Japan's Energy Strategy Targets 20% Nuclear, 40-50% Renewable Power by 2040

Dec 17, 2024, 04:25 AM

Japan's government has unveiled a draft of its revised energy strategy, which aims to increase the utilization of nuclear power and renewable energy sources to meet the nation's growing electricity demand and achieve decarbonization goals. The plan, which is set to be adopted, removes the previous policy of reducing dependency on nuclear power, established after the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, and instead calls for nuclear power to account for around 20% of the energy mix by fiscal 2040. Renewable energy sources are expected to make up 40-50% of the power generation mix by the same year, marking a significant shift from the current reliance on fossil fuels, which constituted nearly 70% of power generation in 2023. This strategic shift is influenced by the need for energy security amid geopolitical concerns and the push towards carbon neutrality by mid-century. The government also plans to ease conditions for rebuilding nuclear reactors and promote the development of next-generation reactors to maintain nuclear power's role in the energy mix. The increase in electricity demand is driven by the growth in AI and microchip factories.