Energy Systems In Japan Research Articles

The Just Transition in Japan: Awareness and desires for the future

As with many advanced economies, Japan is currently undergoing an energy transition, aiming to deploy the maximum amount of renewable energy in order to reduce reliance on energy imports from abroad. Ideally, this transition will not only increase energy security for Japan, but will also improve the living standards of its people and be representative of a ‘just’ transition. In order to determine the nature of the Japanese energy transition, it is important to recognize the awareness of concepts such as the Just Transition, and to understand people's desires for the future. This research investigates the relationship between these factors, i.e., uncovering whether or not awareness of the Just Transition concept affects peoples desired outcomes, personal behaviors or preferences toward energy policies which engender a transition. Here we analyze a large sample survey (n = 6000) of the Japanese public to understand desires, behaviors and preferences, to attempt to extract policy implications and effective strategies to promote desirable behaviors which promote a Just Transition. Our results show that demographics impact upon Just Transition knowledge levels, and that these knowledge levels themselves then impact upon propensity to undertake desirable behaviors, or to allow for the deployment of conducive technologies at the local or regional level. A greater level of understanding of the concept of a Just Transition, perhaps via targeted education may help to align people's behavior, desires and expectations toward the development of a fairer future energy system in Japan and more broadly for other advanced economies.

Japan's pathways to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 – Scenario analysis using an energy modeling methodology

Innovative energy and environmental technologies have an important role in achieving carbon neutrality. However, uncertainties regarding the potential of these technologies still remain. For this reason, possible scenarios for such technologies must be developed to facilitate forward-looking decision-making on national energy strategies. This study investigated multiple scenarios of future energy systems in Japan to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 using a MARKAL (MARKet ALlocation) energy model. Six cases were configured based on different assumptions of renewable and nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen import, and the CO2 emissions, primary energy supply, final energy consumption, and electricity generation were compared for the different cases. The scenario analysis results suggest that electric power systems in Japan should be fully decarbonized by 2040 in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, implying that renewable power generation should be dominant in the decarbonized electricity sector in Japan. The results also indicate that total energy supply and consumption in 2050 will be between 14.9–15.7 and 9.6–10.2 EJ, respectively, and that 211–256 Mt of CO2 will need to be removed using advanced CO2 removal technologies. The results further imply that CO2 removal technologies will become necessary when industrial decarbonization is difficult.

Renewable energy Nexus: Interlinkages with biodiversity and social issues in Japan

Renewable energy is one of the most important sources of energy for a decarbonized future. The use of renewable energy necessitates the thorough study of interlinkages with social issues such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are no high-resolution renewable energy datasets for analyzing interlinkages. The goal of this research is to 1) create a high-resolution geographically explicit renewable energy potential map, 2) evaluate the SDGs nexus using the potential map, 3) discuss the improvement of renewable energy dataset, and 4) discuss nexus issues for implementing renewable energy systems in Japan. Our potential map has the same resolution of 500 m and unit of annual electricity generation on each energy. The occurence of endangered birds was overlapping with the area having a lot of solar energy potential. Local renewable energy is difficult to access on a small spatial scale, especially in urban regions like Tokyo. Our potential map can be used as a database for site selection and area zoning. The findings suggest that implementing decentralized renewable energy systems in today's highly concentrated megacities, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, is extremely challenging, and that this type of centralized-oriented land design is likely to exacerbate the problem of energy poverty.

Role of Carbon Capture and Storage in Net-Zero Energy Systems in Japan

Role of Carbon Capture and Storage in Net-Zero Energy Systems in Japan

Materials Innovations for Alternative Energy Systems in Japan

Materials Innovations for Alternative Energy Systems in Japan

Impacts of employment in power generation on renewable-based energy systems in Japan— Analysis using an energy system model

Renewable energy technologies play an important role in the future energy systems, not only to realize a low-carbon society, but also to provide socioeconomic benefits such as creating employment opportunities and revitalizing local economies. This study considers the impact of employment in rural power plants as a socioeconomic benefit and analyzes the transition to a low-carbon energy system using a multi-regional MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) model. The benefit is monetized in order to incorporate it into a cost minimization objective function, and we focus on the impact of the differences in the value on the Japanese energy system and employment. Our results suggest that when considering employment effects of rural power plants, renewable power generation will increase up to 350 TWh, mainly biomass and solar photovoltaic, in 2030. Total employment associated with power generation facilities in rural areas over the model period (45 y) will increase by up to 2.28 million person-year, and biomass power generation, in particular, can have a significant role in the revitalization of local economies owing to the large job creation effect during its operation and maintenance phase.

Analysis of woody biomass utilization for heat, electricity, and CHP in a regional city of Japan

Abstract This study analyzes a regional biomass energy system in Japan. Herein, based on local characteristics, such as the heat load and distribution, we compared the woody biomass used for heat, electricity, and combined heat and power (CHP) with or without a district heating system (DHS). In this study, target demands were selected from the actual residential and commercial sectors of Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture using two maps of heat density. A heat pipe network between each buildings was designed using Dijkstra’s algorithm, and the amount of woody biomass used in each case was fixed such that it satisfied the heat demands of heat-only boilers. Therefore, there were no meshes with unit heat densities >4.2 TJ/ha. However, we found areas with the required heat densities and selected 90 buildings for the DHS. The case that both CHP and DHS were installed and the CHP operational model followed the heat demand (i.e., the “CHP follow” case) was the most effective to reduce CO2. When individual heat-only boilers were installed in buildings, the CO2 reduction was substantial; however, the capital costs associated with heat-only boilers were much higher than the those of the other scenarios. When a heat-only boiler and DHS were installed (i.e., the “Heat DHS” case), the CO2 reduction was competitive with the “CHP follow” scenario, however, total cost was more expensive. Furthermore, the cost of reducing CO2 would be larger than that of “CHP follow” case even if the CO2 emissions factor of grid electricity was less than half of its current value.

Hydrogen in low-carbon energy systems in Japan by 2050: The uncertainties of technology development and implementation

Low-carbon technologies will play a vital role in the realization of environmentally sustainable economies. However, uncertainties remain as to the feasibility of their development and implementation. Therefore, possible scenarios for the potential of these technologies should be considered to allow for flexible decision-making with respect to long-term energy strategies in Japan. This study evaluates the role of hydrogen in future energy systems in Japan using a MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) model. A range of uncertainties are considered for nuclear power generation and carbon capture and storage (CCS) from fossil power generation. Our results suggest that an 80% reduction of CO2 emissions from the 2013 level by 2050 requires emissions from the electricity sector to decrease to nearly zero. Hydrogen power must play a functional role in future energy systems in Japan, but its contribution should depend on nuclear power and CCS.

100% renewable energy system in Japan: Smoothening and ancillary services

In the aftermath of the Paris Agreements, many countries around the globe have pledged to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere. To do so, it is important that the amount of renewable energy in the electricity grid increases. However, there are worries of the capacity of the grid to cope with intermittent energy sources. To assess the feasibility of a 100% renewable energy system in Japan, the authors conducted an hourly simulation of future electricity production based on wind, solar and tidal data. The system was shown to be stable, and the authors calculated the required capacity of electrical batteries that would be necessary to balance such a system.

Penetration of Electric Vehicles toward 2050: Analysis Utilizing an Energy System Model Incorporating High-Temporal-Resolution Power Generation Sector

Abstract This paper examines possible future penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) toward decarbonization of energy system in Japan by utilizing a bottom-up energy technology mix model which incorporates a high-temporal-resolution power sector. The model is formulated as a large-scale linear programming model, which has capability of considering intermittent output of variable renewables, hourly-adjustment of electricity demand and supply using advanced technologies including large-scale batteries, EVs’ charging and energy conversion to hydrogen or heat. Simulation results reveal that EVs are highly likely to be deployed in the freight transport sector because the EVs’ annual utilization rate is generally higher than that in the passenger sector and it is relatively easy to recover higher investment cost through fuel savings. It is also found out that severe carbon reduction constraint does not necessarily bring about massive penetration of EVs because lowering carbon intensity in the power sector would play a primary role for decarbonization of whole energy system. However, little availability of decarbonized imported hydrogen and EVs’ cost reduction would lead to the brisk dissemination of the vehicles.

Balancing formal and informal success factors perceived by supply chain stakeholders: A study of woody biomass energy systems in Japan

Small-scale woody biomass energy systems have an inherent ability to aid in emissions reduction while stimulating local economies and, as collective energy systems, are strongly connected to supply chain design based on local conditions and stakeholder integration. Despite an abundance of forest area alongside the promotion of biomass in energy policies, however, woody biomass utilization still remains low in Japan. The woody biomass supply chain, considered as a socio-technical system, involves a complex, cross-sectoral stakeholder network in which inter-organizational dynamics necessitates well-organized management based on an understanding of formal factors such as technology, as well as informal factors such as social relations and culture. In this paper, success factor perceptions from across the woody biomass supply chain are investigated based on semi-structured interviews with four stakeholders in the Kyushu region of Japan. Identified success factors here are: 1) respect of values & traditions, 2) transportation infrastructure, 3) business model integration, 4) relationship & trust, 5) local vitalization and 6) biomass quality control. A convergence as well as divergence of perceptions are observed, involving both formal and informal dimensions. Aiming to balance perceptions and to enable long-term success of woody biomass in Japan, a series of policy implications are drawn, including cross-ministerial integration, knowledge building on wood logistics, forest certification, local coordinators, biomass quality control standards and a feed-in-tariff for heat. This paper suggests a new arena of policy-making based on the importance of considering both informal and formal dimensions in energy policy.

Strategic and user-driven transition scenarios: Toward a low carbon society, encompassing the issues of sustainability and societal equity in Japan.

This study investigates the sustainability and social equity impacts of the ongoing transition toward a low carbon society in Japan to assess the merits of top-down and bottom-up approaches.The research uses mixed methods, incorporating householder and energy expert surveys, scenario design utilizing the Japanese MARKAL/TIMES framework, and sustainability and social equity evaluation. Surveys identify householder energy system and participation preferences, alongside energy expert input on social equity and policy design. Scenario building is undertaken to compare energy system outcomes between the strategic Japanese policy approach and a user driven approach to energy transition, both cognizant of 2050 environmental goals. Both scenarios are comparatively assessed using a holistic sustainability evaluation process.Conclusions identify the impact of liberalization and subsequent householder participation in the energy system in Japan, when compared to a strategic, policy driven approach. Both approaches have positive ramifications on social equity and policy burden distribution outcomes. However, the household participation scenario delivers a more equitable outcome, distributing energy policy burdens in a fairer manner through the realization of an energy system which is safe, stable and affordable.The findings have practical applications in participatory policy design, and the development of energy policy which can achieve transition goals while being sensitive to householder preferences and social equity concerns.

Future energy and electric power systems and smart technologies

In this paper, we describe, first, the present status and the tasks toward the future of energy systems in Japan from the viewpoint of 3E+S. 3E+S means energy security, environmental conservation, economic efficiency, and safety. Second, we describe the future energy society in 2030 and 2050, respectively. We introduce a large picture of the total energy system considering the energy resources, conversion, transportation, storage, consumption, control, and system architecture. For the image of 2030, the Japanese government has already announced the middle‐term (2030) energy demand and supply on July 16, 2015. For 2050, we assume three cases regarding the renewable energy installations: the status quo of 2030 covering 22–24% of the total consumption, and 50 and 100% of the total consumption. In the last section, we describe smart technologies to support the envisioned society in 2030 and 2050. We also introduce the reference architecture model. To achieve 80% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in 2050, the innovations at the consumer side, such as the large‐scale renewable energy resources and storage installations, utilization of electrified vehicles, distributed energy management systems including virtual power plants, and system integration, will become very important in addition to innovations at the supply side. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

エネルギーセキュリティ及びレジリエンスの評価手法の提案と日本のエネルギー需給を対象とするケーススタディ

Improving national energy security has been recognized as one of the most important perspectives of energy policy in Japan. On the other hand, a notion of higher energy resilience has recently become common to make a domestic energy supply system stable since the Great East Japan earthquake occurred in 2011. Therefore, a purpose of this study is to establish frameworks that evaluate energy security and energy resilience quantitatively to design a sustainable energy system. An advanced framework for energy security evaluation is developed in which Resource Diversity, Import Price, Import Region Diversity, Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency are selected as criteria, where each criterion is normalized between 0 (extremely low security) and 1 (extremely high security). In addition, a multi-objective analysis using the augmented ε-constraint method (AUGMECON) is conducted to determine the best energy resource configuration for a Japanese energy system from the perspective of both energy security and economic feasibility. On the other hand, energy resilience evaluations are conducted in accordance with four steps: identifying risks, assessing risks, building resilience, and evaluating resilience. Energy resilience is evaluated based on two criteria. The first one is Resilience Index which is calculated by a ratio between energy supply and energy demand. The second one is an economic loss incurred by a sudden energy supply interruption. In conclusion, in order to develop a sustainable energy system in Japan, it is important to increase the proportion of renewable energy consumption, which contributes to enhancing both national energy security and regional energy resilience.

Geography, urbanization and lock-in – considerations for sustainable transitions to decentralized energy systems

The importance of moving towards sustainable energy systems is critical to achieving societal sustainability. Transitions theory is a useful approach to look at the potential and limitations of systemic transitions, and has been applied in a number of alternative contexts. In the current study, we examine transitions theory and its implications for the progress of decentralized energy systems in Japan in the period after the Fukushima accident of 2011. Empirical data from a targeted nation-wide survey is used to examine the progress and change in consumer preference and behavior since the disaster, as possible evidence for the potential transition paths likely to be occurring. Importantly, this study utilizes data that examines a spectrum of urban–rural and disaster–non-disaster areas in order to explore whether any differences in response patterns were present. Results indicate that although the desire of stakeholders has been to change the energy system, there are barriers to transformation. Variation between rural and urban sites and between disaster-affected and unaffected areas was examined, indicating that (at least under the chosen classification) there was surprisingly little difference. The results have implications for understanding transitions at a much broader level, and imply that, if the empirical data is a useful indicator, Japan is within a locked-in or reorganization transition. In order to move to a more radical conversion type change a new approach is likely to be required to nurture niche innovations effectively.

ICOPE-15-1020 Hampson type heat-exchanger technology and economic evaluation for LNG re-gasification and power generation At LNG receiving terminals

The system for high utilization of LNG cold energy is proposed by use of process simulator. The proposed design is a closed loop system, and composed by a Hampson type heat exchanger, turbines, pumps and advanced humid air turbine (AHAT) or Gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC). Its heat sources are Boil-off gas and cooling water for AHAT or GTCC. The higher cold exergy recovery to power can be about 38 to 56% as compared to the existing cold power generation of about 20% with a Rankine cycle of a single component. The advantage of the proposed system is to reduce the number of heat exchangers. Furthermore, the environmental impact is minimized because the proposed design is a closed loop system. A life cycle comparative cost is calculated to demonstrate feasibility of the proposed design. The development of the Hampson type exchangers is expected to meet the key functional requirements and will result in much higher LNG cold exergy recovery and the overall system performance i.e. re-gasification. Additionally, the proposed design is expected to provide flexibility to meet different gas pressure suited for the deregulation of energy system in Japan and higher reliability for an integrated boil-off gas system.

Post-disaster resilience of a 100% renewable energy system in Japan

Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is having to re-design its energy policy. With the danger of nuclear power in an earthquake-prone country exposed, renewable energies are being seen as a potential alternative. An assessment of the feasibility of a 100% renewable energy electricity system in Japan by the year 2030 was shown to be able to achieve a higher level of electricity resilience. The assessment is based on a simulation of the hourly future electricity production based on wind and solar meteorological data, that can cope with the estimated future hourly electricity demand in Japan for the year 2030. Such as system would use pump-up storage and electric batteries to balance the daily fluctuations in supply and demand, though the most important challenge of the system would be providing sufficient electricity to meet the summer demand peak. These findings have import implications at the policy making level, as it shows that the Japanese electricity generation system is technically able to increase the share of renewables up to 100%, guaranteeing a stable and reliable supply.

Present Status and Points of Discussion for Future Energy Systems in Japan from the Aspects of Technology Options

Michihisa Koyama1,2, Seiichiro Kimura2, Yasunori Kikuchi2,3, Takao Nakagaki4 and Kenshi Itaoka2 1 Inamori Frontier Research Center, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan 2 International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan 3 Presidential Endowed Chair for “Platinum Society,” e University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan 4 Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan

Estimation of the energy storage requirement of a future 100% renewable energy system in Japan

Renewable energy systems are often criticized because of their intermittency and need for substantial amount of backup in terms of other energy sources or storage. The present paper proposes a method to estimate the required amount of storage backup for a mostly solar and wind system that uses also biomass and hydroenergy as minor components of the electricity mix. An hourly simulation was carried out to determine the amount of electricity that could be produced based on the meteorological conditions of year 2001 in Japan, and this was compared with the maximum electricity demands imposed in the system for each month of the year. The system thus proposed has 100% chance of meeting around 40% of the electricity demand between 11:00 and 18:00, and the optimum scenario obtained (a 2:1 mix of solar to wind energy) required around 40TW of storage to balance the extra electricity demand that occurs during the summer in Japan. It appears unlikely that the batteries in EV in vehicles will be able to meet this storage requirement in the future, though the system is able to adequately meet the electricity demand during the majority of the year, and hence showcases the viability of renewable energy.

Methodology to estimate the output of a dual solar–wind renewable energy system in Japan

The potentially damaging effects of climate change make it imperative to develop zero-carbon energy systems and societies based on renewable energy sources that do not negatively affect the environment. However, these systems are often criticized for their intermittency, and the present paper proposes a method to analyze the true minimum capacity factor that can be expected from such a system based on a historical hourly estimation of the electricity produced by a given solar–wind generating mix. A simulation was carried out to show how much energy could be produced for a sample future group of scenarios encompassing a variety of solar and wind mixes, and the results show that, with a 1:2 mix of solar to wind energy, the system will always operate at least at 10% capacity from 10:00 to 16:00, as calculated using the meteorological conditions of the year 2001. This study also analyzes the land requirements necessary to implement such a solar–wind energy system, highlighting the vast areas that would be necessary to be covered with wind turbines and solar panels if such a system were to supply the majority of the electricity demand in Japan.