Shulman Advisory

METI Addresses Demand Growth and Supply Security in Power Market Reforms

Publication date: May 1, 2026  METI Addresses Demand Growth and Supply Security in Power Market Reforms Rising energy demand, driven by data center expansion, is increasingly driving power market conditions in Japan, while growing renewable capacity is reshaping supply dynamics. To grapple with the changing energy market, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) …

J-POWER and Mizuho Complete Hourly Matching Pilot Ahead of GHG Protocol Revision

Publication date: April 27, 2026 J-POWER and Mizuho Complete Hourly Matching Pilot Ahead of GHG Protocol Revision J-POWER, Mizuho Bank, and three other companies announced the successful completion of a pilot project demonstrating “hourly matching,” which verifies that renewable electricity generation and consumption are aligned on an hourly basis(the matched volume was not disclosed). Specifically, …

METI to Limit Grid Connection Study Applications by Region to Manage Surge in BESS

Publication date: April 21, 2026 METI to Limit Grid Connection Study Applications by Region to Manage Surge in BESS The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)’s expert committee has recently decided to introduce a cap on the number of grid connection study applications per operator for grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). The cap …

JEPX System Upgrades: Shift to API-Based Trading Reshapes Market Access

Publication date: April 7, 2026 JEPX System Upgrades: Shift to API-Based Trading Reshapes Market Access JEPX will begin rolling out its upgraded trading system from April 2026, with a phased transition across spot and intraday markets extending through FY2026. The key change lies in the migration from browser-based trading to API (Application Programming Interface) -driven …

Japan’s Renewable Transition: Progress and Challenges Since the 7th Strategic Energy Plan

Publication date: April 2, 2026  Japan’s Renewable Transition: Progress and Challenges Since the 7th Strategic Energy Plan The Middle East situation has once again exposed Japan’s dependence on imported fuels and reminds us of the importance of increasing energy self-sufficiency, currently at around 15% (Nikkei). The 7th Strategic Energy Plan (7th SEP), published by the …

METI Moves to Tighten Oversight of Electricity Markets

Publication date: March 7, 2026 METI Moves to Tighten Oversight of Electricity Markets METI plans to expand its supervisory scope over electricity markets to enable it to ensure operational improvements in the Balancing Market and the planned Mid-Long Term Market,with the aim of promoting sound market operation, increasing participation, and stimulating market activity. The proposed …

Japan Modifies Proposed FY2026 Balancing-Market Reforms

Publication date: Feb 7, 2026 Japan Modifies Proposed FY2026 Balancing-Market Reforms In October 2025, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) proposed a reduction in the balancing market price cap to JPY 7.21 starting from FY2026. This was met with widespread criticism from market participants, who claimed it could undermine market dynamics. Following discussions, …