As Japan gets ready to work on its 7th Strategic Energy Plan, 216 members of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) have called on the government to set an ambitious 2035 target that's consistent with the climate goals agreed under the Paris Agreement.
Their main demand is for Japan to reduce its GHG emissions by 66% or more in 2035, which the JCI argues can be achieved by fully or predominantly decarbonizing its electricity sector by 2035 with the help of renewable energy. As of now, the GHG reduction target is 46%.
Accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and clarifying the phase-out of coal-fired power generation by 2035 must be incorporated in the upcoming plan, according to the JCI's letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other ministers.
The letter is endorsed by 153 companies, 5 local governments, 6 universities and research institutes, 52 organizations and NGOs, etc.
According to Japan's current targets under the 6th Strategic Energy Plan, the country aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and renewables to account for 36% to 38% of power supplies in 2030, up from its previous target of 22% to 24%.
JCI had been demanding an increase the share of renewable energy to 40% to 50% for 2030 back then (see Japanese Businesses Push For Higher 2030 RE Target).
The letter cites various scientific estimates that claim Japan's potential to triple its installed renewable energy capacity and increase the proportion of renewable energy in electricity to 65% to 80% by 2035.
"In order for Japan to reduce GHGs by 66% or more compared to 2013 levels by 2035, Japan must achieve its international commitment as a G7 member to fully or predominantly decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035. To this end, it is essential in the 7th Strategic Energy Plan to clarify the phase-out of coal-fired power generation by 2035, as well as to maximize the improvement of energy efficiency and the introduction of renewable energy," reads the letter.
It adds that for Japan to fulfill its international commitments, the government must urgently create a foundation for the ultimate improvement in energy efficiency in buildings and product development by making full use of already available technologies as well as the 'acceleration of the renewable energy deployment centered on solar and wind.'
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Japan's total installed renewable energy capacity at the end of 2023 was over 127 GW, with the share of solar PV being 87 GW. By 2030, it is reportedly targeting a cumulative 108 GW PV capacity.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BloombergNEF) analysts believe Japan can host a combined 689 GW of wind and solar power capacity by 2050. Both these technologies can account for 79% of the national power mix under the net-zero scenario (see RE Can Enable Japan Achieve Net Zero By 2050).
Japanese solar consultancy RTS Corporation's October 2023 report saw the country's potential to expand its annual PV installed capacity from 7 GW DC to 15.2 GW DC in FY 2030. As grid constraints ease and storage technologies flourish, and farmland use expands post 2030, it estimates annual installations to further go up to 23.5 GW DC, reaching a cumulative 279 GW DC by FY 2035.