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 …
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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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 …
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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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 …
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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Publication date: Sept 4, 2026 METI Outlines License Revocation Procedure for Dormant Electricity Retailers Following the July 2026 amendments to the Electricity Business Act, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will be able to revoke a retail license if, without a justifiable reason, the retailer (i) fails to commence its retail electricity business …
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Publication date: Sept 4, 2026 ENEOS 431 MW Negishi Plant Closure Highlights Challenge of Replacing Thermal Plants According to Bloomberg, ENEOS Holdings will permanently close its 431 MW oil-fired integrated gasification combined-cycle plant at the Negishi refinery in Yokohama on September 1, citing JEPX data published a year ago. An ENEOS spokesperson confirmed the closure …
Publication date: Sept 4, 2026 PPA Market Expands as Buyers Increasingly Eye GHG Protocol Revision As corporate interest in PPAs grows, private matching platforms are emerging as an additional procurement channel. Digital Grid’s off-site PPA matching platform, RE Bridge, recently announced the results of its eighth matching event. For generators and offtakers that successfully entered …
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Publication date: Sept 1, 2026 Key Takeaways Japan is moving toward longer-term electricity procurement, with proposed obligations requiring retailers to secure 50% of expected demand three years ahead and 70% one year ahead. A new Mid-Long Term Market is expected to begin in FY2028 to support this shift. Retailers will be able to meet these …
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