Regional Energy Demand in Japan

Abstract

In this study, the Energy Consumption Statistics by Prefecture were utilized and the actual conditions of energy demand in the regions of Japan were ascertained. The results revealed that Japan’s national energy demand increased from the 1990s to the 2000s; and that the driving forces behind this expansion were the Residential and Commercial (ResCom) and Transportation sectors. In regional trends, the findings showed that the increase in energy demand in large metropolitan areas not only contributed greatly to the national increase, but also that energy demand in rural areas grew steadily. Upon considering the changes to regional energy demand by analyzing changes to energy demand per capita and population changes, the study found that energy demand per capita has a major impact on regional energy demand, and that in particular, the increase in energy demand in rural regions has been brought about by the increase in energy demand per capita.