Energy Efficiency In Japan Research Articles

Drawing Insights from Japan's Energy Efficiency Policies for Indonesia's Progress

Drawing Insights from Japan's Energy Efficiency Policies for Indonesia's Progress

Vehicle energy efficiency evaluation from well-to-wheel lifecycle perspective

Given a fundamental role of automobiles in human society, evaluation of vehicle energy efficiency is of utmost importance. Various reports have been published hitherto concerning well-to-wheel (WTW) fuel consumption at the vehicle operation phase. On the other hand, WTW energy consumption at other lifecycle phases has been scarcely integrated in the assessment of vehicle energy efficiency. Particularly, WTW energy consumption for material structure is significantly associated with fuel economy. As such, this paper firstly analyzes the lifecycle WTW vehicle energy efficiency from the perspective of both material structures at the manufacture phase and fuel consumption at the operation phase for conventional vehicle (CV), electric vehicle (EV), hybrid vehicle (HV) and fuel cell vehicle (FCV). Then, an expected transition of vehicle weight and energy consumption arising from material structural shift through the replacement of steel with aluminum is evaluated. Finally, the overall vehicle energy efficiency in Japan in 2020–2050 is projected. It is discovered that the inclusion of energy consumption for material structure has a significant impact on the determination of the vehicle energy efficiency, particularly for new generation vehicles. WTW analysis at the multiple lifecycle phases may be of use in establishing more comprehensive principles of vehicle energy efficiency.

Cobenefits and Trade-Offs of Green and Clean Energy: Evidence from the Academic Literature and Asian Case Studies

This working paper assesses the positive cobenefits of promoting green and clean energy in Asia. It first defines what is meant by “clean” energy across the four technological systems of cooking, renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and urban transport. Then, drawn from a synthesis of peer-reviewed articles, it summarizes at least four general types of cobenefits of investing in these systems: (i) diversification and enhanced energy security, (ii) jobs and green growth, (iii) displaced pollution and associated cost savings, and (iv) enhanced resilience and adaptive capacity to things like climate change and natural disasters. It also offers some insight to possible challenges and trade-offs that must be managed when attempting to capture cobenefits. The paper then focuses on four case studies of cobenefits that have been delivered in practice: liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Indonesia, renewable electricity generation in the People’s Republic of China, energy efficiency in Japan, and mass transit in Singapore. The paper concludes with insights for energy analysts and policy makers.

Estimation and determinants of energy efficiency in Japanese regional economies

AbstractIn response to increased environmental constraints, it has become an important policy issue for Japan to improve energy efficiency for the future, along with the growth of regional economies. This paper uses a stochastic frontier model to estimate the energy demand function and analyse the levels and determinants of energy efficiency. The empirical analysis conducted by using data from 47 prefectures in Japan revealed the following four findings. First, the proposed energy efficiency measure (calculated using the stochastic frontier model) is found to be effective, as its ranking is highly correlated with that of energy intensity. Second, increasing population density is effective in improving energy efficiency. Third, improving regional accessibility by developing a highway network helps to improve the energy efficiency in Japan. Fourth, the level of energy efficiency is deteriorating in areas where raw material industries are clustered. These results indicate that the means to increasing both economic productivity and environmental efficiency are to implement a regional decentralization policy by creating major urban areas across the nation and expand a wide‐area transportation network to link these areas. In addition, the promotion of technological innovations through appropriate environmental regulations is important to advance such regional policies.

A Casualty of Political Transformation? The Politics of Energy Efficiency in the Japanese Transportation Sector

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power in 2009 promising significant transportation sector reform, but it has struggled to implement its proposals. I argue that the DPJ's initiatives faltered due to the legacy of “efficiency clientelism.” Historically, Japanese transportation policy combined two imperatives: (1) encourage efficiency by raising the cost of energy-inefficient transportation, and (2) redistribute benefits to supporters of the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Because of the legacy of efficiency clientelism, DPJ campaign pledges—designed to appeal broadly to the general public by reducing transportation costs—ran up against the prospect of sharp declines in revenues and energy efficiency. Efficiency clientelism was well suited to political realities in Japan prior to the 1990s, but recent developments have undercut its viability. This raises profound questions about the sustainability of Japan's energy efficiency achievements.

Energy and exergy utilization efficiencies in the Japanese residential/commercial sectors

Unlike the manufacturing sector, the residential/commercial sectors of Japan struggle to meet their environmental requirements. For instance, their CO 2 emission levels have increased tremendously since 1990. This research estimates energy and ‘exergy (available energy)’ efficiencies in Japan's residential/commercial sectors during the period 1990–2006. Since an exergy analysis reveals ‘available energy losses’, it is an effective tool to achieve sustainable societies. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the potential for advancing the ‘true’ energy efficiency in Japan's residential/commercial sectors—by observing energy and exergy efficiency disparities. The results show large differences between the overall energy and exergy efficiencies in the residential (60.12%, 6.33%)/commercial sectors (51.78%, 5.74%) in 2006. This implies great potential for energy savings in both sectors. Furthermore, this research suggests that the residential sector may face more difficulties than the commercial sector, although the latter appears to be less energy-efficient, according to recent statistics. This is because the disparity between energy and exergy efficiencies has expanded in the residential sector since 2000. This study illustrates the importance of exergy analyses in promoting sustainable energy policies and new adaptation strategies.

Climate Change Taxes and Energy Efficiency in Japan

In 2003 Japan proposed a Climate Change Tax to reduce its CO2 emissions to the level required by the Kyoto Protocol. If implemented, the tax would be levied on fossil fuel use and the revenue distributed to encourage the purchase of energy efficient equipment. Analysis using the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model shows that this policy is unlikely to bring Japan into compliance with its Kyoto target unless the subsidy encourages improvement in energy intensity well beyond Japan’s recent historical experience. Similar demand-management programs in the US, where there has been extensive experience, have not been nearly as effective as they would need to be to achieve energy efficiency goals of the proposal. The Tax proposal also calls for limits on international emission trading. We find that this limit substantially affects costs of compliance. The welfare loss with full emissions trading is 1/6 that when Japan meets its target though domestic actions only, the carbon price is lower, and there is a smaller loss of energy-intensive exports. Japan can achieve substantial savings from emissions trading even under cases where, for example, the full amount of the Russian allowance is not available in international markets.

Energy efficiency in Japan: Linking technological change, industry policy and environmental concerns

(1993). Energy efficiency in Japan: Linking technological change, industry policy and environmental concerns. Japanese Studies: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 19-34.