Latest news with #METI
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Japan designates two Hokkaido sites for offshore wind auctions
TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Japan's industry and land ministers on Wednesday designated Matsumae and Hiyama, areas off the northern island of Hokkaido, as promotion zones for upcoming offshore wind power auctions, aiming to bolster the country's renewable energy goals. The government will develop guidelines for the use of the zones and launch a public tender to choose operators for energy projects, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) said in a joint statement. However, no timeline for the next auction was provided. Japan aims to have 45 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is essential to cutting the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation, reducing its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and bolstering national security. But progress has stalled following three major rounds of auctions. Trading house Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), opens new tab, the winner in the government's first major auction in 2021, cautioned in February that surging costs had forced it to review its plans. Japan is likely to sweeten terms for developers to build a massive offshore wind farm sector, industry insiders say, as it looks to put its energy ambitions back on track against a worldwide slump of projects hit by soaring costs and delays.
CNA
6 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Nippon Steel to supply steel for Vestas wind towers for Europe, Asia and Japan
TOKYO :Nippon Steel signed a cooperation memorandum with Denmark's wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems on Wednesday to supply steel for Vestas' wind towers for European, Asian and Japanese markets, Japan's industry ministry said. The agreement was part of a broader push by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to strengthen the supply chain for wind generation in the country where renewables are key to reducing import costs and dependency on fossil fuels. Offshore wind is a pillar of Japan's renewable energy strategy, but the country remains heavily reliant on imported wind turbines and components. Vestas has a number of contracts in Japan, including for a 375-megawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of Happo-Noshiro in Akita prefecture in northern Japan to be built by Eneos Corp, Iberdrola and Tohoku Electric Power. In June, METI announced a cooperation framework with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for the offshore wind sector. Siemens Gamesa, the wind turbine division of Siemens Energy, agreed a deal with Japanese electronic parts maker TDK for magnets to supply the wind turbines. METI launched a similar framework with GE Vernova, a major U.S. energy equipment company, to promote public-private cooperation in wind power, hydrogen and ammonia among other areas. Japan aims to achieve 45 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040 to reduce its reliance on imported coal and gas for power generation. But, its plans have stalled despite three major rounds of auctions, due to soaring costs and delays.
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Nippon Steel to supply steel for Vestas wind towers for Europe, Asia and Japan
TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel (5401.T), opens new tab signed a cooperation memorandum with Denmark's wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems ( opens new tab on Wednesday to supply steel for Vestas' wind towers for European, Asian and Japanese markets, Japan's industry ministry said. The agreement was part of a broader push by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to strengthen the supply chain for wind generation in the country where renewables are key to reducing import costs and dependency on fossil fuels. Offshore wind is a pillar of Japan's renewable energy strategy, but the country remains heavily reliant on imported wind turbines and components. Vestas has a number of contracts in Japan, including for a 375-megawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of Happo-Noshiro in Akita prefecture in northern Japan to be built by Eneos Corp (5020.T), opens new tab, Iberdrola ( opens new tab and Tohoku Electric Power (9506.T), opens new tab. In June, METI announced a cooperation framework with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for the offshore wind sector. Siemens Gamesa, the wind turbine division of Siemens Energy ( opens new tab, agreed a deal with Japanese electronic parts maker TDK (6762.T), opens new tab for magnets to supply the wind turbines. METI launched a similar framework with GE Vernova (GEV.N), opens new tab, a major U.S. energy equipment company, to promote public-private cooperation in wind power, hydrogen and ammonia among other areas. Japan aims to achieve 45 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040 to reduce its reliance on imported coal and gas for power generation. But, its plans have stalled despite three major rounds of auctions, due to soaring costs and delays.
Bangkok Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Banpu Next aiming to expand beyond Japan
Banpu Next, the energy technology arm of energy conglomerate Banpu Plc, is planning to expand its battery energy storage system into Asia-Pacific nations other than Japan where it has established a battery farm to support the state grid, which increasingly depends on renewable power. Known as BESS, a battery energy storage system holds electricity from the sun and wind, which are intermittent sources of energy generation depending on weather conditions and seasons. Banpu Next sees potential in the BESS business enhancing grid stability and supporting power trade in countries that promote more use of clean energy, said chief executive Smittipon Srethapramote. The company, through subsidiary Banpu Japan, started the operation of a 58-megawatt-hour BESS farm in the city of Tono last month. The facility is designed to supply electricity to 5,800 houses. "We set a goal to develop more BESS farms, bringing total capacity to 1 gigawatt-hour throughout Japan by 2030," said Mr Smittipon. "We are also seeking new opportunities to invest in this business in other Asia-Pacific countries." BESS development aligns with the Japanese government's decarbonisation campaign. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) grants subsidies to investors venturing into BESS projects in the country. Last year the METI launched a programme to support large-scale BESS installations, especially those linked with solar farms, to ensure renewable power will be smoothly supplied to customers. Banpu Next is among the companies receiving financial assistance from the Japanese authorities. The company is developing three other BESS projects in Japan, scheduled to start commercial operations by 2028. They include a 104-MWh battery farm in Tsuno in Miyazaki prefecture. The project, co-invested by Banpu Japan, lending firm Fuyo General Lease and Global Engineering, costs 1.3 billion baht. METI offers a subsidy worth 450 million baht for the installation. Another project is a 104-MWh battery farm in Aizu in Fukushima prefecture. The project requires 1.2 billion baht in investment and is partly funded by 400 million baht from METI.
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Business Standard
23-07-2025
- 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.
