On May 21, 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced that the Roundtable Panel for the Post-2020 Infrastructure Systems Export Strategy had published its interim report. The interim report includes the results of discussions from the two sessions held by the panel on April 24, 2020 and May 11, 2020. The panel discussed Japan’s current position in the global market. The panel also discussed strategies for promoting the export of electricity and energy infrastructure systems moving forward, considering the global economy, environmental issues, and the new challenges introduced by COVID-19. The panel consists of members from industry, government, and experts in the fields.
The report noted that access to a stable electricity supply is increasing in global importance. In the short-term, the outbreak of COVID-19 has accelerated the digitalization of society as more people work remotely and rely on online services, which has increased the demand for electricity. In the medium to long term, the electricity demand will continue to grow primarily in the Asia Pacific due to regional population and economic growth.
There will be a shift to renewable energy and distributed energy resources globally. However, it is expected that many emerging countries will continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet their electricity demand. The report also noted that the market environment for sustainable energy solutions will become increasingly competitive as the interest in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) rises.
Recognizing the increasing competition in the global market, the report provided a potential approach for the Japanese government and industry to support energy and electricity infrastructure systems exports. It addressed the importance of strengthening public and private partnerships in order to put forward projects that cater towards each country’s energy and sustainability goals in terms of technology solutions, infrastructure, capacity building, and financing. The report recommends that Japanese industry members should accelerate their renewable energy systems exports and focus on Japan’s competitive areas, such as offshore wind and consumer energy solutions. The report also identified other potential areas for opportunities, including hydrogen utilization, CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage), energy efficiency, and advanced coal fired technologies.[1] [2] [3]
[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2020/05/20200521001/20200521001-1.pdf
[2] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2020/05/20200521001/20200521001.html
[3] https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2020/0521_003.html