Shulman Advisory

Japan’s Prefectures Consider Taxes on Renewable Energy

Publication date: May 20, 2024 Japan’s Prefectures Consider Taxes on Renewable Energy In April, a new tax was introduced by Miyagi Prefecture on large-scale renewable projects in forested areas. The move has encouraged other prefectures in the Tohoku region to open dialogue regarding the introduction of renewable taxes of their own, with Yamagata announcing on …

Japan to Pass Bill Promoting Clean Hydrogen Supply

Publication date: April 19, 2024 Japan to Pass Bill Promoting Clean Hydrogen Supply Japan is taking action to promote hydrogen, which is a key plank in its 2050 net zero target. As reported in an article published by Nikkei, the Japanese government plans to spend an as yet unspecified amount over the next 15 years …

Renewable Energy Projects Under Feed-In-Premium System on the Rise

Publication date: April 7, 2024 On March 27, METI reported that renewable energy generation capacity operating under the Feed-in-Premium (FIP) system had increased by 150% since October 2023. The number of renewable projects certified under the FIP system rose even more significantly, almost quadrupling in the same period. The increases show how successful the scheme …

Renewable Energy Surcharge Is on the Rise Again

Publication date: March 29, 2024 Renewable Energy Surcharge Is on the Rise Again When the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) was introduced in Japan in 2012 to promote more renewable energy generation, the government also implemented the renewable energy surcharge. Electric utilities collect the surcharge as compensation for purchasing from renewable energy generators, adding to electricity consumers’ costs. …

METI Considers Creating Market for “GX Products”

On March 12, METI presented an interim report on creating a market where “GX products”would be bought and sold. GX products are goods produced by companies participating in the GX League. These companies are actively taking steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Japanese Cabinet Approves Amendment to Global Warming Countermeasures Promotion Act

Publication date: March 15, 2024 On March 5, the Cabinet approved a bill to amend the Global Warming Countermeasures Promotion Act.Since its introduction in 1998, this bill has had a series of amendments and remains one of the key climate laws in Japan. In its current form, the law promotes environmental conservation and economic and …

Ministry of Environment Calls for “Transformative Change” in 6th Basic Environment Strategy Draft

Publication date: March 9, 2024 Ministry of Environment Calls for “Transformative Change” in 6th Basic Environment Strategy Draft On February 26, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (MOE) published a draft of the 6th Basic Environment Strategy. Based on the Basic Environment Act of 1993, the MOE must publish a comprehensive strategy outlining its overall and …

Hokkaido Electric Announces Plans for Japan’s Largest Green Hydrogen Hub

Publication date: March 3, 2024 Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO), ENEOS, and Idemitsu announced on February 20 that they will jointly explore the construction of a green #hydrogen supply chain in Tomakomai, Hokkaido Prefecture. They plan to build water electrolysis plants and hydrogen storage facilities with a capacity of over 100MW by 2030. The plant …

Japan More Than Doubled New Wind Power Installations in 2023

Publication date: Feb 23, 2024 Japan More Than Doubled New Wind Power Installations in 2023 The Japan Wind Power Association has published its wind power generation report for 2023, showing that new installations reached 572.3MW – an increase of 240% compared to 2022 when the total was 232.9MW. The increase was largely due to the …

Government to Allocate JPY1.6 Trillion Raised From Japan Climate Transition Bonds

Publication date: Feb 16, 2024 The Japanese government is issuing Japan Climate Transition Bonds this month. The 10-year bond will go live on February 14, and the 5-year bond on the 27th. The sale is expected to raise JPY1.6 trillion, which will be used to implement the government’s Green Transformation (GX) policy. The government’s targets …