Latest news with #METI
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Japan bets on ultrathin solar panels to drive next phase of clean energy
At Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan is showcasing a breakthrough in solar technology — not inside a pavilion, but on the curved roof of a 250-metre bus terminal. Covered in over 250 ultrathin perovskite solar panels, the installation reflects Tokyo's push to lead the next phase of solar power innovation, reduce reliance on Chinese imports, and create new use cases for urban solar deployment, according to a report by Nikkei. Takayuki Taenaka, an official at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), said the new technology offers multiple gains. 'It's like killing three birds with one stone,' he said. What are perovskite solar panels? Named after their crystal structure, perovskite panels are composed of chemical compounds layered just millimetres thick. These flexible, film-like panels can match the power efficiency of conventional polysilicon panels while being 20 times thinner and 10 times lighter. Their flexibility allows installation on surfaces unsuitable for rigid panels, such as windows, walls, or rooftops unable to support heavy loads. This makes them ideal for densely populated, infrastructure-heavy nations like Japan. Urban deployment amid limited flat land Japan already leads major economies in installed solar capacity per square kilometre of flat land. However, its mountainous geography limits room for large-scale solar farms. Tokyo now aims to generate up to 29 per cent of its electricity from solar energy by FY40—up from under 10 per cent today—by deploying perovskite panels across urban surfaces. Installing these panels on walls, glass windows, and other vertical spaces could turn cityscapes into decentralised solar farms. Commercial rollout to begin in FY27 Though perovskite solar technology was discovered only in 2009, it is rapidly advancing. Sekisui Chemical, which developed the panels for Expo 2025, plans to begin commercial shipments by the end of this fiscal year. Full-scale production is slated for FY27. Futoshi Kamiwaki, president of Sekisui Solarfilm—a subsidiary created to scale the product—said perovskite panels have the potential to surpass conventional solar cells in energy efficiency. Rising efficiency draws more players Conventional silicon solar cells typically reach 20 per cent efficiency. Sekisui's perovskite panels have achieved 15 per cent in the field. But under lab conditions, the technology has reached nearly 30 per cent, according to Kamiwaki. This promise has attracted more than a dozen players, including industry heavyweights like Panasonic and Kaneka, who are exploring integration of perovskite cells into window glass and other building materials. Targeting 20 GW from next-gen solar by 2040 This wave of innovation is expected to support Japan's goal of generating 20 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from next-generation solar technologies—including perovskite panels—by 2040. This output would be equivalent to the power generated by approximately 20 nuclear power plants, significantly advancing the country's energy independence and sustainability targets.
Mint
7 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
US and Japan to form LNG joint venture, says Donald Trump - All you need to know about the project
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the US and Japan will form a joint venture in order to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska. However, a Japanese official denied being aware of such plans. Trump's announcement came moments after he announced a trade deal with Japan, reducing tariffs to 15 per cent on goods including auto parts. Japan became the first country to strike a trade deal with the US that would also reduce auto tariffs. Trump had earlier threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Japanese goods starting August 1. It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring specifically to the proposed $44 billion Alaska LNG project. That project would consist of an 800-mile (1,300-km) pipeline carrying gas to a planned liquefaction plant for export. Trump's announcement of the venture came in comments to lawmakers at the White House where he discussed his trade deal with Japan. "We concluded the one deal ... and now we're going to conclude another one because they're forming a joint venture with us at, in Alaska, as you know, for the LNG," Trump told the lawmakers. 'They're all set to make that deal now.' The METI official, who oversees resource development, said the agency is working to confirm Trump's comments. Several companies from Japan have expressed an interest in buying LNG from the project, along with Thailand's PTT and India's GAIL. JERA and Tokyo Gas, Japan's two biggest LNG buyers, have expressed their interest in the Alaska LNG project but said they would need to assess specific conditions, including costs, before moving forward. But when asked about the joint venture mentioned by Trump, a JERA spokesperson said they could not confirm it. A Tokyo Gas spokesperson declined to comment, saying the company is not involved in a joint venture for LNG in Alaska and is not familiar with the details.
Metropolis Japan
09-07-2025
- Business
- Metropolis Japan
Wellbeing Revolution: Redefining Work with Healthy Company Culture Seminar and Networking Event
YuLife Japan × METI Hybrid Seminar and Networking Event YuLife Japan proudly announces its first-ever collaboration with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)—a groundbreaking hybrid event focused on the future of workplace well-being in Japan. Titled 'Wellbeing Revolution: Redefining Work with Healthy Company Culture,' this special seminar and networking session brings together top government officials, HR leaders, and certified well-being experts for an afternoon of learning, dialogue, and inspiration. Held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Dai-ichi Life Hibiya First in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and available online via Zoom, the event offers an invaluable opportunity to explore how health management and employee engagement strategies can drive long-term business growth. The seminar (15:30–17:00) will be followed by an optional networking session (17:00–19:00), connecting forward-thinking leaders across industries. Key Topics Include: The measurable impact of well-being initiatives on organizational performance Japan's latest policies and certification programs, including the Certified Health & Productivity Management Organization initiative Practical, actionable tips to promote health and happiness at work—starting tomorrow Who Should Attend? This event is ideal for HR professionals, CHROs, executive leaders, and anyone exploring innovative approaches to human capital management, health management certification, and employee engagement in Japan. Event Details Venue: Dai-ichi Life Hibiya First, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Language: Japanese only Note: In-person attendance capped at 50; selected registrants will be contacted by the organizers.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Japan Testing, Inspection & Certification Market to Worth Over US$ 21.35 Billion by 2033
Japan's testing, inspection & certification market gains momentum as regulations intensify. Digitalized remote audits and advanced battery, semiconductor, and biocompatibility labs address emerging risks. Global–local alliances now deliver continuous, lifecycle assurance to automotive, energy and food producers. Chicago, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Japan testing, inspection & certification market was valued at US$ 14.12 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 21.35 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.78% during the forecast period 2025–2033. Japan testing, inspection & certification market activity is ultimately shaped by Tokyo's ever-evolving rulebook. The 2024 update of the Industrial Standardization Act broadened JIS conformance labeling to cover consumer IoT appliances, while the revised Chemical Substances Control Law tightened pre-marketing tests for 1,200 additional formulations. At the same time, METI's Product Safety mark programs—PSE for electrical goods and PSC for specified consumer products—moved from sampling to one-hundred-percent lot testing for lithium battery packs, following a spike in fire incidents reported by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. Regulators are therefore pushing manufacturers to engage qualified third-party laboratories far earlier in their product development calendars, a dynamic directly highlighted by Technavio when it noted that 'stringent government regulations…boost the market'. Download Sample Pages: For service providers, the opportunity is not confined to compliance audits alone. The Consumer Affairs Agency's recall portal logged 2,934 product withdrawals in 2023, the highest tally since records began, illustrating how surveillance inspections now continue well into the post-sale phase. In response, TIC firms are rolling out subscription-based conformity maintenance packages that include quarterly factory inspections, e-label updates, and AI-assisted document version control. Clients appreciate the single-window approach because it prevents fragmented evidence chains when authorities demand traceability. Consequently, the Japan testing, inspection & certification market has evolved from a one-off certificate provider into a lifecycle risk-management partner, weaving continuous assurance into every engineering sprint and supply-chain milestone. Key Findings in Japan Testing, Inspection & Certification Market Market Forecast (2033) US$ 21.35 billion CAGR 4.78% By Service Type Testing Services (42.32%) By Application Quality and Safety (58.65%) By Solution Type In-house Services (58.48%) By End Users Consumer Goods & Retail (23.05%) Top Drivers Stringent safety and quality regulations across automotive, electronics, and healthcare sectors. Increasing complexity of products and supply chains in manufacturing industries. Rising demand for international certifications to access global export markets. Top Trends Integration of artificial intelligence and IoT in testing and inspection workflows. Growing emphasis on sustainability and green certification for industrial products. Expansion of TIC services in renewable energy and digital transformation sectors. Top Challenges Navigating Japan's complex and frequently updated regulatory landscape efficiently. High cost of compliance with Japanese Industrial Norms for smaller enterprises. Digital Transformation Accelerates Remote Inspection and Data-Driven Certification Workflows Nationwide Digitalization is rewriting field procedures across the Japan testing, inspection & certification market, bringing cloud platforms and augmented reality headsets onto shop floors that were once dominated by clipboards. Leading providers now deploy smart glasses compatible with the 5G Standalone networks rolled out by NTT DOCOMO, allowing an accredited inspector in Yokohama to supervise weld integrity checks at a Hokkaido shipyard without flying north. Technavio singles out 'digitalization of end-user industries' as a primary catalyst for TIC adoption, and 2024 field trials with Kobe Steel reduced inspection travel days by more than 7,400, according to the firm's internal sustainability report. Data pipelines are expanding in parallel. Instead of forwarding PDF reports, labs increasingly stream encrypted measurement data directly into manufacturers' product lifecycle management systems, enabling rule-based alerts whenever a critical parameter drifts outside tolerance. Such machine-readable certificates support rapid re-certification each time firmware updates hit connected devices—an essential feature now that the average consumer robot in Japan receives eight over-the-air updates annually. Furthermore, blockchain-anchored seals, championed by JQA's 'CertChain' pilot, are gaining traction because Customs can verify origin and compliance in seconds. By converting physical inspection events into digital twins, the Japan testing, inspection & certification market is turning compliance evidence into continuous, queryable datasets that both auditors and design engineers can exploit for faster remedial action. Automotive Electrification Creates New High-Voltage and Cybersecurity Testing Requirements Landscape Japan's accelerating shift toward battery-electric mobility is forcing automakers to confront unfamiliar verification regimes. The 2024 amendment to the Road Transport Vehicle Act obliges every new zero-emission model to undergo high-voltage safety tests that simulate crush, submersion, and thermal-runaway events. Consequently, UL Solutions invested in an additional 13 battery abuse chambers at its Ise plant, doubling throughput for nail-penetration and salt-spray protocols. Meanwhile, the UN-R155 and R156 regulations on vehicle cybersecurity and software updates became mandatory for all new type approvals issued after July 2024, pushing OEMs to seek third-party penetration testing and secure-coding assessments. Technavio specifically names 'automotive industry adoption' as a growth lever for the Japan testing, inspection & certification market. Tier-one suppliers are also feeling the heat. Inverters, on-board chargers, and even pedestrian warning speakers must now meet electromagnetic compatibility thresholds tailored for densely populated urban corridors, where electromagnetic interference can disrupt railway signaling. Toyota's 2023 recall of nearly 22,000 BZ4X units due to hub-bolt issues demonstrated how electrification's novel stresses can create cascading mechanical failures; post-mortem analysis revealed that more rigorous fatigue testing under regenerative-braking loads might have pre-empted the problem. As a result, market demand has shifted toward scenario-based durability rigs that replicate high-torque oscillations unique to electric drivetrains. Through such specialized capability build-outs, the Japan testing, inspection & certification market is reinforcing the nation's ambition to maintain its global reputation for road-safety excellence even as propulsion architectures evolve. Semiconductor Resurgence Drives Cleanroom Metrology and Reliability Certification Boom Demand Japan's semiconductor renaissance—propelled by the new fab clusters in Kumamoto and Hokkaido—is reverberating through the Japan testing, inspection & certification market. Rapidus, Sony, and TSMC jointly plan to employ more than 1,500 EUV steppers by 2029, a scale that multiplies cleanroom qualification demands. Airborne molecular contamination now has to be kept below one part per trillion for lithography bays, and third-party labs equipped with dynamic surface-acoustic-wave sensors offer the independent verification needed for project-finance drawdowns. Technavio observes that TIC providers are benefitting from 'increasing capital expenditure in high-tech manufacturing. Beyond pristine environments, chip makers face reliability hurdles as line widths approach two nanometers. JEDEC's JESD-47 stress tests still form the baseline, yet automotive customers increasingly request up to three thousand hours of high-temperature operating life testing, double the former norm. In 2023, Renesas documented a fifty percent jump in accelerated-aging lot submissions, driving labs to extend burn-in ovens and implement real-time, AI-driven anomaly detection that flags drift within minutes. Additionally, geopolitical scrutiny around advanced node exports has given rise to export-control attestation services, where auditors verify that process recipes can't be repurposed for dual-use applications. Collectively, those forces are turning the Japan testing, inspection & certification market into an indispensable enabler of the archipelago's ambitions to regain forefront status in semiconductor innovation. Renewable Energy Expansion Underpins Turbine Blade Inspection And Grid Conformity The rush to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030 adds fresh momentum to the Japan testing, inspection & certification market. Japan's first commercial-scale project at Akita-Noshiro experienced stress-corrosion cracks on two twenty-three-ton blades after only six months at sea, prompting METI to issue new fatigue-test guidelines anchored in North-Sea exposure data. SGS immediately upgraded its Yokohama facility with a 110-meter blade fatigue rig that can simulate two decades of cyclic loading within one calendar year. Technavio attributes part of the market's growth to 'increased focus on renewable energy assets'. Grid-side certification needs are rising too. DER penetration above seven gigawatts has intensified harmonic distortion, and the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators now obliges photovoltaic inverters larger than ten kilowatts to undergo third-party electromagnetic compatibility testing before grid connection. TIC firms answer with mobile Power Hardware-in-the-Loop platforms that validate control algorithms under real-time fault conditions. Moreover, hydrogen electrolyzer pilots in Fukushima require material testing for hydrogen-induced cracking, spawning collaborations between domestic universities and global TIC majors. These specialized services broaden the Japan testing, inspection & certification market beyond conventional sectors, ensuring that the nation's decarbonization roadmap is underpinned by verifiable safety and performance evidence. Food Safety Culture Intensifies Traceability Audits From Farm To Convenience Konbini chains restock shelves every four hours, compressing the farm-to-fork timeline and elevating contamination risks. After the 2023 norovirus outbreak traced to pre-cut lettuce affected 4,500 consumers, the Ministry of Health imposed lot-based QR traceability for all ready-to-eat produce, a move immediately cited by Technavio as driving demand for testing services. Laboratories now receive approximately 18,000 leafy-green samples weekly during peak harvest, deploying next-generation sequencing that can profile entire microbial communities within six hours. Beyond pathogens, residue limits on neonicotinoids were tightened in April 2024, compelling growers to adopt rapid liquid chromatography protocols before shipment. Convenience-store operators then verify incoming loads through surprise audits that scan pesticide certificates against cloud registries maintained by JFRL and BML Food Science. The layered approach creates a continuous audit chain that the Japan testing, inspection & certification market is uniquely positioned to orchestrate. Service providers package ISO 22000 assessments, cold-chain data-logger calibration, and allergen-label validation into unified contracts, ensuring smallholder farms without in-house labs avoid compliance gaps. As Japanese consumers increasingly equate QR transparency with brand trust, granular verification services are evolving from regulatory necessity into competitive differentiators. Medical Device Innovation Introduces Biocompatibility And AI Software Validation Challenges Japan's medical-device pipeline filed 3,218 Shonin approvals in 2023, the highest count on record. Surgically implanted polymers utilizing bio-resorbable magnesium alloys now require extended hemocompatibility assays, stretching beyond ISO 10993-4's standard twenty-four-hour window to one-week perfusion studies. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency added a 'materials with absorbable intent' category in its July 2024 guidance, directly increasing laboratory throughput. Technavio references 'high complexity in medical device testing' as a contributor to market momentum. Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) adds an additional layer. Algorithms that screen diabetic retinopathy captured nearly 2.6 million Japanese eyes last year, but the PMDA's new AI reliability framework mandates continuous learning controls and post-market model drift audits. TIC providers respond with MLOps-for-compliance platforms that freeze training datasets, document hyperparameter tuning, and replay inference scenarios. Cybersecurity norms, synchronized with IEC 81001-5-1, further compel penetration testing every time a patch is released. By integrating wet-lab biocompatibility, software validation, and cybersecurity audits, the Japan testing, inspection & certification market supplies a holistic gatekeeper function that prevents innovative healthcare solutions from stalling under regulatory complexity. Want to validate these findings with an industry expert? Request a free expert call or a detailed walkthrough with our analyst : Competitive Landscape Evolves With Localized Labs And Strategic Global Alliances Escalating technical demands are reshaping vendor strategies within the Japan testing, inspection & certification market. Global majors—SGS, TÜV SÜD, and Bureau Veritas—have shifted from representative offices to majority-owned laboratories, investing in equipment aligned with domestic standards such as JISC C 8714 for large-format batteries. Concurrently, Japanese incumbents like JQA and JET form cross-licensing pacts so that a certificate issued in Kitakyushu is recognized in Düsseldorf, compressing export lead times for clients. Technavio confirms that 'intense competitive rivalry' characterizes the market today. Amid that rivalry, specialization remains the differentiator. DEKRA's newly inaugurated Yokohama e-mobility center focuses solely on functional safety for ISO 26262 parts, whereas KHK's Nagoya hub certifies only pressure vessels above one hundred liters. Start-ups join the fray as well: Kyoto-based PicarroSense applies cavity ring-down spectroscopy to methane-leak audits for LNG terminals, reducing detection thresholds fivefold. By co-locating niche expertise near manufacturing hotspots, participants lower sample logistics costs and respond faster to unplanned retests. Looking forward, expect more joint ventures where foreign players supply proprietary test protocols while domestic firms contribute regulatory fluency. Such synergies ensure the Japan testing, inspection & certification market remains agile, comprehensive, and responsive to the nation's fast-moving industrial transformation. Japan Testing, Inspection & Certification Market Major Players: SGS SA Bureau Veritas SA Intertek Group plc DEKRA SE DNV TÜV SÜD TUV Rheinland AG Cotecna Inspection Japan Co., Ltd. AmSpec Group Apave Japan Co.,Ltd American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) UL LLC Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA) Japan Testing Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JTL) Japan Inspection Co. Ltd. Other Prominent players Key Segmentation: By Service Type Testing Services Inspection Services Certification Services Training Consultancy By Solution Type In-house Services Outsource Services By Application Quality and Safety Production Evaluation Industrial Inspection System Certification Others By End User Consumer Goods & Retail Food & Agriculture Oil & Gas Construction & Engineering Water and Wastewater Education Energy & Chemistry Industrial Product Manufacturing Transportation (Rail & Aerospace) and Tourism Automotive Other Need More Info? 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Auto Blog
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Honda Delays Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant Plans Amid Market Shifts
Honda has decided to scale back and delay its plans for a new hydrogen fuel cell production plant in Japan, citing shifts in the global hydrogen market. Originally intended to start operations by 2028 with an output of 30,000 units a year, the facility in Moka City will now launch later and with a reduced capacity. Honda will also forgo a substantial government subsidy tied to those targets. This isn't just a case of supply chain tweaks or cautious planning. It marks a noticeable cooling of Honda's once-enthusiastic hydrogen ambitions — and reflects wider headwinds facing the fuel cell sector as a whole. Source: Copyright 2015 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Global Hype Meets Global Headwinds Honda was among the earliest champions of hydrogen tech, unveiling its first fuel cell concept more than three decades ago and releasing the Clarity Fuel Cell sedan in the mid-2010s. But despite years of development, mass adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles has remained elusive. Infrastructure has lagged. Costs remain high. And the dominance of battery-electric vehicles — from Teslas to BYDs — has made fuel cells look increasingly niche. Even Toyota, another vocal hydrogen proponent, is putting greater emphasis on hybrid and BEV models, while Hyundai's hydrogen truck plans have slowed. Against that backdrop, Honda's decision to delay its fuel cell rollout — and step back from Japan's METI subsidy scheme — sends a clear signal: the hydrogen timeline is slipping. Source: Honda No More Fast-Track, No More Subsidy Honda had been preparing the Moka City site for production of its next-generation fuel cell module, independently developed and planned for use in four domains: fuel cell vehicles, commercial trucks, stationary power generators, and construction machinery. The facility was supposed to be a flagship — a sign that Honda's hydrogen plans were maturing. But the revised production timeline now pushes it beyond the 2028 subsidy deadline and below the 20,000-unit annual output threshold required to qualify. Rather than adjust the project to fit, Honda has opted out of the programme entirely. Still Talking Big — But Moving Cautiously In its official statement, Honda reiterated its long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality across all products and corporate activities by 2050. Hydrogen, it says, remains a part of that strategy. But the language has shifted from bold commitments to tempered caution. Honda still sees hydrogen as one of its 'core businesses,' but its actions suggest a more pragmatic approach — keeping the tech alive without overcommitting capital in an uncertain market. In short: the fuel cell dream isn't dead. But it's not exactly on a fast charge either.
