METI Embraces the VPP as a Vital Tool in the Energy Transition

As Japan seeks to accelerate the rollout of green energy, METI has concluded that one bottleneck that clearly must be dealt with is how to better balance power demand and supply. And the solution tha...

Power in Water – Japan’s New Solar Frontier of Floating Systems

Amid trouble securing land for future projects, some municipalities and developers are looking to a new frontier to kickstart the rollout of new solar capacity. Floating solar systems hold tremendous...

Tokyo Gas and the UK’s Octopus Seek to Upend Power Retail Market

With Japan’s energy retail market in disarray, a 130-year old Japanese power company is teaming up with a 21st century British energy-tech startup. The unexpected alliance between a legacy company an...

Net-zero Ambitions and Materials Availability Gap Sets up G7 Conundrum

In a few weeks Japan will assume the G7 presidency for 2023, with energy at the top of the agenda. By the time the heads of the European and North American member states arrive in Hiroshima for the s...

METI: Trouble With Local Communities Key Challenge Meeting 2050 Net-zero Goal

Historically, Japanese officials have a proud record of steering the domestic power industry along the lines written in national policy and strategy. Bureaucrats paved the way for Japan to harness it...