Comparative Analysis on Citizen’s Subjective Responses Related to Their Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Japan Using Latent Variables

Ryoko Nakano,Takayuki Morikawa,Tomio Miwa

doi:10.3390/su10072423

Ryoko Nakano, Takayuki Morikawa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072423

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Abstract

This paper focuses on understanding the difference between East and West Japan with respect to citizens’ subjective views on renewable energy. A comparative analysis was performed for cities in the east and west because renewable energy is a natural resource unique to each location and suitable for a distributed energy network operated under the autonomy of the local community. This paper indicates that the social acceptance of renewable energy and willingness to pay in East Japan is affected by the citizens’ strong concerns about the global environment and willingness to participate in policy-making, while the support of the deregulation of the retail electricity market and development of a distributed power system is more relevant in West Japan.

Highlights

The context of the current debate on technology transitions is that if they are to contribute to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Paris climate agreement, a mixture of policy actions, public and private sector investments, and changes in consumer choices and behavior is needed
This study aims to identify whether the causes for social acceptance of renewables can be quantitatively proven
The tendency is stronger in West Japan, which was unaffected by the nuclear power accident

Summary

Introduction

The context of the current debate on technology transitions is that if they are to contribute to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Paris climate agreement, a mixture of policy actions, public and private sector investments, and changes in consumer choices and behavior is needed. In the case of Japan, the quest for clean energy was mainstreamed after the government enacted multiple regulations and schemes following the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO)’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the Fukushima prefecture in 2011. The country experienced energy savings spearheaded by the national government and supported by coordinated efforts by local governments, businesses, and citizens, which divided the country into people who oppose and those who support nuclear power. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) determined an allowable public exposure of 1 mSv or less per year and an aggregated lifetime exposure up to 100 mSv. Immediately after the nuclear power plant accident, the air and oceans showed high levels of contamination, in addition to that found in dairy and meat products from nearby farms and tea leaves, mushrooms, and seaweed.

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