A government panel of experts has largely supported Japan’s new energy policy, which aims to meet growing power demands by expanding renewables to 40-50% of electricity needs and increasing nuclear power’s share to 20% by 2040.
The proposal, which is set for Cabinet approval by March, calls for reversing the phaseout of nuclear energy adopted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The plan also targets reducing coal-fired power to 30-40% from nearly 70% in 2023.
The policy emphasizes the need for both renewables and nuclear to secure Japan’s energy future, particularly with growing demand from AI data centres and semiconductor factories.
Industry Minister Yoji Muto stressed that Japan must not rely too heavily on any single energy source.
The plan also calls for accelerating the restart of reactors that meet safety standards and building next-generation reactors at decommissioning plants. However, experts have raised concerns over the feasibility of meeting the 20% nuclear target by 2040 due to slow safety checks and the limited number of reactors currently in service.
The draft policy also includes goals for next-generation energy sources, such as solar batteries, and outlines risk scenarios, including potential challenges with renewable investment.
Japan is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 73% reduction in emissions by 2040 compared to 2013 levels.