Japan

Newly-founded Japan Renewable Energy Foundation has put forward a proposal for a new energy policy 2030 focusing on a wide deployment of renewable energy.

Japan's subsidies for renewable power suppliers have sparked more than $2 billion of investment since they were launched two months ago.

Japan will need renewable energy investments amounting to US$637 billion to completely sever itself from nuclear power.

Japan's subsidies for renewable power providers could lead to huge investments amounting to some US$640 billion by 2030.

Tepco has set up teams to reform its nuclear division, a move viewed by some as indicative for the restart of idled reactors.

Electricity prices will be an even more serious issue if Japan is to cut back on nuclear power and rely more on renewable sources like solar and wind.

Japan energy policy, as promulgated by the National government in June 2002 in the Basic Act on Energy Policy, is based on the following three measures on energy supply and demand:

The massive costs of coping with the aftermath of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant nuclear disaster has left its operator with limited funds to convert to alternative energy sources.

Phasing out nuclear power plant is cheaper than having a 15 to 25 percent mix.

Tepco president Naomi Hirose said the utility can't afford to invest in alternative energy sources since the three reactor meltodown at its Fukushima nuclear power plant last year.

Japan needs to invest at least ¥50 trillion or US$637 billlion in renewable energy by 2030 in order to phase out nuclear power.

A new national strategy will increase Japan's renewable energy capacity by a massive 555%.

Japan will announce its new national energy policy next week that will confirm its inability to wean itself from nuclear power.

Thailand will inaugurate a new solar power plant as part of the ADB-funded Lopburi solar project.

Tepco raised household electricity rates by an average of 8.46 percent to help pay rising fuel costs from thermal power generation.