Wiktor Wise
Japan has long been a major consumer and importer of energy, with its rapid industrial growth since World War II doubling the nation's energy consumption every five years into the 1990s. In 2024, Japan's electricity consumption primarily relied on fossil fuels, which accounted for almost 69% of the total, with gas and coal each contributing just under a third. The remainder of Japan's electricity mix is sourced from clean energy, including solar power, hydropower, biofuels, and wind power. Japan has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and the share of renewables in Japan's total electricity generation in 2023 was 25.7%.
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What You'll Learn
Japan's electricity consumption
Japan has long been a major consumer and importer of energy. In 2024, Japan's electricity consumption primarily relied on fossil fuels, which accounted for almost 69% of the total, with gas and coal each contributing just under a third. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels is due to Japan's scarce domestic resources, with the country importing 97% of its oil and being the largest liquefied natural gas importer globally as of 2022.
The country's rapid industrial growth since World War II doubled its energy consumption every five years into the 1990s. In 2001, oil contributed 50.2% of the total energy supply, with rises also seen in the use of nuclear power and natural gas. However, following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Japan's nuclear strategy underwent re-evaluation, and the country has since been increasing its reliance on renewable energy.
In 2023, the share of renewables in Japan's total electricity generation was 25.7%, with solar power generation reaching 11.2%. Japan has the third-largest solar installed capacity, with about 50 GW as of 2017. The country also has the second-largest pumped-hydro storage installed capacity in the world. Japan is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, with a target to reduce GHG emissions by 46% from 2013 levels by 2030.
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Nuclear energy's fluctuating contribution
Japan has long been a major consumer and importer of energy. The country's rapid industrial growth since the end of World War II doubled its energy consumption every five years into the 1990s. Nuclear energy's contribution to electricity generation has been inconsistent, dropping to zero in 2014 following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, which caused public confidence in nuclear power to plummet. Prior to the accident, nuclear reactors contributed about 30% of Japan's electricity.
In the years following the Fukushima disaster, Japan's nuclear capacity gradually recovered, climbing to 6.5% by 2019. However, it then fell to 4.3% in 2020, rose slightly to 5.9% in 2021, and decreased again to 4.8% in 2022. Japan's nuclear infrastructure has the potential to expand, with the country aiming for nuclear energy to account for at least 20% of its electricity production by 2030.
The fluctuations in nuclear energy's contribution to Japan's electricity generation can be attributed to several factors, including the public's increasing opposition to nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster, the subsequent closure of most of the country's nuclear power stations, and the country's efforts to diversify its energy resources and increase energy security. Additionally, the early 2000s witnessed unexpected downturns in nuclear output, with drastic reductions that hindered progress.
Japan's electricity production is characterized by a diverse energy mix, including nuclear, fossil fuels, renewable energy, and hydroelectric power. The country has been increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, with solar power making significant contributions. Japan has the third-largest solar installed capacity in the world, and the share of renewables in Japan's total electricity generation has been steadily increasing, reaching 25.7% in 2023. Geothermal energy has also been gaining traction, with the Japanese energy crisis spurring the development of geothermal projects.
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The Fukushima disaster's impact
The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is the second-worst nuclear accident in history, after Chernobyl. An earthquake and tsunami led to a power outage at the plant, causing the cooling systems in three reactors to fail. This resulted in the partial meltdown of fuel rods, a fire in the storage reactor, explosions in the outer containment buildings, and the release of radiation into the surrounding environment.
The impact of the disaster was significant and far-reaching. Immediately after the accident, radiation levels increased in food, water, and the ocean near the plant. Approximately 150,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the threat of radiation exposure. The disaster also had a notable impact on the energy sector in Japan. Before the Fukushima disaster, about a quarter of the country's electricity was generated by nuclear power. In the years following the accident, most nuclear power plants were put on hold and replaced primarily by coal and natural gas. Japan's reliance on imported fossil fuels increased, and the cost of electricity rose significantly.
The Fukushima disaster also led to a shift in public perception and government policies towards nuclear energy. Public confidence in the safety of nuclear power was greatly damaged, and there was increasing opposition to nuclear power. The Japanese government announced goals to increase the production of renewable energy, aiming for 20% of the nation's electricity to come from renewable sources by the early 2020s. This included solar, wind, and biomass energy.
The disaster resulted in both direct and indirect deaths. While no deaths were directly attributed to radiation exposure, one worker at the plant died of lung cancer in 2018 due to radiation exposure. There were also over 2,000 disaster-related deaths, including those caused by suicide, stress, and interruption of medical care. The number of indirect deaths among evacuees from Fukushima prefecture was reported to be higher than the number of deaths directly caused by the earthquake and tsunami. The majority of these indirect deaths were among individuals over 66 years of age and were attributed to the physical and mental stress of residing in shelters and the disruption of healthcare services.
The Fukushima disaster also had environmental consequences, with the release of radioactive material into the atmosphere and the ocean. Areas northwest of the reactor plant, particularly the Fukushima prefecture, received high levels of contamination. Foodstuffs, including wild boar, were contaminated by radioactive material deposited on leaves, agricultural produce, and through the roots of fruit and vegetable crops. Radioactive caesium, with its long half-life, is responsible for the persistent elevated radiation levels in the area. However, it is important to note that outside of Japan, the level of contamination from the Fukushima reactors was relatively low.
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Geothermal power and onsen culture
Japan has long been a major consumer and importer of energy and has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The country has been increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, and geothermal energy has been gaining traction in recent years.
Geothermal energy has become an increasingly attractive option for Japan following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which led to the closure of most of the country's nuclear power stations. Businesses and the government are currently considering over 60 potential sites for new geothermal power development, with an estimated total capacity of 23 GW, the third-largest amount in the world. Japan's geothermal journey began with the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant, which started operations in 1966 with an output of 23.5 MW. By 2022, the country had established 98 geothermal power plants, collectively generating a capacity of about 540 MW.
However, the development of new geothermal power stations has slowed since the mid-1990s due to potential sites being located in government-protected areas and popular tourist destinations, including traditional hot springs or "onsen." Onsen culture is a notable aspect of Japanese society, and local communities in these areas often depend on tourism revenue from onsen. There are concerns that geothermal projects could impact the landscape and the tourism industry, particularly the fear that geothermal development for power generation could dry out the hot aquifers that fuel the hot springs.
Despite these challenges, Japan has made significant advancements in geothermal technology, providing about 67% of all the turbines used in geothermal power stations worldwide in the last decade. Japanese turbine producers, such as Toshiba, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Fuji Electric, control more than half of the global market for geothermal turbines.
With Japan's commitment to reducing its reliance on nuclear power and increasing renewable energy sources, geothermal energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in the country's energy mix.
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Japan's commitment to net-zero emissions
Japan has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, setting a target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 46% from 2013 levels by 2030. The country is among a group of 136 countries that have pledged climate commitments to achieve this goal. Japan's electricity production is characterized by a diverse energy mix, including nuclear, fossil fuels, renewable energy, and hydroelectric power. Before the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, about a quarter of the country's electricity was generated by nuclear power. In the following years, most nuclear power plants were put on hold and replaced mainly by coal and natural gas.
Japan has long been a major consumer and importer of energy, and its rapid industrial growth since World War II doubled the nation's energy consumption every five years into the 1990s. The country imports most of its energy due to scarce domestic resources, including 97% of its oil, and is the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer globally. In response, Japan has been increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources, with renewable energy accounting for 7.8% of the primary energy supply in 2019. Japan is the world's third-largest solar energy provider, and solar power is a growing source of electricity in the country, with about 50 GW of installed capacity as of 2017.
To achieve its net-zero emissions target, Japan has announced several initiatives. The government passed a bill in 2011 to subsidize electricity from renewable energy sources, including solar power, wind power, and geothermal energy. Additionally, Japan has committed to ending the construction of new unabated coal power plants while securing a stable energy supply. The country also aims to create a sustainable business environment to diversify the clean energy supply chain.
Japan's business sector is also playing a crucial role in reducing emissions. For example, SoftBank has declared its commitment to switching to 100% renewable energy use for its business activities and electricity consumption by 2030, while achieving carbon neutrality through energy-saving initiatives. The Coca-Cola System in Japan has set an ambitious target to reduce its GHG emissions by 50% compared to 2015 levels by 2030, exceeding the global goal of the Coca-Cola Company. These efforts demonstrate Japan's commitment to transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels are the most common source of electricity in Japan, accounting for 69% of the total electricity mix in 2024.
In 2023, 25.7% of Japan's electricity was generated from renewable sources. This is a significant increase from 2016, when renewables accounted for about 15% of the country's electricity mix.
Japan's electricity sector is unusual in that the country is divided into two regions, each operating at a different mains frequency. Eastern Japan runs at 50 Hz, while Western Japan runs at 60 Hz. This partition originates from the first purchases of generators for Tokyo and Osaka in 1895 and 1896, respectively.
Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, most of Japan's nuclear power plants were put on hold. Nuclear energy's contribution to electricity generation has fluctuated since then, dropping to zero in 2014 and gradually increasing in subsequent years.
Japan has experienced interruptions and unexpected downturns in nuclear output, particularly in the early 2000s. The Fukushima disaster also led to a severe decline in nuclear capacity, from which the country has been gradually recovering since 2018.
