Publication date: Oct 14, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 39: Japan Explores Workload Shifting as a Source of Energy System Flexibility Workload shifting (WLS) could allow data centers to adjust when and where they consume electricity, reducing demand in regions experiencing grid constraints or high electricity prices and shifting workloads to locations or periods with …
Author Archives: Lily Sze
Japan Data Center Update 38: Large-Scale Data Center Development Gains Momentum
Publication date: Oct 6, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 38: Large-Scale Data Center Development Gains Momentum JERA to develop data center powered by up to 400 MW at Chiba thermal power station JERA announced that it will develop a data center within the premises of its Chiba Thermal Power Station (Chiba City), designed to receive …
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Japan’s GX-ETS Market Design: Implications for Power Prices and Market Dynamics
Publication date: Oct 5, 2026 Key Takeaways Japan’s GX-ETS is moving toward full implementation, with mandatory participation for large emitters beginning in FY2026 and a dedicated emissions allowance trading market planned for fall 2027. Power generators are expected to become subject to mandatory participation from Phase 3 in FY2033. For the power sector, the key …
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Japan’s Household Electricity Bills to Hit Record Highs in October as Subsidies End
Publication date: Oct 2, 2026 Japan’s Household Electricity Bills to Hit Record Highs in October as Subsidies End Japan’s ten major utilities say household electricity bills for power consumed in October will reach record highs. Under their government-approved regulated tariffs, bills for a standard model household will increase by JPY 835–1,578 for payments due in …
Mid-Long-Term Market Update: Trading Areas and Mandatory Generator Offers
Publication date: Oct 2, 2026 Mid-Long-Term Market Update: Trading Areas and Mandatory Generator Offers The planned Mid-Long-Term Market will allow electricity retailers to procure power one and three years ahead to meet their supply capacity obligations. The Mid-Long-Term Market Design Working Group (WG) recently advanced discussions on two key elements of the planned market: how …
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Japan Data Center Update 37: Japan’s AI Data Center Expansion: The Race to Build and Power Capacity
Publication date: Sept 30, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 37: Japan’s AI Data Center Expansion: The Race to Build and Power Capacity Japan’s AI data center capacity to more than quadruple by 2033 Japan’s AI data center capacity is set to more than quadruple by the mid-2030s compared with the end of 2025, according to …
Japan Data Center Update 36: Bypassing Grid Constraints, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Tests Distributed and Off-Grid Power Data Centers
Publication date: Sept 24, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 36: Bypassing Grid Constraints, Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Tests Distributed and Off-Grid Power Data Centers TGES and Getworks partner on containerized data centers using underutilized sites TGES, a subsidiary of Tokyo Gas, and data center operator Getworks have entered into a business partnership to develop containerized …
New Power Traders Association to Make Policy Recommendations for the Planned Mid-Long-Term Market
Publication date: Sept 18, 2026 New Power Traders Association to Make Policy Recommendations for the Planned Mid-Long-Term Market More than 20 companies engaged in physical power trading in Japan have established the Japan Power Traders Association (JPTA) to provide practical industry input and policy recommendations on improving market design and trading rules. The voluntary association …
OCCTO Proposes New Supplementary Auction to Retain Aging Thermal Power Plants
Publication date: Sept 18, 2026 OCCTO Proposes New Supplementary Auction to Retain Aging Thermal Power Plants At an expert meeting, the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) proposed introducing a new ‘supplementary auction’ in the capacity market to procure additional capacity one to three years before delivery, alongside the existing main auction (T-4) …
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Japan Data Center Update 35: GX Strategic Zones: Japan Targets GW-Scale Data Center Clusters Across Nine Zones
Publication date: Sept 15, 2026 Japan Data Center Update 35: GX Strategic Zones: Japan Targets GW-Scale Data Center Clusters Across Nine Zones The designated GX Strategic Zones by types are as follow: (1) Industrial Complex Redevelopment Type: One zone METI designated Kawasaki City, which plans to establish a production scale-up hub for GX-related startups in …