Japan boosts renewable energy targets

Tokyo

JAPAN will raise its target for renewable energy in the country's electricity mix for 2030 as it pushes to cut emissions to meet commitments under international agreements on climate change, according to a draft of its latest energy policy.

The country's revised basic energy strategy leaves unchanged its target for nuclear power, even though the country has struggled to return the industry to its former central role after the Fukushima disaster of 2011.

The industry ministry's policy draft released on Wednesday says renewables should account for 36-38 per cent of power supplies in 2030, double the level of 18 per cent in the financial year to March 2020. The earlier target was for renewables to contribute 22-24 per cent of electricity in 2030. The use of coal will be reduced to 19 per cent from 26 per cent under the new plan.

Gas, which comes to Japan in the form of imported liquefied natural gas, will make up most of the rest of the fossil fuel portion of the target energy mix, which was set at 41 per cent, down from 56 per cent.

Japan's nuclear target was left unchanged at 20-22 per cent. New fuels like hydrogen and ammonia will account for about 1 per cent of the electricity mix in 2030, the draft said.

As the urgency to tackle climate change grows, the revised 2030 energy plan is an "ambitious one", instead of "an ideal vision" as in the past, an official at the industry ministry said. REUTERS