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“Energiewende” in Japan? IÖW Presents Value-Added Model in Tokyo

Is the “Energiewende” conceivable in Japan? A shift towards renewable energy would certainly make sense economically and be less dangerous – the Fukushima disaster has shown this. At the German-Japanese conference “Economic Effects of Renewable Energy” at Ritsumeikan University in Tokyo on February 4th, IÖW scientists Andreas Prahl and Steven Salecki presented the IÖW Value-Added Model for renewables. The conference was hosted by Prof. Jörg Raupach-Sumiya of the Faculty of Economics of Ritsumeikan University in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung and the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP).

The IÖW presents an analysis of the value-added potential of renewables in Japan

IÖW energy expert Steven Salecki gave a detailed overview over the IÖW Value-Added Model for renewables. The model was created in 2010 and has since been developed and used successfully in regional studies. In addition, Salecki presented the results of a Germany-wide projection of the economic effects of renewables and demonstrated which actors benefited to which extent. 

The 40 mostly Japanese participants quickly realised that not just the decentralised nature of renewables but also their profitability offer economic opportunities for many regional players, not to mention the Japanese export industry. In conclusion, Professor Raupach-Sumiya of Ritsumeikan University presented the calculation of the value-added and employment effects of Japan’s renewable energy facilities which he carried out in cooperation with the IÖW and illustrated the potential of these technologies using the example of the Fukushima region.

Japan in Transition

In Japan, interest in renewable energy has been increasing markedly since the Fukushima disaster. Although the government still favours nuclear power, more and more cities and local communities are starting to build their future on decentralised energy systems.

The city of Minamisoma in the Fukushima region is partly situated in the 20 km exclusion zone around the destroyed nuclear reactor, and likewise large parts of the city were destroyed by the tsunami. It is exactly here that the first solar park has gone online, the Minamisoma Solar Agripark. Beside solar energy, the park offers school pupils the opportunity to find out more about how renewable energy works and discover that this energy does not produce any harmful gases or radiation. The project is popular in the Japanese media and is seen as a role-model project for the development of renewables in the region. During a town meeting the mayor and citizens of Minamisoma stressed the importance of rethinking Japan’s energy strategy.

Community Power Conference 2014

Already in the run-up to the conference in Tokyo IÖW energy experts Steven Salecki and Andreas Prahl exchanged ideas with the participants of the 4th “Community Power Conference 2014’” in Fukushima on 1st and 2nd February on how to facilitate the development of renewable energy.

Andreas Prahl presented up-to-date results of the IÖW Value-Added Model for Germany and participated in a panel discussion on the potential of sustainable economic development in local communities.

Together with other participants from Germany and Japan he emphasised the positive economic effects of renewables on the Fukushima region.

In conclusion, Tetsunari Iida, director of the ISEP, presented the Fukushima Community Power Declaration, which shows important benchmarks in the transition of the Japanese energy system. The regional character of the supply of renewables, together with self-determination, independence and democratic governance, were all highlighted as aspects of the departure from dependence on fossil and nuclear supply structures. Finally, the participants of the conference presented their results and impressions at a round table to members of the Japanese parliament. The bottom line: in many countries the “Energiewende” is already going well and plenty of projects exist that can serve Japan as good examples of how to organize its own historic departure from nuclear power. At the same time, Japanese actors emphasised that there are still many considerable obstacles that have to be overcome.

The mayor of the Fukushima region has pledged to switch the energy system completely to renewable energy by 2040. Currently the region receives 22 % of its primary energy from renewables.

More on the IÖW Value-Added ModelFurther Information on the Community Power Conference 2014Article on the IÖW Value-Added Mode