482
1 059
1990
Industry
Total
Energy-related CO2 emissions

Unit: Mt CO2
Table 2
25
83 23%
Transport
22
Hydro
New energy, etc. 1
13
49 10%
Nuclear
Geothermal
54 11%
Natural gas
3%
0%
4%
85 17%
Coal
4%
19
LPG
265 52%
52 15%
Commercial
Oil
43 12%
Residential
508
181 50%
Industry
Domestic primary
energy supply
(Mkl, crude oil equivalent)
359
19%
14%
16
17
69
88
123
18
3%
0%
3%
12%
15%
21%
3%
255 43%
587
98 24%
78
56
181 44%
413
Actual
Actual

(Mkl, crude oil equivalent;
percentage is total share)
2005
1990
3%
22
19
3%
0%
3%
99 15%
107 16%
136 21%
19
248 38%
651
100 22%
105 23%
64 14%
180 40%
449
Technology
frozen case
3%
22
19
4%
0%
3%
99 17%
87 14%
121 20%
18
232 39%
601
94 23%
84 20%
58 14%
180 43%
416
Continuous
effort case
2020
3%
26
19
5%
0%
3%
99 18%
79 14%
110 20%
18
209 37%
561
83 21%
76 19%
53 14%
178 46%
390
Maximum
introduction
case
15%
21%
26
19
99
129
146
19
4%
0%
3%
15%
19%
21%
3%
245 36%
685
97
122 26%
70
179 38%
469
Technology
frozen case
Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2030
Table 3
3%
26
19
4%
0%
3%
99 17%
94 16%
123 20%
19
220 37%
601
86 21%
89 21%
59 14%
179 43%
412
Continuous
effort case
2030
3%
38
19
7%
0%
4%
99 19%
73 14%
95 18%
18
183 35%
526
69 19%
72 20%
48 13%
176 48%
365
Maximum
introduction
case
26
1%
11%
0%
0%
1%
0%
4.4
Others4
304.8 31%
3.2
5.6
201.4 27%
1.5
107.2 11%
210.8 29%
252.9 26%
233.9 24%
10%
1%
7%
8%
597.3 61%
9.9
71.4
81.3
163.9 22%
71.9
448.1 61%
9.3
78.8
88.1
New energy, etc. 1
Nuclear
Geothermal
Oil, etc.
LNG
Coal
Thermal
Pumped storage
Conventional
Hydro
12%
Actual
Actual
984.5
2005
1990
Electricity generation2
(TWh; percentage is share of total) 737.6
0%
21.7 2%
437.4 34%
3.3 0%
72.2 6%
340.9 27%
306.4 24%
722.8 57%
11.4 1%
78.1 6%
89.6 7%
1 271.5
Technology
frozen case
1%
7%
0%
6%
0%
21.7 2%
437.4 40%
3.3
68.3
249.7 23%
239.5 22%
560.9 51%
8.5
78.1
86.6 8%
1 106.6
Continuous
effort case
2020
1%
8%
8%
0%
6%
21.7
0%
2%
437.4 44%
3.3
56.0
201.3 20%
200.6 20%
461.3 46%
6.5
78.1
84.6
1 005.0
Maximum
introduction
case
1%
5%
0%
4%
0%
31.2 2%
437.4 31%
3.3
56.1
442.5 31%
359.8 25%
861.7 60%
16.1
78.1
94.2 7%
1 424.5
Technology
frozen case
Table 3
1%
7%
8%
7.5
78.1
1%
9%
85.6 10%
890.8
Maximum
introduction
case
0%
5%
31.2
0%
3%
437.4 38%
3.3
55.8
282.4 24%
254.3 22%
0%
4%
0%
31.2 4%
437.4 49%
3.3
38.9
146.3 16%
148.1 17%
595.9 52% 336.6 38%
14.3
78.1
92.4
1 156.9
Continuous
effort case
2030
27
127
164
217
68
Residential
Commercial
Transportation
Energy conversion
79
257
239
174
452
179
441
16%
93
18% 259
45% 303
36%
6%
37%
85
19% 243
85% 231
40% 152
9% 433
1 275 20%
Technology
frozen case
25%
73
12% 214
41% 198
19% 130
10% 410
1 144 8%
Continuous
effort case
2020
8%
89
1% 254
21% 365
2% 198
15% 442
1 026 3%
Maximum
introduction
case
31%
77
17% 223
122% 248
56% 153
8% 431
1 348 27%
Technology
frozen case
7%
9%
21%
21%
897 15%
Maximum
introduction
case
13%
62
9%
3% 173 20%
51% 179
20% 100
11% 383
1 132
Continuous
effort case
2030
1. includes the use of energy from top-pressure recovery turbines (TRT) in addition to new energy.
2. Installed capacities for FY1990, FY2005 and the amount of electricity generation for FY1990 are all based on data for general electric utilities.
3. includes LPG, other gases and bituminous compounds other than oil.
4. refers to the unidentified power source categories in which those traded in the Japan Electric Power Exchange are included.
Source: Outlook for Long-Term Energy Supply and Demand, Demand-Supply Subcommittee, METI.
Note: May not sum to total because of rounding.
482
1 201 13%
Actual
Actual
1 059
2005
1990
Industry
Energy-related CO2 emissions

(Mt CO2; percentage is growth
rate relative to FY1990)
Table 3
GOVERNMENT, REGULATORY INSTITUTIONS

AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS
Since the last in-depth review in 2003, energy policy institutions have
remained largely the same, with the exception of the Japan National Oil
Company, which was dissolved. At the same time, the Japan Oil, Gas and
Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) was established.
The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), which is part of the
Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), is responsible for
comprehensive energy policies to ensure strategic energy security, realise an
efficient energy supply and promote energy policies in harmony with the
environment. It is also responsible for measures to promote the development
of the economy and industry, such as enhancing the vitality of the private
sector and facilitating economic relations with other countries. The Nuclear
and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), which is a special agency attached to
ANRE, is responsible for ensuring safety and security with regard to the use of
nuclear and other energy sources as well as industrial safety in a comprehensive
manner.
Other government departments involved in the energy sector include the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, with
responsibilities for fusion research and development, the Ministry of the
Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation
(NEDO), one of the largest research and development (R&D) institutions in
Japan, implements R&D programmes concerning energy- and environmentrelated technologies as well as industrial technologies, and promotes the
diffusion of such technologies.
JOGMEC provides the funds necessary for exploration of oil, natural gas and
metal resources, promotes the development of such resources and undertakes
operations needed for stockpiling oil and metal resources. It also helps to
secure stable supplies of oil, natural gas and metal resources at low prices and
provides loans necessary for measures to prevent and mitigate mining
pollution. These activities aim to contribute to the protection of the
populations health and preservation of a favourable living environment as
well as a sound development of mining businesses.
The Energy Conservation Centre, Japan (ECCJ) is a public-interest corporation
involved in programmes related to the provision of information and public
enlightenment to promote energy conservation efforts as well as in programmes
to promote efficient use of energy in the industrial and transport sectors and
international programmes for energy conservation.
28
The New Energy Foundation (NEF) is a non-profit organisation that seeks to

raise public awareness about new energy and ensure a sound development of
new energy-related industries and regional economies. Its goal is to improve
Japans energy self-sufficiency and enhance the Japanese populations living
standards, through activities such as conducting surveys and research related
to the development and use of new energy sources and providing opinions
and presenting proposals to relevant organisations.
The Petroleum Association of Japan, which has oil refiners and distributors as
members, is an organisation whose purpose is to maintain stable oil supply
and promote a sound development of Japans oil industry.
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, made up of the ten
regional general power utilities, was established in order to ensure smooth
management of the electric utility business.
The Japan Gas Association, which counts city gas suppliers as members, seeks
to promote a sound development of the city gas business and contribute to
industrial and cultural development.
KEY ENERGY POLICIES

The Basic Act on Energy Policy, established in June 2002, sets the general
guiding direction for Japans future energy policy. It prioritises securing stable
supply, environmental suitability and use of market mechanisms as the key
tenets of overall energy policy. Since the last review in 2003, two new or
revised policies form the framework for Japans energy policies, the Basic
Energy Plan and the New National Energy Strategy. These are discussed more
fully in the following sections.
OVERVIEW OF KEY POLICIES

Basic Energy Plan
The Basic Energy Plan is based on the policy direction of the Basic Act on
Energy Policy adopted in June 2002. It was formulated in October 2003 and
revised in March 2007. The key points of the plan are to:
Promote nuclear power generation, including the nuclear fuel cycle, and
steadily expand the introduction of new sources of energy.
Enhance strategic and comprehensive efforts to secure a stable supply of

oil and other resources.
Lead the formulation of an effective international framework for enhancing

energy conservation measures and coping with climate change.
29
Resolve energy and environmental constraints through enhancement of

technological capability and the strategic use of this capability.
New National Energy Strategy

The New National Energy Strategy, formulated in May 2006, was based on
the recognition of recent changes in the international energy supply-demand
structure. The key pieces of this strategy aim to:
Improve energy consumption efficiency in terms of GDP at least by an

additional 30% by 2030.
Reduce the proportion of oil in the total primary energy supply to 40% or
less by 2030.
Reduce the oil dependence of the transport sector to approximately 80%

by 2030.
Increase the proportion of nuclear energy in total power generation at

30-40% or higher in 2030 and thereafter.
Further expand the ratio of exploration and development of oil resources by

Japanese companies, to around 40% by 2030.
Energy efficiency and climate change policies

Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has committed to reducing its emissions by
6% from 1990 over the 2008 to 2012 period. The relevant plan guiding
efforts to reduce GHG emissions is the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement
Plan, formulated in 2005 and undergoing revision in March 2008. The Cool
Earth 50 initiative, launched in May 2007, followed by the Cool Earth
Promotion Programme in January 2008, will also guide the countrys climate
change policies, both during the first commitment period and post-2012
(see Box 1). While Japan relies on a mix of different policies, such as labelling
and the Top Runner programme for appliances and vehicles, the country relies
to a large extent on voluntary measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Japan currently has a weak price signal for greenhouse gas emissions in the
economy, though this is changing with the voluntary emissions trading
scheme launched in 2005 and the discussion of plans for a voluntary domestic
offset scheme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Science and technology policy
In addition to its general energy policy tenets, the country has established
guiding science and technology policy principles. Under the governments
Third Science and Technology Basic Plan, which is a five-year plan running
from 2006 to 2010, energy has been tagged as an area to be promoted. In
30
particular, a number of energy technologies have been targeted, including

fuel cells, innovative manufacturing processes, fast breeder reactors (FBR),
clean coal technologies, solar power and batteries.
POLICY EVALUATION
The government conducts ex post evaluation of energy and environmental
policies. These reviews lay out the targets and objectives of the particular
policy or measure, detail the achievements towards the target and describe
any challenges or factors that contributed to meeting or not meeting the
targets.
Recently the government renovated its evaluation system. METI now reviews
all energy and environmental policies in a systematic manner, assessing them
according to eight criteria:
Ensuring the stable supply of oil, natural gas and coal.
Intensive use of energy and diversification of energy sources.
Implementation of energy conservation policies.
Promotion of nuclear power and the creation of a more sophisticated

electric power infrastructure.
Ensuring the stable supply of mineral resources.
Promotion of measures against global warming.
Promotion of the recycling of natural resources.
Strengthening environmental management and competitiveness.
The eight energy and environmental criteria are a subset of the 34 criteria
used by METI.
METI conducts ex ante evaluation on these eight criteria and discloses the
results of the analysis each year when it makes its budget request. From 2008,
stemming from a national fiscal institutional reform, this review process will
be better harmonised with the budget process in order to enhance efficiency.
In addition, ex post evaluation is conducted once every three to five years,
with the results disclosed to the public. The ex post evaluation seeks to verify
the effectiveness and efficiency of the individual programmes and measures,
determining whether the results conform with the objectives and targets
specified at the time the programme was developed, with a view to making
use of the findings in the implementation of new programmes and when
drafting future policies. Furthermore, while cost-benefit evaluations take place
with an effort to make these as quantitative as possible, it is not clear that the
31
current evaluation process is part of a comparative cost-effectiveness analysis

that looks across a wide spectrum of possible policies and measures.
For some specific programmes, such as budget and tax measures, and other
regulations, advisory councils and other entities conduct quantitative analyses
and evaluations. METI confers with these entities before making policy
decisions concerning the approval and implementation of the proposed
programmes.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP

G8 PRESIDENCY
Japan holds the G8 presidency in 2008. Among other items, Japan is placing
international efforts to fight climate change at the top of the G8 agenda. At
the 2008 G8 Summit in Hokkaido, Japan, the main themes to be debated are
the environment and climate change, development and Africa, the world
economy and other issues such as nuclear non-proliferation.
Under the theme of environment, Japan is urging leaders to focus on concrete
goals and means to address the imminent challenge of climate change. Japan
will lead discussions based on its Cool Earth initiatives (Cool Earth 50 and the
Cool Earth Promotion Programme), with the aim of producing tangible
outcomes for the promotion of the United Nations process to create an
effective framework to address climate change beyond 2012.
Japan will emphasise energy efficiency as one of the most effective measures
for mitigating climate change. It improved its energy efficiency by over 30%
over the past 30 years, as a result of improvements made after the oil crisis.
With this experience, Japan will lead the international discussion to achieve
compatibility among environmental protection, energy security and economic
growth by harnessing energy conservation and other technologies.
ENERGY MINISTERS MEETINGS

In June 2008, Japan hosted two meetings of energy ministers, namely, the
second five-country energy ministers meeting and the G8 energy ministerial
meeting, which will contribute to the G8 Summit in Hokkaido. The first fivecountry energy ministers meeting was hosted by China in December 2006
with the participation of the United States, India, Korea and Japan, where
Japan volunteered to host the second five-country energy ministers meeting.
Since China, India and Korea are all major players in the international energy
market and since the United States and Japan are both members of the fivecountry energy ministers meeting and G8 energy ministerial meeting, Japan
32
decided to hold these two ministerial meetings back to back in Aomori, Japan.
China, India and Korea were also invited to participate in the G8 energy
ministerial meeting.
At these meetings, Japan focused on improving energy efficiency through
setting individual goals and formulating action plans; using sector-based
bottom-up approaches; introducing clean energy technologies such as nuclear,
renewables and the clean use of coal; and promoting international co-operation
to develop innovative technologies that are needed to attain the long-term
goal of cutting global emissions by half from the current level by 2050. Energy
security issues such as emergency preparedness and investment climate were
also discussed.
Cool Earth 50
In May 2007, Japan launched its Cool Earth 50 strategy, aimed at lowering
global greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging international participation.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2008, Japan
presented its Cool Earth Promotion Programme, which focuses on how to
implement the strategy (see Box 1).
Box 1
Overview of the Cool Earth Promotion

Programme
The Cool Earth Promotion Programme was presented at the World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2008. It builds on Cool
Earth 50 and has three pillars, described below.
A post-Kyoto Protocol framework
Japan calls on the United Nations to examine at the earliest possible

time strategies and measures to bring about a greenhouse gas
emissions peak in the next 10 to 20 years and a halving of emissions
by 2050.
Japan will, along with other major emitters, set a quantified national
target for the greenhouse gas emissions reductions to be realised from
this point forward.
In setting this target, Japan will use a bottom-up approach by
compiling on a sectoral basis energy efficiency as a scientific and
transparent measurement and tallying up the reduction volume that
would be achieved with the technology used in subsequent years.
33
The base year should also be reviewed from the standpoint of equity.
International environment co-operation

Until new innovative technologies become practically available, the
world must make efforts to maximise the improvement in energy
efficiency.
Japan could take action to transfer high-quality environmental

technology to a greater number of countries.
Japan proposes to set a global target of a 30% improvement in energy

efficiency by 2020.
Japan will establish a new financial mechanism, the Cool Earth

Partnership, on the scale of USD 10 billion.
Innovation
In order to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it will be critical
to have breakthroughs in technological innovation (e.g. innovative
zero-emission coal-fired power generation, innovative solar power,
advanced nuclear power, green information technology).
Over the next five years, Japan will be investing approximately

USD 30 billion in R&D in the environment and energy fields.
Japan proposes the formulation of an international framework through

which the world can collaborate closely with international agencies
such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) to accelerate technology
development and share the fruits of such efforts.
Japan will undertake a fundamental rethinking of all its societal

systems in order to shift Japan to a low-carbon society.
Source: Country submission.
ENCOURAGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT

AND TECHNOLOGY CO-OPERATION
Making use of its expertise and know-how on energy efficiency, Japan is
playing a leading role in encouraging energy efficiency improvements
throughout the Asia-Pacific region through various bilateral and multilateral
forums. At the East Asia Summit (EAS) in January 2007, Japan proposed
that all member countries should set individual goals and formulate action
34
plans for improving energy efficiency; this proposal was included in the EAS
Cebu Declaration. Japan also presented a package for receiving trainees
and dispatching experts to support efforts by Asian countries to improve
their energy efficiency. With a view to strengthening this momentum, Japan
also proposed a peer review process on energy efficiency for the Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum, which was endorsed by APEC energy
ministers in May 2007 and APEC leaders in September 2007. In August
2007, as a co-chair of the energy ministers meeting of the EAS, Japan took
a lead in working out an agreement to set energy efficiency goals and
formulate action plans by 2009, followed by mutual monitoring, which was
confirmed in November 2007. Japans multilateral initiatives are backed by
its bilateral co-operation programme in the field of energy efficiency with
China, India and other countries. Box 2 provides an overview of Japans
international efforts in relation to the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP), a
multilateral forum.
As a key tool to realise a global vision of how to cut global greenhouse gas
emissions by half, Japan is working to further innovative technology R&D
development. A committee made up of executives from private companies
along with the director of Japans R&D institute was set up to identify key
technologies, develop road-maps for their development and consider the
direction to promote international technology co-operation further. The
conclusions of this committee were published in the Cool Earth Innovative
Energy Technology Plan in March 2008.
Box 2
International Efficiency Efforts through

Sectoral Approaches in the Asia-Pacific
Partnership
Japan participates in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development
and Climate (APP), a co-operative framework operated by the seven major
countries in the region that collectively account for more than half of the
total global emissions (Japan, Australia, Canada, China, India, Korea and
the United States). The partnership strives to reduce CO2 emissions on a
global scale within this framework.
The APP has established task forces for the eight sectors that cover about
60% of the partners energy consumption and CO2 emissions, namely
aluminium, buildings and appliances, cement, cleaner fossil energy, coal
mining, power generation and transmission, renewable energy and
35
distributed generation, and steel. By taking a sectoral approach in which

sector-based task forces independently gather ideas and take specific
actions, the goal is to seek to implement effective reduction measures
that are suited to the actual circumstances of individual sectors. To date,
the task forces on steel and cement, both of which are chaired by Japan,
have each held meetings on four occasions and already implemented a
number of programmes.
Japans efforts with the steel task force
The steel task force conducted a survey on some representative
technologies to identify diffusion rates, thereby evaluating the
potential for CO2 emissions reduction for each selected technology,
and reached a consensus on the method of investigating energy
consumption. The emissions reduction potential of all the partner
countries except Canada was estimated at approximately 127 million
tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to approximately 10% of Japans total
emissions).
As a first step for technical co-operation, a team of Japanese experts

on saving energy visited three iron and steel plants in China in
December 2007 and gave energy efficiency advice for each plant.
Actions such as these by the APPs steel task force have been expanded
to a global scale by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI).
Japans efforts with the cement task force

The cement task force is working on data collection using common
boundaries, indicators and investigation methods. It has reached a
consensus on the use of CO2 intensity as one benchmark.
As with the steel task force, the cement task force is also working to
dispatch Japanese experts to cement plants of different countries in
2008.
ENERGY TAXES AND SUBSIDIES

The structure and level of energy taxation have, with some exceptions,
remained unaltered since the 2003 in-depth review. Table 4 provides details
about some direct energy taxes.
36
TAXATION ON FOSSIL FUELS

Petroleum and coal tax
The petroleum tax was introduced in 1978 in the wake of the oil shock.
Although the tax was initially imposed only on oil, its scope was expanded in
1984 to cover liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG),
and enlarged again in October 2003 to include coal. (On this occasion the
tax was renamed to include coal.) Tax revenue (JPY 533 billion under the
2007 budget) is used to finance oil development and stockpiling as well as
measures related to energy conservation and new energy. The tax rate stands
at JPY 2 040 per thousand litres (kl) for oil, JPY 1 080 per tonne (t) for LNG
or LPG and JPY 700 per t for coal.
Gasoline tax, gas oil delivery tax and liquefied petroleum
gas tax
Taxes on gasoline, delivered gas oil and LPG for use in the fuel tanks of
automobiles were introduced successively after World War II, in the late 1940s
to the mid-1960s. Revenues from these taxes, which total approximately
JPY 4 200 billion under the 2007 budget, are used to finance road
construction. The tax rates have been raised in line with an increase in
demand for road construction. The current rates are JYP 53 800 per kl
for the gasoline tax, JPY 32 100 per kl for the gas oil delivery tax and
JPY 9 800 per kl for the LPG tax.
Aviation fuel tax
The aviation fuel tax was introduced in 1972. Tax revenue, JPY 109.9 billion
under the 2007 budget, is used to finance airport construction. The current
tax rate stands at JPY 26 000 per kl.
TAXATION ON ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

Power source development tax
Established in 1974, the power source development tax aims at securing
financial resources for promoting power source locations, R&D on nuclear
power and other activities. Tax revenue is estimated at JPY 346 billion under
the 2007 budget, and the current tax rate stands at JPY 0.375 per kilowatthour (kWh).
37
Table 4
Energy Taxes in Japan, 2007*
Petroleum and coal tax
Other specific indirect taxes
Household sector
Electricity
JPY 0.345/kWh
Natural gas
JPY 1 080/t
LPG
JPY 1 080/t
Kerosene
JPY 2.04/L
Non-commercial use
Unleaded gasoline
JPY 2.04/L
JPY 53.8/L**
Diesel
JPY 2.04/L
JPY 32.1/L***
Industry
Electricity
JPY 0.345/kWh
Natural gas
JPY 1 080/t
All oil products
JPY 2.04/L
Industry and commercial use

LPG
JPY 1 080/t
Diesel
JPY 2.04/L
JPY 32.1/L***
Industry, electricity generation

and steam coal industry
Coking coal
JPY 700/t
* Taxes as indicated do not include the 5% consumption tax, which is applied to the post-tax price
for all client groups. For diesel oil, the consumption tax is applied before the diesel oil delivery tax.
** gasoline tax of JPY 48.6 per L and a local road tax of JPY 5.2 per L.
*** diesel oil delivery tax.
ENERGY SUBSIDIES
Existing energy subsidies are outlined in Table 5.
38
Table 5
Energy Subsidies as of 1 January 2008
Subsidy name
Outline
Budget amount
for FY2007
(thousand JPY)
Natural gas
exploration subsidy
To assist natural gas exploration

by mining companies.
907 000
Subsidy for oil refining

technology programmes
in oil-producing countries
To assist joint research with oilproducing countries concerning

oil refining technologies.
9 925 000
Oil prospecting subsidy
To assist geological surveys abroad.
1 811 561
Oil refining rationalisation

subsidy
To assist the development of advanced

oil refining technologies.
Oil product quality

assurance subsidy
To assist analysis of test-purchased

petroleum products and development
of analysis techniques.
1 898 227
Subsidy for structural

reform measures for petroleum
product distribution
To assist business diversification and

other structural reform measures
by oil distributors.
12 442 348
Anti-large-scale oil
disaster subsidy
To assist the construction and

maintenance of oil fences and
the transport thereof in emergencies.
800 000
Regional energy
utilisation subsidy
To assist local governments

pioneering efforts to utilise
non-fossil energy and promote
the enlightenment and diffusion thereof.
4 465 000
Non-fossil fuel technology

development subsidy
To assist the development of technologies

for expanding utilisation of non-fossil energy.
2 258 300
Natural gas utilisation

promotion subsidy
To help private firms convert coal-burning

facilities to natural gas-burning ones.
6 005 000
Energy utilisation
rationalisation subsidy
To assist installation of energyefficient facilities.
82 814 319
International energy
utilisation rationalisation
subsidy
To conduct policy research to facilitate

energy conservation efforts abroad,
in Asia in particular, and assist diffusion
of energy conservation technologies.
2 259 000
Energy conservation
technology development
subsidy
To assist development of
energy-saving technologies.
12 457 309
16 630 056
39
Table 5
Energy Subsidies as of 1 January 2008 (continued)
Subsidy name
Outline
Budget amount
for FY2007
(thousand JPY)
CO2 emission reduction

subsidy
To assist the installation of

energy-efficient facilities with
reduced CO2 emissions.
14 097 500
Environmentally harmonised
fuel utilisation subsidy
To assist the development

of combustion technologies
that reduce CO2 emissions.
Power facilities promotion

subsidy
To promote companies moves into

locations of power source development
and create jobs in order to facilitate
the construction and operation
of power generation facilities.
16 294 611
Subsidy for promoting

regional energy development
and utilisation
To assist the installation of highly

efficient water heaters by private firms.
13 295 000
Subsidy for promoting

the development of power
generation system technology
To assist the development of gridstabilising equipment capable

of recovering CO2.
Uranium enriching technology

development subsidy
To assist the development of uranium

enriching technologies and a new type
of centrifugal separator that enhances
the production capacity.
2 091 000
Subsidy for technology

development for a reactor
whose core is fully loaded
with MOX fuel
To assist technology development

necessaryfor a reactor whose core
is fully loaded with MOX fuel in order
to help to expand utilisation of MOX fuel.
3 400 000
Nuclear power generation

To assist the development of technologies
technology development subsidy for enhancing the safety and economy
of nuclear power generation and
the nuclear fuel cycle.
1 028 195
1 210 359
257 000
CRITIQUE
Despite significant challenges, Japan has continued its efforts to improve and
balance its energy policy, enhancing its commitment to the 3 Es of sound
40
energy policy energy security, environmental sustainability and economic

efficiency. In the area of energy security, the country is vigilant in its activities
to ensure supply security, with a focus on international procurement of oil,
natural gas and coal, expansion of nuclear power and general infrastructure
development. In terms of environmental sustainability, Japan places a high
priority on energy efficiency and the development of low-carbon energy
technologies a policy that also enhances its energy security. It is firmly
engaged in its Kyoto commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 6% though
this will be very challenging to achieve, as discussed more fully in the next
chapter. Japan is also taking a lead role in driving international action on
climate change by spearheading the Cool Earth 50 initiative, which it is
linking to its 2008 presidency of the G8. In the international arena, the
government is an active member of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean
Development and Climate (APP), promoting sectoral approaches in its
leadership of the steel and cement task forces, which seek to identify energy
efficiency and CO2 emissions reduction potential for key sectors and enable
objective, fair and equitable target setting. The government is also driving
energy R&D collaboration and technology transfer in Asia and throughout the
globe. In particular, the country is a world leader in R&D funding and energy
technology, a position the IEA urges it to continue as this can help develop
solutions to the worlds energy and environment challenges, notably climate
change. Japan is taking a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region by
encouraging countries to set energy efficiency goals and formulate action
plans, as well as by transferring its know-how and expertise to them in the
field of energy efficiency. The government has also prioritised making gains in
competition in the energy sector, using competitive pressures to drive down
prices of natural gas and electricity for Japanese customers. In short, the
governments vigilance in improving energy policy is commendable
particularly its innovative energy efficiency policies and we are pleased to
see the enhanced activities since the last review in 2003. In light of the
constant efforts the government is undertaking to ensure sound energy policy,
we encourage continued policy efforts, particularly in areas where additional
focus could be beneficial.
Voluntary agreements are an important piece of Japans climate policy.
Japanese companies take their voluntary agreements seriously and are
endeavouring to meet them first through domestic efforts and then, if
necessary, through international credit purchases. While we find that these
voluntary agreements can help Japan meet its Kyoto and domestic
commitments, there are some improvements that can be made, as well as
some other options to consider (discussed more fully in Chapter 3).
One of the advantages of voluntary agreements is that they allow industry to
meet particular objectives in a flexible manner. Building on this desire to
ensure as much flexibility as possible, other policy mechanisms should also be
considered to complement the voluntary agreements. Greater reliance on
41
market signals would enhance incentives for industry and other stakeholders
to meet government policy objectives, allowing these to be better harmonised
across sectors. To that end, the voluntary emissions trading scheme currently
in place in which 150 companies are participating is a good first step.
Furthermore, discussions in the government to implement a voluntary
domestic offset scheme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from
small and medium-sized enterprises are welcome. We encourage the
development of these and other policies that would further the development
of a market signal for emissions reductions. Finally, and perhaps most
importantly, market signals drive the necessary investments in energy
security.
While market signals are important in achieving policy goals, government
policy makers also need to take decisions about implementing particular
policies and measures. Government policy makers must estimate the costs of
various policies when selecting from among a basket of options. For this
reason, it is very positive that the government has an evaluation framework in
place. Nevertheless, there seems to be scope for improvement. We are pleased
to see that there is a systematic approach to conducting ex ante and ex post
cost-benefit evaluations of energy and environmental policies, with most
policies and measures undergoing ex post evaluation every three to five years.
This is an important and commendable framework to have in place. Building
on this, the framework should be expanded to ensure these ex ante evaluations
are used in the policy selection process and that there is a systematic approach
in place for ex ante and comparative evaluation of a suite of policy proposals
before a policy is selected. Such a procedure would allow cost-effectiveness
criteria to be given greater weight when selecting between various policies
and measures across sectors and fuels. We encourage the government to make
this a higher priority, as this will help set the framework for developing an
integrated and cost-effective approach to addressing policy concerns,
particularly with respect to climate change.
Sound energy supply-demand scenarios and not only forecasts are essential
for good policy and market operation. Energy market participants rely on these
scenarios to take long-term and capital-intensive infrastructure decisions. Policy
makers use these scenarios to better understand which policies and measures
are necessary to achieve certain energy goals. The Institute for Energy Economics,
Japan has conducted long-term projection exercises with case studies based on
different assumptions, which is a promising start. In addition, the governments
supply-demand subcommittee is planning to update its current energy outlook
in 2008, which is strongly encouraged and this should set the groundwork for a
more transparent and regularly scheduled scenario-development process. As this
modelling framework is enhanced, the relevant parameters, assumptions and
methods should continue to be made transparent to all energy stakeholders.
Not only do the underlying assumptions of the modelling framework need to be
made transparent, but the results of the modelling must be made sufficiently
42
clear and explicit as this will allow monitoring and tracking of progress towards
energy and environmental policy goals.
It is also important that the modelling take into account both bottom-up and
top-down approaches. Top-down models seek to estimate energy supply and
demand at an aggregate, macroeconomic and broad sectoral level. These
models balance out supply and demand with prices and ensure that there is
an overall economic coherence to the results. In contrast, bottom-up models
take advantage of disaggregated end-use data at a fine level of end-use
granularity, such as lighting demand, for each sector. The individual pieces of
such bottom-up models are combined to build up a picture of the overall
economy. The purpose of combining both top-down and bottom-up modelling
is to improve modelling accuracy. While this methodology might result in
some inconsistency the results of the bottom-up model may not add up to
the results of the top-down model the methodology can improve accuracy
because it provides a sound basis for triangulating and querying modelling
results. Overall, it is important that modelling efforts balance both
approaches.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue to take a leadership role in the global dialogue on energy and the
environment, such as through sectoral approaches, building on the success
of Japans domestic efforts to improve energy efficiency and develop lowcarbon energy technologies.
Maintain the country's leading position in energy technology development

and transfer.
Continue to place greater emphasis on market signals that give incentives to

sectors to achieve energy policy goals including energy security, environmental
sustainability and economic efficiency in a flexible manner in order to:
Complement existing voluntary measures.
Drive private-sector investments to enhance energy security.
Lower the costs of achieving government policy goals.
Raise the profile of ex ante and ex post analysis of energy and environment
policies and measures, which will:
Promote cost-effectiveness to explicitly guide the process of selecting

between different policy options within and across sectors.
43
Help ensure an integrated approach to addressing climate change.

Continue to enhance the evaluation and verification of the results of
existing policies and measures.
Build on the efforts under way to develop robust and timely energy supplydemand scenarios by:
44
Ensuring that parameters, assumptions and methods are transparent to

all energy stakeholders.
Further developing modelling that is sufficiently explicit to allow
monitoring and tracking of progress towards energy and environmental
policy goals.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY POLICIES

Japan is a world leader in the field of sustainable energy policies. With respect
to climate change, it has renewed its commitment to meeting its Kyoto target
for greenhouse gas emissions, though this will be a difficult challenge. It is
also elevating climate change to the top of the agenda with its presidency of
the G8 in 2008. The country has begun implementing a voluntary emissions
trading scheme and is evaluating the prospects for a voluntary domestic offset
scheme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from small and mediumsized enterprises. Japan already places a high priority on energy efficiency, both
for reasons of security of supply and climate change policy, and has relatively
low energy intensity compared to other IEA countries. Energy efficiency and
conservation policy is carried out as a public-private initiative, with the efforts
of industry largely stemming from their voluntary action plan.
CLIMATE CHANGE
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS PROFILE
As detailed in Table 6 and Figure 3, Japans total CO2 emissions from fuel
combustion have risen by 13% between 1990 and 2006. Nearly all of this
Figure 3
CO2 Emissions by Fuel*, 1973 to 2005
1 400
Million tonnes of CO2
1 200
Natural gas
1 000
800
Oil
600
Coal
400
Oil
Other**
200
0
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
* estimated by the IEA from energy data supplied by Japan and using the default methodology (the Sectoral
Approach) and emission factors from the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines. ** includes industrial and municipal
waste (negligible).
Source: CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
45
45
3
Table 6
Energy-Related CO2 Emissions by Fuel*, 1970 to 2030
Unit: Mt CO2
Oil
Coal
Natural
gas
Biomass**
Total
1970
1980
1990
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2010
2030
507.2
638.6
658.3
656.0
633.5
643.7
633.1
623.0
622.3
586.8
568.8
577.3
215.8
190.8
297.6
368.5
377.3
397.8
411.0
421.1
427.5
431.4
358.3
375.2
7.9
51.2
114.6
164.8
164.1
169.1
174.9
174.4
173.7
190.0
174.2
234.1
0.0
0.0
0.9
3.0
3.2
3.5
3.8
3.8
4.2
4.5
4.5
4.5
Share in 2006
48.4%
35.6%
15.7%
0.4%
Change (1990-2006)
10.9%
44.9%
65.8%
404.4%
13.2%
Projected change
(2006-2030)
1.6%
13.0%
23.2%
0.0%
1.8%
Average annual growth rate

(1990-2000)
0.0%
2.2%
3.7%
12.9%
1.1%

(2000-2006)
1.8%
2.7%
2.4%
7.0%
0.3%

(2006-2030)
0.1%
0.6%
0.9%
0.0%
0.1%
730.9
880.7
1 071.4
1 192.4
1 178.1
1 214.1
1 222.8
1 222.4
1 227.7
1 212.7
1 105.8
1 191.2

* estimated by the IEA from energy data supplied by Japan and using the default methodology
(the Sectoral Approach) and emission factors from the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines. ** includes
industrial and non-renewable municipal waste.
Source: CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
increase is accounted for by the rising use of coal and natural gas. Some
small increases come from emissions from biomass. Declining oil consumption
has led to a decrease in emissions from oil, almost 11% over the period. In
total, Japans 2006 energy-related emissions were 1 213 million tonnes of
CO2 (Mt CO2). As a large share of TPES comes from nuclear, overall nuclear
generation levels impact greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, nuclear
generation has been very variable, causing significant shifts in greenhouse
gas emissions.
46
Kyoto target
As a party to the Kyoto Protocol, which the country ratified in June 2002,
Japan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below
1990 levels. According to the countrys most recent national communication
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
total greenhouse gas emissions (including the full basket of six gases) in
2003 were 1 339 Mt CO2-eq, 8.3% above Japans baseline emissions under
the Kyoto Protocol. More recent estimates from the government show that
emissions in 2005 were 7.8% higher than in the base year.
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY

The relevant legislation guiding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
is the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan, passed in 2005 and later
amended. In May 2007, the government launched the Cool Earth 50 initiative,
which has proposed a global target to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half
by 2050 and calls for a global consensus on the sharing of the goal. The
Cool Earth 50 initiative also includes a national plan, with a public awareness
campaign, such as the 1 Person, 1 Day, 1 Kilogram campaign, for Japan
to meet its 6% Kyoto commitment. At the World Economic Forum in Davos
in January 2008, within the framework of the Cool Earth 50 initiative,
Japan expressed its determination to set, along with other major emitters,
a quantified national target and proposed a global goal of improving energy
efficiency by 30% by 2020.
Institutional arrangements
Japan has established the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters, of
which the Prime Minister serves as chairman. The Chief Cabinet Secretary, the
Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
serve as vice-chairmen, and all other state ministers serve as members, with all
related ministries and agencies taking action against climate change in close
co-operation with one another.
Policies and objectives
To meet its overall 6% Kyoto target, the government aims for a 0.6%
reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions compared with the base year
and for a forest sink of 13 million tonnes of carbon (MtC, or 47.7 Mt CO2,
equivalent to an emissions reduction of 3.8%) during the first commitment
period of 2008 to 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol. The government intends
to achieve the target of a 6% reduction compared with the base-year gross
emissions by realising an additional reduction of 1.6% with the use of the
Kyoto mechanisms. How these actions would affect total emissions is outlined
in Figure 4. (For more detailed descriptions of policies and measures, see the
next section on energy efficiency or Chapter 7 on renewables.)
47
Figure 4
Overview of Kyoto Emissions Targets and Measures
to Achieve the Target
1 361
1 359
(+7.9%) 1 358 (+7.7%)
(+7.7%)
Emissions reductions
from domestic measures
-8.3%
1 300
1 261
Comparison with
baseline year -6.0%
(Reduction commitment
under Kyoto Protocol)
1 200
Carbon sequestration in forests

-3.8%
Kyoto flexibility mechanisms: -1.6%
1 100
1990 2003 2004 2005
Baseline year emissions (FY)
2010
Domestic measures
The Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan includes about 60 policies
and measures, which are described in Table 7. Most of these policies and
measures are related to improved energy efficiency, further details of which
are provided in the next section of this chapter. In the commercial sector,
the primary means of achieving emissions reductions is through voluntary
agreements with industry. There are also some smaller programmes to
promote energy-efficient equipment. In the transport sector, the biggest
source of emissions reductions is from the Top Runner programme to
improve the fuel economy of vehicles. Other important policies to reduce
CO2 emissions include improvements to the energy performance of buildings,
efficiency improvements in equipment, reductions in the CO2 intensity of the
power sector, promotion of renewables and promotion of carbon uptake
through forest sinks.
48
Table 7
Policies and Measures in the Kyoto Protocol Target
Achievement Plan
Specific
measures
Transport sector
Energy-derived CO2
Industrial sector
Unit: Mt CO2
Voluntary action plan

Thorough management of energy under Law
Concerning the Rational Use of Energy
Energy conservation by collaboration
among multiple companies
Promotion of introduction of high-performance
industrial furnaces
Dissemination of high-performance boilers
Promotion of introduction of next-generation coke ovens
Dissemination of fuel-efficient machines in
the construction and engineering work sectors
Estimated Additional
value of
measures
reduction
42.40
1.70
1.66
3.20
3.15
2.00
1.30
0.40
0.94
0.20
0.17
Promotion of use of public transportation means

3.80
Greening of vehicle transportation businesses through
promotion of dissemination of eco-driving practice
1.30
Support of introduction of idling-stop vehicles
0.60
Adjustment of demand for vehicle traffic
0.30
Promotion of intelligent transportation system (ITS)
2.60
Promotion of intelligent transportation system (ITS)
(centralised control traffic signals)
1.00
Reduction in works on roads
0.50
Improved maintenance of traffic safety facilities
0.50
Promotion of traffic alternatives by using information
communications such as telework
3.40
Integrated measures for greening of marine
transportation
1.40
Modal shift to rail freight transportation
0.90
Improvement of efficiency of truck transportation
7.60
Reduction in distance of land transportation
of international freight
2.70
Improvement of fuel efficiency of vehicles under
the Top Runner standard
21.00
Promotion of dissemination of vehicles powered
by clean energy
3.00
Reduction in the top speed of large trucks
on expressways
0.80
Introduction of sulphur-free fuels and vehicles powered
by sulphur-free fuel
1.20
Improvement of energy consumption efficiency
of railroad
0.40
Improvement of energy consumption efficiency
of aviation
1.90
0.35
0.63
0.20
1.18
1.16
49
Table 7
Achievement Plan (continued)
Commercial and household sectors
Specific
measures
Energy conversion sector
Energy-derived CO2
Unit: Mt CO2
Thorough management of energy under Law

Concerning the Rational Use of Energy
Improvement of energy-saving performance
of buildings
Dissemination of high-efficiency air-conditioners
for business use
Dissemination of energy-saving refrigerators
and freezers for business use
Improvement of energy efficiency of residences
Business and home energy management systems
(BEMS/HEMS)
Improvement of efficiency of equipment under
the Top Runner standard
Promotion of renewal purchases of energy-saving
equipment
Energy information provided by energy suppliers
Dissemination of high-efficiency water heaters
Dissemination of high-efficiency lighting, such as
light-emitting diode (LED) lighting
Reduction in stand-by power consumption
Promotion of wider use of biomass
(creation of biomass-based town)
Reduction in CO2 emission intensity in the electric
power sector through promotion of nuclear
energy, etc.
Promotion of measures for new energy
Natural gas co-generation (i.e. CHP)
Fuel cells
value of
measures
reduction
3.00
3.02
25.50
1.57
0.60
0.59
0.60
8.50
0.63
0.78
11.20
29.00
7.07
5.60
4.20
3.40
5.60
4.18
1.86
3.40
1.50
1.00
17.00
46.90
11.40
3.00
Non-energyderived CO2
Expansion of use of blended cement

Measures for reduction in CO2 emissions derived
from incineration of wastes
1.11
0.50
CH4, N2O
Reduction in the amount of final disposal of wastes

Installation of N2O decomposer in the production
process of adipic acid
Sophistication of combustion at sewage sludge
incineration facilities
Sophistication of combustion at general industrial
waste incineration facilities
5.50
8.74
1.30
0.20
Three fluorinated Promotion of well-planned efforts of the industrial

community, and promotion of development and use
gases
of alternative materials
43.60
50
17.04
6.61
0.27
Table 7
Achievement Plan (continued)
Unit: Mt CO2
Specific
measures
value of
measures
reduction
Measures
for forest sinks
Promotion of measures for sinks through promotion

of measures for forests and forestry
47.67
Promotion of urban greening, etc.
0.28
Kyoto
mechanisms
Development of credit acquisition system

by government
Total
20.00*
74.16
Notes: Bold type denotes key policies and measures. These data will be updated in 2008 to reflect
the new Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan that was revised in March 2008.
* difference from reduction targets (-6%) and domestic measures (emissions reduction, carbon sinks).
Emissions trading
Domestic trading
Since 2005, the Ministry of the Environment has been implementing a
domestic emissions trading scheme based on voluntary participation. Thus far,
150 companies have participated in this system. In addition, METI is currently
considering implementing a voluntary domestic offset scheme aimed at reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), calling
it a domestic clean development mechanism (CDM) scheme. This domestic offset
scheme is for SMEs that have made little progress on activities to reduce CO2
emissions. Under the programme proposal, large Japanese businesses can buy
carbon credits from SMEs that undertake activities to enhance their efficiency
and lower their emissions. These offsets can be used as domestic credits for the
large companies to use to meet their targets under their voluntary action plans. In
exchange, the large companies provide SMEs with financial and technical support
for the projects. The government is currently working out the details of whether
subsidies would be given to SMEs to encourage the activities and, if so, at what
level. It is also working out the details about the emissions reduction certification
scheme and its consistency with international standards.
International purchases
Purchases of emission credits from the international market can be used to
offset domestic emissions above the Kyoto target. The Kyoto Protocol provides
for several so-called flexibility mechanisms to assist Annex I parties (developed
countries) in meeting their Kyoto emissions targets in the most cost-effective
manner possible. These three flexibility mechanisms are described below.
51
Under joint implementation (JI), a project-based mechanism, Annex I

parties may fund emissions-reducing or offsetting projects in other Annex I
parties and then apply the resulting emissions reduction units (ERUs)
towards meeting their own Kyoto target.
Under the clean development mechanism (CDM), also a project-based
flexibility mechanism, Annex I parties may fund emissions-reducing or
offsetting projects in non-Annex I parties (typically developing countries)
and then apply the resulting certified emissions reductions (CERs) towards
its own Kyoto target.
In addition to the above two project-based mechanisms, Annex I parties
may engage in emissions trading, whereby an Annex I party purchases
emission units from another Annex I party (or an authorised legal entity
from within that party) and applies these units towards meeting its own
target. Generally speaking, these units are assigned amount units (AAUs),
though some other forms of emission units may also be traded. In the case
of AAUs, they do not arise from particular projects; rather, if an AAU is
sold to another country, the sale increases the total emissions reduction
the selling country must achieve by an equal amount.
The government has already begun to procure emission credits from the
international market. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organisation (NEDO) is the key government agency managing credit
purchases, and also manages the NEDO Credit Acquisition Programme. So far,
NEDO has purchased 11.673 Mt CO2 through the programme.
In addition, Japan Carbon Finance, which is financed and managed by
private businesses and other non-government entities, purchases credits from
reduction projects implementers and resells them to the Japan GHG Reduction
Fund, which then distributes them to investors. Through this scheme, Japan
Carbon Finance has purchased 9.96 Mt CO2.
Table 8 outlines completed and expected international greenhouse gas credit
purchases.
Table 8
Summary of International Greenhouse Gas Credit Purchases
Unit: Mt CO2
NEDO (government)
Japan Carbon Finance
Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan
Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Purchases
(contracted)
Total target
of purchases
11.67*
9.96*
120.00
44.00
100.00
USD 141.5**
-
* data disclosed by NEDO. ** upper limit of available funds for credit purchases.
52
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
TRENDS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Japan continues to pursue energy efficiency improvements as a cornerstone
of its energy policy. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, Japans energy
intensity in terms of TPES per unit of GDP is the lowest among IEA countries
when market exchange rates are used. It is one of the lowest when measured
in terms of purchasing power parity (see Figure 6). Since the oil shocks of
the 1970s, the economy has achieved an energy intensity improvement of
around 30%. However, since the mid-1980s, this improvement has levelled
off somewhat (in both market exchange rate and purchasing power parity
terms). The government is now aiming for an improvement of at least
another 30% in terms of final energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2030
compared with 2003.
Figure 5
1973 to 2010
(toe per thousand USD of GDP at 2000 exchange rates)
0.60
Japan
Australia
0.50
Canada
0.40
France
0.30
Germany
Italy
0.20
United Kingdom
0.10
United States
IEA total*
0.00
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Note: Japanese forecast data are to be revised by the Japanese government in 2008.
* excluding Luxembourg and Norway throughout the series, as forecast data are not available for
these countries.
Sources: Energy Balances of IEA Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007; National Accounts of OECD
Countries, OECD Paris, 2007 and country submissions.
53
Figure 6
1973 to 2010
(toe per thousand USD of GDP at 2000 prices and purchasing power parities)
0.50
Japan
Australia
0.40
Canada
France
0.30
Germany
0.20
Italy
United
Kingdom
0.10
United States
0.00
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
IEA total*
Note: Japanese forecast data are to be revised by the Japanese government in 2008.
* excluding Luxembourg and Norway throughout the series, as forecast data are not available for
these countries.
Sources: Energy Balances of IEA Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007; National Accounts of OECD
Countries, OECD Paris, 2007 and country submissions.
Japan and other IEA countries have experienced increasing TPES per capita since
1990. However, Japans TPES per capita grew by 15% between 1990 and 2005,
from 3.59 to 4.14 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) per capita, in contrast to the IEA
average increase of 9% to 5.14 toe per capita over the same period.
A sector-by-sector analysis reveals changes in the proportions of energy use
in each sector (see Figure 7). Since 1990, Japans energy use in the industrial
sector as a proportion of the total has declined. In 1990, industry consumed
around 100 Mtoe, about 34% of TFC. By 2005 this had reduced steadily to
28% of TFC. This is the result of several factors, including energy efficiency
changes in major industrial sectors, shifts in the mix of production and
changing production levels (see Figure 8). During the period between 1973
and 2005, energy efficiency (in terms of energy consumption per unit of
production) improved by 20% in the steel industry, 52% in the paper-making
industry, 24% in the cement industry and 29% in the chemical industry. As
a result, the energy efficiency of Japans major industrial sectors is one of the
highest among IEA countries.
From 1990 to 1995, energy consumption in the transport sector followed the
trends of most other IEA countries with an increase in energy consumption.
54
Figure 7
Japans Energy Use by Sector, 1990 to 2005
400
Mtoe
350
300
11%
Non-energy
use
11%
11%
18%
19%
21%
13%
14%
14%
11%
250
17%
200
12%
150
25%
27%
34%
1990
Commercial
and public
services
Residential
27%
26%
31%
29%
28%
1995
2000
2005
Transport
100
50
0
Industry
Source: Energy Balances of IEA Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
Figure 8
Changes in Energy Consumption per Unit Production
in Selected Industries, 1965 to 2005
Fiscal 1973 value = 100
150
100
First
oil
crisis
50
0
1965
1970
Second
oil
crisis
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Energy consumption per unit production in the steel industry

Energy consumption per unit production in the cement industry
Energy consumption per unit production in the pulp/paperboard industry
Manufacturing industry ethylene-equivalent consumption
55
However, since 1995 energy consumption in transport has remained relatively

stable, and even recorded a reduction between 2000 and 2005 from 95 Mtoe
to 93 Mtoe. This appears to be the result of changes in vehicle size the average
weight of gasoline-powered passenger cars has remained relatively stable since
1997 and improvements in the energy efficiency of both freight and passenger
vehicles. For passenger vehicles, there has been a consistent improvement in the
average fuel economy from 12 km per litre in 1995 to 15 km per litre in 2004,
combined with a recent reduction in annual driving distance per vehicle and a
reduction in total driving distance for the vehicle fleet.
Similar recent achievements have been made in freight vehicle fuel efficiency.
Freight energy efficiency increased from a peak of just over 16 000 kilojoules
(kJ) per tonne-km in 2002 to 15 647 kJ per tonne-km in 2005.
In contrast, it is notable that final energy consumption in the commercial sector
has experienced a mostly steady increase from 45 Mtoe in 1990 to 62 Mtoe in
2005. As a consequence, Japans commercial and public services sector consumed
around 20% of TFC in 2005 (see Figure 9). Nearly half of Japans commercial
sector energy consumption is used for heating (both space and water) and cooling.
The next major energy load is for appliances and lighting.
Japans energy use in the residential sector has shown a similar growth trend
to that of the commercial sector. In 1990 the residential sector consumed
38 Mtoe. By 2005 this had increased to 55 Mtoe (18% of TFC). The increasing
trend in household energy use is in part due to the increasing penetration of
electrical appliances (see Figure 10). For example, in 1970, air-conditioners
Figure 9
Commercial Sector Energy End Use, 2005
Cooking
8%
Water heating
17%
Power, etc.
43%
Space heating
21%
Cooling
11%
Source: 2007 EDMC Handbook of Energy & Economic Statistics in Japan, ECCJ.
56
57
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Source: METI and ECCJ, Energy Conservation Policy and Measures in Japan, p. 15.
0%
1990
25%
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
225%
250%
Number of units/household
1999
2000
2001
2002
Diffusion Rate and Electricity Consumption of Home Appliances
Figure 10
2003
2004
DVD players
Personal computers
Toilets with
warm-water bidets
Space heaters (oil)
Electric refrigerators
Room
air-conditioners
Televisions
were only in 8.8 out of every 100 households. By 2005, this had increased
steadily to 255.3 air-conditioners per 100 households. Similar trends were
seen in personal computers, DVD players, toilets with warm water bidets,
televisions and microwave ovens.
Japan has a lower energy use per household than other countries. In 2001,
Japans energy use per household was 41 gigajoules (GJ), compared to 74 GJ
in France and Germany and 97 GJ in the United States. Nevertheless, the fairly
consistent increase in energy use in the residential and commercial sectors has
led to these two sectors being the focus of an increasing amount of policy
attention about energy efficiency in Japan.
Japan produces a Long-Term Energy Demand-Supply Outlook approximately
every three years. In 2008, the governments demand-supply subcommittee
is planning to update its 2005 energy outlook. This outlook projects energy
use and supply through to 2030. The reference scenario, as with the outlook
released in 2005, estimates that total final energy consumption will increase
from 413 million kilolitres (kl) of crude oil equivalent to 425 million kl in
2030. The key contributor to this increase is energy use in the residential and
commercial sectors. Energy use in the reference scenario for the transport
sector is projected to remain constant through to 2030.
POLICIES AND MEASURES

Japan has continued its focus on energy efficiency policy advancement and
implementation since the previous review. Examples of developments since
2003 include revising the standards and expanding the scope of the Top
Runner programme (such as implementing standards for heavy-duty vehicles),
starting the implementation of the labelling system for energy efficiency
of home appliances, and extending the Act on the Rational Use of Energy
to include large transport companies and consigners, and large residential
buildings.
Policy framework and objectives
The cornerstones of Japans energy efficiency policy include the Basic Act
on Energy Policy 2002, the Basic Energy Plan and the New National Energy
Strategy.
The Basic Act on Energy Policy, formulated in June 2002, sets the general
direction for Japans future energy policy. It specifically identifies securing
stable supply, environmental suitability and utilisation of market mechanisms
as key policy directions. This law also requires the government to formulate
a basic plan on energy supply and demand in order to promote measures on
energy supply and demand on a long-term, comprehensive and systematic
basis.
58
The Basic Energy Plan clarifies the direction of policies concerning future
energy supply and demand as required in the Basic Act on Energy Policy.
In March 2007, the Basic Energy Plan was revised on the basis of the New
National Energy Strategy. A key point of the revised Energy Plan relating to
energy efficiency is the increased attention paid to energy efficiency measures
in the commercial/residential and transport sectors.
The New National Energy Strategy is a strategy for energy security that
was formulated in May 2006 to reflect recent changes in the domestic and
international energy situation. Improving energy efficiency is a key plank of
this strategy. Key points of the strategy aim to:
Improve the efficiency of energy consumption at least by an additional

30% by 2030.
Reduce Japans dependence on oil in the total primary energy supply to

40% or less by 2030.
Reduce oil dependence in the transport sector to around 80% by 2030.
Increase the proportion of nuclear energy in Japans total power generation

at 30-40% or more in 2030 and thereafter.
Further expand the ratio of exploration and development of oil resources

by Japanese companies, to around 40% by 2030.
Japan has also adopted the Front Runner Plan for energy conservation. This
plan sets forth specific measures for achieving its goal of improving energy
consumption efficiency by at least 30% by 2030 compared with 2003.
The plan is based on the recognition that in addition to short-term energy
conservation measures adopted with the first commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol, medium- and long-term measures are also important.
The 1979 Act on the Rational Use of Energy is a key piece of legislation
underpinning many energy efficiency programmes. The law has been revised
several times to reflect changes in priorities. It was revised in June 1998 to
make progress towards the Kyoto Protocol, at which time the Top Runner
programme was introduced (see below). Then, in June 2002 it was revised
to reinforce the energy conservation measures for household, commercial
and other sectors. The 2002 amendment took effect in April 2003, making
it mandatory for the owners of large office buildings to submit reports to
the relevant ministry with regard to energy efficiency measures that they
implemented during the process of constructing or renovating buildings.
In 2005, the Act on the Rational Use of Energy was again revised. This revision
was the result of discussions in December 2003 by the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources
and Energy on future energy-saving measures for the industrial, transport and
59
commercial sectors. The subcommittee produced an interim report in July

2004 outlining a list of possible future energy-saving measures. In November
2004 and March 2005, the subcommittee discussed the radical strengthening
of the Act on the Rational Use of Energy, and revised it in August 2005;
the revised law took effect in April 2006. This version expands the scope
of regulation to include the transport sector and large residential buildings,
and requires the energy supply and electrical product retail sectors to provide
information that encourages consumers to conserve energy.
Institutional responsibilities for energy efficiency have not changed since
the last IEA review. METIs Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE)
continues to be responsible for energy-sector matters. It leads national efforts
to promote energy conservation measures, in co-operation with the Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and other ministries that are
responsible for the relevant sectors. While the central government thus
promotes energy conservation measures for the country as a whole, local
governments are taking steps to implement their own energy conservation
efforts.
Energy efficiency budget
The fiscal year (FY2) 2007 budget for METI and the Ministry of the Environment
(MOE) for energy conservation was JPY 161.9 billion. This is a 2% decrease
from the previous years budget of JPY 164.9 billion. An extract of some items
in Japans energy efficiency budget is outlined in Table 9.
Table 9
Extract of Japans Energy Efficiency Budget
Unit: thousand JPY
2006 budget
2007 budget
Subsidy for support of project operators

for rational energy use
24 150 000
26 926 000
Subsidy for promotion of introduction

of high-efficiency energy systems for residences and buildings
13 419 826
12 175 700
Subsidy for promotion of introduction of high-efficiency

water heaters
12 000 000
12 000 000
6 200 000
8 000 000
371 178
372 000
1 850 000
1 663 271
Subsidy for strategic technology development for rational

energy use
Subsidy for promotion of introduction of energy-saving measures
Subsidy for information provision on introduction
of energy-saving equipment
2. Japans fiscal year runs from 1 April to 31 March. For example, FY2006 runs from 1 April 2006 to
31 March 2007.
60
Fiscal policies
The government has adopted a range of tax and subsidy schemes to promote
energy efficiency across sectors.
In the transport sector, the government has adopted taxation measures, such
as the introduction of the greening automobile tax for fuel-efficient and lowemission vehicles and a reduction of the automobile acquisition tax for fuelefficient and low-pollution vehicles. In order to accelerate development and
sales of these vehicles, the preferential taxation has been regularly revised to
focus on more fuel-efficient and lower-emission vehicles and to cover compressed
natural gas (CNG) cars, electric cars and hybrid cars, among others. It appears
that this tax incentive has helped Japan achieve its fuel efficiency target of
15 km per litre (L) for cars running on gasoline ahead of schedule.
In the industrial sector, Japan has implemented a tax system for energy
supply/demand structure reform and investment promotion for the industrial
and commercial sectors. This system allows individuals and corporations to
claim a tax credit or a special depreciation upon introduction of eligible
equipment.3
In addition, sectors can also access a range of subsidy programmes for
promoting energy-efficient technologies such as those outlined in Table 10.
Table 10
Subsidy Programmes and Budgets for Promoting
Energy-Efficient Technologies
Subsidy name
Outline
Budget amount
for 2007
(thousand JPY)
Energy utilisation rationalisation

subsidy
To assist installation of energy-efficient

facilities
82 814 319
Energy conservation technology

development subsidy
To assist development of energy-saving

technologies
16 630 056
CO2 emissions reduction subsidy
To assist the installation of energy-efficient

facilities with reduced CO2 emissions
14 097 500
Environmentally harmonised fuel

utilisation subsidy
To assist the development of combustion

technologies that reduce CO2 emissions
1 210 359
Subsidy for promoting regional energy

development and utilisation
To assist the installation of highly efficient

water heaters by private firms
13 295 000

3. The tax credit is equivalent to 7% of relevant equipment acquisition costs to be deducted from the
corporate tax amount and the special depreciation covers 30% of the equipment acquisition cost in
the initial year.
61
Subsidies for housing and buildings are also available under the Project
for Promoting the Introduction of High-Efficiency Housing/Building Energy
Systems. This project provides subsidies for business operators and households
introducing energy-efficient systems for their new buildings or extensions.
Eligible technologies include:
Combined use of multiple energy-efficient appliances for the construction

of energy-efficient buildings (commercial sector).
High-efficiency air-conditioners (commercial sector).
Combined use of multiple energy-efficient appliances for the construction

of energy-efficient houses (household sector).
High-efficiency water heaters (household sector).
Energy efficiency standards, the Top Runner programme

and labelling
Japan has a long tradition of promoting energy efficiency in appliances and
equipment. For example, energy efficiency requirements were first introduced
for refrigerators, room air-conditioners and automobiles in 1979 under the Act
on the Rational Use of Energy.
The centrepiece of Japans efficiency programme is the ambitious Top Runner
programme, implemented as part of the 1998 amendment of the Act on the
Rational Use of Energy to make progress towards the Kyoto climate change targets.
Under the programme, energy efficiency performance targets for categories of
machinery and equipment, including vehicles both domestically manufactured
and imported, are set by taking as the basis the level of the most energy-efficient
products on the market at the time of the value-setting process.
Each type of equipment is divided into several subgroups, where appropriate,
and the energy efficiency target is established for each subgroup. Development
is not evaluated for each product, but for each group. Manufacturers of a product
category covered by the programme are deemed to have met the future energy
efficiency performance standard if the sales-weighted average energy efficiency
performance of their products meets or exceeds the target level in the target year
(see Figure 11). METI can disclose the names of unsuccessful companies, as well as
issue recommendations, orders and fines if targets are not reached. To date, METI
has not undertaken any legal enforcement actions.
The Top Runner programme has consistently extended its coverage of
products. In April 2007, large trucks and buses, liquid crystal display
(LCD) and plasma display panel television sets, rice cookers with thermos
functions, microwave ovens and DVD recorders were added to the list of
items covered by the programme. Furthermore, the government has put
in force new standards for air-conditioners for home use and refrigerators
in September 2006. For automobiles, a new fuel efficiency standard was
62
Figure 11
Schematic of Process for Setting and Evaluating Top Runner Standard
Sales volume in Japanese market
Average
Top Target
level value
Improvement
towards
top level
Present
Technology
improvement
in the future
Target year for

standard value
Efficiency level
established in July 2007 with a view to improving fuel efficiency by 23.5%

by 2015 compared with 2004. The programme currently covers 21 items and
the estimated energy savings achieved by the most recently achieved targets
are shown in Table 11.
According to results provided by METI, Top Runner targets have been
consistently met or exceeded (see Table 12).
As a related issue, it is important to note that standards programmes in
general, and Top Runner is no exception, are not appropriate for addressing
issues related to the energy efficiency of systems (that is, assemblies of
components) and, thus, other policy mechanisms are required to access energy
efficiency potentials in this domain.
Whereas the Top Runner programme targets manufacturers and importers,
appliance energy efficiency levels are made visible to customers through
the provision of relevant information. It is compulsory for manufacturers and
importers of designated appliances to provide information on the energy
efficiency of their products. It is up to manufacturers discretion whether they
complement this information with the use of labels or not. In addition, the
amended Act on the Rational Use of Energy made it necessary for retailers to
make efforts to provide information concerning energy conservation features
of products. Consequently, in October 2006 Japan launched a unified energy
conservation labelling programme that requires efforts to indicate comparative
63
Table 11
Target Year and Effects of Top Runner Programme
Category
Equipment
Target fiscal
year
Expected energy conservation

effects as of the previous fiscal year
of the target
Gasoline and diesel

passenger vehicles
Minicoaches
LPG passenger vehicles
Trailer buses
FY2015
FY2015
FY2010
FY2015
Approx. 23.5% compared to FY2004

Air-conditioners
FY2010
Fluorescent lights
FY2005
LCD and plasma televisions FY2010
Video-cassette recorders
FY2003
Copy machines
FY2006
Approx. 30% compared to FY1997
Computers
FY2007
Magnetic disk units
FY2007
Small freight cars

Large freight cars
FY2015
FY2015

10
11
and freezers
FY2010
FY2010
12
Space heaters
FY2006

for gas space heaters; approx. 3.8%
for oil space heaters
13
Gas cooking appliances
FY2006
14
Gas water heaters
FY2006
15
Oil water heaters
FY2006
16
Electric toilet seats
FY2012
17
Vending machines (also

introducing a paper pack
and cup system)
FY2012
18
Transformers
FY2006: oil-filled
transformers
FY2007: mold
transformers
19
Microwave ovens
FY2008
20
Electric rice cookers
FY2008
21
DVD recorders
FY2010
64
assessments of product energy efficiency for air-conditioners, refrigerators

and televisions, and estimated annual electricity costs as shown in Figure 12.
Table 13 outlines which types of labels and other information can be provided
for retailers of particular classes of products.
Table 12
Results of Top Runner Programme in Selected Categories
Product category
Televisions
Video-cassette recorders
Air-conditioners
Electric freezers
Gasoline passenger vehicles*
Diesel freight vehicles*
Vending machines
Computers
Magnetic disk units
Fluorescent lights
Improvement
period
Target energy efficiency

improvement
Actual energy efficiency

improvement
1997-2003
1997-2003
1997-2004
1998-2004
1998-2004
1995-2005
1995-2005
2000-2005
1997-2005
1997-2005
1997-2005
16.4%
58.7%
66.1%
30.5%
22.9%
22.8%
6.5%
33.9%
83.0%
78.0%
16.6%
25.7%
73.6%
67.8%
55.2%
29.6%
22.8%
21.7%
37.3%
99.1%
98.2%
35.6%
* The energy efficiency improvement estimate is based on a simple average of the fuel efficiency of all
vehicles offered for sale. In contrast, the energy efficiency target is based on a sales-weighted average.
Please note that the effects of reducing consumption are indicated as inverse numbers because the
coefficient of performance of fuel economy (km/L) is used as an energy consumption efficiency index.
Source: ECCJ, Top Runner programme, October 2006, p. 9.
A labelling-related innovation introduced by Japan since the last review is the

system for the assessment of energy-efficient product retailers. The system
identifies outlets that excel at promoting energy-efficient products. Such
outlets are authorised to carry a special logo.
Japan has also undertaken steps that address principal-agent problems.
Principal-agent problems emerge in the energy efficiency context when the
party responsible for designing or purchasing energy-using equipment is not
the party that pays for the energy use. In the case of vending machines, the
situation existed because vending machine owners would lease space for
their machines from building owners, but the building owners would pay
the electricity bill. Consequently, there was little incentive for the vending
machine owner to maximise the machines energy efficiency. Japanese law
makes vending machine operators indirectly responsible for paying the
electricity bill of the vending machine. Under this requirement, the building
owner pays the electricity bill of the vending machine to the electric company.
65
Figure 12
Example of Energy Labels
Energy-saving label
Energy conservation
standard achievement
Annual electricity
consumption
108%
175 kWh
Energy conservation
standard achievement
Annual electricity
consumption
91%
206 kWh
Target fiscal year: 2006
Target fiscal year: 2006

Uniform
energy-saving label
Multi-stage rating system

- Energy-saving performance is indicatedin 5 stages, from 1 to
5 stars, from low to high performance of products offered on the market.
- In order to clarify the compliancelevel with the Top Runnerstandard,
arrows are placed underthe stars, showingachievement
and non-achievement
Energy-saving labelling system
- Products which achievedthe Top Runner standard carry a greene
mark, while others carry an orangee mark.
- A chievementlevel and energy consumptionefficiency(annualelectricity
consumption)are also indicated.
Estimated annual electricity rates
- T he estimated annual electricityrates are indicatedto show the energy
consumptionefficiency(annualelectricityconsumption)clearly.
However, the vending machine operator that leases a space from a building
owner also faces the electricity bill indirectly because the contract must
include an electricity component in addition to the rent for the location.4 The
performance of vending machines has made significant progress in energy
performance, increasing by 33.9% between 2000 and 2005.
4. Mind the Gap: Quantifying Principal-Agent Problems in Energy Efficiency, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
66
Table 13
Energy-Saving Labelling System for Retailers (Applicable Products)
Equipment
Air-conditioners
Electric freezers
Lights
Electric toilet seats
Televisions
Computers
Magnetic disk units
Space heaters
Gas cooking appliances
Energy-saving
labelling system
Expected annual
electricity bill and
annual fuel usage
Uniform
energy-saving
label*
(energy usage)
Gas water heaters
(energy usage)
Oil water heaters
(energy usage)
Transformers
Electric rice cookers
Microwave ovens
To be added
To be added
Video cassette recorders

DVD recorders
To be added
* The uniform energy-saving label provides information on expected electricity bills, rating in the
multi-stage rating system, and energy conservation information in an integrated manner.
Industrial sector
Japan uses a mix of regulatory measures, voluntary actions by industry
and a combination of subsidies, tax exemptions and loans for investment
to encourage energy efficiency improvement in industry. The energy-saving
policy in Japans industrial sector was developed with strong co-operation
between the public and private sectors.
Under the Act on the Rational Use of Energy, large-scale factories have been
subject to energy efficiency requirements since 1979. Since the last review,
revisions to the Energy Conservation Law have extended the coverage of
energy efficiency requirements to a greater number of factories and businesses.
Specifically, factories and other workplaces with high energy consumption (an
annual fuel use greater than or equal to 3 000 kl of crude oil equivalent) are
required to appoint energy managers, prepare and submit mid- and long-term
energy plans and periodical reports on energy use. Similarly, factories and
67
other workplaces with medium energy consumption (greater than or equal

to 1 500 kl crude oil equivalent) are required to submit periodic reports on
energy consumption and appoint a qualified person for energy management.
As of 31 March 2007, 7 457 high-energy-consuming factories and workplaces
and 6 094 medium-energy-consuming factories and workplaces are covered
under the law. This is a significant increase in business unit coverage since
the last review.
On-site investigations have been conducted since 2001 on high-energyconsuming factories. Since the previous review, a random sampling method
has been used for on-site investigations on factories so as to improve
and enhance the quality of investigations. The government conducted over
40 on-site inspections, as well as about 2 000 on-site investigations,
between FY2004 and FY2006. Inspections are conducted in cases where
energy management is not sufficiently implemented. When METI finds the
rational use of energy to be significantly insufficient (following the receipt of
reports and/or on-site inspections), it instructs the installation to improve its
performance, announces to the public the finding or can penalise a particular
factory. To date, METIs advice following on-site investigations or inspections
has succeeded in improving energy efficiency at such factories, and no
penalties have been incurred.
A key plank of Japans industrial energy efficiency policy is the Keidanren
Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment to reduce CO2 emissions. This
Keidanren plan was laid down by Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business
Federation) in June 1997. The overall goal of the Keidanren plan is to
suppress the CO2 emissions in 2010 from industrial and energy-conversion
sectors below its 1990 level. The Keidanren plan aims to contribute CO2
savings of 42.4 Mt CO2 to the governments Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement
Plan. Currently, 35 industries in the industrial and energy-conversion sectors
(accounting for about 40% of total emissions in Japan in 1990) are involved
in the Keidanren plan.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Keidanren plan programme is a difficult
task. This evaluation takes place both within companies (through a quality
review process) and externally by Industrial Structure Council meetings
(membership of which includes industry representatives), which are open to
the public. There is also a public consultation process based on the results of
the reviews.
Information from Keidanren suggests that the programme-wide target has
been met for the period 2001 to 2005. The agreements are set as CO2
emission levels, and results indicate that the industrial sector achieved this
target. The programme-wide target (to suppress CO2 emissions in 2010 below
their 1990 level) has been met for six years, beginning in 2000. Figure 13
shows CO2 emissions from 35 industries in various sectors.
68
Figure 13
CO2 Emissions by 35 Industries in the Industrial
and Energy-Conversion Sectors
550
500
508
527
498
509
504
489
499
505
505
505
TARGET
450
Amount
attributable
to nuclear
plant
shut-down
400
350
1990 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2010
Source: Nippon Keidanren.
Another interesting development in Japan since the previous review is an

increased focus on improving energy efficiency in small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). The government has established several fiscal schemes to
assist SMEs in reducing their CO2 emissions. These schemes include subsidies
for the introduction of energy-efficient equipment and government loans. In
addition, METI is considering a voluntary domestic offset scheme aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from SMEs without legal or mandatory
government-imposed obligations for emissions reduction. The purpose of this
scheme is to encourage SMEs to implement potential energy-conservation
projects through credit trading with large companies with limited energy
conservation potential.
Residential, commercial and other sectors
With respect to buildings, Japan is making an effort to improve the energy
efficiency of new and existing buildings through its 2002 amendment of the
Act on the Rational Use of Energy. This law sets a mandatory scheme for the
reporting of energy efficiency measures for large-scale non-residential buildings
over 2 000 square metres (m2) of space at the time of their construction or
renovation. Importantly, a 2005 amendment extended the policy coverage
of the 2002 amendment to include extensive repairs or facility works of nonresidential buildings over 2 000 m2, as well as making it mandatory for large
residential buildings over 2 000 m2 to report on energy efficiency measures,
69
as had previously only applied to non-residential buildings. Specifically, the

law now makes it obligatory for buildings, including residences, with a total
floor area of 2 000 m2 or larger to:
Notify the relevant ministry of energy efficiency measures to be

implemented during construction or modification of the building. When
the energy efficiency measures reported are markedly inappropriate, the
relevant ministry can issue instructions, and when an owner has failed
to follow the instructions without justifiable grounds, the name of the
owner will be publicly released.
Provide periodic reports on building maintenance with respect to those

energy efficiency measures that were submitted at the time of construction,
modification and major repairs.
The buildings-related requirements of the Act on the Rational Use of Energy

are complemented by voluntary energy efficiency standards in the building
codes. These requirements were first introduced in 1980 and strengthened in
1992 (1993 for non-residential buildings) and 1999. Standards for facilities
in common spaces of apartment buildings were added in 2006. As of 2005,
30% of newly-built houses and 85% of buildings with a total floor area greater
than 2 000 m2 complied with the voluntary energy efficiency standards.
In addition, a range of complementary energy efficiency measures are included
in the Housing Qualification Assurance Law of 2000. These include the:
Voluntary housing performance indication system, which enables consumers

to compare the energy efficiency of houses by consulting housing
performance evaluation reports published by evaluation bodies registered
by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The reports are
prepared before the buildings are constructed and the issued performance
evaluation report (including the energy efficiency components) is construed
as an agreement to build a house with the performance described in the
report. The housing performance indication system has been applied to
about 910 000 buildings at the end of March 2007.
Comprehensive assessment system for building environmental efficiency

(CASBEE), which is used to conduct assessments on the improvement of
habitability of indoor environment and the reduction of the environmental
load of houses and buildings in an integrated manner. It is also designed
to present evaluation results of comprehensive environmental efficiency in
simple indices. Some local governments make the submission of a CASBEE
assessment mandatory at the time of construction or modification of
buildings. At the end of September 2007, approximately 1 900 reports had
been submitted nation-wide.
70
Building owners are also encouraged to improve the energy efficiency of their
buildings through fiscal policies. Owners of highly energy-efficient housing
have access to low-interest mortgages (with an interest rate cut of 0.3%)
through the Japan Housing Finance Agency. Owners of highly energy-efficient
large-scale buildings also have access to low-interest loans through the
Development Bank of Japan.
The government has also been investigating the introduction of the
computerised home energy management system (HEMS) and business energy
management system (BEMS) for offices. Both systems attempt to provide
real-time information on energy consumption and cost. The BEMS has been
supported by subsidies since 2002. A field test for HEMS was completed in
2005. The service utilising the HEMS system has overcome technical problems,
but unfortunately is not cost-effective and as a result has not progressed
further. Therefore, the government has been promoting the diffusion of
energy-saving navigation meters, for the real-time provision of information on
energy consumption to consumers.
Since the last review, both the government and manufacturers have
demonstrated a high degree of awareness of the stand-by power issue, and
have made efforts to reduce stand-by power in major products. Japan has also
implemented monitoring processes to assess progress, and the monitoring
appears to show that the policies are effective. The results suggest that Japan
has reduced its stand-by power usage from 9.4% of average total household
electricity consumption in 2003 to approximately 7% currently. IEA analysis
of data from a 2005 stand-by power study in Japan shows that 62.3% of
appliances measured have stand-by power consumption of 1 watt (W) or
less, improved from 54% in 2004 and 50% in 2003. The Japan Industrial
Association of Gas and Kerosene Appliances is also planning to achieve a
1-watt standard for its appliances by the end of 2008.
As noted in the 2003 IEA review, the extension of the Act on the Rational
Use of Energy to cover larger offices and the obligation to appoint energy
management staff was likely to lead to a greater number of energy service
companies (ESCOs). However, according to the ECCJ, the ESCO market did not
grow between 2003 and 2006, remaining around the JPY 50 billion level.
As of January 2008, membership in the Japan Association of Energy Service
Companies totalled 138.
Transport sector
Japan has made significant gains in the energy efficiency of its transport fleet.
Policies that have contributed to this include the Top Runner programme,
mandatory reporting for operators with large fleets of vehicles (combined
with targets to decrease the rate of energy use), vehicle taxation, eco-driving
campaigns, promotion of alternative fuels and promoting public transport and
traffic management.
71
With respect to the Top Runner programme and its transport coverage, it is
important to note the inclusion of freight vehicle energy efficiency standards,
and the recent addition of large trucks and buses. Japan is the only country in
the world with fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
A new policy since the previous review is the mandatory reporting requirement
for large carriers and consigners.5 Introduced as part of the April 2006
Amendment to the Act on the Rational Use of Energy, large carriers must
prepare and submit energy plans and periodic reports to MLIT. In addition,
large consigners are also required to prepare and submit energy plans and
periodic reports to METI and competent authorities regarding the consigners
type of industry. As with the other sectors covered by this reporting requirement
(industry, residential and commercial buildings), when MLIT, METI and these
authorities find that efforts to ensure rational energy use are significantly
insufficient, they shall advise, announce to the public or order the company
in question to undertake specific remedial action (and penalise the company
if orders are not followed). The government has stated that large carriers and
consigners are expected to:
Decrease the rate of energy use by 1% or more per year over the mid to
long term.
Set up in-house systems for energy savings.
Introduce efficient transport measures.
Promote efficiency through the eco-driving concept.
Promote higher transport energy efficiency performance.
MLIT, METI and supervisory authorities governing consigners check the

submitted reports and, if necessary, carry out on-the-spot inspection of carriers
and consigners.
Since 2001, the government has promoted the use of clean-energy vehicles
through its automobile green tax. This measure reduces the automobile tax by
about 50% and the automobile acquisition tax by about 2.7% on eco-friendly
cars such as electric vehicles, CNG cars and hybrid cars, as well as fuel-efficient
cars and low-exhaust certified cars. Currently, the government reports a total
of 14.4 million clean-energy vehicles in Japan.
5. This policy applies to carriers with more than 200 trucks or more than 300 items of rolling stock and
consigners that carry more than 30 Mt-kilometres per year. Consigners are entities that are contracted
to perform transport or delivery services.
72
The government has also attempted to promote eco-driving through a range

of measures including information provision (ten recommendations for ecodriving and a public website6), public promotion campaigns (through, for
example, the Soft Acceleration, e-Start for the Slow Start campaign) and
its Action Plan to Disseminate and Promote Eco-Driving (formulated in June
2006). The latter programme involves four ministries and relevant industries
co-operating in promoting smart/eco-driving. Japan has set November of
every year as eco-drive month during which the government promotes ecodriving behaviour. It is difficult to gauge the success of these programmes
across the road transport sector. However, it does appear that eco-drive is more
successful in freight than passenger vehicles.
In 2006, the government established the Biomass Nippon Strategy to promote
the use of biomass fuels in transport. The government has introduced a goal
for biofuels in transport of 0.5 million kl (crude oil equivalent) for 2010, which
aims to contribute to a 1.3 Mt reduction in CO2 emissions.
Japan is continuing to encourage public transport use through the construction
of new rail lines between 2003 and 2005, 13 new routes were opened
covering a distance of 144 km throughout Japan the improvement of train
ticket technology, enhanced convenience for public transportation use, such
as improving train-bus transfers, and the introduction of bus-location systems.
These policies may have contributed, at least in part, to the decrease in
private vehicle-kilometres travelled since 2000. In addition, the government
has a range of traffic management measures under the Kyoto Protocol Target
Achievement Plan. These include constructing ring roads, bypasses and cycle
lanes; promoting the use of electronic toll collection systems (ETC) and vehicle
information and communication systems (VICS); promoting cycling and
reducing traffic congestion caused by road works.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Japan purports to have a well-structured energy efficiency policy and
programme evaluation system. Formal evaluation of energy efficiency and
conservation policies is closely tied to the government budget process and
is carried out under the Government Policy Evaluations Act 2002. This
evaluation process requires both ex ante and ex post evaluations. Public input
into the process is introduced through the Administrative Procedure Act under
the title Procedures for Submitting Comments on the Establishment, Revision
or Repeal of Regulations.
6. www.recoo.jp.
73
METI conducts ex ante evaluation of policy proposals and discloses the results
every year when it makes a budget request. Where possible, METI and its
associated advisory councils conduct quantitative evaluations of the policy
context and the cost-effectiveness of policy proposals in order to justify policy
action. From 2008, as a result of institutional reforms, the formats of budget
and account-closing documents will be harmonised with the framework of
policy evaluation to streamline budget management.
Ex post evaluation is also conducted regarding all measures and programmes
every three to five years. Ex post evaluation attempts to verify the effectiveness
of the individual programmes and measures, and to sum up the results by
comparing these against the objectives and targets specified at the time of
programme inception. The government publishes evaluation results every
three to five years.
Japan has attempted to establish third-party verification of evaluations.
For example, the Evaluation Committee for the Voluntary Action Plan on
the Environment was established in 2002 to confirm that follow-up surveys
for the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plans are performed adequately and to
evaluate their transparency and credibility from an independent standpoint.
It also identifies areas for improvement regarding the follow-up surveys
for the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan so as to contribute to further
enhancing transparency and credibility. The ability for public input into the
evaluation process is provided for under the Administrative Procedure Act
of April 2006.
Japan also presents a robust monitoring programme. As mentioned above,
METI produces regular energy demand-supply outlooks. In addition, there are
a range of other modelling endeavours from agencies such as the Institute
of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). The IEEJ Energy Data and Modelling
Centre also produces detailed energy statistics in its Handbook of Energy
& Economic Statistics in Japan that provide a useful input into the policy
process. This handbook provides time series information on energy use back
to, in some cases, 1965. Importantly, the report appears to include useful
detail on energy end-use in each sector. It also provides the results of factor
(or a decomposition) analysis for all of the main sectors. For example, factor
analysis suggests that:
74
Between 1991 and 2000, manufacturing energy use increased by roughly

19 790 1010 kcal. This increase was a result of three factors. First,
declining energy efficiency of manufacturing (intensity effect) actually
adding to the increase in energy use. Second, manufacturing industry
shifted during this period to less energy-intensive products (industrial
structure effect), counteracting the energy efficiency change and tending
to reduce energy use. Third, manufacturing production levels declined
during this period, again reducing energy consumption.
Between 2000 and 2005 manufacturing energy consumption declined by

2 552 1010 kcal. This change in energy consumption was a result of a
small decline in manufacturing energy efficiency and a significant change
in manufacturing structure. The change in sector structure towards less
energy-intensive industry was enough to counteract any increased energy
use as a result of the significant increase in production levels.
CRITIQUE
Japan remains committed to sustainable energy policies, both enhancing
its own energy and environmental policy framework and taking a strong
leadership position, not only through its 2008 presidency of the G8, but also
in the Asia-Pacific arena. In recent years, Japan has made important strides
towards reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in industry and,
in particular, transport. Traditionally, the transport sector has been one of
the most difficult sectors to address within IEA countries, thus we commend
Japan for its successful efforts in this area and we are pleased to see it share
its experience and lessons learned with the international community. This
progress stems from the governments policy advances, including the expansion
in the scope of the Top Runner programme and extension of the Act on the
Rational Use of Energy to include large transport companies and consigners.
Though Japans energy-related CO2 emission intensity is one of the lowest
among member countries, its efforts to improve its energy security through
efficiency and diversification of supply continue to contribute positively to
its efforts to meet climate change objectives. One of the reasons for the
progress on climate change appears to be the close co-operation between the
various parties involved in it. The government, especially METI and MOE, have
played an important role in this co-ordination and it should continue to do
so. Building on this strong leadership domestically and internationally, and
the progress on domestic policies, more can be done to enhance the countrys
sustainable energy policies.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions to 6% below 1990 levels. On the basis of the actual figures for 2005,
greenhouse gas emissions are about 8% above 1990 levels. In the absence
of further measures, Japan is not on track to meet its Kyoto commitment
domestically. Thus, the government seeks to meet its Kyoto commitment
through a combination of domestic reductions (including the use of its forest
sinks) and international purchases though the planned domestic reductions
are relatively small. We are pleased to see a balanced approach to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, implementing policies to stimulate domestic action
while also turning to the international market for cost-effective reductions.
Nevertheless, while the government has provided estimates of the reductions
it expects from its suite of policies and measures, it is not clear what the
75
process and criteria have been for making this determination. As discussed
more fully in Chapter 2, when selecting among a basket of domestic options
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consideration should be given to leastcost options for meeting the target. Other factors may also be important,
but cost-effectiveness should be a key criterion for determining the broad
allocations among policies and measures. Japan should be clear about the
cost-effectiveness of different policy options and be transparent on the process
for choosing a specific package of domestic measures.
Japan has introduced a number of measures to address climate change,
tending to rely most heavily on voluntary measures. The Keidanren
agreements in industry are the most visible example of this voluntary
approach. In response to an assessment of these agreements conducted
in 2006, it was concluded that the government will need to build on its
voluntary plan. Therefore, there seems to be recognition of the need to
consider additional policy options. Japan should examine the effectiveness
of this approach and consider complementing its voluntary approach
with other policies and programme options, including standards, taxes
and trading systems in order to reduce emissions in the industrial sector.
Certainly the full suite of policies including regulations and sector-specific
benchmarks should be considered. Given the need to complement the
existing approach, the voluntary carbon offset scheme aimed at reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from small and medium-sized enterprises would
be a good step building on the voluntary emissions trading scheme
launched in 2005 that now covers 150 companies as it will strengthen
the market signal for greenhouse gas emissions in the economy.
A longer-term approach to greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be
needed post-2012. To address this issue, Japan has set a target for energy
efficiency improvement of 30% by 2030 from 2003 levels. It would be useful
if this long-term target was supplemented by interim evaluations to enable
progress to be adequately measured.
Efficiency levels in Japan are high compared to other countries. However,
considering the challenges posed by the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement
Plan and the ongoing growth in energy consumption in the commercial and
residential sectors, it is clear that there is still need and room for concerted
action to improve energy efficiency.
Before moving to more specific energy efficiency recommendations, we urge
the government to continue its work to make its policies consistent with
the 16 energy efficiency policy recommendations the IEA presented to
the Group of Eight (G8) in 2007. These policy measures were endorsed by
both G8 leaders and the IEA in 2007 (see Box 3).
76
Box 3
IEA G8 Energy Efficiency Recommendations

At the Group of Eight* (G8) Summit in 2005 in Gleneagles, Scotland,
the G8 countries asked the IEA to assist in developing and implementing
energy efficiency policies. In 2007, responding to this request, the IEA
prepared 16 recommendations for IEA countries to pursue, covering
appliances, lighting, buildings, transport, industry and cross-sectoral
policies, summarised below. The recommendations were subsequently
endorsed in 2007 by all IEA member countries, who agreed to take
them forward, and we urge Japan to continue its work to implement
them.
Appliances
Limit stand-by power use to 1 watt across all electronic appliances.
Establish minimum energy efficiency requirements for television set-top

boxes and digital television adapters.
Establish and enforce mandatory energy performance requirements

and, where appropriate, energy labelling across the full range of massproduced equipment.
Require individual and networked devices to enter low-power modes

automatically.
Lighting
Adopt best practice in lighting energy efficiency.
Phase out the most inefficient incandescent bulbs as soon as commercially

and economically viable.
Buildings
Make voluntary energy efficiency requirements for new buildings

mandatory and strengthen mandatory requirements such that they aim
to minimise total costs over a 30-year lifetime.
Promote very low-energy buildings to ensure they are commonly available

on the market by 2020.
Monitor, collect and analyse information on energy efficiency in existing

buildings and on barriers to energy efficiency.
77
Box 3 (continued)
IEA G8 Energy Efficiency Recommendations

Transport
Implement a fuel-efficient tyre programme.

Introduce mandatory fuel efficiency standards for cars and vans.
Adopt international test procedures for measuring tyre rolling resistance
and require the fitting of a tyre-pressure monitoring system.
Industry
Improve the coverage, reliability and timeliness of industries energy-use

data.
Cross-sectoral
Provide adequate resources for national energy efficiency policy agencies

and publish energy efficiency action plans.
Encourage investment in energy efficiency by adopting a common energy
savings verification protocol, reviewing fiscal incentive programmes and
collaborating with the private financial sector.
Report progress in the implementation of the proposed energy efficiency
actions to the IEA.
* The Group of Eight is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Programme evaluation is one area that requires effort to ensure that the
government is focusing on the most cost-effective energy efficiency policies.
Despite the appearance of comprehensive evaluation approach, some
questions remain with respect to the evaluation method and transparency of
results (for more detail see section above on Climate Change).
As mentioned before in the section on Climate Change, Japan relies heavily
on voluntary measures to promote energy efficiency. A key component of this
is the good support the government enjoys from the industries participating
in voluntary agreements. Although there is concern over the level of ambition
or stretch in the voluntary agreement targets and the method for evaluating
target achievement, it must be noted that the government takes care to
regularly review the targets. Particularly in the case of industries that have
achieved or surpassed their targets, the government asks the industries
78
to further raise them. As in all countries relying on voluntary agreements,

ensuring the appropriate level of stretch in the efficiency targets should
remain an important priority of the government.
Voluntary action plan targets are set and revised by participating industries
to reflect their unique characteristics. And indeed, industries appear to have
made progress in constraining CO2 emissions and energy use in line with
targets. The target under the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan to suppress
CO2 emissions in 2010 below their 1990 level has been met for six years,
beginning in 2000. This is commendable progress.
An obvious explanation for this achievement is that industries have been
working hard to improve energy efficiency levels. However, another question
that must be raised is whether there is potential to encourage further energy
efficiency improvements in these sectors. These questions seem to have
been addressed by voluntary action plan parties. In response to a follow-up
assessment conducted in 2007 by the Industrial Structure Council and the
Central Environment Council with regard to the 39 business sectors under
METI jurisdiction, the government has announced that voluntary action plans
will be implemented with increased attention to the recommended need to go
deeper and broader. This could include measures such as:
Encouraging business sectors without voluntary action plans to adopt such

plans.
Promoting a shift from qualitative targets to quantitative ones.
Conducting a strict government follow-up.
Promoting the adoption of higher targets.
Conducting international comparisons of other voluntary agreement

schemes.
Investigating cost-effective policies and measures for industry to

complement existing voluntary agreements.
We support the governments efforts to further enhance the voluntary agreements

through these actions.
Another issue relating to the voluntary action plan concerns the method for
evaluating the success of the programme. Specifically, the concern relates
to how autonomous energy efficiency improvement is accounted for in
evaluating voluntary agreements. In other words, an important question for
the government to ask itself when evaluating the voluntary action plan is
whether the energy efficiency improvement would have taken place without
the plan. There is an open question whether the improvements would have
occurred regardless of the government programme. In this case, government
budget could possibly be better spent on other programmes that would
achieve outcomes above and beyond business-as-usual ones.
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While discussing the industrial sector, the governments newly introduced

voluntary domestic offset scheme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions
from small and medium-sized enterprises is commendable as it will build on
the countrys efficiency improvements. The government should continue to
promote such policies.
Japan has made some impressive advances in its appliance and equipment
policies. These include its reported achievements in reducing stand-by power
in appliances, the assessment system of energy-efficient products retailers
and the combination of Top Runner and other legislation to address principalagent problems in the vending machine market.
The Top Runner programme has also reported achievements. It has extended
the coverage of appliances and equipment and has reported consistently
meeting or exceeding its targets. A sign of its success, the European
Commission is considering the Top Runner approach for a forthcoming action
plan on sustainable production and consumption.
Nevertheless, there is still room for strengthening the Top Runner programme,
particularly with respect to the scope of product coverage, interim reporting,
verification and evaluation. The issue of verification is particularly important
with respect to the increasing number of imported appliances and equipment
covered by Top Runner.
There are still some products covered in other regions of the world that are
not covered by the Top Runner programme. While not all products may be
appropriate, the Top Runner programme should continue to be extended
with a view to ensuring that residential, commercial, industrial and transport
products that use significant amounts of energy are covered.
One area that could receive further attention in the Top Runner programme
is lighting. Japan has been an international leader in setting energy
efficiency requirements for fluorescent lamps, which dominate the national
indoor lighting market. However, there are still outstanding energy-saving
opportunities in other areas of lighting energy use notably incandescent
lamps and outdoor lighting (including street lighting).
At present, Top Runner programme compliance is only measured in the
target year. During the interim period (between the time when the target is
established and the target year), ECCJ attempts to track compliance with the
target. It does this by publishing a biannual list of all products on the market
and their energy efficiency performance. The number of products that meet
the target requirements can be observed, with the proportion of compliant
products increasing over time. However, the ECCJ catalogue does not report
the sales volumes of the products. As the actual target is based on a salesweighted average, the ECCJ information cannot be used to accurately reflect
interim compliance. Accurate interim compliance is important if Japan wishes
80
to understand the rate of energy efficiency improvements from the Top Runner
programme. Such analysis of interim compliance can be undertaken while still
encouraging enterprises to freely engage in technology development
The Top Runner programme could also strengthen its verification processes,
particularly with respect to sales data accuracy. Data provided to METI as
part of the target-year compliance report include technical information on
the energy efficiency performance of appliances and equipment as well as
sales data. METI has conducted some third-party testing of energy efficiency
performance levels. For example, in 2005 it verified the reported efficiency
levels of personal computers and servers. However, METI does not verify the
accuracy of reported sales data, and efforts should be made to improve their
verification.
Strengthening the verification process is particularly important as the number
of imported products covered by the Top Runner programme increases.
Monitoring and verification of data reported for imported goods may be more
difficult than for the goods produced in Japan. However, in order to ensure the
integrity of the Top Runner programme, Japan should ensure that procedures
are in place to verify reported data on imported goods.
Evaluation of the Top Runner programme could also be strengthened in two
areas. First, savings are evaluated on the basis of a comparison between
the total energy consumption in the base year and the target year. As
with the voluntary action plan evaluations, the savings estimates do not
account for autonomous energy efficiency improvements. Therefore, the
question remains as to what would have happened with energy efficiency
improvement of appliances in the absence of the Top Runner programme.
Normal evaluation practice is to compare energy consumption in the target
year with a baseline projection.
A second area where the Top Runner programme evaluation can be
strengthened is in the provision of cost-effectiveness estimates of the
programme. In order to be able to fully appreciate the effectiveness of the
programme, it is important to have accurate information on the financial
cost of the programme to government, industry and consumers since its
inception, as well as an estimate of the financial benefits for these sectors.
Unfortunately, this information does not seem to be available.
A question remains as to whether the target-setting process ensures that
all cost-effective improvements are taken into account. Established target
levels seem to have been consistently achieved or exceeded. As with the
voluntary agreement process, an obvious explanation for this achievement
is that industries have been diligent in improving energy efficiency levels.
However, the overachievement does raise the question again of whether the
targets were set too low and whether all cost-effective improvements have
been accounted for. The government is encouraged to evaluate its target-
81
setting process to ensure that it provides for maximum cost-effective energy

efficiency improvements (for example least life-cycle cost) in the Top Runner
programme.
Labelling is an important complement to the Top Runner programme. As
discussed, Japan has made some advances in this area since the last review,
including improving the design of its recommended uniform label. However,
Japan could further enhance the availability of energy efficiency information
on appliances and equipment by considering extending the list of designated
products subject to the requirement for energy efficiency information.
Japan should make it mandatory for manufacturers of this extended list of
designated products to apply comparative energy efficiency labels.
Since the last review, Japan has attempted to improve the information
available on the energy performance characteristics of buildings through
CASBEE and the building labelling system. It has also strengthened the
reporting requirement for large buildings to cover residences and retrofits.
However, two areas building standards and the household sector require
attention.
Japan continues to maintain voluntary energy efficiency standards in its
building codes. This is surprising, because despite Japan having a relatively
temperate climate, it has acknowledged that it faces a challenge with respect
to growing energy use in the building sector. As stated in the 2003 review,
most other IEA countries have recognised the effectiveness of standards in
improving energy efficiency and have made the standards mandatory. Japan
should urgently establish its energy efficiency standards for buildings as a
mandatory requirement.
Given the increases in energy use in the household sector, Japan should
consider further programmes to stimulate energy efficiency in this sector. This
should include a consideration of how to further extend the use of CASBEE as
well as the provision of transparent pricing and innovative approaches such
as smart metering.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Regularly examine the effectiveness of the largely voluntary approach to

greenhouse gas mitigation, and consider complementing this approach
with other policy options, including enhanced standards and regulations,
and greater use of policies that put a value on greenhouse gas emissions in
the economy.
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Ensure implementation of the IEA 16 energy efficiency policy recommendations

presented to the Group of Eight (G8) in 2007.
Supplement the long-term 2030 energy efficiency target with interim

evaluations so that progress towards the target can be evaluated.
Build on voluntary agreements in industry by promoting quantitative

targets, conducting strict government follow-up, and negotiating the
adoption of higher targets.
Investigate further cost-effective policies and measures for industry to

complement existing voluntary agreements.
Continue to develop flexible and innovative policies that will drive efficiency
improvements for small and medium-sized enterprises, such as through the
proposed voluntary domestic offset scheme aimed at reducing emissions
from these entities.
Build on the Top Runner programme by:

Establishing a system for verifying the accuracy of reported sales data.
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the programme and making this
information publicly available.
Examining the method with which Top Runner targets are set to ensure all
cost-effective improvements are taken into account.
Considering extending Top Runner to cover more appliances and
equipment.
Extend the list of designated products subject to the requirement for

energy efficiency information and make energy labelling mandatory for
manufacturers of such designated products.
Make the energy efficiency components of building codes mandatory and

investigate the potential to set higher energy efficiency standards and
promote the adoption of passive and zero-energy houses and buildings.
Consider how to stimulate greater energy efficiency action in households

through information and transparent pricing, for example by innovative
approaches such as smart metering.
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ENERGY SECURITY
Security of supply is one of the most important policy issues in Japan given its
near-complete reliance on imported fossil energy the country produces less
than 20% of the energy it uses its relative isolation and its large distance
from other major supply and demand centres. Supply security took on an even
greater importance, as it did throughout the world, after the supply shocks
of the 1970s. Since then, Japan has paid utmost attention to diversification
of supply, lowering oil dependence and increasing energy efficiency. Energy
efficiency is a key priority area of the governments energy security policy, as it
is a cost-effective means to reduce energy dependence, as discussed more fully
in the previous chapter. The government also takes an active role in upstream
energy resource development.
ENERGY SECURITY BY FUEL AND SOURCE

Japans Basic Act on Energy Policy was enacted in June 2002. The act
specifies that all energy policy should take due consideration of the need
to secure stable energy supply, to ensure environmental suitability and to
use market mechanisms. Based on this act, Japans Basic Energy Plan was
formulated in order to promote energy supply and demand measures on a
long-term, comprehensive and systematic basis.
OIL
Japan amended the Basic Plan for Energy in March 2007, with emphasis
placed on enhancing joint strategic and comprehensive efforts by the public
and private sectors for activities such as diversifying energy supply sources,
promoting oil development through assistance to resource development
companies, strengthening overall relations with major oil-producing countries
and expanding and enhancing the oil stockpiling system and other contingency
measures.
Japans oil stocks are well in excess of the IEAs 90-day net import requirements.
As of January 2008, the country held the equivalent of 151 days of net
imports, including state-owned and private-sector stocks. The government
has continued its collaboration with the governments of other IEA member
countries as shown in the internationally co-ordinated release of oil reserves to
help cope with the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September 2005.
As part of a new national energy strategy, the government is now preparing
to hold public product stocks, which are to be managed by the Japan Oil, Gas
and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).
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85
4
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stocks are also made up of state and privatesector stocks, and stood at the equivalent of about 83 days of net imports as of
November 2007. The government has plans to increase public LPG stockpiles to
1.5 million tonnes (Mt) from the level of 0.61 Mt (equivalent to about 18 days
of net imports) as of the end of November 2007. Industry has an obligation
to hold LPG stockpiles equivalent to 50 days of imports. As of the end of
September 2007, the LPG stockpiling level of the private sector was about
2.15 Mt, equivalent to about 65 days of net imports. In addition, for state stocks,
three LPG bases have been completed and two more are under development.
The government is working to enhance security by lowering oil demand
through the introduction of biofuels for transport. It has introduced a goal for
biofuels in transport of 0.5 million kl (crude oil equivalent) for 2010.
With respect to refining capacity, the government considers the total refining
capacity per refinery as relatively small compared to the rate in other
neighbouring Asian countries, particularly given the new refineries in these
countries. Nevertheless, the complexity of Japans refineries remains higher
than the Asian average. The industry has found it difficult to resolve the
problem of excess refining and distribution capacities through independent
rationalisation efforts. As a result, a realignment and consolidation process
has been proceeding in the industry.
NATURAL GAS
Japan is a pioneer in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade and is the largest
LNG importer in the world. Currently, companies that use natural gas both
electricity and gas companies import from eight countries (Indonesia,
Australia, Malaysia, Qatar, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and
the United States) under long-term contracts. Reflecting efforts to diversify
the supply sources, Russia is expected to be added as the ninth supplier.
Approximately 4% of natural gas consumed in Japan is produced domestically.
In order to enhance supply security in the event of emergency, the government
provides assistance for the construction of pipelines connecting terminals with
one another. Given the high cost of LNG storage and the countrys geology,
along with the difficulties processing boil-off gas (BOG), LNG stockpiling is
currently not used as a primary tool to ensure supply security as much as oil,
nor is it expected to be used to such an extent in the future. Nevertheless,
Japan can rely on existing inventories the voluntary stocks of private
companies held at LNG terminals are currently equivalent to 20 to 30 days of
consumption. In addition, the government is investigating the possibilities for
strategic storage (including medium- and long-term prospects for underground
storage). Instead, as its primary means of maintaining supply security, the
country takes advantage of diversity of supply sources, contract flexibility and
spot market purchasing.
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As part of the Basic Energy Plan, the government is making long-term efforts
to facilitate the procurement and domestic distribution of natural gas. Given
the expected increase in global LNG demand, utilities and the government
are working to enhance their bargaining power with producing countries
by strengthening Japans comprehensive relationships with these countries
and by making efforts to diversify supply sources in order to secure stable
supply from overseas. From the perspective of the development of domestic
gas supply infrastructure, which lags behind other countries, and further
developing extensive gas distribution, the government is aiming to promote
the development of gas pipeline networks and their interconnection. Third
parties are encouraged to be involved in these developments through grants
that give incentives for investment and through collaboration with relevant
administrative entities.
COAL
Currently, Japan depends on imports for more than 99% of its domestic coal
needs. In 2005, coal imports totalled approximately 180 Mt, around 60% of
which came from Australia. In total, coal imports from Australia, Indonesia
(the second-biggest coal supplier for Japan) and China (the third-biggest
supplier) account for approximately 90% of Japans total coal imports. Japan
also imports coal from countries such as Canada, Russia, the United States
and Vietnam.
As part of efforts to secure stable coal supply, Japan conducts government-togovernment policy dialogue with coal-producing countries such as Australia,
Indonesia and Vietnam and helps the transfer of clean coal technology to coalproducing countries in Asia, such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Japan also
conducts geological surveys in coal-producing countries such as Indonesia and
Mongolia jointly with the governments of those countries. Furthermore, Japan
exchanges information with regard to the coal supply-demand conditions and
coal utilisation technologies through international forums such as Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation (APEC) meetings and meetings with the Association
of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
There is growing concern about rising Asia-Pacific demand for coal, particularly
from China and Korea. In this area, Japanese companies are engaging in
technology transfer. For example, Nippon Steel in Japan is assisting Chinese
steel companies with enhancing the efficiency of operations as a means of
reducing Chinese and thereby world demand for coal.
ELECTRICITY
Installed electricity capacity is well diversified, with sources spread almost
evenly across coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear and hydro. Japans reserve margins
87
of installed capacity over peak load are comfortable and they are on an
increasing trend. Nevertheless, the country is at risk during tight supply
periods, primarily owing to recent problems in the nuclear sector leading to
bulk shut-downs of nuclear facilities and the limited ability to trade power
across the borders of the countrys nine mainland electricity supply regions.
The government plans for nuclear to remain at 30% of electricity generation,
and perhaps rise to as much as 40%.
In accordance with Article 29 of the Electricity Business Act, electric
power companies (excluding specified electric utilities and specified-scale
electric utilities) submit supply plans to the government every year. These
plans explain the status of the utilities supply-demand balance, power
plant development plans and plans for building power transmission and
transformation facilities for each of the next ten years. Upon evaluation of
the plans, the government ensures they are sufficient to secure stable power
supply. Electric utilities are able to offer optional contracts (time-of-use
contracts) that help even out load on the supply system.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Resource diplomacy is a priority of Japans emergency preparedness policy,
the aim being to prevent any challenges before they occur (see Box 4). Japan
can also consider measures for controlling energy demand in the event
of an emergency at its periodic Ministerial Meeting on the Promotion of
Comprehensive Energy Measures, or at other meetings, such as the Conference
on the Promotion of Energy and Resource-Saving Measures that took place in
March 2003 in response to military actions in Iraq. The national and local
governments are to take initiative in implementing those measures, make
requests for co-operation and give guidance to the industry, citizens and
others. If it becomes impossible to deal with the situation with the abovementioned measures, demand will be controlled by law. Specifically, demand
control measures under the Petroleum Supply and Demand Adjustment Act
that are taken by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) are
implemented when a state of emergency is declared by the Prime Minister
after going through a Cabinet decision. In addition, demand control measures
under the Electricity Business Act are implemented by METI in consideration
of the conditions of electricity supply.
The Conference on the Promotion of Energy and Resource-Saving Measures,
the Ministerial Meeting on the Promotion of Comprehensive Energy
Measures and other meetings have decided on measures for an information
campaign to promote demand control depending on the conditions of the
situation.
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Box 4
Resource and Energy Diplomacy

Given the current situation perceived by the Japanese government, where
producing countries are trying to protect their resources while consuming
countries are intensifying their efforts to acquire resources, active resource
and energy diplomacy at high levels has taken on greater importance. To
that end, Japan has been actively engaged in the process. Below is a list
of developments in resource and energy diplomacy since April 2007.
Prime Minister Abes visit to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt) in April 2007: Japan
reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia for the establishment of a
framework for industrial co-operation as well as a joint task force. About
180 members, including the chairperson of Keidanren, accompanied the
Prime Minister with a view to strengthening bilateral ties through joint
public-private sector efforts.
METI Minister Amaris visits to, among others, Kazakhstan (in relation
to co-operation in the nuclear power sector), Uzbekistan (in relation
to uranium, oil, natural gas) and Saudi Arabia (as part of the Energy
Forum and the Industrial Cluster Programme) from April to May
2007.
Japan-China Ministerial Energy Policy Dialogue/Energy Co-operation

Seminar in April 2007, attended by METI Minister Amari, and Ma Kai,
Chairman of the Peoples Republic of Chinas National Development
and Reform Commission.
Japan-India Energy Dialogue, attended by METI Minister Amari,

and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning
Commission of India, in April and July 2007.
OIL
In the case of an oil emergency, the government will take such measures as
requests for oil-producing countries increased production, domestic demand
curbs and oil stock releases.
While the government always collects oil supply and demand information, the
Petroleum Stockpiling Act and the Petroleum Supply and Demand Adjustment
89
Act decree that the government is allowed to collect more detailed information
from actors such as oil refiners, importers and dealers more frequently and as
necessary in an emergency where the government must take various measures
based on accurate, prompt and sufficient information.
With respect to oil stock releases, the government collaborates with the IEA
in releasing oil stocks. In the past, the government has generally looked at
emergencies in the context of oil supply interruptions and geopolitical risks
in oil-producing nations. However, lessons learnt from the internationally
co-ordinated oil stock releases responding to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in
2005 have led the government to consider risks in oil-consuming countries
as well, and to prepare for the introduction of state stocks of petroleum
products.
From the viewpoint that Asian energy market stabilisation is significant for
Japans own security, the government has recently concluded a bilateral
agreement with the New Zealand government on co-operation in stockpiling
oil (see Box 5), called for enhancing Asias contingency capacity and carried
out international oil-stockpiling co-operation, including the provision of
relevant knowledge.
Box 5
Oil Stock Agreement between

Japan and New Zealand
In November 2007, the Japanese and New Zealand governments signed
an agreement on oil stocks contracts. The agreement creates a framework
in which the New Zealand government can conclude oil stock contracts
with Japanese companies. Under such contracts, the New Zealand
government pays for rights to implement options to purchase a certain
amount of oil from Japanese companies if the government is required to
release oil stocks during contract periods. The New Zealand government
can include the amount of oil for such contracts in its own oil stocks.
NATURAL GAS
Japan procures about 25% of the LNG it uses from the Middle East, making
its dependence on the Middle East for LNG relatively low. LNG supply to
Japan has never been suspended, even during the past oil shocks. If supply
through any one of the projects that supply Japan is temporarily suspended,
90
it is possible to adequately deal with the situation by combining the following

methods given Japans diversified LNG supply sources from eight countries on
a long-term contract basis:
Voluntary liquidation of gas stocks (equivalent to about 20-30 days) by

private companies.
Use of excess supply capacity from other international LNG exporting

projects (it is estimated that around 10% excess supply capacity is
available with respect to each project).
Mutual accommodations among LNG importers, such as LNG cargo

swaps, as well as LNG volume exchanges in case of companies sharing the
same LNG import terminals, in the face of differing storage or demand
conditions between companies.
While Japans LNG procurement centres on the voluntary efforts of private

companies, the government is also making efforts to diversify supply sources
by enhancing its bargaining power through active development of summitand ministerial-level resource diplomacy with gas-producing countries.
ELECTRICITY
Private electric utilities are developing systems for emergency preparedness.
Diversified energy sources for power generation are now available, and
comfortable reserve margins exist.
Each year, all major electric utilities prepare a plan on the supply of electricity
and the installation and operation of electric facilities for a defined period
(typically ten years) as stipulated in the Electricity Business Act, and submit it
to METI, whose minister may recommend to the relevant utility to revise the
supply plan if it is considered inappropriate.
In addition, in the event of a disaster or other emergency, METIs minister may,
if necessary and appropriate in order to secure public interest, give a supply
order to electric utilities.
During such an emergency, for example in the case of a partial disruption
of oil supply due to depletion, electric utilities will make voluntary efforts
to secure stable electricity supply through shifts to other electricity sources.
Relying on the Electricity Business Act, METIs minister may, among other
things, recommend that electric utilities revise their supply plans or give them
supply orders, with a view to promoting a shift to electricity generated from
energy sources other than oil (e.g. coal, natural gas, nuclear and hydro) and
securing appropriate electricity supply capability.
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With regard to network security, the Electric Power System Council of Japan
(ESCJ) has established rules that private electric utilities are in the process of
implementing.
DEVELOPMENT OF OIL AND GAS TRANSPORT

INFRASTRUCTURE
A number of oil and gas pipelines are under development that would bring
more and more diverse energy imports to Japan. The Pacific Pipeline project
is a 4 676-km pipeline that would have a capacity of 30 to 80 Mt of crude
oil per year (0.6 to 1.6 million barrels per day). It runs from Taishet in eastern
Siberia through Skovorodino near the border between Russia and China, to
Perevoznaya along the Russian coast with the Sea of Japan. The government
sees this as a promising project that would bring oil to the coast without
passing any country borders, also helping to spark development in eastern
Siberia. This project consists of two stages. The first stage covers the pipeline
from Taishet to Skovorodino (2 757 km) and the second stage covers the
pipeline from Skovorodino to Perevoznaya (1 919 km). Construction of the first
stage of the pipeline began in April 2006. About 1 200 km of pipeline had
been laid as of January 2008, and the first stage of the pipeline is scheduled
to start operation in 2009. For the second stage of the pipeline, the date of
installation and the date of starting operation have not yet been decided. The
government is also actively monitoring the two Sakhalin projects in Russia,
in which Japanese companies have a substantial stake in co-operation with
JOGMEC. Under the Sakhalin-1 project, production of crude oil and natural
gas for domestic use in Russia began in October 2005. The shipment of crude
oil overseas, including to Japan, began in October 2006. With regard to
natural gas, ExxonMobil, the operator of the project, and companies in China
and Russia, among others, have been negotiating the supply of natural gas
since October 2006. Under Sakhalin-2, oil and natural gas are to be brought
to the southern tip of Sakhalin, with gas exported as LNG to customers,
including Japanese electricity and gas companies. The estimated on-line date
of this oft-delayed project is 2008 or 2009.
UPSTREAM HYDROCARBON DEVELOPMENT

As discussed in Chapter 2, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National
Corporation (JOGMEC) is a government entity that has a strong role in
upstream hydrocarbon and energy development. JOGMEC is an incorporated
administrative agency that formulates medium-term and annual business
plans and executes operations based on five-year targets stipulated by the
government. While JOGMEC is given basic autonomy and independence, its
business performance is evaluated each year by the government. (See Box 6
for further information on the structure and mission of JOGMEC.)
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Box 6
Overview of JOGMEC
The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) was
established on 29 February 2004. Its 2006 budget was JPY 178 billion
and the corporation has over 500 employees. The mission of JOGMEC
is to conduct the duties necessary to ensure a stable supply of oil, gas,
combustible natural gas and non-ferrous minerals, whose supply bases
are especially vulnerable, and to support the development of Japans
economy. Furthermore, JOGMEC is to undertake measures to prevent
mining-induced pollution. To achieve its mission, JOGMEC has four
primary activities:
Support for exploration and development of oil and natural gas

deposits.
Investment and debt guarantee.
Collection, analysis and provision of information related to exploration
and development.
Tectonic examinations.
Technological development.
Support for exploration and development of non-ferrous mineral

deposits.
Investment, financing and debt guarantee.
Collection, analysis and provision of information related to exploration
and development.
Tectonic examinations.
Technological development.
Resource stockpiling.
Integrated management of state stockpiles, including oil stockpiles.
Financing for private stockpiling entities, etc.
Management of state stockpiles of rare metals.
Support for prevention of mine pollution.

Financing for businesses related to prevention of mine pollution.
Technical guidance for measures to prevent mine pollution.
Solicitation of commission to operate effluent treatment facilities.
Management of funds for preventing mine pollution end related
businesses.
JOGMEC is now supporting upstream development projects throughout

the world, including 28 joint-venture resource examinations.
93
One of JOGMECs main functions is to assist Japanese companies that are

active in exploration and the development of oil, natural gas, non-ferrous
metals and minerals through investment and debt guarantees. The government
sees the financing capability of Japanese upstream exploration and mining
as limited compared with that of the major international companies, and
is also concerned about the recent trend towards resource nationalism. To
counter this, JOGMEC assists Japanese companies with equity financing and
liability guarantees to encourage these companies to engage in exploration
and production (E&P) activities. In addition, JOGMEC undertakes various
projects itself, such as overseas geological surveys of fields or areas where
geological or geophysical data are not sufficient for Japanese companies to
evaluate prospects for future exploration activities, international technical
collaboration between Japanese companies and oil-producing countries, and
overseas E&P training programmes.
Recently, JOGMEC has enhanced its risk underwriting, raising the limit on
certain projects of the share of the investment and debt guarantee it is willing
to take, from 50% to 75%. This will apply to high-risk projects with high
technical difficulties managed by a Japanese company.
CRITIQUE
Energy security continues to be the highest priority for the government, which
continues its active policy to ensure this security. Most notably, the government
remains actively engaged in bilateral and multilateral energy and resource
diplomacy as a key means of enhancing its energy security. The countrys oil
stocks far exceed the IEA mandate and Japan continues to improve its oil
security policies, taking a practical view to enhancing implementation. With
respect to natural gas, the country is working to enhance its security through
more diverse import sources and the possible future development of additional
pipelines and routes. The difficulties in the nuclear sector along with limited
interconnection capacity have negative effects on electricity supply security.
A greater ability to trade power across borders would enhance supply security
without the need for additional and costly new power generation. While
increasing physical interconnection capacity is certainly also a lengthy and
costly process, enhancing cross-border flows could be achieved more directly
through greater use of dynamic and flexible means of allocating existing
capacity according to willingness-to-pay principles. Boosting the operating
rates of nuclear power plants is a key to stable electricity supply in Japan.
Long-term stability of electricity supply may also benefit from enhanced
understanding of the role of nuclear power in Japan.
Overall, Japans oil emergency policy is well organised. With respect to its
oil stocks, as discussed, the country holds more than is required by the IEA.
Furthermore, we are very pleased to see the governments current efforts to
94
have JOGMEC expand its crude oil stocks to include stocks of oil products.
For some oil supply disruptions (such as a disruption of oil coming from the
Middle East) this situation may not be a problem given the countrys ample
refining capacity. However, it could be a problem if there is difficulty importing
products into the country as Japan imports more than twice the amount of
products it exports, as discussed in Chapter 5. In addition, as seen in the
United States after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, refinery outages could create
difficulties in the domestic supply of oil products. The government might
also consider putting emphasis on the possibility of using government stocks
before industry stocks, depending on the nature of the emergency. The very
high reliance on oil from the Middle East creates a security of supply concern;
the lack of diversity could present difficulties in the event of emergencies
on the Strait of Hormuz. Thus the governments efforts to further enhance
supply source diversity are welcome. Finally, we encourage the government to
evaluate the effects of demand restraint measures used in oil emergencies in
the future.
As discussed more fully in Chapter 5, extending the gas network would help
improve domestic competition and energy security. It could also enhance
the possibilities for more import diversity. Specifically, the LNG portion of
the Sakhalin project could provide competition with existing LNG, and we
therefore support Japans efforts in this arena. We encourage the government
to continue to review, in conjunction with independent experts, the potential
and time-scale for delivery of such projects. To further enhance the benefits of
this increased import competition, the development of an integrated natural
gas network throughout Japan is even more important.
Considering Japans near-complete reliance on imports of LNG for supply,
the government is duly concerned with natural gas security. In this light,
it might be prudent to further investigate options to deal with natural gas
supply emergencies, particularly as the government must rely on the voluntary
stocks of private companies, which are currently equivalent to 20 to 30 days,
along with mutual supply arrangements, in emergencies. When developing
emergency plans, policies should incorporate a suite of measures. Though
significant challenges remain most notably cost strategic storage might
make sense in the right circumstances and, in this context, the government
should continue to give consideration to the medium- and long-term prospects
for underground storage. In general, however, Japan will need to rely on a
variety of measures, with due attention to demand-side options, such as fuel
switching and interruptible contracts.
The Japanese government is concerned about the impacts of resource
nationalism by some oil-producing countries on the world oil market, fearing
that more government control will restrict production and drive up oil
prices. Furthermore, as Japanese companies engaged in oil and natural gas
development are of a much smaller size than major overseas companies,
95
such as those in the United States and Europe, and the global competition
to obtain resources is intensifying, the government sees Japanese companies
as being at a disadvantage. Consequently, the government is providing
investment assistance and debt guarantees for Japanese companies investing
in upstream oil projects overseas through JOGMEC. We understand the desire
to secure long-term investment in hydrocarbon development, but we are
concerned about the risk that the government efforts will promote inefficient
investments and thus crowd out better resource opportunities elsewhere. In
this regard, in most cases the international market is best able to assess
and manage the high risks associated with hydrocarbon exploration and
production. Therefore, the government should continue to evaluate the
cost-effectiveness of its existing support mechanisms to Japanese companies
engaged in exploration and development activities overseas, paying further
attention to evaluating whether or not they are actually achieving the goal of
enhancing Japanese supply security of hydrocarbons.
The government has undertaken efforts to steer the overall fuel mix of the
country, with the aim of ensuring supply security. For example, the government
foresees that nuclear will maintain a 30% share of total electricity generation,
and will possibly rise to 40%. While it is common for governments to issue
scenarios and planning forecasts to provide guidance to the market, the
Japanese government should ensure that it does not unduly distort the strong
incentives already in place for commercial companies to diversify. For example,
the very high prices for fossil fuels currently already encourage companies to
diversify into non-fossil fuel sources.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue efforts to further diversify energy sources and routes in order to

enhance security of supply.
Continue to develop options to manage gas supply emergencies.
Continue the policy of international resource diplomacy, including in

matters concerning energy and environment co-operation, as a means of
enhancing energy security.
Continue to evaluate the effectiveness of government support mechanisms

for Japanese companies engaged in exploration and development activities
overseas.
96
PART
II
SECTOR ANALYSIS
FOSSIL FUELS
Japan is a dominant player in the international market for fossil fuels and a
pioneer in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG). With negligible domestic
energy production, the country is the worlds largest importer of coal and
LNG. It is the second-largest importer of fossil fuels in the IEA, after the
United States. Consequently, Japan places a very high priority on security of
supply, and is actively engaged in diversifying import sources and enhancing
domestic security provisions. The countrys natural gas market is becoming
more liberalised, though this is hampered because the network between the
nine larger demand areas has yet to be developed.
COAL
SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION
In 2005, coal accounted for 21% of Japans TPES. Production from the eight
remaining coal mines in operation in Japan is negligible, and more than 99% of
supply is imported. (Most domestic production ceased in 2001.) Japan consumed
nearly 120 million tonnes (Mt) of coal in 2006, representing a 27% increase
from 2000 and a 126% increase from 1990 (see Table 14). As the worlds largest
importer of coal, Japan accounts for a quarter of the global seaborne coal trade.
In 2006, most coal imports (59%) came from Australia, with Indonesia providing
the next largest share, at 18%. Other suppliers include China, Russia and Canada.
Coal imports from China peaked at 19% of total Japanese imports in FY2002, but
declined to 11% in 2006 and continue to fall.
Table 14
Coal Consumption by Sector, 1970 to 2006
Change
Unit:
million tonnes
1990
2000
2003
2004
2005
1990- 20002006 2006 2006
1970
1980
Electricity and heat

Share
0
0%
10 113
57%
31 187 65 042 80 148 84 150 91 671 89 780 188%

59%
70%
73%
74%
76%
75%
Industrial processes*
Share
100
50%
7 030
40%
20 825
40%
Residential, commercial
and public services sectors
Share
100
50%
503
3%
673
1%
Total consumption
200
17 646
27 591 28 467 27 946 28 331 28 350

29%
26%
25%
23%
24%
38%
36%
3%
41%
2%
52 685 93 560 109 554 113 037 120 949 119 080 126%
27%
927
1%
939
1%
941
1%
947
1%
950
1%
* includes coke ovens.

Source: Coal Information, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
99
COAL INDUSTRY AND POLICY

Industry structure and policy
Coal trade is fully liberalised in Japan; the government sets neither a
floor nor a ceiling price for coal. While there is negligible production, one
underground and seven opencast mines are in operation. Subsidies for
domestic production were eliminated in 2002. Government coal policy now
focuses on support for clean coal technologies (discussed in Chapter 9) and
upstream coal resource development in other countries (see Chapter 4).
The emergence of China and India as major coal importers has placed
enormous pressure on the international coal market, compounded by
the Chinese governments decision to limit coal exports. Japan is facing
unprecedented coal prices in a sellers market, despite its dominant import
position.
Domestic coal production liabilities
The government ceased to provide for measures to deal with mining
pollution and subsidence (the sinking or settling of land over abandoned
mine workings) in 2006 and the decision now allocates responsibility to
the mining companies for dealing with legacy rehabilitation costs resulting
from current operations. While the responsibility lies with mining companies,
funds are provided by each prefecture, with METI subsidising these funds
as well.
OIL
As detailed in Table 15, Japans TPES of oil was over 240 Mtoe in 2006,
an 8.1% decrease from 2000 and a 5.4% decrease from 1990. In 2006,
it represented the greatest share of TPES, 46%, the seventh-highest share
in the IEA and above the IEA average of 40% (2006 estimated data). The
government has set targets for 2030 to further lower overall oil dependence
to 40% (a target of 80% was set for the transport sector). The largest share
of oil is consumed by the transport sector, 37%. Industrial consumption
accounts for 30% and residential consumption for 6%. The share of oil
used for electricity and heat, 9%, is relatively high compared to other IEA
countries, though a sharp decrease from the 1980s and even the 1990s,
when the share was 20% to 30%. At over 10%, Japan has the fourthhighest share of electricity fuelled from oil, following only Italy, Greece and
Portugal (2006 estimated data).
100
Given increasing availability of district heating, along with a rise in penetration

of electric heat, the use of oil for heating has been declining. Some utilities
have been moving away from oil for electricity consumption owing to higher
prices and as an environmental measure. Oil demand in the transport sector
has declined in general owing to tighter efficiency requirements. In addition,
the total passenger transportation volume (in terms of passenger-kilometres)
declined in 2005, reducing oil consumption. At the same time, while freight
transport volume increased, efficiency gains offset the effect on total oil
consumption.
Table 15
Oil Supply-Demand Balance, 1970 to 2006
Unit: Mtoe
1970
1980 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Supply
Indigenous
production
0.9
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.7
Imports
(net of exports)
202.6
251.7 262.7 270.1 252.3 257.9 259.7 255.7 257.9 244.9
Other
18.2
17.3
Total primary
energy supply
185.2 235.0 254.3 261.9 251.5 255.0 255.7 252.2 250.5 240.6
9.1
9.0
1.5
3.6
4.7
4.3
8.1
5.1
Demand
production
46.5
62.9
50.6
27.5
21.5
25.6
26.6
24.7
26.9 22.5
Industrial
consumption*
75.7
67.9
70.3
75.4
71.9
72.7
72.5
74.0
72.2 71.9
Transportation
31.6
54.0
74.8
93.0
93.5
92.8
92.0
92.4
90.8 89.5
5.9
9.7
13.5
16.6
15.5
16.2
15.2
15.1
15.9 14.7
18.9
26.3
29.7
30.7
32.4
33.1
31.5
30.2
28.5 25.0
6.5
14.3
15.5
18.6
16.7
14.5
17.9
15.8
16.3 16.9
Residential
Other final
consumption**
Other
Total consumption
185.2 235.0 254.3 261.9 251.5 255.0 255.7 252.2 250.5 240.6
* includes non-energy use. ** includes commercial/public services, agriculture/forestry, fishing and

non-specified.
Japan has only a tiny amount of domestic production. Of its imports, the
largest share, 28%, comes from Saudi Arabia, with the next largest share,
23%, coming from the United Arab Emirates. In total, 83% of imports came
from OPEC countries and almost 90% from the Middle East in 2005, the
highest share in the IEA (see Figure 14).
101
Figure 14
Share of Oil Imports from the Middle East in IEA Countries, 2005
Share of imports from the Middle East
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
a
y m
a ce
d
n lic
y
n
d ds ly m ce al in ia lia es
pa Kore ree urke lan lan Ita lgiu ran tug Spa ustr stra Stat nad man do rlan ede ub
g
r
a
a
r
r
e
T
F
A
e
G
C Ge Kin itz Sw Rep
B
Ze the
Au ited
Po
e
w
d Sw
n
ch
N
U
ite
ze
Ne
n
C
U
Ja
Note: The Middle East dependence rate is zero for Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg,
Norway and the Slovak Republic.
Source: Oil Information, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
Refinery output and product exports

All of Japans refineries are operated by private-sector companies, with no
government ownership in any refinery. As most of the refineries in Japan
were built many years ago, investments are being made for overhauling and
expanding facilities at many of them in order to meet changes in the supplydemand conditions. Much of the investment is focused on improving the light
product yield and, in the face of an increasingly heavy crude slate, upgrading
the complexity of the refining capacity.
The capacity utilisation rate for Japans refinery sector is shown in Figure 15.
In 2006, Japans refining capacity of 4.8 million barrels per day has been
running at about 83%.
As shown in Figure 16, Japan imports about twice as much refined product
as it exports. In recent years, exports of refined product have been increasing
as refiners seek to maximise crude throughputs. The simultaneous increase in
exports and decrease in imports while capacity utilisation and total capacity
has remained steady or declined somewhat stem from the decline in total
demand in Japan. Notably, the countrys exports have been driven in part
102
103
8
19
8
19
8
19
8
19
90
19
Thousand barrels per day
10
20
30
40
50
60
9
19
92
19
9
19
94
19
9
19
9
19
7
9
19
9
19
9
9
19
0
0
20
1
0
20
2
0
20
3
0
20
4
0
20
5
0
20
6
0
20
Capacity utilisation rate (%)
Refining Capacity and Capacity Utilisation Rate
Figure 15
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Capacity
utilisation rate
Crude oil
processing
capacity
Topping
plant capacity
104
95
Total imports
l9
Ju
Ja
96
l9
Ju
n
Ja
97
l9
Ju
Ja
98
l9
Ju
n
Ja
99
l
Ju
99
n
Ja
00
0
l0
Ju
n
Ja
01
1
l0
Ju
n
Ja
02
2
l0
Ju
n
Ja
03
3
l0
Ju
n
Ja
04
4
l0
Ju
n
Ja
05
6
5
7
6
7
l 0 n 0 ul 0 n 0 ul 0
J
Ju
J
Ja
Ja
Total exports
6
6
5
98 l 98 99 l 99
97 l 97
07 l 07
05 l 05
06 l 06
04 04
02 l 02 03 l 03
01 l 01
00 00
l 9 n 9 ul 9
n
n
n
n
n
n Jul
n
n Jul
n
Ju
Ju
Ju Jan
Ju
Ju
Ju
Ju
Ju Jan
J
Ju
Ju
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Ja
Thousand metric tonnes (kmt)
95
Thousand metric tonnes (kmt)
Source: Monthly Oil Data Service, IEA/OECD, Paris.
Ja
2 000
1 800
1 600
1 400
1 200
1 000
800
600
400
200
0
n
Ja
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
Total Refinery Product Imports and Exports
Figure 16
by demand for products from China. At the same time there is considerable
interest in Japans refining capacity; Petrobras and IPIC have both made
investments in Japans refining sector.
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
Oil exploration and development are conducted by private-sector companies
with the support of JOGMEC, which took over part of the operations of the
now-defunct Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC). (For more information
about JOGMEC and upstream activities, see Chapter 4.) Shares in privatesector companies that had been owned by JNOC were taken over by the
government and some were sold in the market thereafter.
Refining and distribution of oil products are conducted by private-sector
companies, including foreign companies. Reflecting the intense competition
after the abolition of the Provisional Measures Law on the Importation of
Specific Kinds of Petroleum Refined Products at the end of March 1996,
mergers and business alliances are proceeding among oil refiners and
distributors. In addition, an industry realignment involving companies in the
upstream sector is emerging.
In response to continued liberalisation and the diversification of consumer
needs, the oil market has seen the entry of new companies, an escalation of
price competition and gasoline service stations moves to engage in a diverse
range of businesses. The number of service stations and their operators
has been on the decline since it peaked in 1994. The total number, around
38 000, is about 20% lower than the 1994 peak.
TRANSPORT FUELS
At 39%, Japan has the sixth-lowest share of diesel consumption in transport
fuels of IEA countries. The share had increased to a peak of 48% in 1995,
but has been decreasing steadily ever since. In terms of passenger vehicles,
in 2005, diesel-fuelled vehicles made up only 0.04% of new purchases.
(Most diesel consumption is in the commercial and industrial portion of the
transport sector.)
According to Japanese data, if the share of diesel passenger vehicles increased by
10%, CO2 emissions would be reduced by 2 Mt CO2 a year in the transport sector.7
In addition, if gasoline production fell by 4 million kl per year, this would translate
into a 1.7 Mt CO2 reduction in emissions in the oil refining sector.
7. According to tentative calculations made by the Petroleum Association of Japan and reported in
Next-Generation Vehicle and Fuel Initiative Report, Committees for Next-Generation Vehicles and
Fuels, May 2007, Figure 3-6.
105
106
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Note: data not available for Greece and Mexico.

Source: Energy Prices and Taxes, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
0.0
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.4
USD/litre
1.3
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
13% United States

31.3% Canada
Ex-tax price
38.2% Australia
40.6% New Zealand
Tax component
40.6% Japan
(tax as a percentage
49.1% Switzerland
of total price)
51% Spain
53.9% Hungary
54.5% Czech Republic
53.1% Luxembourg
55.7% Ireland
55.8% Slovak Republic
55.8% Poland
55.7% Korea
56.9% Austria
63.5% Sweden
62.7% France
62.6% Finland
58.8% Italy
60.2% Denmark
60.6% Portugal
63.5% Germany
65.2% United Kingdom
60.3% Belgium
62.2% Netherlands
61.9% Norway
61% Turkey
OECD Unleaded Gasoline Prices and Taxes, Fourth Quarter 2007
Figure 17
107
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Note: data not available for Canada, Greece and Mexico.

0.0
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.4
USD/litre
1.3
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
14.8% United States

11.4% New Zealand
Ex-tax price
28.6% Japan
36.3% Australia
Tax component
43.7% Spain
(tax as a percentage
41.6% Luxembourg
of total price)
47% Korea
47.1% Finland
47.4% Poland
47.9% Hungary
50% Ireland
47.9% Switzerland
50.2% Austria
53.2% France
48.8% Portugal
48% Czech Republic
48% Netherlands
44.2% Belgium
50.5% Denmark
52.1% Slovak Republic
50.6% Italy
52.1% Sweden
53% Germany
49.1% Turkey
63.5% United Kingdom
50% Norway
OECD Automotive Diesel Prices and Taxes, Fourth Quarter 2007
Figure 18
In general, Japan has not strongly promoted diesel-powered vehicles, as has

been done in other countries, particularly in Europe, owing to concerns about
exhaust emissions. Preferential tax treatment is in place for diesel-powered
buses and trucks, but not for passenger vehicles. The New National Energy
Strategy, adopted in May 2006, calls for promoting the use of diesel-fuelled
cars that have an exhaust gas emission performance comparable to that of
gasoline-powered vehicles.
PRICES
Japans taxes on gasoline are relatively low compared to Europe, though
higher than all other Asia-Pacific countries in the IEA except Korea (see
Figure 17). Taxes on diesel are even lower. Figure 18 shows that taxes on
diesel are lower than all IEA countries other than the United States and
New Zealand.
NATURAL GAS
Natural gas currently makes up almost 15% of TPES. Japan domestically
produces about 4% of the total volume of natural gas it consumes, with
the remainder imported in the form of LNG as the country has no pipeline
links. Nearly all LNG is imported from eight countries (Indonesia, Australia,
Malaysia, Qatar, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and the United
States) under long-term contracts, with about three-quarters from Indonesia,
Australia, Malaysia and Qatar alone in 2006. Russia is expected to be added
as the ninth supplier in the near future.
As described in Table 16, total consumption of gas was almost 97 billion cubic
metres (bcm) in 2006, representing a 15% increase from 2000. Currently
60% of natural gas consumption is for electricity generation, a share that has
been declining since its peak in the 1980s. Natural gas provides about onefifth of Japans power production. Just under 20% of natural gas is used in
the commercial and public services sector and 11% is used in the residential
sector. While residential gas consumption remains modest, consumption has
continued to grow. About 26 million households have natural gas connections
at home. Under 10% is used for industrial processes, a share that has held
steady since the 1980s.
Turning to the seasonal variations in gas demand, in 2005 the monthly volume
of gas sales was the smallest in October and the largest in January, with the
maximum volume exceeding the minimum volume by about 60%. In 2006, the
volume of gas sales was the smallest in June and the largest in January, with the
maximum volume exceeding the minimum volume by about 40%.
108
Table 16
Natural Gas Consumption, 1970 to 2006
Change
Unit:
million cubic metres
1970
1980

Share
0
0%
10 113
57%
31 187 65 042 80 148 84 150 91 671 89 780 188%

59%
70%
73%
74%
76%
75%
1 381
35%
18 170
71%
39 537 56 060 58 120 55 870 52 844 58 086

68%
67%
65%
63%
60%
60%
Commercial and public

services sectors
Share
215
5%
885
3%
4 601
8%
10 453 12 363
12%
14%
Residential sector
Share
555
14%
3 409
13%
8 699
15%
10 681 10 904 10 629 11 096 10 942

13%
12%
12%
13%
11%
Industrial processes
Share
1 735
44%
2 491
10%
4 729
8%
6 299
8%
6 796
8%
7 310
8%
8 293
9%
9 121
9%
47
1%
604
2%
558
1%
333
0%
833
1%
1 032
1%
1 324
2%
1 473 164% 342%

2%
Electricity
Share
Other
Share
1990
2000
2003
2004
2005
1990- 20002006 2006 2006

38%
47%
4%
13 974 14 642 17 006 270%

16%
17%
18%
63%
Total consumption
3 933 25 559 58 124 83 826 89 016 88 815 88 199 96 628
Source: Natural Gas Information, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
26%
2%
93%
45%
66%
15%
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
The majority of natural gas is imported by Japans electricity companies for power
generation (see Figure 19). These utilities, and some large industrial users, import
their gas independently from the city gas industry. Electric utilities also supply
LNG to other new entrants to the gas market. At the same time, as discussed in
Chapter 6, gas companies have also edged into the electricity market.
The city gas industry is fragmented into many vertically integrated regional
companies. As of the end of March 2007, there were a total of 213 general gas
utilities in Japan. Of them, 33 were public utilities. According to data on gas
sales volumes for 2006, the four major gas utilities Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Toho
Gas and Saibu Gas held a combined market share of 76.4%. Tokyo Gas had a
share of 36.4%, Osaka Gas 26.5%, Toho Gas 11.1% and Saibu Gas 2.4%.
In addition to the 213 general gas utilities, there are also over 1 600 small,
community gas utilities that feed 1.5 million supply points.
Japanese gas import companies procure more than 90% of their LNG under
long-term contracts. They are preparing to meet expected growth in natural gas
demand by concluding long-term contracts with new gas development projects.
In addition, these companies import natural gas under short-term contracts or
on a spot basis in the event of a sudden demand expansion due to factors such
as severe winter weather, or unexpected power outages in other sectors.
Although most pipelines in Japan are owned by gas utilities, some power
utilities and domestic natural gas producers own pipelines as service providers.
109
Figure 19
LNG Importers, March 2007
Electric utilities, etc.
Total = 41 346 kt
6 buyers (out of 10)
at 15 terminals
UAE (Abu Dhabi) 5 262

Brunei 4 180
Oman 1 497
Qatar 6 197
US (Alaska) 846
Algeria 184
Nigeria 165
Trinidad 164
Egypt 116
Malaysia 6 390
Indonesia 9 216
Australia 7 128
Gas utilities.
Total = 21 963 kt
8 buyers (out of 213)
at 16 terminals
Indonesia 4 735
Brunei 2 213
Qatar 1 510
Oman 1 367
Australia 5 478
Egypt 440
US (Alaska) 281
Trinidad 112
Malaysia 5 830
Source: Japan Gas Association.
The owners are responsible for the management of pipelines and grids. Some
LNG terminals are owned individually by power utilities and gas suppliers
while others are owned in co-operation through joint ventures.
Japans involvement in upstream hydrocarbon exploration and production is
described in Chapter 4.
GAS NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The total length of Japans gas grid is 235 785 km, of which almost 4 414 km
are high-pressure pipelines (see Figure 20). The gas grid extends throughout
Japan, but the trunk line networks have developed separately around
particular LNG terminals and are not necessarily connected with each other.
110
111
Sakaide LNG plant

Sakaide LNG
2010 (planned)
Oita LNG terminal

Oita LNG
460 000 kl (5 tanks)
Yanai LNG terminal

Chugoku Electric
480 000 kl (6 tanks)
Sakai LNG centre

Sakai LNG
420 000 kl (3 tanks)
Himeji LNG
management facility
Kansai Electric
520 000 kl (7 tanks)
Takamatsu plant
Shikoku Gas
10 000 kl (1 tank)
Himeji plant
Osaka Gas
740 000 kl
(8 tanks)
Senboku No. 1 LNG

terminal
Osaka Gas
180 000 kl (4 tanks)
Senboku No. 2 LNG
terminal
Osaka Gas
1 585 000 kl
(18 tanks)
Wakayama power plant
Kansai Electric
~2017 (planned)
Yokkaichi plant
Toho Gas
160 000 kl (2 tanks)
Yokkaichi LNG centre

Chubu Electric
320 000 kl (4 tanks)
Chita Midorihama plant

Toho Gas
200 000 kl (1 tank)
Chita LNG joint terminal

Chubu Electric/Toho Gas
300 000 kl (4 tanks)
Chita LNG facility

Chita LNG
640 000 kl (7 tanks)
Higashi-Niigata
LNG terminal
Nihonkai LNG
720 000 kl (8 tanks)
Joetsu LNG
terminal
Hakodate port plant
Teikoku Oil
Hokkaido Gas
2013 (planned)
5 000 kl (1 tank)
Joetsu thermal
power plant
Chubu Electric
2012 (planned)
Kawagoe LNG terminal
Chubu Electric
480 000 kl (4 tanks)
Hokkaido
Yoshinoura
thermal power plant
Okinawa Electric
2010 (planned)
Okinawa
Shimizu LNG (Sodeshi) terminal

Shimizu LNG
177 200 kl (2 tanks)
Negishi plant
Tokyo Gas/
Tokyo Electric
1 180 000 kl (14 tanks)
Ogishima plant
Tokyo Gas
600 000 kl (3 tanks)
Futtsu LNG terminal

Tokyo Electric
1 100 000 kl (10 tanks)
Sodegaura LNG terminal

Tokyo Gas/Tokyo Electric
2 660 000 kl (35 tanks)
Higashi-Ogishima LNG terminal

Tokyo Electric
540 000 kl (9 tanks)
Sendai LNG terminal

(Sendai city gas bureau)
80 000 kl (1 tank)
Hachinohe LNG terminal

Nippon Oil Corporation
4 500 kl (1 tank)
Source: Country submission (compiled by ANRE from data provided by relevant companies).
Kagoshima plant
Nihon Gas
86 000 kl (2 tanks)
Nagasaki plant
Saibu Gas
35 000 kl (1 tank)
Fukuhoku plant
Saibu Gas
70 000 kl (2 tanks)
Tobata LNG terminal

Kita-Kyushu LNG
480 000 kl (8 tanks)
Mizushima LNG terminal

Mizushima LNG
160 000 kl (1 tank)
Hatsukaichi plant
Hiroshima Gas
170 000 kl (2 tanks)
Chikkou plant
Okayama Gas
7 000 kl (1 tank)
Satellite terminal for

domestic vessels (in operation)
Main pipeline network
Pipeline planned
or under construction
Satellite terminal
(in operation/under construction)
LNG terminal
(planned/under construction)
LNG terminal
(in operation)
Map of the Japanese Gas Grid
Figure 20
Japan has 27 operational LNG terminals, with six more planned or proposed
to come on line starting in 2010 (see Table 17). In total, the country has
import capacity of over 240 bcm per year, the largest import capacity in
the world. It also has over 14 million cubic metres (mcm) of LNG storage
capacity (equivalent to 9 bcm of natural gas) held at LNG regasification
terminals in above-, in- and below-ground cryogenic tanks. Japan does not
have underground storage of natural gas in its gaseous state, which is often
seen in Europe and the United States, as there is very limited availability
of places that meet the necessary geotechnical conditions. LNG storage in
tanks is prohibitively expensive, with additional technical difficulties, such as
treating boil-off gas (BOG). (Natural gas storage and emergency preparedness
is discussed more fully in Chapter 4.)
International infrastructure projects
As discussed more fully in Chapter 4, private companies in Japan, in
co-operation with JOGMEC, are involved in new international pipeline projects,
including the Sakhalin project that would take natural gas and oil to the
southern tip of the island of Sakhalin. This oft-delayed project would create
a new LNG source for delivery into Japan. It is currently scheduled to start
operation some time in 2008 or 2009.
GAS MARKET REGULATION

Gas production facilities and equipment, as well as gas businesses8 are
regulated by the Gas Business Act, and the use of LNG outside the scope of
the gas business is regulated by other relevant laws such as the Electricity
Utilities Industry Law and the High-Pressure Gas Safety Law. The regulations
are enforced by METI.
Liberalisation of the gas sector began in 1995, when users with an annual
contracted volume of 2 million m3 or more were freed to contract for
gas from somewhere other than the general gas utility. Most recently,
liberalisation was expanded further in April 2007 when users with annual
contracted volumes of 100 000 m3 and over were freed to choose their
own suppliers. Figure 21 elaborates on the liberalisation process in Japan
since 1995. Evaluation and verification of the liberalisation process began
in October 2007.
In total, the liberalised share of Japans gas market accounts for approximately
60%. In addition, the amended Gas Business Act that came into force in 2004
requires all gas utilities to ensure third-party access (TPA) to their pipelines
8. A gas business refers to four classes as specified in the Gas Business Act: general gas utility
businesses, community gas utility businesses, gas pipeline service businesses and large-volume gas
businesses.
112
Table 17
LNG Import Capacity
Capacity
bcm
per
year
Negishi
Senboku I
Sodegaura
Senboku II
Tobata
Chita Kyodo
Himeji LNG
Chita
Higashi-Ohgishima
Himeji
Niigata
Futtsu
Yokkaichi LNG Centre
Oita
Yanai
Yokkaichi Works
Fukuoka
Hatsukaichi
Kagoshima
Sodeshi
Kawagoe
Shin-Minato
Ohgishima
Chita-Midorihama Works
Nagasaki
Mizushima
Sakai
Subtotal (operational)
Sakaide
Sodeshi expansion
Kawagoe expansion
Mizushima expansion
Subtotal (planned)
Storage
Million tonnes
per annum
(Mtpa)
Start
Status
m3
16.5
3.4
39.9
17.5
9.3
10.4
11.6
16.6
21.1
6.8
12.2
27.4
9.7
6.6
3.3
0.9
1.2
0.8
0.3
1.2
7.5
0.4
8.1
7.3
0.2
0.8
2.8
243.8
12.1
2.5
29.3
12.9
6.8
7.6
8.5
11.5
15.5
5.0
9.0
20.1
7.1
4.9
2.4
0.7
0.9
0.6
0.2
0.9
5.5
0.3
6.0
5.4
0.1
0.6
2.1
178.5
1 180 000
180 000
2 660 000
1 585 000
480 000
300 000
520 000
640 000
540 000
740 000
720 000
1 110 000
320 000
460 000
480 000
160 000
70 000
170 000
86 000
177 200
480 000
80 000
600 000
200 000
35 000
160 000
140 000
14 273 200
1969
1972
1973
1977
1977
1978
1979
1983
1984
1984
1984
1985
1988
1990
1990
1991
1993
1996
1996
1996
1997
1997
1998
2001
2003
2006
2006
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
Operational
0.6
0.4
1.4
2.0
1.0
1.4
180 000
160 000
360 000
160 000
860 000
2010
2010
2011
2012
Planned
Planned
Planned
Planned
2012
TBD
Proposed
Proposed
Joetsu
Wakayama
Source: Natural Gas Market Review 2007, IEA/OECD Paris.
113
114
Under 100 000 m3

(approx. 100%, 19.97 million users)
100 000 million m3

(approx. 59%, 10 100 users)
500 000 m
1 million m
2 million m3
Annual contracted
volume
Establishment of large-volume
supply system
Introduction of departmental
balance settlement
Introduction of yardstick method
Introduction of material cost
adjustment system
Development of the guidelines

for handling transportation
services
April 2004
Establishment of transmission
service system by way of law for
facilitating new market entries
and ensuring transparency and
fairness in transmission services
s (Only applicable to four major
gas companies)
Liberalisation of gas rates

s Shift from the approval system
to notification system (In the
case of reductions or other
revisions of rates that are not
detrimental to users interests)
Liberalisation of wholesale
supply system
s Shift from the approval system
to notification system
Requiring that all general gas

utilities and gas pipeline service
providers formulate
transportation service
provisions, provide notification
thereof and publicise said
provisions
Introduction of balance
settlement for transportation
services
Prohibition by law of use of
information for unintended
purposes, discriminatory
treatment, etc.
Deregulation for large-volume

supply
s Shift from approval system to
notification system
Abolition of notification system
for wholesale supply
Establishment of gas pipeline

service business
Evaluation and verification

of the liberalisation
process will begin in the
autumn of 2007 with the
aim of reaching a timely
conclusion on the issue of
how to achieve complete
deregulation.
In April 2007, the scope

of deregulation was
expanded to cover users
with annual contracted
3
volume of 100 000 m
and over.
April 2007
Introduction of simple
procedures
for maintaining supply and
demand balance
Development of transportation
service provisions that cover
low-pressure pipelines
Relaxing of rules on rate-setting
for transportation services
s Calculation of depreciation
cost in accordance with
actual use
Domestic use, small commercial use
Small factories, budget hotels
Medium-sized factories, hotels in city centres
November 1999
Gas Market Liberalisation Time Line
All manufacturing industries,

large commercial facilities
Large factories
March 1995
Figure 21
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the share of gas sales by large-volume supply among total gas sales by the ten major gas companies, and the (settled) number of
users supplied (2004). Annual contracted volume (m3) is calculated on the basis of 46 MJ/m3.
Major institutional and operational

reforms implemented thus far in
the expansion of liberalisation
and established the category of gas pipe service provider business. The
guidelines on appropriate gas trading were partially amended in order to
ensure the neutrality and transparency of the third-party access system and
make effective use of LNG terminals.
Infrastructure access
The guidelines on appropriate gas trading, which were partially amended in
August 2004, state that it is desirable that business operators that own or
manage LNG terminals create manuals for negotiations about the use of LNG
terminals by third-party companies so as to clarify the preconditions and rules for
such negotiations from the viewpoint of ensuring fair and effective competition.
The guidelines also stipulate that, from the same viewpoint, it is desirable that
such business operators make sufficient information disclosure with regard to the
capacity of LNG terminals, the current status of capacity utilisation and plans for
future utilisation so as to enable an estimate of spare capacity.
There are no business restrictions on the construction of new LNG terminals,
though it is necessary to meet the safety provisions of the laws relevant to LNG
terminals, such as the Gas Business Act and the Electricity Utilities Industry Law.
No general gas utility or gas pipeline service provider is allowed to refuse third-party
access unless there is a special reason to justify the refusal, such as a transport
capacity constraint. Each gas pipeline service provider is required to provide
third-party access. If the construction of a new pipeline by a new market entrant
within the supply area of a general gas utility is deemed by the government to
risk undermining the interests of gas users in the area, the Minister of Economy,
Trade and Industry may order revision or cancellation of the construction plans.
In the case where an area is not yet serviced by a general gas utility, but where
one is expected, the criterion is whether or not the proposed development poses
a risk of harm to the commencement of the general gas utility business and can
similarly be rejected by METI. The construction of a new pipeline must also meet
the safety provisions of the Gas Business Act.
As a result of the revision to the Gas Business Act in 2003, general gas utilities
and gas pipeline service providers are now required to keep separate accounts
for transportation services and other relevant services, and to publicise the
accounting data. This accounting system was introduced in order to encourage
new entry by establishing fair and transparent accounting provisions.
Revisions to the Gas Business Act in 2003 also relaxed requirements for
conducting large-volume gas business, moving from a system where METI
must approve the transaction to one where METI need only be notified. By
the end of March 2007, 28 business operators had entered the large-volume
gas supply market, sending 162 notifications to the government. These new
entrants represent approximately 9.7% of all large-volume supply.
115
To invigorate the gas market and promote competition where the development
of pipeline networks has not progressed to levels achieved in the United States
and Europe, the government is promoting the construction of pipeline networks
and connections between independent networks, while further facilitating the
use of pipeline networks by third parties in a fair and transparent manner.
Financial aid, such as low-interest loans9 and tax benefits10 are provided
for the construction of major pipelines. In addition, the gas supply business
conducted by way of large-capacity pipelines was established as a new
business category under the name gas pipeline service businesses. Table 18
shows pipelines currently under construction.
Table 18
Current Pipeline Construction
Name
Section
Operator
Length
Construction Estimated
start
construction
completion
Mie-Shiga Line
and Chubu
HikoneYokkaichi
Osaka Gas Co.

Electric Power Co.
60 km
September
2005
March
2010
Chiba-Kashima
Line
ChibaKamisu
Tokyo
Gas Co.
73 km
2006
2010
Gunma Link
Main Line
Gunma
Prefecture
Tokyo Gas Co.

and Teikoku Oil Co.
100 km
2006
2012
Ise Bay
Crossing
Line
Kawagoe/
YokkaichiChita
Toho Gas Co.

and Chubu
Electric
Power Co.
19 km
2007
2013
PRICES
Japan has historically had higher gas prices for industrial customers than
most IEA countries (see Figure 22) owing in part to the high cost of shipping
natural gas over relatively long distances. Furthermore, as compared with
the United States and Europe, there is relatively lower gas consumption per
household. However, in recent years, as international prices for natural gas
have risen, the disparity in prices has shrunk. Prices for residential customers,
however, remain above prices for other major industrialised countries.
9. Low-interest loans are provided by the Development Bank of Japan and the Japan Financial Corporation
for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as long-term and fixed-rate funds for the development of LNG
terminals and pipeline networks.
10. Tax benefits are provided under the tax scheme for promoting the reform of the energy supply and
demand structure (corporation tax) and the special provisions for the tax base of the fixed asset tax
(local tax); the tax reduction is implemented with regard to the construction of pipelines of local gas
utilities and pipelines for the general gas business.
116
Figure 22
Gas Prices in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries, 1980 to 2006
1 500
USD/toe (GCV)
Industry Sector
1 200
Japan
900
France
600
Germany
300
United
States
0
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
USD/toe (GCV)
Household Sector
1 500
1 200
Japan
900
France
600
300
Germany
United
States
0
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
CRITIQUE
Japan has been a pioneer in the import of liquefied natural gas it received
its first shipment of LNG in the 1960s and remains the worlds largest LNG
importer. It is also the largest importer of coal in the world, importing more
117
than twice the amount imported by the second-largest importer. In total,

Japan is the worlds third-largest importer of fossil fuels, following the United
States and China. With such a large reliance on imported fossil fuels, Japan
has made security of supply a top priority. To manage this challenge, first and
foremost the country places a high priority on energy efficiency, as discussed in
Chapter 3. Japan has also been working to promote diversification of energy
sources through combined efforts between the government and private actors.
We are pleased to see that the country has successfully reduced its reliance on
oil imports, falling from a high of 78% in 1973 to 45% in 2006. Building on
this progress, the government has set ambitious targets for 2030 to further
lower overall oil dependence to 40% with a target in the transport sector of
80%. Commendably, Japan goes beyond the requirements for oil stockholding,
now holding almost 60 days above the IEAs 90-days requirement and taking
up more than its required burden among IEA countries.
Building on the countrys energy efficiency and climate change policies, there is
room for the government to further promote diesel-powered vehicles. According
to government data, if the share of diesel passenger vehicles rises to 10%, CO2
emissions will fall by 2 Mt CO2 a year in the transport sector. In addition, new diesel
engines with modern diesel fuel produce fewer urban smog pollutants, alleviating
concerns about diesel exhaust emissions. To take advantage of the greenhouse gas
emissions benefits of moving from gasoline to diesel, the government has already
taken steps to increase diesel penetration through preferential tax treatment for
diesel fuel and for diesel-powered buses and trucks. We commend the government
for its efforts in this area, and encourage the government to consider expanding
this tax treatment to diesel-powered passenger vehicles. Given that the major
barrier to entry appears to be public perceptions related to noise and tailpipe
emissions, the government might consider enhancing public awareness of the
environmental realities and benefits of diesel-powered vehicles.
The government has been steadily committed to a policy focused on security
of natural gas supply. In this light, we are pleased to see the progress towards
market opening that has been made since the last review as this will also
help enhance energy security. A more competitive gas market will enhance
market signals for the private sector to secure sufficient gas supplies and
allow trading across regions to improve gas sector efficiency, flexibility and
security. In particular, we view the involvement of market players from both
the electricity and upstream oil sectors in the gas market as encouraging.
However, there is cause for concern about the rule that prevents new entrants
from competing with either an existing or a potential gas utility in the region
if it could have the effect of undermining the interests of gas users in the
area. This may create a barrier to competition, though we note that this rule
is only intended to be used in exceptional cases. The IEA is pleased to see
that the government places the protection of gas users as the primary policy
objective. However, there is a danger that having this as the sole objective
does not adequately balance customer protection with the long-term benefits
118
of competition. The IEA encourages the government to undertake a review

of the Gas Business Act to ensure that it sufficiently promotes competition.
Critical to this objective is to ensure that any provisions that might allow for
exceptions are subject to clear, transparent criteria.
The IEA welcomes the actions already taken to enhance competition, levelling
the playing field for new entrants to the market, and encourages the
government to continue its commitment to this policy. For example, the fiscal
incentives provided by the government for the development of gas pipelines
is a positive step, including the provision of low-interest loans and special tax
arrangements. To build on this progress, greater competition and efficiency in
the gas market can be achieved by extending the penetration of the gas network
and by linking existing supply areas by trunk pipelines where physically and
economically feasible. The government should evaluate whether the incentives
provided to encourage pipeline development do, in fact, achieve the desired
result. The government should particularly consider whether the current regime
for grid access creates incentives for incumbent gas companies not to invest
in such interconnections. In general, every effort should be made to allow for
better integration of the natural gas network in a cost-effective manner. A wellintegrated gas pipeline network brings liquidity to the market and will improve
security of supply, but such a network will only materialise if incumbents are
given the right incentives to make development happen.
Turning to the coal sector, in 2002 the government successfully eliminated
subsidies to its small domestic producers, a welcome move. Building on this
progress, in 2006, the government ceased providing for measures to deal
with mining pollution and subsidence, allocating responsibility to the mining
companies for dealing with legacy rehabilitation costs. Long-term liabilities
associated with coal mining are a complex challenge. The government should
continue to monitor the situation in regard to these legacy issues so as to
ensure that, in the event that unforeseen local difficulties arise, the interests
of the local communities are met.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Encourage more rapid penetration of clean fossil fuel technologies, such as

through preferential tax treatment for diesel-powered passenger vehicles,
and continue work to overcome negative public perceptions of dieselpowered vehicles.
Undertake a review of the Gas Business Act to ensure that it adequately

promotes competition in the gas sector and requires sufficient transparency
in the administration of regulations.
119
Ensure that the market and regulatory framework creates the right incentives
for the cost-effective integration of the natural gas network in light of the
benefits of such integration on supply security.
Continue to monitor subsidence, mine water discharges and other long-term

liabilities associated with the domestic coal mining industry and ensure that
the needs of the local communities continue to be met through effective and
timely remedial actions.
120
ELECTRICITY
Electricity supply is a part of the countrys energy sector where Japans
challenges of security of supply, environmental constraints and economic
efficiency are most evident. It is critical that this triangle of challenges is
reconciled in a balanced way to sustain the competitiveness of the Japanese
economy, and it is equally important that the electricity sector and the
economy at large are responsive to changes in environmental and fuel supply
constraints.
CAPACITY, GENERATION AND DEMAND

CAPACITY
Installed power generation capacity in Japan is well diversified, with
approximately 20% in each of the main conventional energy sources: coal,
oil, natural gas, nuclear and hydro. Other newer renewable energy sources still
only play a very minor role, even given the significant percentage increase of
solar and wind power since 2000.
Gas-fired capacity has more than doubled during the last ten years. Coal,
nuclear and hydro capacity has also increased by 10% to 20%, while installed
oil-fired capacity has decreased slightly. This development has covered the
steady growth of peak load, and accordingly, reserve margins of installed
capacity over peak load have been kept at a comfortable level and are on an
increasing trend.
Capacity factors of installed capacity are relatively low in Japan (see Table 19).
One reason for this is the relatively peaky demand in Japan, with great load
variations, particularly during the summer. Capacity factors in oil-fired plants
are low, indicating that they make up reserve capacity. Oil-fired capacity is
relatively old and depreciated as well as expensive to operate so it is also
often the least-cost option for reserves. The capacity factors of newer and
capital-intensive nuclear and coal-fired plants are, however, also significantly
below international standards. Average capacity factors of coal plants in the
OECD were around 65% over the last five years compared to 45% to 55%
in Japan. Average capacity factors of coal plants cover great variations, often
depending on age and size. This is also the case in Japan. For example, coalfired plants owned by the large vertically integrated utilities operated at 70%
to 75% average capacity factors during the last five years. Average capacity
factors of nuclear plants in the OECD were about 85% over the last five years
compared to 60% to 70% in Japan. Putting such expensive plants to so little
use adds considerable pressure on overall costs. Increasing capacity factors
121
of, for example, nuclear power, the most capital-intensive generation source,
from the current 70% to about 90% a level achieved in more and more
IEA countries would correspond to adding almost 9 gigawatts (GW) of new
capacity.
Table 19
Power Generation Capacity in Japan
Fuel
Capacity, MW,
31 March
2006
Share
Capacity factor
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Coal
62 535
22.4%
44.2%
45.5%
46.2%
48.6%
51.7%
56.5%
Oil
61 476
22.0%
24.8%
20.0%
24.3%
24.8%
23.3%
27.1%
Gas
53 257
19.1%
69.5%
69.0%
66.7%
67.9%
57.2%
49.6%
Nuclear
49 580
17.8%
81.2%
79.5%
73.4%
59.9%
68.4%
70.2%
Hydro
47 292
17.0%
21.5%
20.7%
20.3%
23.1%
23.0%
18.9%
Wind
1 227
0.4%
20.9%
22.1%
20.9%
24.2%
23.4%
20.1%
Other
renewables
3 457
1.2%
98.9%
87.8%
87.8%
84.4%
79.1%
75.2%
44.2% 45.5% 46.2% 48.6%
51.7%
56.5%
51.3%
58.8%
56.9%
Total
278 824
22.4%
Reserve
margin of
total installed
capacity over
peak load
45.4%
50.2%
62.7%
Sources: Energy Balances of IEA Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007 and country submission.
As shown in Figure 23, power generation is slightly more concentrated and
less diversified than installed capacity. Hydro generation is bound by natural
constraints and seems to be limited to capacity factors below 30%. Japan
was greatly reliant on oil until the oil shocks in the 1970s. The share of oil in
total power generation decreased from 30% in 1990 to 10% in 2006, which
is still among the highest in IEA countries. The share of nuclear and gas has
increased slightly, but coal has been the principal replacement for oil in power
generation, increasing from a share of 14% in 1990 to 28% in 2006.
122
Gas-fired power generation has only increased slightly in importance since

1990, from a share of 20% to 23% by 2006. Considering that the share of
installed gas-fired capacity doubled in the same period, gas-fired capacity
is now becoming a considerable source of reserve capacity in the Japanese
electricity system.
According to government projections, the share of coal-fired generation is
expected to decrease rapidly to below 20%, mainly to be replaced by nuclear
(35% in 2010 and 32% in 2030) and natural gas (23% in 2010 and 29% in
2030). A nuclear share of 35% corresponds to current nuclear capacity and
the additional 912 MW scheduled to come on line in 2009, all operating at
a capacity factor of 88%.
Figure 23
Electricity Generation by Source, 1973 to 2030
1 500 TWh
Oil
Natural gas
Coal
1 000
Biomass*
Nuclear
Hydro
500
Geothermal**
Solar, etc.**
Wind**
0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
* includes industrial and municipal waste. ** negligible.

Sources: Energy Balances of IEA Countries, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007 and country submission.
DEMAND
Annual electricity demand in Japan grew by an average annual rate of 3.3%
in the 1980s, 2.3% in the 1990s and 1.1% from 2000 to 2006. In the
1980s, average real GDP growth was 3.7% per year, outpacing electricity
consumption growth. The trend turned in the 1990s when average real GDP,
at 1.5%, was slower than electricity demand growth. With slightly stronger
123
average GDP growth since 2000, the picture has reversed again with GDP
growth outpacing electricity consumption. Each year the Japan Electric Survey
Committee publishes its expectations for annual demand growth for the next
ten years. Expectations have decreased from some 2% in the late 1990s to
below 1% in 2007.
As shown in Figure 24, the industrial sector is still the largest electricityconsuming sector with a 35% share in 2005, though this share has decreased
from 45% in 1990. Most of this decrease has been replaced by an increase
in the share going to the residential sector, which grew from 24% in 1990
to 34% in 2005. The commercial and other sectors have had a relatively
constant share at around 30% and the transport sector has held relatively
steady at 2%.
Peak demand was at 178 GW in 2005. It increased with an annual average
of 1.6% in the 1990s, which was less than the increase in total demand.
Since 2000 the increase in peak demand has slightly outpaced the increase
in total demand with an average annual growth rate of 0.4%. Peak demand
in Japan occurs during the summer, under strong influence from the use of
electrical cooling. The load curve of Japanese electricity demand shows very
marked differences between low load and maximum load during the day;
peak demand can be up to 50% higher than demand during off-peak periods,
with very steep increases in the morning. This makes peak load in Japan more
challenging to meet than in most places in the world.
Figure 24
Final Electricity Demand by Sector, 1990 to 2005
1 200
TWh
1 000
Industry
800
Transport
600
Other*
400
Residential
200
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
* includes commercial, public service, agricultural, fishing and other non-specified sectors.
124
MARKET REFORM
The Japanese electricity sector has undergone several steps of market reform
since the mid-1990s, similar to the experience in almost all other IEA countries
but at a somewhat slower pace than most. Until the last review, two steps
had been taken. In 1995 a system of bids from independent power producers
(IPPs) was introduced with an amendment of the Electricity Business Act.
A second amendment in 2000 introduced the concept of regulated thirdparty access (TPA).11 The way of ensuring neutrality and transparency of
transmission and distribution departments was left to the discretion of the
individual utilities, whereas the necessary measures for functional separation
have been specified in the Guidelines for Proper Electric Power Trade. A third
amendment was agreed by the Diet in 2003, deepening the foundations for
fully regulated TPA, which contains the establishment of a neutral system
organisation, introduction of behavioural regulation (prohibition of the use
of information for any other than the intended purpose in the wheeling
service (transmitting power across networks) and accounting separation, and
prohibition of discriminatory treatment) for the transmission and distribution
segment of vertically integrated utilities (VIUs). The implementation of these
amendments has been the main driver for market reform since the last review.
The latter steps are measures taken within the electricity sector to fulfil the
overall target of revitalising the Japanese economy through regulatory reform
decided by the Cabinet in 2001 in the Three-Year Programme for Promoting
Regulatory Reforms.
End-use customers have steadily become eligible to freely choose their
electricity supplier in three steps. The extra high-voltage customers (above
2 MW) became eligible in March 2000. High-voltage customers above
500 kW became eligible in April 2004 and high-voltage customers above
50 kW became eligible in April 2005. A debate within the Electricity Industry
Committee to further expand eligibility to all customers was initiated in
April 2007 as planned. As a result of the discussion, it reported: At present,
it is evaluated that consumers in already contestable market segments do
not have effective options to choose their suppliers sufficiently. Thus, the
preconditions for expanding retail liberalisation have yet to be satisfied. If the
eligibility to choose retail suppliers is expanded under these circumstances, it
would not only provide the possibility of there being no merit for customers
in the household sector, but also the high possibility that the inevitable
transition costs may exceed social benefits. Therefore, the expansion of the
liberalised sector is not preferable at this time, and it would be appropriate
to first establish a more competitive environment in already contestable
11. In the United States and some other markets, third-party access (TPA) is typically referred to as
open access. This regime gives all market participants non-discriminatory and transparent access
to transportation regardless of transmission line (or pipeline, in the case of natural gas markets)
ownership or operation.
125
market segments. The first contestable customer group represents some 26%
of electricity sales, the next 14% and the last 23%. Hence, by April 2005
customers with a share of some 63% of the load were eligible. The remaining
smallest customers are very small factories, small shops and residential
customers.
REGULATION AND MARKET DESIGN

Successful market reform in other IEA electricity markets has included
significant reforms in three main interrelated areas: governance, incentives
and rules. The biggest reform in governance has been to create structures
that allow for impartial and independent decision-making within the legal
framework set by government. This is to ensure that decisions balance and
protect the interests of government, consumers, investors and other market
players. The main body in such structures has been the independent regulator.
Reform in the area of incentives has mainly been focused on eliminating the
disincentives to compete. In electricity, these disincentives principally arise
from the fact that traditional vertically integrated utilities own generation
and service retail customers, as well as manage networks, with networks
being a natural monopoly. Given the multiple roles, such companies have a
clear incentive to limit and obstruct equal access to grids for their competitors.
Finally, successful market reform has included a wide range of rules and
regulations to reduce transaction costs and hence to ease access, particularly
for newcomers and smaller market players. One crucial package of rules allows
for the development of effective and smooth trading arrangements.
The responsibility for governance of the electricity sector lies with the Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Within METI, the Agency of Natural
Resources and Energy (ANRE) is responsible for electricity issues. The Electric
Utility Industry Council gives advice to METI on request. It is composed
of participants from the academic world, representatives of utilities, new
entrants, end-users and other social groups. The council established the
Market Monitoring Subcommittee in 2005 with responsibility to monitor
dispute settlement, results of METI inspection and regulation, and current
electricity market conditions. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) is
responsible for monitoring the state of competition and has increased its
surveillance of the electricity industry since market reform was initiated. The
JFTC and METI have issued Guidelines for Proper Electric Power Trade, which,
within the Antimonopoly Act and the Electricity Business Act, describes the
principles and practices for trade that may violate the act, with a primary
focus on the behaviour of the vertically integrated utilities (VIUs).
With the third step of market reforms in 2003, it was decided to strengthen
functional separation and regulated third-party access by forming the Electric
Power System Council of Japan (ESCJ). The ESCJ is a fully independent, private
126
and non-profit body governed by its members. It was established in 2004 and
commenced full operation in April 2005. It currently has 53 members: the
countrys 10 VIUs, 9 power producers and suppliers (PPS), 7 other wholesale
electricity companies and 27 members from the academic world. The main
roles for ESCJ are to establish rules for access to the transmission grid and to
enhance transparency. A comprehensive set of rules was published in 2004
and has been expanded continuously since. The rules are divided into four
areas: construction of new and expansion of existing network infrastructure;
technical requirements for installation and connection of new generation
facilities; transmission system operation by VIUs; and disclosure of information
related to network availability and use. ESCJ has a unit, the so-called Liaison
Co-ordination Centre, the task of which is to ensure reliability through
co-operation in the transmission and distribution sectors of electric utilities
and with the wholesale power exchange. It also provides an information
service that gives updated information about demand forecasts, capacity on
interconnectors and actual power flows.
VIUs are not required to fully unbundle their networks and system operation
from other activities. It is assumed that ESCJ will be sufficient to secure
the necessary independence in network expansion and system operation
decisions, through establishing rules and information systems. There are
some legal requirements on VIUs on functional unbundling. VIUs are required
to establish information firewalls around network activities. It is prohibited
to cross-subsidise network charges to other divisions and to take other
discriminatory actions. The VIUs creation of fair and transparent operation
of network divisions is also stipulated under the Electricity Business Act
and monitored by METI. Network tariffs (wheeling tariffs) must be set in
accordance with a METI Ordinance and must be reported to METI. If such
tariffs are inappropriate from the viewpoint of ensuring proper cost recovery,
the authorities may issue an order to revise them. The act indicates in advance
the criteria for issuing orders of revision, so as to secure predictability for
electric utilities. Wheeling tariffs are charged from power producers and
suppliers, who supply the eligible customers that have chosen to shift supplier,
on the basis of the amount of electricity delivered. A system of charging
additional wheeling fees when entering another network area (so-called
pancaking) was abolished in 2005.
TRADE
The Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) was established in 2003 and
commenced operation in April 2005. Like ESCJ, JEPX was formed as a result
of the third reform step with the intention of giving it a complementary role
in wholesale electricity trade, but it is a body without direct involvement from
127
METI. JEPX is a non-profit corporation with 21 shareholders: nine VIUs, nine

new-entrant power producers and suppliers (PPSs) and three other companies.
It operates a physical spot market and a physical forward market. Liquidity in
both markets is still marginal but increasing. Liquidity measured by turnover
in the spot market corresponded to 0.1% of total Japanese demand in 2005,
0.16% in 2006 and 0.23% during the first five months of 2007. Trade in
physical forward contracts totalled 723 GWh in 134 contracts during the first
three years of operation until mid-2007. Half of these trades were concluded
in the last four months through August 2007. Overall, JEPX plays a marginal
role in the exchange of electricity along the supply chain from generation
to final consumption. The more successful power exchanges in other IEA
countries have spot turnover in the range of 20% to 70% of total demand.
The most liquid markets for long-term contracts see trades corresponding to
six to eight times the total demand.
Prices of exchange-based spot contracts have become the crucial reference
price in most successful markets in IEA countries. Competitive bidding into
a day-ahead or real-time spot exchange should result in prices that reflect
the real costs. Japan has a wide variety of power generation technologies,
several of them critically dependent on external fuel market forces, and on
very volatile and peaky demand. It should be expected that cost-reflective spot
prices are equally volatile. Such volatility has not occurred in JEPX spot trade
and it is not dynamically reflected in balancing charging arrangements. For
example, volatility has been just a little higher than in Nord Pool, the Nordic
power exchange that manages trade in the heavily hydro-dependent Nordic
system and therefore has notoriously low volatility. In contrast, volatility in
Australia, with demand volatility similar to that in Japan, is several orders
of magnitude higher. Cost-reflective prices that also reflect the volatility of
demand would create incentives for appropriate investment in peak load
resources and demand response. This has been the case in Australia where
price spikes attracted investments in open-cycle gas turbines, an option which
is sensible to meet peak load since it has low investment costs.
Transmission capacity between the VIUs, supposedly the main transmission
bottlenecks in Japan, is allocated according to a first-come-first-served
principle. It is accompanied with a use-it-or-lose-it rule that penalises fictitious
reservations. One of the crucial factors in assigning a value to electricity
produced and consumed at specific locations is the allocation of transmission
capacity. Constrained transmission capacity has a major impact on prices in
many of the successful exchanges in other IEA countries and is also a major
contributor to liquidity in several markets. The prerequisite for that liquidity
is that transmission capacity is allocated according to willingness-to-pay
principles and is made tradable when it is sold on longer-term contracts.
Some types of flows in Japan have priority across inter-regional transmission
interconnectors. These flows include generation from nuclear power plants.
Under a market-based allocation mechanism, such power flows would still
128
get guaranteed access through bids that are based on the low marginal costs
of the power source, in this case nuclear power. Hence, priority access for
certain technologies is unnecessary and distorting in competitive markets with
appropriate locational marginal pricing.
Real-time balancing of supply and demand is managed individually by the
ten transmission system operation units of the VIUs. It is up to each VIU
to decide how best to acquire the necessary resources to manage this task:
regulating power, operational reserve capacity and other ancillary services.
PPSs are required to ensure a balance between supply and actual demand
every 30 minutes with the support of the VIUs, and are charged a balancing
fee, depending on the size of the deviation between actual demand and
supply. The fee has two tiers; one fee is on low-tier imbalances below 3% and
the other, significantly higher, fee is on imbalances above 3%. The balancing
fee is calculated by each VIU in accordance with the rules established by
METI based on internal pricing calculation within the VIUs. Procurement of
these balancing services is not based on a competitive bidding process, it is
not directly linked to real costs and is not charged uniformly from all market
players.
Entities with the PPS status, supplying to the liberalised segment of the
market, are one of the main actors in the traded wholesale market. Other
wholesale suppliers and distributed generators supply power to the grid
according to contracts with VIUs as they have done in the past, and also
supply power to PPSs.
A competitive electricity market that gives incentives for optimal dispatch and
investment and that allows market participants to manage the risks related to
operation and investment is based on a liquid spot market and a liquid market
for long-term financial contracts. The spot market attracts competitive bids
that lead to cost-reflective prices and are, in turn, used as a credible reference
for financial contracts. As electricity only becomes physical at the moment
of operation, there are only drawbacks and no added value in keeping longterm contracts physical. Such a liquid market is not developing in Japan.
Some of the rules directing trade tend to lock in the concept of long-term
physical contracts. Priority access of nuclear power is one example. Another
is the special status the numerous non-VIU and non-PPS suppliers have in the
market. Rules on plans and schedules are a third example. ESCJ rules require
that PPSs present four different plans and schedules: one for the current and
next year, one for the next month, one for the next week, and every day at
noon a balanced and committing schedule must be submitted for the following
day. These plans and schedules describe trades in the liberalised segment of
the market. The requirements for the demand side of the market to make
such long-term plans encourage it to make long-term physical commitments,
rather than basing the supply on a liquidly traded market. The demand side is
excluded from making direct purchases on the JEPX.
129
TRANSPARENCY
ESCJ has created a Power System Information Service for registered users.
This service includes information about available transmission capacity on
interconnectors, forecasts for nationwide demand, real-time and one-dayold information about total demand, two-day-old demand by area (nine
areas), maintenance plans and status for interconnectors, power flows on
interconnectors and information about outages of interconnectors. The system
has markedly improved information regarding demand and interconnection
transmission capacity for registered users. Information about the power
generation side of the market is still limited to general annual statistics on
installed capacity and power generation output by fuel type.
Easy and reliable access to information, including information about
the supply side, has in several IEA countries proven to be critical for the
development of a liquid market. This information also includes the status
of all installed generation units above a certain size, total generation by
fuel type and by region, and sometimes real-time information about the
status of individual power plants. It allows all market players to analyse and
understand the market situation and it allows academia to explore the details
of the functioning of markets. Such information is usually only made available
with hesitation, in a trade-off of arguments about confidentiality on the one
hand and the need for transparent information about market fundamentals
from a regulatory point of view, on the other.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
Environmental performance of the electricity sector is largely addressed
through a voluntary action plan by the Federation of Electric Power
Companies of Japan (FEPC). The Environmental Action Plan by the Japanese
Electric Utility Industry was first formulated in 1996 and has been reviewed
annually since 1998. The effects relatively lower emissions of nitrous oxides
(NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from fossil fuel plants show the power of
such voluntary agreements. This voluntary action plan is also part of the
government policy based on the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan to Cope
with Global Warming and is also intended to reduce the CO2 intensity in the
Japanese electricity sector. From FY2008 to FY2012, the agreements aim to
reduce CO2 emissions intensity by an average of approximately 20% from
the FY1990 level, to about 0.34 kg CO2 per kWh. With intensities currently
at some 0.410 kg CO2 per kWh and a forecast of 0.37 kg CO2 per kWh, the
target will have to be complemented by flexibility mechanisms and reductions
in other countries. The future performance of nuclear power is immensely
important for meeting the targets, and the biggest CO2 impact will come if
improved nuclear performance shifts out coal-fired generation rather than
alternatives for less CO2-intensive fuels such as natural gas. Whether nuclear
130
will shift out gas or coal should be carefully balanced taking economic
efficiency, energy security and the environment appropriately into account,
but there are currently few direct financial incentives to meet the CO2 targets.
With current fuel prices, it seems likely that improved performance of nuclear
power will shift out generation from expensive natural gas.
The Act on the Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures introduces
some soft incentives to reduce GHG emissions on the demand side. The act
requires certain customers to report CO2 emissions, and allows electricity
suppliers to report their CO2 intensities when they are below the default
value decided by the government (0.555 kg CO2 per kWh). Customers can
calculate CO2 emissions with the CO2 intensities reported by their electricity
suppliers and they can report the default intensity of 0.555 kg CO2 per kWh
if intensities of their suppliers are higher than the default value. To the extent
that the CO2 emissions with the end-use customers have an impact, this
reporting could create some incentives to reduce CO2.
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
GENERATION
The Japanese power sector has ten vertically integrated utilities covering all
the geographic regions of Japan (see Figure 25). In addition, there is one
large wholesale supplier, J-Power and numerous other wholesale suppliers,
municipal utilities and distributed autonomous generators. In the competitive
segment there are 22 power producers and suppliers. In terms of installed
capacity, the six largest companies are Tokyo Electric Power Company (22%),
Kansai (13%), Chubu (11%), Kyushu (7%), Tohoku (6%) and J-Power (6%). In
terms of power generation, the six largest generators are also: Tokyo (26%),
Kansai (13%), Chubu (12%), Kyushu (8%), Tohoku (7%) and J-Power (5%).
Tokyo Electric Power Company is one of the largest electric utilities in the
world. As regards financial turnover, it was the fourth-largest in 2005.
New generation
Substantial new generation projects are both under construction and planned.
New nuclear power plants play a crucial role in the New National Energy
Strategy. A Nuclear Energy National Plan was formulated in 2006 following
a Cabinet decision in 2005 on the framework for nuclear energy policy in
Japan. According to this decision it shall be the aim of Japan to let nuclear
power continue to contribute with 30% or even up to 40% of total power
generation towards 2030 and beyond. Two nuclear power units are currently
under construction. One is due to come on line in 2009 and the other in 2011.
In the short term, however, as Table 20 shows, the largest increase is due to
come from fossil fuel plants, mainly gas (LNG) but also coal. Table 20 does not
131
132
Shikoku EPCo
(60 Hz)
Kyushu EPCo
(60 Hz)
Kyushu
Chubu EPCo
(60 Hz)
Hokkado EPCo
(50 Hz)
Hokkado
Km
100
Tokyo EPCo
(50 Hz)
200
Tohoku EPCo
(50 Hz)
Tokyo
Higashi-shimizu
Sakuma
Honshu
Shin-Shinano
JAPAN
Sea of Japan
Hokuriku EPCo
(60 Hz)
Kansai EPCo
(60 Hz)
Shikoku
Chugoku EPCo
(60 Hz)
RUSSIA
DC transmission line
AC/DC converter station
Frequency converter station
500-kV transmission grid

154/275-kV transmission grid
Pacific Ocean
Okinawa
Okinawa
EPCo (60 Hz)
REPUBLIC
OF KOREA
NORTH
KOREA
CHINA
Supply Areas of General Electric Utilities
Figure 25
include autoproducers and other wholesale suppliers such as PPSs. These will
tend also to focus on gas- and coal-fired plants, and, to some extent, on new
energy sources. According to a METI survey in December 2005, PPSs plan to
expand installed capacity from about 1 GW in 2006 to some 5 GW by 2009
and they are ahead of this schedule today.
Table 20
Plants under Construction or Planned by VIUs,
J-Power and Japan Atomic Power
MW (number of units)
Under construction
Planned
Coal
3 750 (5)
1 000 (2)
Liquefied natural gas
8 460 (12)
8 590 (10)
Nuclear
2 290 (2)
14 950 (11)
Hydro
5 110 (8)
80 (12)
Other (including oil)
<10 (1)
30 (11)
Total
19 600
24 640
7%
9%
Share of total installed capacity on

30 March 2006
Note: May not sum to total because of rounding.
The Japanese electric utilities organised in FEPC have expressed intentions to

follow the governments vision for a stable and perhaps even increased role
for nuclear power in Japan. This is expressed in the voluntary agreements in
the Environmental Action Plan. PPSs and other investors are investing in other
generation sources, thereby potentially competing with new nuclear capacity.
New nuclear investment should be able to stand up to this competition,
particularly considering the advantages of reducing the reliance on often
costly energy imports, but only under certain critical circumstances. Nuclear
projects must first of all be completed within budget and on time. Secondly,
they must be operated for as many hours as possible and capacity factors
below 85% and even 90% could be a real threat to profitability. Finally,
nuclear power has a significant competitive edge compared to technologies
fuelled by fossil sources in that it does not emit CO2 when generating
electricity. Electric utilities can be expected to make investment decisions
that take costs and implications for import reliance properly into account, but
they do not see many financial incentives to take the positive CO2 abatement
effects into account. Removing this value from the equation may put the
overall competitiveness of nuclear power at stake.
133
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

The Japanese transmission system is divided into two separate frequency
areas, one northern system with 50 hertz (Hz) and one southern system with
60 Hz (see Figure 26). Historically, the ten VIUs, which own and operate all
high-voltage transmission lines, were required to maintain self-sufficiency, so
that interconnections between the ten supply areas were weak and mainly
intended for operational system security purposes. The two frequency areas
are interconnected with three frequency converters. The third converter is
still under construction and is only partly in operation but will enter into full
operation in 2011. Total interconnection capacity is 970 MW and an extra
200 MW will be added when the last enters into full operation.
Transmission and distribution losses have largely stabilised at 5.2% (5.2% in
2004) in this decade after seeing a slightly decreasing trend since the mid1980s. The 5.2% figure does not take generation from autoproducers into
account, which brings the loss factor to 4.5% to 4.8%. Distribution losses in
Japan are among the lowest in IEA countries. They are on a comparable level
with other densely populated, often smaller countries, but lower than most of
the larger IEA countries.
System reliability is high in Japan. From 2000 to 2003, supply was interrupted
for about ten minutes per customer per year. There is no information about
the quantity of undelivered energy and interruptions divided into larger-scale
transmission interruptions or local distribution-level interruptions. Evidence
indicates that reliability in Japan is substantially higher than in many
other IEA countries. Questionnaire surveys show that Japanese electricity
customers rank reliability as one of the highest priorities. There is, however, no
information about the actual marginal willingness to pay for reliability and a
specific level of reliability is not a part of the regulatory framework based on
a cost-benefit analysis.
Grid access and investment
VIUs, in accordance with the ESCJ rules, take decisions as to whether to
approve or deny connections of new generation or new load in their service
areas. The ESCJ specifies rules on network access and transparency and within
this framework, the VIUs publish the specific rules that will apply. With regard
to the costs of access to the electric power systems from generation facilities,
the entities operating the facilities, including the VIUs generation facilities,
shall bear the cost of power lines in its entirety for the initial access to
the network from the generation facilities, whereas the entities operating
the network shall bear the costs for system reinforcement of the related
transmission network from the access point.
In 2005, several new high-voltage transmission projects are under construction
or planned. There are currently 158 km of new 500-kV transmission lines
under construction, with another 398 km planned. Some 145 km of 132- to
134
135
Source: ESCJ.
Okinawa
Kyushu
Frequency converter station
DC transmission line
500-kV transmission grid

154/275-kV transmission grid
Shikoku
Chugoku
Kansai
Chubu
Hokuriku
60 Hz
50 Hz
n Frequency is 50 Hz to the east

and 60 Hz to the west of Fuji River
(converted at three frequency converters).
RUSSIA
September 2011: full-scale operation is planned.
Higashi-shimizu frequency converter

(March 2006 tentative operation start)
0
Shin-shinano frequency converter
Km
100
power system is interconnected,

almost vertically, from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
n Electric
Sakuma frequency converter
Tokyo
Tohoku
Hokkaido
Transmission Interconnectors in Japan
Figure 26
200
275-kV lines are under construction, with another 115 km planned. None of
these projects are across service area borders.
Customer switching
Customers representing 62% of the total load (all consumption above
50 kW) are eligible to freely choose their electricity supplier. Only customers
representing 2.35% of this load (1.3% of total load) did choose a PPS as a
supplier in FY2006, up from 1.96% in 2005. In addition, autoproducers are
supplying their own demand and this represents 11% of the total. The level
of switching has stagnated since mid-2006 after seeing an increasing trend
over the previous 18 months. The customers that switch are mainly extra
high-voltage (above 500 kW) and are mainly located in the Tokyo and Kansai
areas. Almost no customers outside this segment have shifted supplier. There
is only one example of a customer shifting from one VIU to another.
COSTS, ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY AND PRICES

WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES
The only transparent wholesale trade in Japan is the limited trade on JEPX. In
2006 average spot prices on JEPX were USD 81 per MWh. As is shown in the
price duration graph in Figure 27, prices were relatively concentrated around
the average, with no prices above USD 220 per MWh and no prices below
USD 25 per MWh.
NETWORK COSTS
Investment in transmission decreased to about one-third of the expenditures
spent from 1999 to 2003 and investment in distribution almost halved
over the same period. Data on investment in transmission and distribution
networks are only available before 2004, after which investment data are only
aggregate. This was the timing of the required unbundling of accounts, which
had the aim of enhancing transparency.
VIUs are required under the Electricity Business Act to functionally unbundle
the natural monopoly parts of their businesses, namely network and system
operation. One aspect of the rules is that accounts must be unbundled so that
tariffs for network use can be separated from other charges, thereby allowing
competitors a level playing field. The network tariffs charged to customers by
incumbent suppliers should cover only network-related costs and be exactly
the same as the tariffs charged by competing PPSs through the wheeling
tariffs. The act requires the accounting separation in order to monitor whether
or not the VIUs are using their network business to cross-subsidise their
136
Figure 27
JEPX Spot Prices in 2006 and August 2007
USD/MWh
250
200
150
Price
duration
Average
100
50
0%
5%
10
%
15
%
20
%
25
%
30
%
35
%
40
%
45
%
50
%
55
%
60
%
65
%
70
%
75
%
80
%
85
%
90
%
95
%
USD/MWh
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
Source: JEPX.
competitive business. It is a legal obligation for VIUs to ensure fairness and

transparency of their transmission and distribution department. On the other
hand, the nearly complete absence of retail supplier switching apart from
extra high-voltage customers could indicate that these customer segments
are offered contracts below market prices.
137
RETAIL PRICES
End-use retail prices have decreased in Japan (see Figure 28). Prices had been
among the highest in IEA countries, but during the past three to five years
they have edged a bit lower, and are now only in the third-highest price group.
Price differences between the ten VIUs have also decreased substantially.
Several factors contribute to this development, including improvements in
the efficiency of the sector, as can be partly illustrated by the decrease in
employment. Higher levels of electricity are today delivered with 15% fewer
employees than in 1995. Depreciation of assets have decreased substantially,
partly reflecting that the sector is operating with a lower valued asset base,
delivering the same output with less use of capital. The cost of the capital
has also decreased substantially. The effect from the interest rate is external,
largely outside the control of utilities. The better use of labour and capital
and the decreased price differences between the ten VIUs can partly be
explained by competitive pressure. The largest effect seems to have been
triggered by the first step of reform, allowing independant power producery
(IPPs) access to the generation market.
One of the reasons for the closing gap with other IEA countries is that prices
in many countries have been on an increasing trend for the last two to three
years after substantial decreases in previous years. In many cases, these
increases are due to the effects of higher fuel costs. Lately in Europe, they
are also a consequence of the price on CO2 through the European Unions
Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). In several of these markets, the wholesale
electricity prices are determined dynamically on the basis of marginal costs.
In such markets the cost of fuels as traded in reference markets flows directly
through to the wholesale price of electricity, creating appropriate incentives
in both the electricity and fuel supply chains. Since most electricity and fuel
contracts in Japan are longer term, the effects of increasing fuel costs will
probably take longer to have an effect on retail electricity prices.
ELECTRICITY SECTOR EFFICIENCY

Security of supply is a driving force in Japans energy policy and, according to
polls, reliability of electricity supply is highly valued by electricity consumers.
With interruptions of ten minutes in average per year, reliability in the
Japanese electricity sector is among the highest in the world. Total installed
capacity has an average margin of 54% over peak load during this decade. In
2003 this allowed the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) the temporary
closure of all of its 17 GW of nuclear power (28% of TEPCOs total installed
capacity) without interrupting supply to any customers. Transmission and
distribution losses stand at 4% to 5%, also among the lowest levels in the
world, which could indicate that transmission and distribution systems are
more extensive and robust than in most other countries.
138
Figure 28
Electricity Prices in Japan and in Other Selected IEA Countries,
1980 to 2006
Industry Sector
0.30
USD/kWh
Japan
0.20
Germany
France
0.10
United States*
0.00
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Household Sector
0.30
USD/kWh
Japan
0.20
Germany
France
0.10
United States*
0.00
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
*price excluding tax.

139
Japanese electricity customers want reliability, but it is unclear what they are
willing to pay for additional marginal reliability and reliability comes at a
cost. Since reliability of electricity supply has many of the attributes that are
normally connected with public goods, consumers will not have incentives to
disclose their true willingness to pay. It is unclear to what extent the Japanese
electricity sector is aligned appropriately with the economic assessments of
the actual marginal value of reliability.
Electricity prices have decreased recently, from very high levels compared to
other IEA countries. Competition is likely to be part of the explanation, putting
pressure on utilities to perform better and enhance efficiency. As discussed,
the increase in labour productivity is one indicator. Employment peaked in
2004/05, but has since decreased. Since 1999, it decreased by some 15%.
Financial costs have also decreased. Depreciation decreased by 17% for the
VIUs between 2000 and 2005 and interest rate expenditures decreased by
55%. Depreciation contributed to 18% of total expenditures in 2000 and
interest to 7%. The strong impact from the decrease in these expenditures is
the result of lower interest rates and improved use of capital. It may partly
reflect that Japan is moving to another phase in the investment cycle, and
that capital is being put to more efficient use such as shifting into less capitalintensive gas-fired plants.
As discussed, the effect from the interest rate is largely outside the control
of utilities. More effective use of labour and capital plus the decreased price
differential between the VIUs can partly be explained by competitive pressure.
The first step of reform appears to have caused the largest effect generation
market access for IPPs.
Such developments indicate some of the positive pressures for a more
balanced and efficient sector that competition is able to deliver. Great scope
seems to exist for extending the benefits to be harvested from increased
competition, in terms of improved sector efficiency and especially in terms of
getting more security of supply with fewer resources. Figure 29 illustrates the
allocation of generation resources and transmission interconnectors across
the main regions in Japan. A liquid and dynamic market can quickly allocate
the resources where they are of greatest use. For example, such trading would
have allowed for a less costly management of the nuclear outages in 2003
and 2007, with less need for local reserve capacity. It has been pointed
out that the VIUs have traditionally intended to provide self-sufficiency.
As a result, all VIUs except the smallest have very similar compositions of
generation portfolios. There is not great variation in resource endowments in
the different regions of Japan, but the regional self-sufficiency approach is
nevertheless likely to be a barrier to specialisation and excellence, also taking
local conditions into account.
140
Figure 29
Generation and Transmission Capacity by Fuel Source
Hydro
Gas
Coal
Other utilities
Other
Nuclear
Oil
Autoproducers
Hokkaido
9 GW
0.6
0.6
Vertically integratedutilities
1
Tohoku
27 GW
: Expressed in GW
1.1
Chugoku
22 GW
Kansai
44 GW
Hokuriku
9 GW
1.3
2.8
0.3
1.6
Kyushu
30 GW
Tokyo
78 GW
0.3
2.7
1.2
1.2
0.3
2.5
1.4
1.4
1.2
Shikoku
14 GW
Okinawa
2 GW
Chubu
40 GW
Sources: ESCJ, FEPC and IEA calculations.
CRITIQUE
The Japanese electricity system continues to be one of the most diversified
in the IEA in terms of generation sources, which is of critical importance
for a country deprived of natural resources like Japan. The sector has seen
ongoing reform since the last IEA review and before. The establishment of
the Electric Power System Council of Japan (ESCJ) has increased transparency
and consistency in the rules for third-party access to transmission grids.
Some new players have entered the market and retail prices have decreased,
although price decreases are not only due to the effects of competition. The
efforts of the government to maintain diversity and enhance competition
are commendable. Some efficiency improvements have been harvested and
reliability of electricity supply remains very high.
It is recognised that the stepwise approach to reform is undertaken with a
view to carefully balancing the need to improve economic efficiency in the
sector without jeopardising reliability of supply. Experiences from other IEA
countries demonstrate that competition can also be an effective tool to meet
reliability requirements and at a lower cost and so we urge the government
to continue its efforts in this area. Effective competition creates incentives for
141
improved performance, but also for dynamic interaction between all players in
the supply chain. Within an adequately regulated framework, this has proven
to make electricity systems responsive to changes and has allowed for efficient
sharing of resources across jurisdictions. Scope seems to exist in Japan for
further improving efficiency and reliability, particularly by better integrating
the nine mainland Japanese supply regions.
The government needs to continue the reform process to be able to harvest
these benefits. Consideration of the benefits, risks and costs should be based
on modelling of optimal system dispatch across all Japanese supply and
regions. Particular attention has been given to the effect reform may have
on other energy policy priorities, such as the cost-effective development of
nuclear power. It must, however, also be considered that partial liberalisation
undermines transparency of incentives including the incentives to invest. Such
partial liberalisation risks undermining the regulatory certainty that investors
require. Rather than trying to ensure that policy priorities are met in a partly
regulated and partly competitive market, it is more efficient, transparent
and secure to ensure policy objectives through direct incentives, such as
reflecting the value of low-CO2-emitting energy sources. Clarifying incentives
for operation and investment through advancing market reforms is becoming
urgent. Investment decisions taken today will affect future incentives and
investment decisions to build, for example, nuclear power. Decisions by power
producers and suppliers (PPSs) to build new combined-cycle gas turbines
(CCGTs), for example, will change the competitive framework for new nuclear
power plants.
Two of the most critical steps to further develop a dynamic and responsive
business climate are to establish both a market-based balancing mechanism
and a market-based mechanism to allocate inter-regional transmission
capacity. Competitive pricing is the cornerstone in an incentive-based
market framework and it is the feature that allows market participants to
communicate and interact in a way that delivers optimal outcomes pricing
is the glue of competitive markets.
Turning first to the balancing system, the current charges for imbalances, set
in accordance with the METI ordinance, are punitive and are not transparently
related to real costs. Various market-based systems for balancing have
been established successfully in several IEA countries. System co-ordination
of inter-regional bids for regulating power would allow for the sharing of
resources across Japan, enhancing reliability for the entire country. Greater
regional co-operation and competitive bidding of operational reserves and
other ancillary services would enhance the scope for the sharing of expensive
reserves, but requiring due caution paid to the implications for system
security.
There is frequent congestion on the weak interconnection between the two
frequency zones. Considering the relatively low transmission capacity made
available at most other regional interconnections, more frequent congestion in
142
other parts of the transmission system are likely to appear when competition
and trade are allowed to develop further. Japan has introduced various measures
for congestion management, such as having the ESCJ establish rules for using
transmission systems. In addition to these rules, transmission capacity should
be allocated through market-based measures to ensure the optimal dispatch
of generation resources across regions, and also to reflect the value of further
enhancing interconnection capacity. There are several models for market-based
allocation of transmission capacity that can be used as inspiration for the
development of a system that meets the particular circumstances in Japan. A
first step could be a simple explicit day-ahead auction where maximum available
transmission capacity between the supply regions is auctioned one day ahead, for
each half-hour interval of the following day. This will put a price on transmission
congestion and will allow for better optimisation of all generation and transmission
resources across a larger region.
A vertically integrated utility does not have incentives to create and operate
a balancing market based on competitive bidding, and it does not have
incentives to maximise available transmission capacity between supply regions.
Some form of organisation of independent system operation is required
for further enhancing the scope for seamless trade and co-operation. The
Co-ordination of Load-Dispatching Operations Centre within the ESCJ could be
a building block for such a development. The greater the responsibility within
and across supply regions that such an independent organisation is given, the
greater is the scope for improved efficiency, reliability and competition.
The establishment of ESCJ has improved the framework that regulates thirdparty access to transmission grids, but there is still only limited scope for
independent market players to operate profitably in the market. In general
terms, considering the weak level of unbundling of networks from generation
and sales, the process of ex post regulation of network wheeling tariffs, based
on METI ordinance and notification, also risks undermining transparency
and leaves scope for cross-subsidisation. Currently rules and criteria for
tariff revision are published in advance, giving utilities some necessary
predictability, but a regulatory process fully based on pre-set performance
targets (i.e. ex ante regulation) and regular scrutiny can be used to further
enhance transparency and performance while maintaining incentives for
adequate investment. Ex ante regulation forces the regulated entities to act
within predetermined standards and boundaries, giving the regulatory body
more regulatory clout.
Independent regulatory institutions in IEA countries have proven best to
guarantee regulatory stability and fairness when they are independent from
government. Japan has improved the level of independence of some areas
of regulation through the allocation of roles and responsibilities of the
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under METI, the Japan Fair Trade
Commission and the Market Monitoring Subcommittee, which also includes
143
neutral experts. Japan could, hovewer, benefit from making the regulatory
functions in METI fully independent as well as able to issue binding orders.
Effective competition will only develop over time and cannot always be
guaranteed, even in a mature market. Ongoing market monitoring and
surveillance is essential, both with a view to taking necessary legal action
against abuse of market power but perhaps more importantly to establishing
an understanding of the market functioning that allows for improving the
regulatory framework. Japan should enhance market monitoring with the
development of the market through a well-resourced market monitoring unit,
for example within the realm of the Japan Fair Trade Commission. A tool
to be considered in future cases involving possible competition violation or
in negotiations with dominating market players is to commit large market
players to become market makers, such as in the JEPX spot and forward
markets. Market makers are committed always to give purchase bids and sale
offers for particular products.
The government has generally chosen a strategy of stepwise reform measures
based on light-handed regulation. Regulatory functions are only weakly
independent compared to other IEA countries. Natural network monopolies
are only weakly separated from generation and retail supply. Rules and market
design that should lower transaction costs for free trade between market
players are only sporadic compared to markets where trade is vibrant. Market
reform at the current state has delivered some benefits, but it is unlikely that a
dynamic and liquid market will be able to deliver within the present framework.
The current partial liberalisation has muddied incentives for all market players,
including the vertically integrated utilities. An approach based on voluntary
agreements, such as with regard to environmental policy and nuclear power,
is likely to face considerable challenges with such unclear incentives. The main
hurdle for substantially advancing market reform appears to be that vertically
integrated utilities have clear incentives not to allow for a level playing field
with smooth and competitive electricity trade. For the same reason, these
utilities have strongly objected to unbundling in most IEA countries. The
government is encouraged to continue to strengthen the effective separation
of transmission system operation from generation and sales activities, and to
consider the merits of a long-term goal to fully unbundle transmission system
operation and ownership. The government is also encouraged to continue to
enhance the regulatory footprint in market design and network regulation.
Japan is in a good position to establish a well-functioning and highly
competitive market for electricity, with ten vertically integrated electric
utilities, and several other companies participating in the competitive segment
of the electricity market. Several of the particular challenges that Japanese
electricity supply is faced with could benefit greatly from the dynamics and
responsiveness a competitive and liquid market can offer. Electricity demand
is, for example, more volatile than in most countries in the world, so the scope
144
and benefits in supporting price responsiveness from the demand side carry
great value. Japan can harvest considerable benefits from further market
reform, ultimately with a view to opening the market fully and giving all
Japanese electricity consumers freedom of choice. Focusing the next steps
to improve competition on improving trade and co-operation across Japans
regions is likely to bring considerable benefits in terms of improved dispatch,
more reliable system operation in tight situations, less need for expensive
reserve generation resources and, in general, from improved competition
between otherwise isolated companies.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Establish, as essential steps to further improve efficiency and reliability, fair

and transparent mechanisms for:
Balancing power based on reasonable expenditures, where the fee system
precludes any anti-competitive effect, and develop as quickly as possible
a market-based system.
Allocation of inter-regional transmission capacity that is based on, among
others, willingness to pay and that develops appropriately with the
development of the market.
Further develop independent system operations within the Electric Power

System Council to guarantee effective regulated third-party network
access and to ensure better inter-regional co-operation for efficiency and
reliability.
Continue to establish a regulatory framework for fully regulated third-party

access; place greater emphasis on making network wheeling tariffs fair
and transparent; consider the use of ex ante network regulation to improve
performance; and ensure regulatory independence and predictability.
Further develop ongoing market surveillance with the development of a

transparently traded market in order to monitor the level of competition,
including by full understanding of price formation.
145
RENEWABLES
Japans focus is on the development of renewable energy technology, both

for domestic use and for export. The country has the second-largest amount
of installed solar photovoltaics (PV) capacity in the world and is the largest
producer of solar panels. Nevertheless, the country has a relatively small
share of renewables in its supply mix, particularly when hydro is excluded.
The two key promotion policies are technology support and a renewable
portfolio standard (RPS), or renewables obligation, on the electricity
sector.
PRIMARY ENERGY SUPPLY
According to IEA data, renewables make up over 3% of total primary energy
supply, a share that has held roughly steady since 1990. As shown in Table 21,
over 40% of renewables supply comes from hydro, followed by 36% from
biomass and 17% from geothermal. A small amount, 3% and 1%, comes from
solar and wind, respectively.
Table 21
Renewable Primary Energy Supply, 1970 to 2006
Unit:
ktoe
Hydro Biomass* Geothermal
Solar Wind Renewables

supply
TPES Renewables
(all
as share
sources)
of TPES
1970
6 484
6 484
257 585
2.5%
1980
7 593
774
8 367
345 846
2.4%
1990
7 680
4 775
1 576
1 168
15 199
443 788
3.4%
2000
7 504
5 180
3 099
808
16 600
526 663
3.2%
2001
7 238
4 847
3 175
747
22
16 029
518 163
3.1%
147
Table 21
Renewable Primary Energy Supply, 1970 to 2006
Solar Wind Renewables
supply
(continued)
Unit:
ktoe
Hydro Biomass* Geothermal
2002
7 085
5 078
3 128
740
36
16 066
518 622
3.1%
2003
8 136
5 260
3 224
636
72
17 328
514 190
3.4%
2004
8 089
5 245
3 122
579
113
17 148
530 826
3.2%
2005
6 576
5 610
2 987
568
151
15 893
528 383
3.0%
2006
7 375
6 117
2 848
568
151
17 059
527 560
3.2%
Share of
43.2%
renewables
supply in
2006
35.9%
16.7%
3.3% 0.9%
Share
of TPES
(total)
in 2006
1.4%
1.2%
0.5%
0.1% 0.0%
3.2%
Annual
change
(19902000)
0.2%
0.8%
7.0%
-3.6%
0.9%
1.7%
-0.8%
Annual
change
(20002006)
0.3%
2.8%
-1.4%
-5.7% 58.9%
0.5%
0.0%
0.4%
n.a.
TPES Renewables
(all
as share
sources)
of TPES
* excludes industrial and non-renewable municipal waste.

Source: Renewables Information, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
As shown in Figure 30, Japan has the seventh-lowest share of renewables in its
TPES; it has the eighth-lowest share when hydro is excluded. It has relatively
high rates of geothermal and solar as a share of TPES compared with the other
26 IEA countries. In contrast, it has the third-lowest share of biomass and the
eighth-lowest share of wind in its TPES.
148
149
*estimated. **excludes industrial and non-renewable municipal waste.

m rg ea
d al da rk ey ly ain ce ny ce lia es lic lic ry ds an m d
ay nd en d ria
w ala ed lan ust rlan tug ana ma urk Ita Sp ran ma ree stra Sat pub pub nga rlan ap lgiu elan gdo ou Kor
r
F
r G
J e
r C
e
n T
A
e
Ir Kin mb
B
Au ited Re Re Hu the
No Z Sw Fin
Ge
De
itz Po
e
k ch
w
xe
d
n
w
a
e
N
S
U ov ze
ite Lu
N
l
n
C
S
U
10
20
30
40
50
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar, etc.*
Biomass**
Renewable Energy as a Percentage of Total Primary Energy Supply in IEA Countries, 2006*
Figure 30
ELECTRICITY
As shown in Table 22, about 10% of Japans electricity is generated
from renewables. Hydro has the largest share of renewable electricity
generation, 79% in 2006. Biomass has the next-largest share, 17%,
followed by geothermal (3%) and wind (2%). Solar photovoltaics (PV)
have a negligible share. While the amount of hydro has increased since the
1970s, it has not done so at the same rate as overall growth in electricity
generation. As a result, the share of renewables dropped from over 20%
in the 1970s to about 10% since the 1990s. It has remained at around
10% since then.
Japan has the second-largest amount of solar PV, at 1 422 MW in 2005,
ranking just slightly behind Germany. Japans wind capacity is the thirteenthhighest in the world at 1 394 MW. Installed capacity of both these technologies
has grown rapidly in recent years (see Figure 31).
As is the case with a build-up of wind and other intermittent technologies
in most countries, the utilities are concerned that greater expansion of these
technologies could have adverse consequences on the grid.
Japans production of solar panels has been the largest in the world since
1999 and three of the top five producers are Japanese companies.
Figure 31
Installed Capacity of Wind and Solar PV, 1992 to 2006
2 000
MW
1 800
1710
1 600
1422
1 400
1 200
Solar PV
capacity
1132
1 000
19 3 24 5 31 6 43 10
60
14
209
133
83
21 38
463
91
312
200
144
330
678
452
400
896
1040
637
600
1394
860
8OO
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
150
Wind
capacity
Table 22
Renewable Electricity Generation, 1970 to 2006
Unit:
GWh
Hydro
1970
75 400
1980
88 292
1990
Biomass* Geothermal Wind Solar Renewable Electricity Renewables

PV electricity generation as share
(all
of total
generation
sources) electricity
generation
0
75 400
354 800
21.3%
900
89 192
572 531
15.6%
89 305
9 616
1 741
100 663
835 514
12.0%
2000
87 253
12 762
3 348
109
103 474
1 048 639
9.9%
2001
84 166
12 589
3 432
252
100 441
1 029 834
9.8%
2002
82 378
13 471
3 374
415
99 640
1 048 371
9.5%
2003
94 607
14 390
3 484
833
113 316
1 037 511
10.9%
2004
94 063
14 684
3 374
1 310
113 433
1 067 160
10.6%
2005
76 470
16 176
3 226
1 754
97 627
1 088 435
9.0%
2006
85 760
18 536
3 077
1 753
109 127
1 090 548
10.0%
Share of
78.6%
renewable
electricity
generation
in 2006
17.0%
2.8%
1.6% 0.0%
Share
of all
electricity
generation
in 2006
7.9%
1.7%
0.3%
0.2% 0.0%
Annual
change
(19902000)
0.2%
2.9%
6.8%
0.3%
2.3%
2.0%
Annual
change
(20002006)
0.3%
6.4%
1.4%
0.9%
0.7%
0.2%
n.a.
7.2%
58.9% 10.9%
10.0%
* excludes industrial and non-renewable municipal waste.

Source: Renewables Information, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
151
TRANSPORT FUELS
There is no consumption of biofuels (such as biodiesel or bioethanol) in the
transport sector. Nominal production capacity is in place in a few trial plants.
As touched on in Chapter 9, a number of experimental biofuels projects are
in place throughout the country.

TARGETS, STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES
In order to accelerate the introduction of new energy, in June 1997 Japan
established the Law Concerning Special Measures to Promote the Use of
New Energy (the New Energy Law), which specifies the roles of energy users,
the government and other parties concerned and provides for financial
assistance.
Japan has set a target, previously established in June 2001 and confirmed in
March 2005, for the introduction of new energy12 equal to 19.1 million kl of
crude oil-equivalent, approximately 3% of TPES by 2010. A target similar to
this one was also set in April 2005 as part of a plan for achieving the countrys
CO2 emissions reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. The details of the
target, including technology-specific sub-targets, are outlined in Table 23.
As indicated in note 1 of Table 23, Japan aims for an annual consumption
of 500 000 kl of crude oil-equivalent of biomass-derived fuels for transport
use, including bioethanol, by 2010 in its plan to achieve its greenhouse gas
emissions reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol.
In April 2003 the Special Law on the Use of New Energy by Electric Utilities
came into effect. The law puts in place a renewable portfolio standard (RPS),
or renewables obligation, to be met by electric utilities and other electricity
retailers (self-generation by industry is excluded). Under the RPS, in March
2007 the target volume for new energy-derived electricity for 2014 was set
at 16 billion kWh (large hydro and most conventional flash-type geothermal
are excluded). Utilities and electricity retailers can meet this obligation with
a mix of new and renewable fuels there are no minimum levels required
for particular fuels. Estimating that total electricity generation will be about
1 200 TWh in 2014, this is equivalent to about 1.3% of total generation.
In 2006, electricity generation from renewables covered almost 10% of
generation, but only 1.6% when hydro is excluded.
12. A review conducted between July 2005 and October 2006 categorised new energy as the types of
renewable energy whose diffusion needs assistance. In addition, new technologies that could help
to secure the supply of renewable energy, markedly improve energy efficiency and diversify energy
sources were identified as advanced utilisation technologies for innovative energy.
152
Table 23
2010 Renewables Targets and Current Progress
FY2005 level
Kilolitre (kl)
of oilequivalent
Heat
Power generation
Supply side
FY2010 target
kW-equivalent
(for power
generation)
Kilolitre (kl)
of oilequivalent
kW-equivalent
(for power
generation)
Photovoltaic
power
generation
347 000
1 422 000
1 180 000
4 820 000
Wind power
generation
442 000
1 078 000
1 340 000
3 000 000
Waste and
biomass power
generation
2 520 000
2 010 000
5 860 000
4 500 000
Solar thermal
use
610 000
900 000
Thermal use of
waste
1 490 000
1 860 000
Biomass thermal
use
1 420 000
3 080 0001
Unused energy2
49 000
50 000
Black liquid,
waste material,
etc.
Total
Rate in total primary
energy supply
4 700 0003
4 830 000
11 580 000
19 100 000
2.0%
3.0%
Demand side
FY2005 level
Clean energy vehicles
FY2010 target
326 000
2 330 000
Natural gas co-generation (i.e. CHP; kW)
3 590 000
4 980 000
Fuel cells (kW)
10 000
2 200 000
Note: Each breakdown of the power generation and heat fields are a rough standard for achieving
the target.
1. includes biomass-derived fuel (500 000 kl) for transport. 2. includes snow ice cryogenic energy.
3. 2004 data. Black liquid and waste classified as part of biomass and partially include those used
to generate power. The introduction volume of black liquid, waste material, etc., depends on the
production level of pulp and paper in an energy model, so it is tentatively calculated using the model
endogenously. 4. includes electric, fuel cell, hybrid, natural gas, methanol and diesel-alternative LPG
vehicles.
153
Japans Basic Plan for Energy does not have specific policy objectives or
targets for renewables.

Electricity
Under the RPS law, an obligation rate is assigned to each of Japans ten
electric utilities, along with new entrants such as power producers and
suppliers (PPSs). The total obligation has been determined up to 2014, while
the obligation rate applied to each utility to achieve that target is set as a
percentage of the utilitys electricity sales in the previous year. Electric utilities
and other electricity retailers covered by the RPS have the same renewables
obligation. For example, in 2006 the obligation rate was 0.50% of the
previous years sales volume, equivalent to about 4.4 billion kWh. Table 24
gives the obligation amounts up to 2014. Companies are allowed to bank any
excess renewables for the next year. In 2006, all utilities met their obligation.
Most companies exceeded their obligation, with a total of 6.5 billion kWh of
electricity. This includes both amounts to be credited to the 4.4 billion kWh
obligation in 2006 and amounts that can be carried over to the following
year if necessary.
Like traditional renewable portfolio standards in use elsewhere, such as in
the United States, Australia and Europe, the Japanese RPS allows for trading
between utilities. Only limited trading data are disclosed by the government.
Utilities can choose to meet the obligation through their own generation or
by purchasing from other generators that have certified facilities both in their
own region and in other regions. The banking provision allows for trading
between years.
As in other RPS models, Japan separates the so-called green portion of
electricity generation as a specific product from the electricity itself. Renewable
electricity generators create green RPS credits from their generation and can
sell the credits in the RPS market while selling the electricity to the power
market, to different buyers.
Indirectly related to the RPS, some solar PV also receives direct assistance,
similar to a feed-in tariff. The rate paid for solar PV was JPY 19 to JPY 23
per kWh in 2006. Under the excess power purchasing menu, electric utilities
voluntarily purchase excess power primarily from residential generators that
self-supply and sell their excess power back to the grid. The amount equivalent
to the green portion of this electricity is included in the obligation amount
assigned for each utility under the RPS (i.e. no electricity self-supplied by a
residential user counts towards the utilities obligation, only the excess supply
purchased).
154
Table 24
Renewables Obligations, 2003 to 2014
Unit:
billion kWh
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Renewables
obligation
amount
3.28
3.60
3.83
4.44 6.07 7.56 9.46 12.20 13.15 14.10 15.05 16.00
Total
renewable
electricity
4.06
4.91
5.58
6.51
Renewables 0.31% 0.34% 0.35% 0.42%

obligation as
a share of
total
electricity
generation*
*This estimate is based on the renewables obligation as a share of total electricity generation.
Because the renewables obligation only covers a subset of electricity generation (e.g. it excludes
self-generation), this share is lower than the obligation rate applied to generators.
Transport fuels
Japan has set an upper limit on the ethanol content of gasoline at 3% (E3)
and biodiesel in diesel at 5%. The limit is set with a view to minimising the
potential negative effects of biofuels mixing, including impacts on vehicle
safety and exhaust emissions.
Promotion policies for biofuels are generally technology focused, with the
government funding demonstration projects. The government does not have
a biofuels mixing obligation in place. It is working to set up a scheme to
exempt the gasoline tax and local road tax in proportion to biofuels in the
fuel mixture. This policy would be implemented during 2008 and is currently
scheduled to end in March 2013.
Currently, ten bioethanol projects are in place in various regions in Japan. The
government has also undertaken to develop a concept bioethanol island on
Miyakojima. It will enter full operation in 2008. The project aims to produce
bioethanol from sugar cane and change all gasoline consumed on the island
(about 24 000 kl per year) to E3. There are about 20 000 vehicles on the
island.
155
BUDGET
The 2007 budget for renewables and new energy is JPY 140.8 billion,
including the budgets from all ministries. Table 25 provides a breakdown of
budget items from METI. In general, funding has declined somewhat from its
peak in 2004.
Table 25
METI Budget for Renewables and New Energy, 2006 and 2007
Introduction promotion
Demonstration testing
Technology development
Category
Budget for 2007

(budget for 2006
in parentheses)
To conduct technology
development to reduce
the cost of new energy
technology and improve
performance
Approx. JPY 33.1 billion

New energy technology R&D:
(approx. JPY 40.8 billion)
JPY 4.58 billion
Fuel cell-related projects:
JPY 14.8 billion
Strategic technology
development for commercialisation
of next-generation storage battery:
JPY 4.9 billion
To implement demonstration
tests based on technology
development already
implemented, with a view
to identify and resolve
problems that may hamper
the commercialisation
of new energy technology
and verify its effectiveness
New energy technology field

test project: JPY 10.82 billion
Demonstration project for
introduction of biomass-derived
fuel: JPY 0.95 billion
E3 regional distribution standard
model project: JPY 0.76 billion
Solid oxide fuel-cell
demonstration research:
JPY 0.77 billion
To create initial demand

for new energy at the initial
stage of commercialisation
in order to induce mass
production and early
market growth and
promote the use of new
energy by supporting
efforts of companies and
local governments to
introduce such energy
Support for new energy

business enterprises:
JPY 31.58 billion
Projects related to regional new
energy planning: JPY 1.33 billion
Promotion of regional
introduction of new energy:
JPY 4.47 billon
Projects related to wind power
grid connection: JPY 2.68 billion
Support for introduction of cleanenergy vehicles:
JPY 1.98 billion
156
Projects
The government estimates that the cost of achieving the RPS goal of
16 billion kWh in 2014 will be JPY 110 to JPY 130 billion. This is equivalent
to the excess cost paid by consumers in 2014 for the renewable electricity
generation mandated by the RPS law (and not covered by the government).
PRICES
METI conducts annual surveys on prices for renewables, the results of which
are presented in Table 26. These surveys ask retailers about the selling price
for renewable electricity. The estimates indicate that prices for wind, while
higher than for other renewable resources, are continuing to decline. Prices
for biomass have increased in recent years.
Table 26
Prices for Selected Renewables, 2003 to 2006
Unit: JPY/kWh
(weighted mean price)
Green portion of renewable
generation plus electricity
Green portion of RPS only (sold

independent of electricity)
2003
2004
2005
2006
Wind
power
11.8
11.6
11.0
10.7
Hydro
8.1
8.5
8.4
8.4
Biomass
7.2
7.5
7.6
7.7
5.2
4.8
5.1
4.9
Note: As only a few independent generators install PV systems on a commercial basis most PV is
for self-generation solar is not included in this table, though it can be traded under the RPS. Its
price is determined on the basis of the rate for power sold by electric utilities. The household rate
was about JPY 19-23/kWh.
CRITIQUE
Japan is a recognised world leader in the field of renewables. The country has
the worlds second-highest level of installed capacity of solar PV and has been
the worlds largest producer of solar panels since 1999. Three of the worlds
five largest solar PV companies are Japanese. Perhaps more notably, the
government is investing very large amounts in R&D into new and renewable
energy technologies, as discussed more fully in Chapter 9. This good progress
in technology and manufacturing is bringing benefits to the international
arena, helping the market to grow and reducing costs for clean technologies,
157
and thereby contributing to greenhouse gas reductions on a global scale.

Building on this strong position in renewables on the international market,
improvements to domestic policy are recommended.
Japan has set detailed technology-specific targets for renewable energy supply
until 2010, but has only set one longer-term target, specifically for renewable
electricity generation. These 2010 targets call for a 65% increase in total
renewables supply between 2005 and 2010. Despite the low starting level,
these are ambitious targets for the very near term, with a large increase in
a short period of time. To build on this framework, the government should
now set longer-term targets. Investors will require the certainty of targets that
go beyond the next two years. Furthermore, a longer time horizon can help
bring down overall compliance costs as investors can better plan and tailor
the needed investments. With respect to the level of the targets, the high
priority the government gives to security of fossil fuel supply should also be
expanded to renewables supply. These longer-term targets should aim for the
same level of ambition as is seen for fossil fuels and in the current targets
that are about to expire. We urge the government to set longer-term targets
for renewable energy supply, at the same time avoiding too many technologyor sector-specific targets as these diminish investor flexibility and can raise
overall costs.
The two key means of promoting renewables in Japan are technology support
and a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). The country is a world leader in
technology funding and development, spurring development of a global
market for sustainable energy technologies. This subject is discussed more
fully in Chapter 9. Turning to the RPS, which specifically promotes renewable
electricity generation, in 2003 the government established quota levels for
all utilities and other electricity retailers to meet, with procurement quotas
rising from 3.3 billion kWh in 2003 to 16 billion kWh in 2014. First, we
commend the government for taking advantage of a prescriptive policy
approach that creates a market for renewables. We are also pleased to see the
government set longer-term targets for renewable electricity generation. With
a goal of 16 billion kWh in 2014, and an estimated total electricity supply of
about 1 200 billion kWh in 2014, this is equivalent to less than 2% of total
electricity generation. We recognise that domestic potential for renewables
deployment depends on geographic and other factors and is not the same
for all countries. Furthermore, it is commendable that the average annual
growth rate of the RPS targets will move from an average of 11% between
2003 and 2006 to an average of 17% between 2006 and 2014. Nevertheless,
room may exist for the government to set more ambitious longer-term targets
for renewable electricity, ensuring that the targets for renewable electricity
are broadly aligned with those for energy supply and that the schemes
cost-effectiveness is a key factor. To allow for continued policy evaluation
in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the scheme, greater
transparency of trading data will be necessary.
158
The RPS in place lays a solid foundation for cost-effective expansion of

renewable electricity. The RPS quotas do not set technology-specific targets,
and thus give utilities flexibility in how they meet their targets. The advanced
clean energy industry in Japan can take advantage of this flexibility to
develop new, innovative and less expensive means of meeting the overall
renewables target. The system also allows banking of credits, allowing
investors to spread the costs of compliance. Nevertheless, the system is
certainly a large investment, with the government estimating it to cost
JPY 110 to JPY 130 billion by 2014. One means to lower the overall cost would
be to encourage greater trading between utilities and further development
of a certificate scheme, so that renewable power is produced where it is
cheapest.
One challenge foreseen by the government is the effects on the electricity
grid of a larger introduction of renewables. Many IEA countries are facing
this challenge, and experience and new research suggest that grids are able
to handle higher levels of intermittent sources than previously thought. Many
factors affect this capacity. For example, greater interconnection capacity
between regions allows for higher levels of intermittent sources to be
connected to the grid because grid operators can rely on the interconnections
to carry imports or exports when necessary. Turning to the experience of other
IEA countries, we encourage the government to look further into the costs
and benefits of providing expanded connections to the grid for renewables,
which would be helpful in developing cost-effective renewables deployment.
Sound market rules and regulations are critical to sending the right signals
for proper renewables deployment and interconnection. To that end, the
government should continue to streamline and harmonise market rules on grid
interconnections, with a view to minimising barriers to entry and encouraging
cost-effective renewables connections.
While there is currently negligible penetration of biofuels for transport in
Japan, the government is working on a number of projects for their use for
transport, targeting technology development as the key means to promote
biofuels. In addition, the government plans to implement a scheme to exempt
transport fuels from the gasoline and local road taxes in proportion to the
amount of biofuels in the mix. At present the government is concerned about
the overall costs and benefits of biofuels. As in a number of IEA countries,
there are fears that the use of biofuels for energy purposes using existing
technologies in some cases may not be sustainable and that expanded use
would require imports. Furthermore, there are questions about the impact of
greater consumption of biofuels for transport on domestic and international
food markets as land currently devoted to food production would be taken
over for fuel development. Nevertheless, the potential benefits of biofuels
reduced CO2 emissions, reduced oil imports, greater supply diversity and
greater energy import diversity merit their continued analysis, particularly
with respect to second-generation biofuels.
159
RECOMMENDATIONS
Further investigate the potential for domestic deployment of renewables,

including the need for long-term targets.
Build on the RPS obligation for renewables with a view to setting, and
potentially increasing, the quota levels cost-effectively.
Continue to streamline and harmonise market rules and regulations to

ensure sufficient access in order to connect greater amounts of renewable
energy to the electricity grid.
Analyse further the potential for cost-effective and sustainable production,

import and use of biofuels in gasoline and diesel, with a view to secondgeneration biofuels.
160
NUCLEAR ENERGY
Japan is a world leader in nuclear energy. Nuclear power provides about 30%
of its total electricity, a share that may increase further in the future. In recent
years, the industry has been affected by a number of issues that have eroded
public confidence in the sector. Government regulation, which has historically
been very conservative, has therefore continued in this vein, leading to relatively
short intervals between mandatory inspections and relatively long off-line periods.
Consequently, Japans capacity factors for nuclear are below world best practice.
OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND
Nuclear power is a key strategic element of Japans energy policy and, as such, it has
received long-term government support. Japan, as the only country ever to incur an
atomic bomb attack, has promoted research, development and use of nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes only, in line with the Atomic Energy Basic Law of 1956.
As shown in Figure 32, Japan has the lowest energy self-sufficiency ratio of
any of the major industrialised countries. In the absence of nuclear power,
Figure 32
Energy Self-Sufficiency in Japan and in Other Selected IEA
Countries, 2006*
160
Domestic production as share of TPES (%)

9%
140
120
100
Nuclear
80
8%
9%
142%
60
40
12%
43%
62%
Non
nuclear
71%
20
15%
0
Italy
15%
4%
Japan
27%
7%
Germany
France
United
States
United
Kingdom
Canada
* estimated.
161
Japans energy self-sufficiency ratio would be only 4%. Nuclear power can
be considered as a quasi-indigenous source of energy, raising Japans selfsufficiency ratio to 19% of TPES in 2006.
CURRENT STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER

There are currently 55 commercial nuclear reactors in operation in Japan, with
a total capacity of 49 500 MWe (see Figure 33). In 2006, this fleet generated
291 542 GWh of electricity. Of these 55 reactors, 28 are boiling water
reactors (BWRs), 4 are advanced boiling water reactors (ABWRs) and 23 are
pressurised water reactors (PWRs). A further two units are under construction
(one PWR and one ABWR), and 11 additional units are in the planning stage
(see Table 27 and Figure 33).
Table 27
Future Nuclear Capacity Construction Programme
Plant name
Location Output (MW) Type
Operator
Status
Tomari 3
Hokkaido
Under construction
Hokkaido
912
PWR
Shimane 3
Chugoku
Under construction
Shimane
1 373
ABWR
825
BWR
1 385
ABWR
Namie Odaka
Tohoku
Construction preparations Fukushima
Higashidoori 2
Tohoku
Construction preparations
Fukushima 1-7
Tokyo
1 380
ABWR
Fukushima 1-8
Tokyo
1 380
ABWR
Higashidori 1
Tokyo
Aomori
1 385
ABWR
Higashidori 2
Tokyo
Aomori
1 385
ABWR
Kaminoseki 1
Chugoku
Construction preparations Yamaguchi
1 373
ABWR
Kaminoseki 2
Chugoku
Construction preparations Yamaguchi
1 373
ABWR
Ohma nuclear
J-Power Japan
Aomori
1 383
ABWR
Tsuruga 3
Japan Atomic
Fukui
1 538
APWR
Tsuruga 4
Japan Atomic
Fukui
1 538
APWR
Aomori
Total (under construction)
2 285
Total (construction preparations)
14 945
162
163
Under 1 000 MW
Under 500 MW
Output scale
Kyushu Electric Power Co. - Genkai
Preparing for construction
Under construction
Operating
Kyushu Electric Power Co. - Sendai
Tohoku Electric Power Co. - Higashidori
Tokyo Electric Power Co. - Higashidori
Over 1 000 MW
The Chugoku Electric Power Co. - Kaminoseki
The Chugoku Electric Power Co. - Shimane
The Kansai Electric Power Co. - Takahama
The Kansai Electric Power Co. - Ohi
The Kansai Electric Power Co. - Mihama
The Japan Atomic Power Co. - Tsuruga
Hokunku Electric Power Co. - Shika
Tokyo Electric Power Co. - Kashiwazaki Kariwa

2
Number of units
55
2
11
68
49 580
2 285
14 945
66 810
Total output (MW)
Shikoku Electric Power Co. - Ikata
Chubu Electric Power Co. - Hamacka
The Japan Atomic Power Co. - Tokai Daini
Tokyo Electric Power Co. - Fukushima Daini
Tokyo Electric Power Co. - Fukushima Daichi
Tohoku Electric Power Co. - Namie-Odaka
Tohoku Electric Power Co. - Onagawa
Electric Power Development Co. - Ohma
In operation
Under construction
Preparing for construction
Total
Hokkaido Electric
Power Co. - Tomari
Nuclear Power Plants in Japan
Figure 33
In addition, three other non-commercial facilities are of particular interest, as

described below.
The first power demonstration reactor, JPDR, was shut down in 1976 and
completely decommissioned from 1986 to 1996 as a demonstration and
technology development project.
In terms of future systems development, the Japan Atomic Energy
Agency owns a 280-MWe sodium-cooled fast-breeder reactor, Monju, which
achieved first criticality the point at which power is first produced in
1994. However, in December 1995 the reactor suffered an accident when
sodium leaking from the secondary (non-radioactive) circuit caused a
significant fire. The accident and insufficient transparency by the
operator (at the time, the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development
Corporation) associated with the event caused significant public disquiet.
A series of court cases resulted in a final decision by the Supreme
Court to allow restart. The declared intention is to restart the plant, and
modifications to the design of the facility are being implemented following
the lessons learned from the leakage and fire. The restart is planned
for 2008.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), following a reorganisation,
owns and operates the high-temperature test reactor (HTTR). This facility
is a 30-MWth reactor that does not generate electricity, but is used for
basic research on high-temperature reactor engineering. Its particular
significance is that it is being used to promote the development of
hydrogen production, a technology that holds promise for future CO2-free
energy systems, particularly transport.
POWER PLANT AGE

Figure 34 shows the ages of the current fleet of 55 reactors, a
significant number of which have or will soon reach 30 years of operation or
more.
PERFORMANCE
In terms of operational performance, the number of automatic shut-downs
is often used as one of the indicators (though not the only one) of good
performance. On this basis Japan does well, as shown in Figure 35, which
compares its performance with the good performance of the largest national
fleet of operating reactors.
164
Figure 34
Number of Nuclear Power Plants vs. Service Years, August 2007
15
Number of plants
BWR: 32 plants
PWR: 23 plants
Total: 55 plants
12
Plants that
have yet to
undergo
ageing
technological
assessment
11
11
8
3
4
3
1
0
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
Plants that
underwent
ageing
technological
assessment
35-39
Service years
Figure 35
Number of Automatic Shut-downs in Japan and the United States
1.8
Number of automatic shut-downs (times per reactor-year)
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
United States
0.8
Japan
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
165
Figure 36
Capacity Utilisation Comparisons
100%
Capacity utilisation rate

Japan
95%
United States
90%
85%
France
80%
75%
Germany
70%
Finland
65%
60%
55%
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Republic
of Korea
Source: Country submissions.
Figure 37
Causes of Nuclear Plant Unavailability in Japan
100%
Share of maximum capacity
90% 21%
18%
18%
17%
15%
17%
16%
18%
21%
80%
39%
28%
25%
Other
70%
Incidents
and failures
60%
Incidents
and failures
2%
50%
Other
11%
Periodical
inspections
40%
Periodical inspections
87%
30%
20%
Capacity
factor
10%
0%
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Source: Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organisation, Current Status of Nuclear Facilities in Japan,
2006, Section A-1-C, available from www.jnes.go.jp/english/database/pdf/2006/a-2-c.pdf.
166
However, in terms of operational availability the performance in Japan is

far less good, as seen by the capacity factors shown in Figure 36 (note that
the availability of French reactors is reduced because of the need for load
following in some plants, where output is reduced to match periods of lower
demand, given the very high percentage of nuclear generation in France).
One cause of the low capacity factors is the mandatory inspection intervals
for reactors, which are limited to no longer than 13 months. Shut-downs are
also long in comparison to practice elsewhere and represent the majority of
the loss of generating availability (see Figure 37). This length is partly due to
a continuing policy of time-based maintenance, as opposed to reliability- and
condition-based maintenance.
POLICY FRAMEWORK AND REGULATION

BACKGROUND
A further and more recent factor for the strategic importance of nuclear power
to Japan has been the increasing worldwide concern with respect to carbon
dioxide emissions and climate change over the last two decades. Nuclear
power, as a virtually CO2-free generation source, is a significant component
in holding down Japans overall emissions of CO2 and is expected to be a
continuing contributor in this respect. Figure 38 shows the CO2 emissions
intensity for Japans electricity sector in comparison to a number of other
major developed world economies. With relatively little hydropower, Japans
nuclear generation enables it to maintain a modest CO2 intensity.
In regard to these two factors, the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan
(agreed by the Cabinet in April 2005) notes that nuclear power generation
does not emit carbon dioxide in the power generation process, so it occupies
an extremely important position with respect to the promotion of global
warming countermeasures. In future, with the assurance of safety as the
major premise, the government will work towards the further utilisation of
nuclear power generation and will steadily promote public sector-private
sector co-operation for nuclear power generation as a key power source. The
subsequent Energy Master Plan (agreed by the Cabinet in March 2007) notes
that nuclear energy needs strict safety management in consideration of its
risk. However, as nuclear energy contributes to stable supply of electricity and
has superior characteristics in terms of measures against global warming,
nuclear power generation will be promoted as a main power source in the
future, including the nuclear fuel cycle, with the ensuring of safety as a major
premise, while paying high regard to the Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy
as a basic policy. The declared intention is that nuclear power should at least
maintain its share of generation and possibly increase this from the current
30%, up to 40% from now to 2030 and beyond.
167
Figure 38
CO2 Emissions Intensity in the Electricity Sector
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
CO2 intensity (Mt CO2/TWh)
0.68
0.87
1.33
1.11
1.33
1.54
1.36
Share of total electricity generation

13%
3%
7%
1%
Hydro
and
geothermal
58%
Other
renewables
9%
France
Nuclear
7%
Canada
Japan
Germany
United
Kingdom
United
States
Italy
GOVERNMENT POLICY
Activities to support nuclear research, development and use in Japan began
when the Atomic Energy Basic Law was established on 19 December 1955.
The law specifies that these activities shall be promoted, limiting them to
peaceful purposes. It also makes it a principle to assure the safety of these
activities making the results transparent with a view to securing energy
resources for the future, promoting science and industries and, as a result,
contributing to improving welfare living standards. On 1 January 1956, the
Atomic Energy Commission was established in order to implement national
policies for pursuing these goals and nuclear energy policy in general in a
democratic manner.
Both the Atomic Energy Commission and the Nuclear Safety Commission,
which is responsible for assuring the safety of Japans nuclear-related activities,
are part of the Cabinet Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), METI, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport (MLIT) and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) support Japans
168
nuclear-related activities, consistent with the Atomic Energy Basic Law and
the Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy as well as with relevant international
agreements and guidelines. Actual activities are conducted by research
organisations, universities and private companies, including electric utilities.
The administrative organisations for nuclear energy policy in Japan are shown
in Figure 39.
The Atomic Energy Commission has formulated a total of nine long-term plans
for nuclear-related science and engineering, approximately every five years
since 1956. In October 2005, the latest Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy
targeting the next ten years was adopted by the Cabinet.
According to this framework, the goals for Japans nuclear-related science and
engineering include promoting nuclear power generation to secure stable
energy supply, as a measure against climate change, and to apply radiation
technologies to science, industry, agriculture and medicine. These activities
are strictly limited to peaceful purposes and place the greatest importance
on safety.
Under this framework, there are three basic targets:
Maintaining the current 30% level of nuclear power generation or

increasing it to 40% even after 2030.
Steady advancement of the light-water reactor fuel cycle.
Commercial operation of fast-breeder reactors and the necessary fuel-cycle
systems by 2050.
The government has also set out five basic guidelines for Nuclear Energy
Policy (see Table 28) and nine implementation policies in Japans Nuclear
Energy National Plan, agreed in August 2006 (see Table 29).
Table 28
Five Basic Guidelines for Nuclear Energy Policy
1.
Establish a steadfast national strategy and policy framework that will not blur over the mid to
long term.
2.
At the same time, retain strategic flexibility for individual policies and specific times,
responding to international conditions and technology trends.
3.
Strengthen constructive co-operative relations among the government, electric power utilities
and plant makers. To this end, adopt a shared vision and achieve genuine communications
among the concerned parties, with the government taking the first step by indicating the
general direction.
4.
Emphasise policies for individual regions in line with the national strategy.
5.
Secure policy stability by setting policy based on open and fair discussions.
169
170
- Nuclear policies on science and technology

- Nuclear development for the purpose
of improving the level of science and
technology
- Regulations on use of nuclear reactors
for experiment and research, nuclear
fuel resource and materials
- Prevention of radioactive hazards
Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture,

Science and Technology (MEXT)
Report
Nuclear Safety Commission
Basic policies and principles
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

- Nuclear policies for energy use
- Development of nuclear engineering for
energy use
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
- Regulation on project of nuclear refinement,
processing, storage, reprocessing and
disposal, and on nuclear power generation
facilities
Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (METI)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and

Communications
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Health, Labour and
Welfare
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure
and Transport
- Ministry of the Environment
Other related ministries
- Develops the intellectual infrastructure

for ensuring nuclear safety
- Ensures safety of nuclear facilities
- Defines nuclear disaster countermeasures
- Promotes dialogue on nuclear safety with the
general public
Related governmental organisations
- Formulates the Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy

- Estimates the government budget for implementing
nuclear energy policy
- Checks the administrative judgements of other
governmental agencies under the Law for the
Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear
Fuel Material and Reactors
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
Administrative Organisations for Nuclear Energy Policy
Figure 39
Table 29
Implementation Policies in Japans Nuclear Energy National Plan
1.
Investment to construct new nuclear power plants and replace existing reactors in an era of
electric power liberalisation.
2.
Appropriate use of existing nuclear power plants with the assurance of safety as a key
prerequisite.
3.
Steady advancement of the nuclear fuel cycle and strategic reinforcement of nuclear fuel-cycle
industries.
4.
Early commercialisation of the fast-breeder reactor cycle.
5.
Achieving and developing depth in technologies, industries and personnel.
6.
Support for the international development of Japans nuclear power industry
7.
Active involvement in creating an international framework to uphold both non-proliferation

and the expansion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
8.
Fostering trust between the State and communities where plants are located; highly detailed
public hearings and public relations.
9.
Steady promotion of measures for disposal of radioactive wastes.
Behind each of these implementation policies lies an analysis of the issues

and the necessary government responses. This provides a well-developed
strategic plan for how the technology must progress over the coming
decades, identifying the key issues and proposing routes by which they will
be addressed. This looks out to time-scales of 2050 and beyond. Few other
countries have set out such a clear strategy.
Figure 40 shows the intention with respect to meeting the first of the five basic
targets listed in Table 28. The current generation of reactors will need to have
their operating lives extended to 60 years (in line with some international
practice) with light-water reactors (LWRs) being replaced progressively as their
operational lifetimes expire. Commercial introduction of fast-breeder reactors
(FBRs) is intended from 2050 onwards, in view of their much greater efficiency
in the use of uranium as compared to current reactor designs (a factor of 60
or more energy from the same quantity of uranium is possible).
To accomplish the objective of commercial operation of fast-breeder reactors
around 2050, the intention is to restart the Monju reactor in 2008 as a
platform for the development of experience with the technology. In parallel,
the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is working on the Fast Reactor Cycle
Technology Development (FaCT) project for the commercialisation of the FBR
fuel-cycle systems, with a view to having a concrete R&D programme developed
by 2015. Demonstration of commercial FBRs and other related facilities is
171
intended for 2025 and operation of the second (replacement) reprocessing

facility will be before the termination of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant
currently in operation, perhaps around 2045.
Figure 40
Long-Term Framework for Nuclear Energy in Japan
70
Installed capacity (GWe)

Existing
LWR plants
(40-year life)
60
Existing
LWR plants
(extend to
60-year life)
50
40
LWRs to be
replaced (for
60-year life
plants)
30
20
10
FBRs
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100
Fiscal year
Note: For illustrative purposes, the installed capacity is assumed to reach saturation at 58 GW.
In pursuit of its strategic objectives with respect to nuclear power, the

government is also active on the international scene. It is a member of
the Generation IV International Forum, a collaborative venture of member
countries to share in the development of advanced reactor systems for
deployment from about 2030, and it is a member of the United Statesinitiated Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, which has the objective of
enabling safe and proliferation-resistant nuclear power to be widely available
to collaborating countries around the world. Japan has been active in
the international discussions on the assurance of nuclear fuel supply as a
means of increasing proliferation resistance. Japan also participates in the
Multilateral Design Evaluation Programme, where a group of countries is
working to enable the current nationally based reactor licensing processes
to take more effective and co-operative cognisance of each others efforts,
in a step towards internationally recognised designs. It is a key player in the
Forum for Nuclear Co-operation in Asia and has a wide range of bilateral
172
co-operation agreements with numerous country partners. For the longer

term, it is also a key partner in the International Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor (ITER) project to develop fusion energy systems, which complements
its own work in the fusion field.
NUCLEAR SAFETY REGULATION

In January 2001, after the reorganisation of ministries and agencies, METI
assumed sole responsibility for the safety regulation of nuclear power for
energy use. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) was established
as a dedicated organisation for the oversight of nuclear and industrial safety.
It was deliberately established to be independent of the Agency for Natural
Resources and Energy in METI, although it is a part of METI and reports to
the same minister. NISA operates as the primary regulatory agency, while the
Nuclear Safety Commission, established in the Cabinet Office, monitors NISA
activities, in what is described as a double check system. The relationship
between these bodies is shown in Figure 41.
Figure 41
Outline of Nuclear Safety Regulation
Nuclear Safety
Commission
METI Minister
Agency for Natural

Resources and
Energy
Report
Direction
Report
Direction
Report
Quarterly report about
status of approvals and
inspections by NISA
Report on problems and
accidents
Nuclear and Industrial

Safety Agency
Assuring safety
of nuclear energy
and other energies
Assuring stable and

efficient energy
supply
Primary
regulation
Double check
Advice
Self-review
on
establishment licence
Supervision of the
regulatory activities
Development of guidelines
for nuclear safety
Nuclear operators
NISA is supported by a technical support organisation, the Japan Nuclear

Energy Safety Organisation (JNES), established in October 2003. NISA
operates with a staff of 300 and the support organisation, JNES, with a staff
of 460. These numbers reflect considerably increased staffing for NISA over
recent years and the establishment of more permanent technical support for
173
the regulator. It is important that the responsibilities between the Nuclear

Safety Commission, NISA and JNES are clear and that the interfaces between
them are effective.
NISA employs two main categories of professional staff, policy makers and
experts, and adheres to the government policy of job rotation. It strives to
maintain its expertise and experience in two ways: the experts are rotated
within NISA and the policy makers are expected to stay at least three
years. A comprehensive set of training requirements and regular training
programmes have been established. Steps have also been taken over recent
years to ensure the availability of skilled resources for regulatory activities
via the establishment of JNES, where the policy of staff rotation does not
apply.
FUEL CYCLE AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE

MANAGEMENT
FUEL CYCLE
Japan has no domestic uranium production or conversion capability. The supply
of uranium ore and conversion services are procured by Japanese utilities
from the international market. There is some domestic enrichment capacity,
providing just over 20% of demand, and the rest is currently procured on the
international market. Around 2010, enrichment capability will be enhanced
by the introduction of more advanced centrifuges in the Rokkasho uranium
enrichment plant. Fuel fabrication is mainly provided from domestic sources,
with more than enough domestic capacity to meet the demand.
Japan has a nuclear fuel cycle strategy with a declared intention of
reprocessing, use of extracted plutonium and uranium that is not necessary
to reserve for the fast reactor programme for mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, and
eventual movement to commercial fast-breeder reactors. The small Tokai
reprocessing plant has been in operation since 1977 and Japan has been
a major customer for French and British reprocessing services. A major new
reprocessing plant is under construction at Rokkasho, capable of 800 tonnes
per annum (t/a) of heavy metal throughput which is completing its active
commissioning procedures. It is designed to co-denitrate uranium and
plutonium oxide, increasing proliferation resistance. This facility will be
sufficient for around 80% of the current spent fuel that is being produced,
and spent fuel in excess of the reprocessing capacity will continue to be
stored until it is reprocessed at the plant currently under construction at
Rokkasho. The Recyclable Fuel Storage Company, established jointly by the
Tokyo Electric Power Company and the Japan Atomic Power Company, is
building an interim spent fuel storage facility, due to go into operation by
the end of 2010.
174
In line with its firmly declared policy of transparent use of nuclear technologies
only for peaceful purposes, the government produces an annual report on the
management status of plutonium in Japan. Electricity companies in Japan
intend to start using plutonium as MOX fuel in 16 to 18 reactors by 2010.
Domestic MOX fuel fabrication capability will be available in 2012. Progress is
being made with the necessary regulatory approvals and with the agreements
with the prefectures and local authorities where the reactors to use MOX are
located.
WASTE DISPOSAL
The Specified Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act was passed in June 2000,
with a view to ensuring systematic and safe disposal of high-level radioactive
waste. The act calls for the establishment of an implementing body
responsible for disposal, funding arrangements to cover the costs of disposal
and a three-step site selection process. The resulting body, the Nuclear Waste
Management Organisation of Japan (NUMO), was established by the electric
power companies and authorised by the Minister of International Trade and
Industry (now METI) in October 2000.
As is the practice developing in the rest of the world, NUMO intends to
construct a deep underground disposal facility in a stable rock formation,
at a depth of at least 300 metres. Radioactive waste disposal is a highly
sensitive subject with the public, and NUMOs approach is to seek volunteer
communities where the geology will be investigated. The act specifies a
three-stage process: the selection of preliminary investigation locations from
volunteer communities, selection of detailed investigation areas and selection
of the final site for repository construction.
Following the Final Disposal Plan based on the Specified Radioactive Waste
Final Disposal Law, operation is due to commence in the mid-2030s. Although
this time-scale seems long, it is not unusual in comparison with plans
elsewhere.
In June 2007, the Diet adopted a law to amend the Specified Radioactive
Waste Final Disposal Act. With the amendment, trans-uranium waste, which
is covered by the amended Enforcement Order for the Specified Radioactive
Waste Final Disposal Act, will be added to those materials subject to
disposal.
PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE
In a democratic society, a civil nuclear programme is not supportable if a
majority of public opinion strongly opposes it. Over recent years there have
been a number of issues in Japan that are likely to have eroded public
175
confidence. The latest of these is the Niigataken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake.

Although the seven reactors on the nearby Kashiwazakai Kariwa site responded
well, sustaining no extensive damage, and those that were operating shut
down effectively, the intensity of the quake was well in excess of the design
standard requirements for the plant. While the regulatory body, the Nuclear
and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), had already taken steps to review and
reinforce the requirements for seismic acceptability, the event will likely have
had a further negative influence on public acceptability of nuclear energy.
Based on METI survey data, Table 30 shows that there are relatively low
levels of public appreciation of the greenhouse gas and security of supply
benefits of nuclear power, and similarly of the reuse of energetic materials
from reprocessing, but in all three cases the public appreciation seems to be
growing. Again, international experience shows that this lack of knowledge,
while undesirable, is not unusual. As long as the public does not appreciate
the benefits of nuclear energy, it is unlikely to be tolerant of the perceived
disadvantages, real or otherwise.
Table 30
Degree of Knowledge about Nuclear Power Generation
FY1998
FY2005
Nuclear energy is a means of generating electric power that does not

emit carbon dioxide and therefore contributes to solving the problem of
global warming.
26.6%
35.6%
Recovering the uranium and other materials from spent nuclear fuels
that can be reused as fuels allows effective use of uranium resources.
22.4%
34.8%
The supply of uranium fuel is more stable than that of petroleum and
similar fuels.
20.6%
30.7%
The surveys reveal that the public gets most of its information on energy
issues from television or radio (76.6%) or from newspapers and magazines
(54.3%); only 27.4% responded that national government or local government
publications were relevant sources of information for them. A significant
barrier to discussion is the lack of interest in nuclear energy, particularly
among women and younger age groups revealed by the surveys (up to 76%
for women in their twenties and 69% for men in their twenties). However,
survey data also show that national government and local government
information is trusted (39.3%), almost as much as broadcast sources (42.5%)
and slightly more than the print media (37.3%). The government is adjusting
its communication programme in the light of these findings.
176
A key aspect of public support for nuclear power is the trust in the regulatory
bodies; traditionally in many countries these are rather invisible institutions.
The regulatory body is the publics guardian in an area where the public is
reliant on the regulators specialist knowledge. The regulator must be seen
to have a responsive and balanced voice (both for the public and industry).
The body responsible for nuclear safety regulation in Japan is the Nuclear
and Industrial Safety Agency. NISA has recently taken steps to enhance its
public relations activities. In April 2004 the Nuclear Safety Public Relations
and Training Division was established, which has a wide-ranging programme
of activities.
The industry has also responded, setting up the Federation of Electric Power
Companies High-Level Trust Restoration Committee (covering nuclear and
conventional plant issues) in October 2002 and the Japan Nuclear Technology
Institute (JANTI) in April 2005. JANTI membership comprises companies and
other bodies in the private sector and the organisation is modelled on the
United States Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Operators, with the objective of
sharing best practices and learning from the experience of others. In response
to earlier issues of falsification of records and attempts to conceal information,
JANTI and the industry have established the Nuclear Information Archives
(NUCIA). The website records all incidents, including those of only a minor
nature, with the objective of sharing the information across the operating
community and making it available to the public. Following the past incidents
of under-reporting, there is likely to be a considerable task ahead in ensuring
that full and transparent reporting standards are maintained and that the
public trust in the generators is rebuilt.
CRITIQUE
As discussed above, the government has been steadfast in its support
of a significant nuclear component to the overall energy mix. It has taken a
clear-sighted and long-term vision of where it believes it needs to be and has
set out a strategy to achieve these objectives that few other countries could
match.
Japan undoubtedly also has an extremely powerful nuclear industry. In
Mitsubushi, Toshiba and Hitachi it has three of the most prominent nuclear
plant vendors in the world. While reactor construction time-scales in some
countries of the world have lengthened considerably, this is not true of Japan,
where programmes have remained commendably short. All three vendors have
recently formed alliances with the vendors of other nations to strengthen their
opportunities in what appears to be an international reawakening of interest
in new nuclear build. Domestically, Japans fleet of operating reactors is the
third-largest in the world and is continuing to grow. There are, however, still
some significant challenges to be faced.
177
In terms of operational performance as described by the number of automatic

shut-downs, Japan excels it has one of the best operating performances in
the world. However, in terms of operational availability, the countrys nuclear
fleet is not performing at a high calibre. World availabilities have been
steadily improving and now average around 85%, with the best reactors in
the world achieving 94% to 95%. Japans performance has not kept pace
with this improvement elsewhere. Of the 31 countries in the world that
operate nuclear power plants, Japan ranked only twenty-seventh in terms of
availability performance in 2006.
In part, this relatively poor availability performance is the consequence of
conservative regulatory policies. The 13-month inspection interval for nuclear
plants is quite short. Furthermore, the shut-down periods for maintenance
inspections are long by world standards and represent the majority of the loss
of generating availability.
This length stems from Japans continuing policy of time-based maintenance,
whereas best practice has moved to reliability- and condition-based
maintenance and, where appropriate, online maintenance. Improving to the
world average from the current availabilities of approximately 70% would
add the equivalent of 7.5 GWe. Achieving world best practice would add the
equivalent of 12 GWe. The electricity sector has a target of a 20% reduction
in the CO2 emissions intensity of power generation. Increasing availabilities
could deliver a significant fraction of this target.
Elsewhere in the world, licensees have been re-evaluating the performance
of their plants and successfully agreeing with their regulatory bodies on
the power uprating of their reactors (increasing their maximum operating
capacity), sometimes with associated modifications to the plant. Normally
this is a very economic investment given the additional power output. It also
clearly brings with it the national benefits of reduced emissions and less
dependence on fossil energy imports. Japanese utilities are mostly inactive in
this area and only one Japanese utility is willing to pursue this at present.
Similarly, the nuclear fuel burn-ups (the amount of energy that is extracted
from a given quantity of fuel before the fuel needs replacing) that are achieved
in Japan are understood to be significantly below those of world best practice,
increasing the demand for uranium and fuel services and potentially increasing
down time for refuelling. There is also the challenge of life extension as the
current fleet begins to reach 40 years of age, which is critical to the increase or
indeed the maintenance of the percentage of nuclear generation. All of these
issues should result in the need for regulatory assessment and approval in the
medium term, together with a workload for new generation and new fuel-cycle
facilities. This will present quite a challenge.
Public support for nuclear power is an important issue for maintaining and
possibly enhancing the role of nuclear power in Japan. One key to building
178
this support is active engagement with the public and an open dialogue
regarding the benefits and challenges of nuclear power. Furthermore, public
perception and confidence in the regulator is also critical the public must be
assured of its objectivity and vigilance in protecting their safety and investors
must see the regulator as providing a sufficiently stable and predictable
regulatory framework. NISA is currently part of METI, but it is separate from
the part responsible for the promotion of nuclear energy. Furthermore, it is
also supervised and audited by the Nuclear Safety Commission, which is
part of the Cabinet Office. The IEA does not doubt the independence of
NISA, but it is important that the public and investors are convinced as well.
In short, perception is important and more needs to be done to clarify this
independence.
In practice, the lack of irrefutable clarity on regulator independence may
lead regulators to be overly conservative as a means to counter the publics
perception. This could ultimately undermine the economics of nuclear power,
while conversely, the regulator may be perceived by the public as part of the
nuclear establishment.
The government is interested in maintaining or increasing nuclear energy
production for the societal benefit reasons of reducing CO2 emissions and
contributing to security of energy supply. While the government has started
implementing voluntary measures that begin to value emissions reductions in
some parts of the economy, a systematic procedure is not in place that would
reflect the climate benefits of nuclear power. Further, investors may only see a
very limited part of the societal energy security benefit in their own portfolio
diversity.
The government policy of rotation of civil servants means that NISA has a
higher rotation of staff than that of regulatory bodies in other countries,
which makes development of the necessary in-depth expertise an ongoing
challenge. A regulator in this position will be rightly forced to conservative
judgements in order to appropriately protect the public well-being.
The Japanese retail electricity market is partially liberalised. It appears that
utilities see economic advantages from the construction of new nuclear plants
and that, therefore, the intended further construction programme is not at risk.
However, experience elsewhere has shown that investors in liberalised markets
regard nuclear plant construction as presenting additional financial risks
and have changed their preferences to the construction of the significantly
cheaper (in capital-cost terms) gas-fired plants. This puts even more pressure
to increase the scope for profitable operation, to ensure regulatory certainty
and prompt response, and to appropriately reward nuclear power for its
benefit credentials, such as by placing a value on greenhouse gas emissions
in the economy. While there are many ways to internalise the costs of climate
change, creating an explicit value for emissions in the economy is one of
the best options available in that it internalises the costs of climate change
179
in a transparent, cost-effective manner without exceedingly rewarding some

technologies or hampering others. Other options also value emissions, but
may do so in an opaque manner that risks leading to higher overall costs than
necessary and to inefficient outcomes.
Liberalisation also raises a further issue relating to the assurance of provisions
for long-term liabilities (decommissioning, spent fuel treatment and waste
disposal). Historically, the utilities have carried their own provisions for these
liabilities on their balance sheets. In October 2005, the Reprocessing Reserve
Law and taxation system came into operation, designed to put in place a
substantial financial reserve to cover expenses involved in the construction
of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant and other facilities. As liberalisation
proceeds, it may be appropriate to review provisioning arrangements more
generally and consider the implementation of fully segregated funds for those
liabilities that remain with the utilities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue its valuable contributions to the international efforts in the

development of advanced nuclear technologies, which are consistent with
nuclear non-proliferation.
Encourage periodic inspections and mandatory maintenance requirements

to move to match world best practice while ensuring no erosion of the
appropriate safety standards as this can enhance security of supply.
Consider the possibility of raising the maximum operating capacity of

reactors and increasing the maximum energy that can be extracted from fuel
(burn-ups) to match best practice in other established nuclear countries.
Ensure that public attitudes are monitored on a regular basis and that the
public receives balanced information on the risks and benefits of nuclear
energy from sources in which it will place trust.
Make efforts to maintain public trust in the regulatory body, NISA.
Make efforts to ensure that the expertise and experience in and available to
NISA are maintained.
Monitor investment sentiment in the electricity production sector and

maintain appropriate incentives, to ensure that the climate change and
other benefits of nuclear power are recognised in investment decisions.
Review the adequacy of the current arrangements for long-term liability

provisions to cover the costs of decommissioning, spent fuel treatment and
waste disposal.
180
PART
III
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY RESEARCH
& DEVELOPMENT
Japan has long been a world leader in energy research and development
(R&D), and now looks to technology development to further advance its energy
and environment objectives. Government R&D spending as a percentage of its
GDP is the largest in the IEA, and the government is committed to technology
transfer, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. The majority of energy
R&D funding goes to nuclear research.
OVERVIEW
R&D PRIORITIES
A nation that is poor in domestic resources, Japan places a very high priority
on energy R&D. In March 2006, the government adopted its 3rd Science
and Technology Basic Plan, which selected eight sectors, including energy, as
targets for R&D promotion. In March 2007, the government revised its Basic
Energy Plan, which was adopted in October 2003, and specifically itemises
the following six categories of energy-related technologies and programmes
for which R&D should be promoted:
Technologies that will help to improve total energy efficiency. The

government will conduct R&D of technologies likely to produce widespread
spin-off effects. In addition, it will promote R&D programmes that will
contribute to effective implementation of the Top Runner programme.
Technologies that will help to promote the peaceful use of nuclear

energy and ensure its necessary safety. The government will prioritise the
implementation of R&D programmes concerning safety-related issues, the
fast-breeder reactor cycle, the nuclear fuel cycle, light water reactors and
disposal of radioactive waste, according to the Framework for Nuclear
Energy Policy and its action plan, the Nuclear Energy National Plan.
Technologies that will contribute to the diversification of energy sources in

the transport sector. The government will promote the development of nextgeneration low-pollution vehicles, such as electric and fuel-cell vehicles, and
technologies for enhancing the performance of storage batteries. It will
also promote technologies related to a safe, simple and low-cost hydrogen
system; highly efficient production of bioethanol; and next-generation
liquid fuels such as gas-to-liquids (GTL), biomass to liquids (BTL) and coalto-liquids (CTL).
183
Technologies related to new energy. The government will implement R&D

programmes related to technologies for reducing the costs and improving
performance and user convenience of equipment and systems related to
new energy sources such as hydrogen use and fuel cells, photovoltaic power
generation and biomass energy.
Technologies that will help to ensure stable supply along with the effective
and clean use of fossil fuels.
With regard to oil-related technologies, the government will promote the
development of technologies related to the dissolution of supercritical
water, with a view to enhancing the ability to dissolve heavy oil, such
as non-conventional crude oil. It will also develop technologies that
will help to reduce drilling costs so as to cut the cost of oil resource
development.
With regard to coal-related technologies, the government places priority
on reducing the environmental impact of coal burning by promoting the
development of clean coal technology. In addition, the government will
promote the development of technologies related to carbon capture and
storage (CCS).
R&D programmes that should be considered from a long-term perspective.

The government will promote technologies and programmes, taking a
long-term perspective, with due consideration for the degree of maturity
of such technologies and their relation to key energy policies. For example,
the government will steadily promote the ITER project along with related
broader-approach activities for fusion.
These six policy areas seek to enhance Japans progress towards its three
objectives under the New National Energy Strategy:
Improve energy efficiency by at least a further 30% by 2030.
Reduce oil dependence to 40% of TPES and 80% in the transport sector.
Maintain a ratio of nuclear power in total generation of 30% to 40%.
ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Council for Science and Technology Policy is the top decision-making
body in Japans R&D processes. The members of the council include the Prime
Minister, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and other ministers,
along with knowledgeable stakeholders. Because of the parliamentary
system of government, its mechanism is designed to give sufficient political
consideration to funding activities. In addition, there is also the Research and
Development Subcommittee under the Industrial Structure Council that serves
as an advisory body to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Japans
energy technology strategy is developed by this subcommittee.
184
Additional responsibilities lie with particular government ministries,

including:
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which has a focus on
funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency, the rational use of fossil
fuel and power generation (including nuclear power), and technologies
relating to climate change.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT),

which has a focus on nuclear R&D and basic research carried out in
universities and institutes.
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

(AIST), an affiliate of METI, is one of the largest independent administrative
institutions in Japan. In 2001, 16 research laboratories from the former
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology were merged. AIST covers six
research fields, namely life science and technology; information technology
and electronics; nanotechnology, materials and manufacturing; environment
and energy; geological survey and applied geosciences; and metrology and
measurement technology. In the field of environment and energy, AIST conducts
R&D on environment-friendly production process technologies, pollution and
chemical substance risk management and reduction technologies, energy
diversification, and development of integrated assessments of environmental
and energy systems.
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO)
was established in 1980 as a semi-governmental organisation under METI.
NEDOs activities include development and promotion of new energy and energy
conservation technologies, management of industrial technology R&D projects,
and international co-operation involving joint R&D and information exchange.
In FY2006, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), formerly the Nuclear
Fuel Cycle Development Institute (JNC) commenced the fast-breeder reactor
(FBR) cycle technology development project (FaCT). FaCT is intended to move
the FBR commercialisation programme from the feasibility study phase to the
R&D phase. To ensure a smooth transition to the next demonstration phase,
a council was organised to share the common vision of the road-map for
FBR commercialisation, including representatives from METI, MEXT, utilities,
manufacturers and JAEA.
FUNDING
Japans government budget for energy R&D was over USD 3.6 billion in 2006
(see Figure 42), a decrease of 3% from 2000 and a decrease of 18% from the
high in 2002. The largest share, 62%, went to nuclear in 2006. The second-
185
186
899
Fuel cycle
57
18
Transportation
Other conservation
359
52
Residential & commercial
Total fossil fuels
166
293
Industry
Total conservation and

efficiency
346
2 646
Total fission
Fusion
326
Other fission
Breeder reactors
1 071
165
Other converted reactors
Supporting technologies
185
2 992
Total nuclear
Light water reactors
1996
Unit: million USD
331
17
47
44
179
286
324
2 514
281
974
929
155
174
2 837
1997
279
27
16
38
381
462
262
2 434
243
1 100
873
56
161
2 696
1998
168
30
32
46
447
555
255
2 415
221
1 039
951
59
145
2 669
1999
110
17
33
28
515
592
241
2 419
370
1 034
796
99
120
2 660
2000
77
21
35
32
533
621
205
2 419
301
1 109
832
72
105
2 624
2001
344
156
41
430
634
126
2 751
134
1 617
930
26
44
2 878
2002
289
99
29
13
327
467
119
2 654
135
1 580
856
45
38
2 773
2003
Energy RD&D Funding, 1996 to 2006*
Table 31
319
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
425
107
2 262
123
1 271
778
59
32
2 369
2004
331
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
441
104
2 276
134
1 324
723
53
43
2 380
2005
338
140
53
166
90
450
143
2 118
214
1 200
647
51
2 261
2006*
31%
12%
37%
20%
6%
94%
0%
9%
53%
29%
0%
2%
Share
of 2006
subtotal
187
4
127
6
137
16
62
116
0
194
130
141
14
61
143
218
Other oil & shale
Total oil & gas
Coal production, preparation & transportation
Coal combustion
Coal conversion
Other coal
Total coal
114
2
68
70
114
67
70
Total renewable energy
Solar heating & cooling
Solar photo-electric
Total solar
Refining, transportation
& storage
Enhanced oil & gas
1997
1996
Unit: million USD
79
77
126
176
105
55
16
103
70
27
1998
95
94
132
134
83
37
12
34
25
1999
123
123
156
83
59
13
27
18
2000
87
86
140
43
26
10
34
26
2001
110
110
174
62
37
20
281
196
85
2002
96
96
140
58
39
14
231
175
56
2003
Table 31
170
170
244
109
65
41
210
58
153
2004
138
134
220
128
55
71
203
34
168
2005
164
153
11
239
108
35
64
230
123
75
32
2006*
69%
64%
5%
32%
0%
10%
19%
3%
68%
36%
22%
9%
Share
of 2006
subtotal
188
Biomass
* estimated.
Total energy RD&D
3 958
123
17
Energy storage
Total other technologies/

research
29
Electricity transmission &

distribution
76
Total power & storage

technologies
29
Other renewables
Electric power conversion
Small hydro (<10 MW)
33
Ocean
Geothermal
Wind
3 773
127
32
26
19
78
32
1997
1996
Unit: million USD
3 809
112
31
26
77
134
28
10
1998
3 734
72
37
44
57
138
28
1999
3 761
76
35
48
84
168
23
2000
3 737
85
23
50
117
190
20
17
2001
4 454
349
33
34
76
15
34
2002
4 007
299
14
22
39
31
13
2003
Table 31
3 638
227
54
54
62
12
2004
3 655
235
48
48
71
11
2005
3 633
235
16
89
109
65
2006*
15%
81%
4%
1%
0%
0%
27%
0%
4%
Share
of 2006
subtotal
largest category, energy conservation and efficiency, receives 12%, a share

that has been increasing. Fossil fuels receive 9%, renewables 7% and power
and storage technologies 3%.
More detailed funding allocations are shown in Table 31. Within conservation
and efficiency, funding is relatively evenly split, though residential and
commercial applications receive the largest total share. In fossil fuels, funding
is focused on oil and gas, particularly oil and shale. In renewables, the lions
share of funding goes to solar, with biomass receiving about a quarter of
renewables funding. Wind receives negligible funding.
Figure 42
Government Spending on Energy R&D, 1996 to 2006
5 000
Energy R&D budget (million USD)

Power
and storage
technologies
4 500
Other
technologies
and research
4 000
3 500
Renewable
energy
2 500
2 000
Fossil fuels
1 500
Conservation
and efficiency
1 000
500
Nuclear fission
and fusion
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2000 2004 2005 2006*
* estimated.
The share of GDP that goes to public funding of energy R&D is very high in
Japan (see Figure 43).
R&D PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS

TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMES
Japans annual budget of USD 3.6 billion is divided between five programmes,
along with separate funding for fusion research. These five programme
areas are described below and include funding for both basic and applied
research.
189
Figure 43
Expenditure on Public Energy Research as a Share of GDP
in Selected IEA Countries, 2004
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
Germany
France
United States
Japan
Finland
Note: Excluding nuclear research, the highest energy research spending as a share of GDP is in
Finland, followed by Sweden and Switzerland.
Source: Energy Policies of Finland 2007 Review, IEA/OECD Paris, 2007.
Renewable energy technology programme

Japans funding for renewables R&D was USD 480 million in 2006 (including
a broader spectrum of funding than detailed in Table 31). The programme
supports R&D on solar, wind and biomass, among others. Funding for nextgeneration renewables, such as next-generation biofuels, receives a high
priority. The programme has a particular focus on fuel cells, including the
polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) and the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), as well
as on fundamental research on hydrogen science. Currently, the programme is
funding demonstration and dissemination of a large-scale project for fuel cell
systems. This programme also provides funding for technologies related to the
renewable portfolio standard and international renewables standard setting.
An overview of NEDOs solar R&D activities is provided in Box 7.
Energy conservation technology programme
The government provided USD 450 million to this programme in 2006. The
government supplied funds for the development of basic technology for new
environment-conscious ultrafine-grained steel production, the development of
190
high-speed and low-power-consuming network systems using superconducting

single-flux quantum (SFQ) device technology, the carbon nanotube capacitor
development project, and the development of basic technology for inverter
systems for power electronics. NEDO is also achieving results in developing
other energy conservation technologies, such as the high-performance
industrial furnace, high-performance vacuum heat-insulating material, and a
high-efficiency hot-water supply system based on a compact heat pump that
uses CO2 as a refrigerant.
Box 7
NEDO Solar Programme

R&D on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in Japan started in 1974
as part of the Sunshine Project. The aim of the project was to reduce
the cost of PV by a factor of one hundred from the cost at the time. At
the early stage of the project, low-cost production technologies of polycrystalline silicon, such as ribbon silicon, were intensively studied. NEDO
was established in 1980 to play a central role in promoting the project. In
the 1980s, research on amorphous silicon thin-film cells began in earnest.
Production technologies for low-cost silicon cells were also developed,
which led to the rapid growth of Japans PV industries.
Technology developments on thin-film solar cells, which are expected to
reduce the cost of solar PV dramatically, became a large part of the project
during the late 1990s. Between 2001 and 2005, amorphous silicon/
micro-crystalline silicon tandem thin film and copper indium diselenide
thin-film cells/modules were intensively developed. Consequently, these
types of modules came onto the Japanese market in 2007.
Research on system technologies was also carried out as part of
the Sunshine Project. The research results of the grid-connection
technology supported the growth of the Japanese PV market as roof-top
applications.
Fossil fuel technology programme

Funded with over USD 330 million in 2006, this programme promotes
next-generation oil refinery technologies, oil refinery integration projects,
coal gasification technology development, including integrated gasification
combined cycle (IGCC) turbines and integrated gasification fuel cells (IGFCs),
methane hydrates and GTL. Clean coal technologies, including CCS, are a
priority area under this programme.
191
Nuclear technology programme

With USD 110 million, the nuclear technology programme funds R&D on fast
breeder reactor cycles, the fuel cycle for next-generation light-water reactors
and research on innovative projects for nuclear technology. The programme
also funds education and training. (Fusion research receives a substantially
larger amount of annual funding than the nuclear technology programme,
though the exact amount varies from year to year.)
Electric power technology programme
The government funds R&D on electric power systems with USD 60 million per
year, targeting superconducting power networks and fundamental research on
superconducting applications.
FUNDING ALLOCATION
Funding is generally directed to projects by NEDO. The process for funding
particular projects or programmes varies by entity. Most funding is guaranteed
for terms under five years, and must be reallocated on a regular basis
according to the evaluation by each funding agency and the Council for
Science and Technology Policy.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Japan is an active member in ongoing international projects such as the
FutureGen project, which is working to develop advanced coal-fired power
plant technology, along with ITER, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
(GNEP) scheme and the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) project,
all of which concern nuclear energy. The government is also part of the
International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE). Japan is a party
to 29 implementing agreements. It is also a leader in efforts to enhance
technology transfer and collaboration in Asia (see Box 8).
Box 8
Technology Transfer and Collaboration

in Asia
With the full understanding that the level of energy technology
development of its neighbours directly affects Japan, the government
places a strong focus on international collaboration. In particular, the
government focuses technology transfer and partnerships on Asia, partly
owing to the rising demands for energy from its neighbours.
192
Japan is an active member in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean

Development and Climate (APP). This programme aims to promote
regional co-operation for the development, dissemination and transfer
of clean and efficient energy technologies. Japan, the United States,
Australia, Canada, South Korea, China and India are members. Eight
sectors are currently targeted, including power generation and steel and
cement production.
Japan has also been conducting international model projects for increasing
the efficient use of energy. Through these projects, highly energy-efficient
technologies already commercialised in Japan are to be demonstrated
and disseminated in developing countries. The technologies to be
disseminated are used mainly in energy-intensive industry, including coke
dry quenching (CDQ) equipment and top-pressure recovery turbines (TRT)
in the iron and steel sector and power generation systems using waste
heat in cement production. Depending on the results of demonstrations
of the effectiveness of technologies introduced through model projects,
Japanese technical experts are dispatched to relevant firms for
seminars, offering education and technical training. By the end of 2007,
38 projects had been conducted in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Myanmar, Malaysia, India and Kazakhstan, contributing to technology
transfer. For example, the CDQ model project was implemented in a
Chinese steel facility, creating the necessary first step to disseminate the
CDQ technology throughout China.
Japan supports capacity building of Asian countries in the energy
efficiency and conservation field by dispatching experts and accepting
trainees. Experts from Japan provide guidance on energy management
systems to factories through on-the-job training, or provide advice and
information on legal systems (such as energy conservation law) to
countries that are in the process of laying the framework for promoting
energy efficiency and conservation. In the training courses, trainees
learn about Japans efforts and experiences on energy efficiency and
conservation in the public and private sectors, and visit energy-efficient
facilities. Between 2004 and January 2007, Japan had dispatched
303 experts overseas and had accepted 820 trainees from overseas. At
the second East Asia Summit held in January 2007, Japan committed to
dispatching 500 experts and accepting 1 000 trainees from East Asian
countries over the next five years.
193
Cool Earth 50s Innovative Energy Technology Programme

To fulfil the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC, Japan is working to create
a globally shared long-term vision, such as to halve global greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050, as proposed in its Cool Earth 50 initiative. At the
World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2008, Japan advocated that
technological innovation will be a necessary element to achieve this reduction
by 2050. In this light, the government will focus its R&D investment on
the environmental and energy sectors. At the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm
in 2007, leaders agreed that technology is a key to addressing climate
change and ensuring energy security. Various international meetings such
as APEC and the Major Economics Meeting on Energy Security and Climate
Change (MEM) confirm the need for technology to address climate change.
Given the importance of innovative technology, Japan formulated the
Innovative Energy Technology Programme under the Cool Earth 50 initiative,
selecting 21 key innovative technologies (see Figure 44) that aim to:
Identify innovative energy technologies to be given high priority.
Formulate technology road-maps for these high-priority areas, which will

provide R&D direction and set milestones of performance with a time line
towards achieving the long-term goal by 2050.
Strengthen international co-operation to accelerate innovative technology

R&D, including through existing international frameworks such as
FutureGen; the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and APP
on clean coal; GNEP and GIF on nuclear; IPHE on fuel cells; and IEA
implementing agreements generally.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
The government seeks to ensure that the responsible authorities and the
private sector engage consistently in R&D over the long term by setting
the direction for future technological progress from a long-term perspective.
As part of this effort, in April 2007 the government announced an energy
technology strategy, which is a road-map for technologies to be realised by
2030.
Figure 45 provides an example of NEDOs changing level of support for
the development of energy conservation technologies. The support level
starts at 100% for early-stage leading research, steadily declining to
half for demonstration research and finally to one-third for dissemination
activities.
194
Figure 44
Key Innovative Technologies towards Cool Earth 50
Supply side
Efficiency improvement
Power generation
and transmission
Industry
Low carbonisation
3. Carbon capture
and storage (CCS)
6. High-efficiency superconducting
power transmission
1. High-efficiency natural
gas-fired power generation
8. Fuel cell
vehicles
7. Intelligent
transport systems
Transportation
Demand side
2. High-efficiency coal-fired
power generation
17. High-efficiency information

devices and systems
20. Power
electronics
10. Production of
transport biofuels
12. Innovative steelmaking processes
14. Next-generation
high-efficiency lighting
Commercial 13. High-efficiency

housing and buildings
Cross-cutting
19. High-performance
power storage
4. Innovative photovoltaic
power generation
9. Plug-in hybrid vehicles

/electric vehicles
11. Innovative materials, production/processing
16. Ultra high-efficiency

heat pumps
5. Advanced nuclear
power generation
15. Stationary fuel

cells
18. Energy management systems

(HEMS/BEMS/local-level EMS)
21. Hydrogen production,

transport and storage
3. CCS
(repeated)
Figure 45
Marketability
Example of NEDO Funding Support Levels for the Development

of Energy Conservation Technologies
Development
of energy
conservation
technology
Commercialisation
Data acquisition and economic
assessment by constructing
facilities designed on the
assumption that the technology
will be commercialised.
(NEDOs support: 50%)
Research and development

of innovative and prospective
energy conservation base
technologies.
ing
d
ea
io
at
str ch
n
r
o
m ea
De res
or
tf n
en atio
m is
lop ial
ve erc
De mm
co
Promote awareness and

dissemination of energy conservation
equipment for technology that has
already been developed.
rch
ea
s
re
t
jec
ro se
t p nt u
r
o e y
pp ici rg
Su r eff ene
fo of
Development to commercialise energy conservation

technology where main expertise and know-how are
already held by private companies; technical
seeds have also been found in basic leading research.
Development steps
Source: NEDO.
195
ROAD-MAPPING AND STRATEGIC ORGANISATION

The government places a high priority on road-mapping in energy R&D,
which seeks to lay out a general path for R&D projects, establishing key
objectives, setting milestones and clarifying the technological challenges that
must be overcome. Road-maps are created for individual projects, as well as
general programme areas, which often look to technology objectives in 2030
or beyond. By making road-mapping an important part of all energy R&D
funding, the government seeks to:
Establish the basis for effective government R&D management.
Ensure a successful PDCA (plan, do, check, act) cycle.
Serve as a communication tool for those who are engaged in R&D.
Share the long-term technology perspective with the private sector.
Contribute to accountability.
Road-mapping is conducted and confirmed by the Research and Development
Subcommittee of the Industrial Structure Council (an advisory body to the
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry). The members of the subcommittee
include experts, industrial representatives and other stakeholders.
In addition to road-mapping particular technology projects, the government
has also set out a policy map for its entire energy R&D portfolio. A schematic
of this map is laid out in Figure 46.
Figure 46
Energy R&D Technology Map
Secure fossil fuel
supply and its
efficient/clean use
Improve energy
efficiency
Heat pumps
High-efficiency lighting
Building and
home energy
management
systems (BEMS) &
home energy
management
systems (HEMS)
Promote safe
nuclear power
generation
Light-water
reactors (LWR)
LWR cycle
Housing &
building
Efficient manufacturing
process
Co-production
Power
electronics
Power storage
Fast breeder
reactors (FBR)
Radioactive
waste
disposal
Integrated
oil refinery
Co-generation
Energy
management
Distributed energy
management
196
Diverse energy sources

for transport sector
Efficient engine
Gas to liquids
(GTL)
EV
Biofuels
Wasted biomass use

Wind power
generation
Coal-fired power plant

Carbon
(IGCC/IGFC)
capture and
ITS
storage
(CCS)
Fuel cells
PV power generation
network system control
Introduce
new energy
Unconventional
resource use (oil
sand, etc.)
Hydrogen
Coal to
liquids
(CTL)
Heavy oil use
CRITIQUE
Japans steady and strong commitment to energy R&D benefits not only
Japan, but the global energy sector; the government should be recognised for
steadily devoting significant resources to the endeavour. We are also pleased
to see that the government is providing R&D funding to a wide variety of
technological areas, while still focusing abundant resources on a few key
priority areas. Most importantly, we praise Japans leadership in the global
arena in advancing energy R&D and technology transfer to the developing
world and collaboration generally particularly in Asia and on environment
and efficiency research areas. The country is well-placed with respect to
geography, the political environment and its own strong domestic efforts and
success to continue this global leadership, an activity we strongly encourage.
Such activities will help spur improvements in global energy efficiency, a key
to enhancing energy security internationally and in Japan in particular.
In general, Japans energy R&D funding appears to be linked to its overall
energy policy goals. Environment and efficiency goals rate highly in Japans
energy policy and these areas receive significant government R&D funding.
Furthermore, the broad-scale mapping exercise explicitly links the governments
policy objectives with its R&D priorities. We encourage the government to
expand on this work, in part by creating a longer-term road-map for energy
R&D priorities. The R&D funding actors have already established long-term
road-mapping as an important part of each project; the government can
build on this work to expand it to its overall funding portfolio. This would
help improve the overall effectiveness of government funding. Furthermore,
a formalised process for allocating funds could both lower the overall cost of
R&D administration, and ensure that funding is allocated in a transparent,
independent and co-ordinated manner.
Stability of R&D funding underpins its effectiveness. Thus, the government
should ensure that the term of R&D investment is well matched to the type
of research, in some cases providing long-term funding for research projects or
to research fields where results are likely to be attained only after many years.
This gives researchers the freedom to undertake the necessary investigations,
and avoids stop-start funding that negatively impacts outcomes. The
government should ensure appropriate funding stability for R&D research,
limiting short-term funding as much as possible.
R&D into new, alternative energy sources is critical to long-term security of
supply and achieving long-term energy policy goals. Japan has maintained
its commitment to this area, particularly through its support of research
technologies in the early stages of R&D.
In addition, the government continues to undertake valuable R&D in the area
of clean coal technologies and has a number of demonstration projects under
way that have the potential to deliver efficient, low-emission coal generation
197
technology. In order to reduce global CO2 emissions, we believe it is essential

to develop cleaner technologies for coal and praise the government for its
research efforts. It should continue to pursue these efforts, including through
timely completion of the commercial demonstration phases of the IGCC and
IGFC power generation technologies.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue to play a leading role in advancing and promoting international

energy R&D collaboration, both in Asia and more widely.
Develop a more integrated, comprehensive and transparent energy R&D

policy framework by:
Explicitly linking national energy policy goals with energy R&D priorities
through a transparent and long-term strategic research funding roadmap.
Ensuring that funding is allocated according to a formalised and
streamlined process, developing a standard and transparent protocol
where funding for and tendering of research proposals are linked to the
R&D priorities.
Continue to support the development of alternative energy sources.
Continue to pursue the development of clean coal technologies, such as

through timely completion of the commercial demonstration phases of the
IGCC and IGFC power generation technologies.
198
PART IV
ANNEXES
ANNEX
ORGANISATION OF THE REVIEW
REVIEW TEAM
The 2008 IEA in-depth review of the energy policies of Japan was undertaken
by a team of energy policy specialists drawn from IEA member countries, the
Nuclear Energy Agency and the IEA Secretariat. The team visited Tokyo and
the Kimitsu Works of the Nippon Steel Corporation from 3 to 7 September
2007 for discussions with energy administration officials, regulators, energy
industry groups and non-governmental organisations. This report was drafted
on the basis of those meetings and the governments official response to
the IEA policy questionnaire, along with other information. The team greatly
appreciates the candour and co-operation shown by everyone it met. In
particular, the review could not have been possible without the assistance and
preparation of Mr. Kiyoshi Mori and Mr. Shinichi Yasuda from the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry.
The members of the team were:
Graham White
Department for Business, Enterprise
and Regulatory Reform
UK (Team leader)
anna Conghaile
Department of Communications,
Energy and Natural Resources
Ireland
Per Hgstrm
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and
Communications
Sweden
Tim McIntosh
Natural Resources Canada
Canada
Annemieke Schouten
Ministry of Economic Affairs
The Netherlands
Stan Gordelier
Nuclear Energy Agency
OECD
Nigel Jollands
International Energy Agency
OECD
Ulrik Stridbaek
OECD
Jolanka Fisher
OECD (Desk officer)
Nils Anders Nordlien

Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Norway
201
Jolanka Fisher managed the review and wrote the report, with the exception
of the section on energy efficiency in Chapter 3, which was drafted by
Nigel Jollands from the IEAs Energy and Environment Division, Chapter 6
on electricity, which was drafted by Ulrik Stridbaek from the IEAs Energy
Diversification Division and Chapter 8 on nuclear energy, which was drafted
by Stan Gordelier from the OECDs Nuclear Energy Agency. Monica Petit
prepared the figures and Bertrand Sadin prepared the maps. Sandra Martin
and Viviane Consoli provided editorial assistance.
ORGANISATIONS VISITED:
The team held discussions with the following energy and environment
stakeholders:
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI)
Electric Power System Council of Japan (ESCJ)
Ennet Corporation
Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC)
Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)
Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX)
Japan Electrical Manufacturers Association (JEMA)
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
Japan Gas Association
Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF)
Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT)
Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
202
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO)
Nippon Association of Consumer Specialists (NACS)
Nippon Keidanren
Nippon Steel Corporation
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
Petroleum Association of Japan
Wind Power Developers Association
REVIEW CRITERIA
The IEA Shared Goals, which were adopted by IEA Ministers at their 4 June
1993 meeting in Paris, provide the evaluation criteria for the in-depth reviews
conducted by the IEA. The Shared Goals are set out in Annex C.
203
ANNEX
ENERGY BALANCES AND KEY STATISTICAL DATA
Unit: Mtoe
SUPPLY
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Comb. Renewables & Waste1
Nuclear
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar/Other
TOTAL NET IMPORTS
Coal
Exports
Imports
Net Imports
Oil
Exports
Imports
Bunkers
Net Imports
Natural Gas Exports
Imports
Net Imports
Electricity
Exports
Imports
Net Imports
TOTAL STOCK CHANGES
TOTAL SUPPLY (TPES)
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity Trade2
Shares (%)
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Comb. Renewables & Waste
Nuclear
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity Trade
1973
1990
2005
2006
2010
2020
2030
29.5
17.9
0.8
2.3
2.5
5.7
0.2
75.2
4.5
0.7
1.9
5.0
52.7
7.7
1.6
1.2
99.9
0.8
2.9
6.5
79.4
6.6
0.2
3.0
0.6
101.1
0.7
3.2
7.1
79.1
7.4
0.2
2.8
0.6
134.8
..
21.9
100.9
9.1
..
2.9
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
148.9
..
24.6
112.5
8.9
..
2.9
..
299.1
0.4
41.3
40.9
3.1
276.2
17.7
255.4
2.8
2.8
372.1
1.4
73.9
72.6
3.7
266.4
5.5
257.2
42.3
42.3
430.9
1.2
112.6
111.4
9.0
266.9
6.2
251.7
67.8
67.8
425.3
1.4
113.4
112.0
10.1
255.0
5.8
239.1
74.2
74.2
401.1
..
93.4
93.4
..
237.8
4.6
233.2
74.5
74.5
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
434.6
..
97.8
97.8
..
241.4
4.7
236.7
100.2
100.2
6.5
3.5
2.4
1.2
..
322.1
57.9
250.7
5.1
2.5
5.7
0.2
443.8
77.2
254.3
44.2
5.0
52.7
7.7
1.6
1.2
528.4
111.0
250.5
70.6
6.5
79.4
6.6
0.2
3.0
0.6
527.6
112.4
240.6
77.4
7.1
79.1
7.4
0.2
2.8
0.6
535.9
93.4
233.2
74.5
21.9
100.9
9.1
..
2.9
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
583.5
97.8
236.7
100.2
24.6
112.5
8.9
..
2.9
..
18.0
77.8
1.6
0.8
1.8
0.1
17.4
57.3
10.0
1.1
11.9
1.7
0.4
0.3
21.0
47.4
13.4
1.2
15.0
1.2
0.6
0.1
21.3
45.6
14.7
1.3
15.0
1.4
0.5
0.1
17.4
43.5
13.9
4.1
18.8
1.7
..
0.5
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
16.8
40.6
17.2
4.2
19.3
1.5
..
0.5
..
0 is negligible, is nil, .. is not available.

Please note: Only partial information is available for 2010 and 2030. Forecast data for combustible renewables &
waste include solar, wind, etc. Forecasts are based on the 2005 submission.
205
Unit: Mtoe
DEMAND
FINAL CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR
1973
1990
2005
2006
2010
2020
2030
235.7
20.2
172.8
7.0
35.7
0.0
305.3
33.3
188.2
15.2
2.6
0.1
1.2
64.5
0.2
353.8
29.7
207.4
28.7
2.6
0.2
0.6
84.0
0.6
351.8
31.1
201.1
31.2
2.7
0.2
0.6
84.4
0.6
376.9
39.8
209.4
28.7
10.4
0.1
..
87.1
1.4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
400.6
38.0
208.6
38.4
8.7
0.1
..
105.1
1.6
Shares (%)
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
8.6
73.3
3.0
15.1
10.9
61.7
5.0
0.9
0.4
21.1
0.1
8.4
58.6
8.1
0.7
0.1
0.2
23.7
0.2
8.8
57.2
8.9
0.8
0.1
0.2
24.0
0.2
10.6
55.6
7.6
2.8
..
23.1
0.4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
9.5
52.1
9.6
2.2
..
26.2
0.4
TOTAL INDUSTRY3
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
141.8
18.2
96.4
2.1
25.1
138.1
32.3
70.3
4.0
2.5
29.0
138.6
29.1
72.2
7.0
2.6
27.8
-
140.3
30.4
71.9
7.7
2.6
27.6
-
180.5
..
..
..
..
..
-
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
179.7
..
..
..
..
..
-
Shares (%)
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
12.9
68.0
1.5
17.7
-
23.4
50.9
2.9
1.8
21.0
-
21.0
52.1
5.1
1.8
20.0
-
21.7
51.3
5.5
1.9
19.7
-
..
..
..
..
..
-
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
-
TRANSPORT
42.5
76.2
92.5
91.1
89.5
..
93.4
TOTAL OTHER SECTORS4

Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
51.5
1.8
35.2
5.0
9.5
0.0
90.9
1.0
43.2
11.2
0.1
0.1
1.2
34.0
0.2
122.7
0.6
44.4
21.7
0.0
0.2
0.6
54.6
0.6
120.4
0.6
39.7
23.5
0.0
0.2
0.6
55.1
0.6
107.0
..
..
..
..
0.1
..
..
1.4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
127.5
..
..
..
..
0.1
..
..
1.6
Shares (%)
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
3.4
68.5
9.6
18.5
0.1
1.1
47.5
12.4
0.1
0.1
1.3
37.4
0.2
0.5
36.2
17.7
0.2
0.5
44.5
0.5
0.5
33.0
19.6
0.2
0.5
45.8
0.5
..
..
..
..
0.1
..
..
1.3
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
0.1
..
..
1.3
TFC
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Electricity
Heat
206
Unit: Mtoe
DEMAND
ENERGY TRANSFORMATION AND LOSSES
1973
1990
2005
2006
2010
2020
2030
INPUT (Mtoe)
OUTPUT (Mtoe)
(TWh gross)
93.1
40.0
465.4
173.6
71.9
835.5
226.6
93.6
1088.4
226.4
93.8
1090.5
242.5
96.1
1116.9
..
..
..
283.8
115.1
1337.9
Output Shares (%)

Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar/Other
8.0
73.2
2.3
2.1
14.3
0.1
14.0
29.7
20.0
1.3
24.2
10.7
0.2
27.9
12.6
22.2
1.8
28.0
7.0
0.2
0.3
27.4
11.1
23.3
2.1
27.8
7.9
0.2
0.3
18.3
9.3
23.3
4.6
34.7
9.5
..
0.3
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
18.2
8.6
28.8
4.1
32.3
7.8
..
0.2
..
TOTAL LOSSES
of which:
Electricity and Heat Generation6
Other Transformation
Own Use and Losses7
92.0
139.3
176.3
175.0
159.0
..
182.8
53.0
19.6
19.3
101.6
17.1
20.6
132.5
21.5
22.3
132.1
20.6
22.3
145.0
5.1
8.9
..
..
..
167.2
5.8
9.9
Statistical Differences
5.6
0.8
1.7
0.7
..
1990
2005
2006
2010
2020
2030
INDICATORS
1973
GDP (billion 2000 USD)
Population (millions)
TPES/GDP8
Energy Production/TPES
Per Capita TPES9
Oil Supply/GDP8
TFC/GDP8
Per Capita TFC9
Energyrelated CO2
Emissions (Mt CO2)10
CO2 Emissions from Bunkers (Mt CO2)
2219.40
108.67
0.15
0.09
2.96
0.11
0.11
2.17
4122.40 4978.30
123.48
127.77
0.11
0.11
0.17
0.19
3.59
4.14
0.06
0.05
0.07
0.07
2.47
2.77
5087.10 5506.44
127.76
127.47
0.10
0.10
0.19
0.25
4.13
4.20
0.05
0.04
0.07
0.07
2.75
2.96
.. 7343.20
..
117.58
..
0.08
..
0.26
..
4.96
..
0.03
..
0.06
..
3.41
907.6
61.5
1071.4
31.0
1227.7
41.2
1212.7
38.5
1105.8
36.3
..
..
7379
7990
9005
0506
0610
1030
1.6
2.0
0.5
24.2
39.1
3.2
22.3
2.1
3.8
0.1
8.2
10.1
0.9
6.7
1.2
2.5
0.1
3.2
1.8
2.8
1.0
4.4
4.7
0.2
1.2
4.0
9.7
8.7
0.4
12.2
4.7
0.4
4.5
0.8
0.9
32.5
6.3
5.5
..
0.0
..
0.4
0.2
0.1
1.5
0.6
0.5
0.1
TFC
0.9
1.9
1.0
-0.6
1.7
0.3
Electricity Consumption
Energy Production
Net Oil Imports
GDP
Growth in the TPES/GDP Ratio
Growth in the TFC/GDP Ratio
3.9
4.9
0.5
3.5
-1.8
-2.5
3.3
6.1
-0.2
3.8
-1.7
-1.9
1.8
1.9
-0.1
1.3
-0.1
-0.3
0.4
1.2
-5.0
2.2
-1.9
-2.8
0.8
7.5
-0.6
2.0
-1.7
-0.4
0.9
0.5
0.1
1.4
-1.0
-1.1
1191.2
43.7
GROWTH RATES (% per year)

TPES
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Hydro
Wind
Geothermal
Solar/Other
Please note: Rounding may cause totals to differ from the sum of the elements.
207
FOOTNOTES TO ENERGY BALANCES

AND KEY STATISTICAL DATA
1. Combustible renewables and waste comprises solid biomass, biogas,
industrial waste and municipal waste. Data are often based on partial
surveys and may not be comparable between countries.
2. Total supply of electricity represents net trade. A negative number in the
share of TPES indicates that exports are greater than imports.
3. Industry includes non-energy use.
4. Other sectors includes residential, commercial, public services,
agriculture, fishing and other non-specified sectors.
5. Inputs to electricity generation include inputs to electricity, CHP and
heat plants. Output refers only to electricity generation.
6. Losses arising in the production of electricity and heat at main activity
producer utilities and autoproducers. For non-fossil-fuel electricity
generation, theoretical losses are shown based on plant efficiencies
of approximately 33% for nuclear, 10% for geothermal and 100% for
hydro and photovoltaic.
7.
Data on losses for forecast years often include large statistical

differences covering differences between expected supply and demand
and mostly do not reflect real expectations on transformation gains and
losses.
8. Toe per thousand US dollars at 2000 prices and exchange rates.

9. Toe per person.
10. Energy-related CO2 emissions have been estimated using the IPCC Tier I
Sectoral Approach. In accordance with the IPCC methodology, emissions
from international marine and aviation bunkers are not included in
national totals. Projected emissions for oil and gas are derived by
calculating the ratio of emissions to energy use for 2005 and applying
this factor to forecast energy supply. Future coal emissions are based on
product-specific supply projections and are calculated using the IPCC/
OECD emission factors and methodology.
208
ANNEX
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY SHARED GOALS

The 27 member countries* of the International Energy Agency (IEA) seek to
create the conditions in which the energy sectors of their economies can make
the fullest possible contribution to sustainable economic development and
the well-being of their people and of the environment. In formulating energy
policies, the establishment of free and open markets is a fundamental point
of departure, though energy security and environmental protection need to
be given particular emphasis by governments. IEA countries recognise the
significance of increasing global interdependence in energy. They therefore
seek to promote the effective operation of international energy markets and
encourage dialogue with all participants.
In order to secure their objectives they therefore aim to create a policy
framework consistent with the following goals:
1. Diversity, efficiency and flexibility
within the energy sector are basic
conditions for longer-term energy
security: the fuels used within and
across sectors and the sources of those
fuels should be as diverse as practicable.
Non-fossil fuels, particularly nuclear
and hydropower, make a substantial
contribution to the energy supply
diversity of IEA countries as a group.
2. Energy systems should have the
ability to respond promptly and
flexibly to energy emergencies. In
some cases this requires collective
mechanisms and action: IEA countries
co-operate through the Agency
in responding jointly to oil supply
emergencies.
*
3. The environmentally sustainable

provision and use of energy is central
to the achievement of these shared
goals. Decision-makers should seek to
minimise the adverse environmental
impacts of energy activities, just as
environmental decisions should take
account of the energy consequences.
Government interventions should
where practicable have regard to the
polluter pays principle.
4. More environmentally acceptable
energy sources need to be encouraged
and developed. Clean and efficient
use of fossil fuels is essential. The
development of economic non-fossil
sources is also a priority. A number of
IEA members wish to retain and improve
The 27 member countries of the IEA are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, the Slovak Republic (since November
2007), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
209
the nuclear option for the future, at

the highest available safety standards,
because nuclear energy does not emit
carbon dioxide. Renewable sources will
also have an increasingly important
contribution to make.
5. Improved energy efficiency
can promote both environmental
protection and energy security in a costeffective manner. There are significant
opportunities for greater energy
efficiency at all stages of the energy
cycle from production to consumption.
Strong efforts by governments and
all energy users are needed to realise
these opportunities.
6. Continued research, development
and market deployment of new and
improved energy technologies make
a critical contribution to achieving
the objectives outlined above. Energy
technology policies should complement
broader energy policies. International
co-operation in the development and
dissemination of energy technologies,
including industry participation and
co-operation with non-member countries,
should be encouraged.
210
7. Undistorted energy prices enable

markets to work efficiently. Energy prices
should not be held artificially below
the costs of supply to promote social or
industrial goals. To the extent necessary
and practicable, the environmental costs
of energy production and use should be
reflected in prices.
8. Free and open trade and a secure
framework for investment contribute
to efficient energy markets and energy
security. Distortions to energy trade
and investment should be avoided.
Co-operation among all energy
market participants helps to improve
information and understanding, and
encourage the development of efficient,
environmentally acceptable and
flexible energy systems and markets
worldwide. These are needed to help
promote the investment, trade and
confidence necessary to achieve global
energy security and environmental
objectives.
(The Shared Goals were adopted by
IEA Ministers at their 4 June 1993
meeting in Paris.)
ANNEX
GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

In this report, abbreviations and acronyms are substituted for a number
of terms used within the International Energy Agency. While these terms
generally have been written out on first mention in each chapter, this glossary
provides a quick and central reference for many of the abbreviations used.
AAU
assigned amount unit (under the Kyoto Protocol)
ABWR
advanced boiling water reactor
AIST
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
ANRE
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
APEC
Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation
APP
Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
ASEAN
Association of South-East Asian Nations
bcm
billion cubic metres
BEMS
business energy management system
BOG
boil-off gas
BTL
biomass to liquids
BWR
boiling water reactor
CASBEE comprehensive assessment system for building environmental

efficiency
CCGT
combined-cycle gas turbine
CCS
carbon capture and storage
CDM
clean development mechanism (a flexibility mechanism under the

Kyoto Protocol)
CDQ
coke dry quenching
CER
certified emissions reduction (under the clean development

mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol)
211
CHP
combined production of heat and power; sometimes when referring

to industrial CHP, the term co-generation is used
CNG
compressed natural gas
CO2
carbon dioxide
CSLF
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
CTL
coal-to-liquids
EAS
East Asia Summit
ECCJ
Energy Conservation Centre, Japan
E&P
exploration and production
ERU
emissions reduction unit (under joint implementation of the Kyoto

Protocol)
ESCJ
Electric Power System Council of Japan
ESCO
energy service company
EU
European Union
EU-ETS
European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
EUR
euro (); EUR 1 = JPY 161 = USD 1.37 (average exchange rate in
2007)
FaCT
Fast Reactor Cycle Technology Development
FBR
fast-breeder reactor
FEPC
Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan
FY
fiscal year
G8
Group of Eight, an international forum for the governments of

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom
and the United States
GCV
gross calorific value
GDP
gross domestic product
GHG
greenhouse gas
GIF
Generation IV International Forum
GJ
gigajoule, or 1 joule 109
212
GNEP
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
GTL
gas-to-liquids
GW
gigawatt, or 1 watt 109
GWe
gigawatt of electric capacity
GWh
gigawatt-hour = 1 gigawatt 1 hour
HEMS
home energy management system
HTTR
high-temperature test reactor
Hz
hertz
IEA
IEEJ
Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
IGCC
integrated gasification combined cycle
IGFC
integrated gasification fuel cell
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPHE
International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy
IPP
independent power producer
ITER
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
JAEA
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
JANTI
Japan Nuclear Technology Institute
JEPX
Japan Electric Power Exchange
JFTC
Japan Fair Trade Commission
JI
joint implementation (a flexibility mechanism under the Kyoto

Protocol)
JNC
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Development Institute
JNES
Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organisation
JNOC
Japan National Oil Corporation
JOGMEC Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation

JPY
Japanese yen (); JPY 1 = USD 0.0085 = EUR 0.0062 (average

exchange rate in 2007)
213
kcal
kilocalorie, or 1 calorie 103, equivalent to 10-7 toe
kg
kilogramme, or 1 gramme 103
kJ
kilojoule
kl
kilolitre, or 1 litre 103
km
kilometre, or 1 metre 103
km2
square kilometre
kmt
thousand metric tonnes
ktoe
thousand tonnes of oil equivalent; see toe
kV
kilovolt
kWh
kilowatt-hour = 1 kilowatt one hour = 1 watt 103 one hour
litre
LCD
liquid crystal display
LDP
Liberal Democratic Party
LNG
liquefied natural gas
LPG
liquefied petroleum gas
LWR
light-water reactor
m2
square metre
m3
cubic metre
MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
mcm
million cubic metres
MEM
Major Economics Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change
METI
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
MEXT
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
MHLW
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Mkl
million kilolitres (1.172 Mkl is equivalent to approximately 1 Mtoe

on an energy basis)
MLIT
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
214
MOE
Ministry of the Environment
MOFA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOX
mixed oxide
Mt
million tonnes
MtC
million tonnes of carbon
Mt CO2
million tonnes of carbon dioxide
Mt CO2-eq million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Mtoe
million tonnes of oil equivalent; see toe
Mtpa
million tonnes per annum
MW
megawatt, or 1 watt 106
MWe
megawatt of electric capacity
MWh
megawatt-hour = 1 megawatt one hour
MWth
megawatt of thermal capacity
NEDO
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation
NEF
New Energy Foundation
NISA
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
NOx
nitrous oxides
NUCIA
Nuclear Information Archives
NUMO
Nuclear Waste Management Organisation of Japan
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OPEC
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
PPS
power producers and suppliers
PV
photovoltaic
PWR
pressurised water reactor
R&D
research and development, especially in energy technology; may

include the demonstration and dissemination phases as well
RPS
renewable portfolio standard
215
SME
small and medium-sized enterprise
SO2
sulphur dioxide
tonne
t/a
tonnes per annum
TFC
total final consumption of energy
toe
tonne of oil equivalent, defined as 107 kcal
TPA
third-party access
TPES
total primary energy supply
TWh
terawatt-hour = 1 terawatt 1 hour = 1 watt 1012 1 hour
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

USD
United States dollar ($); USD 1 = JPY 118 = EUR 0.73 (average
exchange rate in 2007)
VIU
vertically integrated utility
216
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L E N E R G Y A G E N C Y

Declaring climate change and environment as a top priority of the 2008 G8

(61 2008 18 1 P1) 75

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

n To operate a permanent information system on the international oil market.

n To promote international collaboration on energy technology.

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Please note that this publication is subject to specic

PART I: POLICY ANALYSIS

GENERAL ENERGY POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART II: SECTOR ANALYSIS

PART III: ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

R&D Programmes and Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART IV: ANNEXES

ORGANISATION OF THE REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ENERGY BALANCES AND KEY STATISTICAL DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . .

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY SHARED GOALS . . . . . . . . . .

GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of Figures, Tables and Boxes

11. Schematic of Process for Setting and Evaluating Top Runner

Supply-Demand Balance, 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

COMPLEMENTING EXISTING VOLUNTARY MEASURES

FURTHER ENHANCING MARKET SIGNALS

would also create a framework for competition to develop, giving confidence

BETTER INTEGRATING INTERNAL ENERGY MARKETS

Maintain the countrys global prominence in energy technology development

Complement existing energy and environmental policies with stronger

Enhance the role of market signals in the economy, in part by strengthening

Continue to work to create more integrated gas and electricity markets,

GENERAL ENERGY POLICY

On average in 2007, JPY 118 = USD 1 = EUR 0.73.

Japan Nippon phonetically in Japanese is a constitutional monarchy

Other final consumption5

Total final consumption

Electricity and heat production3

Imports (net of exports)

Total primary energy supply

Supply-Demand Balance, 2006

The share of consumption in the industrial sector has declined dramatically

ENERGY FORECASTS AND SCENARIOS

Residential and commercial

Domestic primary energy supply

Total final consumption

Additional countermeasures scenario

Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010

New energy, etc.

New energy, etc.2

Additional countermeasures scenario

Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010 (continued)

Additional countermeasures scenario

Energy conversion sector

Residential and commercial

Energy-related CO2 emissions

Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2010 (continued)

New energy, etc. 1

Total final consumption

Supply-Demand Outlook Scenarios, 1990 to 2030