The world is currently grappling with an energy crisis exacerbated by climate change, prompting nations to develop effective strategies for transitioning to sustainable energy sourcesAs countries seek to forge these paths, one must look to Japan as a prime example from which China and others might draw valuable insights.
At the recent 11th International Clean Energy Forum, Zhou Jie, the Director of the Global Carbon Neutrality Research Institute (Macau) and Secretary-General of the forum, highlighted the critical importance of energy transition in achieving the dual carbon goals aimed at achieving carbon neutralityZhou emphasized that while the global pursuit of carbon neutrality poses numerous challenges, Japan’s approach to energy security, stability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability serves as a model for balancing these needs through technological innovation.
Japan is a resource-scarce country that has long faced significant hurdles in energy supply
Despite its heavy reliance on energy imports, Japan has strategically diversified its energy sources and embraced technological innovation to navigate its energy challenges successfullyZhou pointed out that Japan's experiences offer essential lessons for China as it looks to fulfill its own carbon reduction objectives and pioneer a path toward energy transformation that aligns with national circumstances.
Central to Japan’s long-term low-emission strategy is a commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. This ambitious goal aims for an early realization of "decarbonization" targets within the latter half of this centuryFollowing the Paris Agreement, Japan has notably accelerated the pace at which it innovates in decarbonization technologies.
As part of this effort, Japan has delineated its roadmap for achieving decarbonization through five core innovative directions: building a zero-carbon electricity supply system centered on non-fossil energy technology, creating a smart energy system based on energy internet technology, establishing a carbon recycling system underpinned by carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, and fostering a natural ecological balance system through zero-carbon agricultural, forestry, and fishery technologies.
The comprehensive strategy for Japan's energy transition encompasses three primary pillars: enhancing energy efficiency and deep energy savings; expanding the share of zero-carbon power by aggressively developing renewable energy sources and increasing the contribution of nuclear power; and promoting decarbonization in traditional power generation sectors with a focus on hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon-neutral fuels
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Additionally, the strategy incorporates promoting energy efficiency in industrial and residential buildings, advancing the proliferation of electric vehicles, developing distributed energy systems, reforming the electricity market, and enhancing international cooperation—all of which collectively propel the energy transition.
Technological innovation stands as the cornerstone of the global energy transformation movementNations worldwide are accelerating the development of renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, and advanced battery storage systemsThese technological advancements are essential not only for improving energy efficiency but also for significantly reducing global carbon emissions.
Zhou pointed out that the synergy and advancement of these technologies signal a radical shift toward a more sustainable and low-carbon global energy systemHe explained that Japan provides a distinctive perspective on driving technological innovation—achieved through collaboration between public and private sectors and substantial investment in research and development—particularly in vital sectors like solar power, lithium-ion batteries, and hydrogen technology.
Hydrogen energy is playing an increasingly critical role in the current global context of energy transition and crises, serving as a clean and efficient secondary energy source, a flexible and intelligent energy carrier, and a low-carbon industrial raw material
Over 160 countries have declared carbon neutrality targets, positioning hydrogen as a key tool for achieving these goals.
In recent years, the significance of hydrogen has also started to emerge within China’s energy development strategyHowever, challenges remain, as China's hydrogen industry policies are still evolving, resulting in a relatively weak industrial foundationZhou noted that Japan, as a significant energy consumer, has invested years into developing its hydrogen industry and now possesses a relatively comprehensive policy framework and established industrial base.
Japan's focus on hydrogen production technology primarily revolves around hydrogen extraction from Australian brown coal and local renewable energy through water electrolysisIn terms of storage and transportation technologies, Japan favors liquid hydrogen technologies while also exploring high-pressure hydrogen storage among other methods
Ultimately, pure hydrogen fuel cell technology is poised to become a pivotal part of Japan's future thermal power strategy, necessitating solutions to stabilize combustion processesOverall, improving energy efficiency and lowering costs will be crucial for establishing a well-integrated hydrogen energy industry.
The heating demands of Japan’s industrial and residential sectors account for roughly 60% of final energy consumption, where sectors with high-temperature needs typically depend on fossil fuel combustion, making electric alternatives difficult to implementTherefore, Japan's strategy proposes promoting hydrogen and synthetic fuels as substitutes while simultaneously expanding natural gas consumption to drive its own decarbonizationSpecifically, Japan plans to introduce 1% synthetic methane into its natural gas pipelines by 2030, projected to reduce carbon emissions by 5%. By 2050, the share of synthetic methane is expected to reach 90%, fully achieving carbon neutrality in gas consumption, with production scales hitting approximately 2,500 tons per year—all at current natural gas prices.
Despite being the world's third-largest economy, the fourth-largest energy consumer, and the fifth-largest carbon emitter, Japan continues to face challenges related to energy supply chains, technology gaps, and carbon emission reductions