According to annual wildfire mitigation plans filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on February 5, 2021, PG&E, Edison International's Southern California Edison (SCE) and Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) plan to spend $15 billion in 2021 and 2022 to reduce the risk of live wires sparking wildfires.[1] The CPUC began requiring utilities to file annual wildfire mitigation plans after power lines ignited a series of fires in 2017 and 2018. PG&E’s 2021 plan will cost $5 billion in 2021 and $5.2 billion in 2022. The utility will use a new fire risk model to prioritize its wildfire mitigation work, including system hardening and tree trimming. SCE plan outlines strategies such as installing an additional 1,000 to 1,400 miles of insulated powerlines and installing 375 weather stations in its service territory. SCE expects to spend $3.5 billion in 2021 and 2022. SDG&E plans to spend over $646 million in 2021 and nearly $670 million in 2022 on wildfire mitigation. The utility will continue with many of the programs it initiated last year, including expanding outreach to vulnerable communities and strengthening data collection and analyses processes. All three utilities aim to reduce the impact of public safety power shut-offs (PSPS) on their customers.
[USA] MISO study concludes 50% renewables in region is achievable but challenging
On February 10, 2021, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), an Independent System Operator (ISO) that monitors the electric grid in 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba, published its Renewable Integration Impact Assessment (RIIA).[1] RIIA’s purpose was to better understand the long-term impacts of renewable energy growth in the Eastern Interconnection bulk electric systems with a focus on the MISO footprint, provide examples of integration issues, and examine potential solutions to mitigate them. The report examined renewable penetration levels in 10% increments up to 50%. As of 2021, about 13% of MISO’s systemwide energy is generated from renewables, including 26 GW of wind and 1 GW of solar. There are agreements in place for an additional 6GW of wind and 10GW of solar, bringing renewables penetration up to 20% of total energy. MISO predicts that 30% renewable penetration could be achieved by 2026.
RIIA found that renewable penetration under 30% would be manageable within MISO’s existing framework. However, beyond 30%, transformative thinking and coordinated action between MISO and its stakeholders will be required to manage the challenges associated with renewable penetration such as resource adequacy and reliability. The report also notes that renewable growth is not happening uniformly and nearly 80% of renewable resources in MISO are in the northwest region of its footprint, which concentrates current integration challenges to one area. Reaching 30% penetration, though, would mean that those challenges will be system wide. The study concluded that 50% renewable penetration is achievable, but will require changes in planning, operations, and markets to accommodate more variable energy sources.
[1] https://cdn.misoenergy.org/RIIA%20Summary%20Report520051.pdf
[USA] National Academies report maps path to zero-carbon goa
On February 2, 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), a private, nonprofit organization of researchers, released a report that provides a road map for achieving a carbon-free economy by 2050.[1] The report estimates that by decarbonizing, the U.S. economy could add 1-2 million jobs and Americans could be paying roughly the same share of income for energy as they do today due to declining costs for technology. The report notes that the road map is "technologically feasible… But it is on the edge of feasibility” and that the plan may not be as feasible politically.
Under the road map, direct federal budget support for clean energy would total $350 billion over 10 years. The report identified 5 technology goals: 1) get to 75% of energy from non-carbon emitting sources by 2030, 2) reduce energy use by new buildings by 50% by 2030, 3)50% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030, 4) increase transmission capacity by about 40% by 2030, and 5) triple federal investment in research development, and demonstration (RD&D) of emerging technologies such as advanced nuclear reactors, carbon capture and sequestration, and hydrogen fuel. The report also proposes policy actions necessary to benefit affected communities, workers hit with job losses, and lower-income families. The report proposes a federal green bank which could provide funding for economic redevelopment. The report also recommends the adoption of a $40 per ton carbon tax, increasing by 5% annually, with rebates to protect lower income customers.
[1] https://www.nap.edu/resource/25932/interactive/index.html#tech-goals
[Japan] Japanese energy minister says nuclear critical to hitting 2050 net zero goal
In an interview with the Financial Times published on February 1, 2021, Japan’s Minister for economy, trade, and industry Hiroshi Kajiyama said nuclear power will be crucial for meeting Japan’s energy goals and that the energy shortages this winter have helped to shift public debate over the nuclear sector.[1] In October 2020, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan will aim to be net-zero emissions by 2050. Analysis by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has found that it will be hard to supply more than 60% of Japan’s electricity needs from renewables. The country’s lack of flat empty land for solar panels and its deep oceans that raise the cost of offshore wind “mean it is not as easy to introduce renewables as in Europe or North America,” said Kajiyama.
Prior to the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan's nuclear generating capacity provided around 30% of the country's electricity. However, most of Japan’s nuclear generation has laid dormant pending regulatory change and just 9 of the country’s 33 operable reactors have been restarted. Another 16 reactors have applied to restart and two reactors under construction are under review, but opinion polls show continuing opposition to the industry. Kajiyama, who has previously worked in the nuclear industry, said, "Personally, I think nuclear power will be indispensable." Kajiyama described Japan’s electricity supply as “touch-and-go” during heavy snowfall in January 2021, saying, “Solar wasn’t generating. Wind wasn’t generating.” The issue in a portion of customers experiencing high electricity bills due to tight energy supplies in the country and the subsequent soaring wholesale power market prices. “I’m trying to persuade everybody that in the end we need nuclear power,” he said.
[1] https://www.ft.com/content/47b189de-bb5e-409b-87b9-86405661fc03
[USA] Supreme court to hear PennEast pipeline case on eminent domain
On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a 2019 ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prevented PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC from suing New Jersey to seize 42 parcels of state-owned land to build a 116-mile natural gas pipeline between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.[1] Under a provision in the U.S. Natural Gas Act (NGA), pipeline companies can use the federal government’s eminent domain power. After gaining approval for the pipeline from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2018, PennEast sued to gain access to land that is either owned or partially controlled by New Jersey. The 3rd Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia, found that while the AGA lets companies use eminent domain, it does not allow them to sue states to enforce that power. The panel cited the 11th Amendment of the Constitution, which limits the situations in which private entities can sue states without their consent. In recent friend of the court briefs, PennEast and other industry groups claim that the 3rd Circuit decision overturned precedent and would be disruptive to the energy industry.[2] The Supreme court will hear arguments in April 2021, with a ruling likely by late June 2021.
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-appeal-from-penneast-pipeline
[Japan] Tohoku Electric Power Began Adopting Non-Firm Grid Connection Method to Adapt to Increase the Use of Renewable Energy
On January 13, 2021, Tohoku Electric Power (Tohoku, Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture) announced it has adopted a non-firm grid connection method to give operators more flexibility to control the power output generated from renewable energy generation, in order to better deal with increased sources of renewable energy. The grid connection is a method of connecting and accessing new energy sources by utilizing the free available capacity of power transmission and transformation equipment, including transmission lines. The non-firm method also allows operators to curtail their output, along with their capacity status, even in normal times.[1] The Japanese government has directed all of its transmission and distribution operators to begin to adopt the non-firm method from January 13, 2021. As part of the government’s directive, Tohoku decided to adopt the method for its bulk-power systems with 500kV and 270kV, in order to optimize the management of the power generated by renewable resources.
The Subcommittee on the Introduction of Renewable Energy and Next-Generation Power Network[2], developed by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Wide-Area System Maintenance Committee[3] of the Organization for Cross-Regional Coordination of Transmission Operators, Japan (OCCTO, Headquarters: Tokyo), have studied the non-firm grid connections and have promoted the adoption of this method. Based on their findings, Tohoku has therefore decided to utilize the non-firm grid connection method. Tohoku will make an announcement once the method has been adapted to Tohoku’s systems.[4]
[1] https://nw.tohoku-epco.co.jp/news/normal/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2021/01/13/21011302.pdf
[2] https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/enecho/denryoku_gas/saisei_kano/index.html
[3] https://www.occto.or.jp/iinkai/kouikikeitouseibi/
[4] https://nw.tohoku-epco.co.jp/news/normal/1218240_2394.html
[Japan] Chugoku Electric Power Invested in Live Smart KK
Chugoku Electric Power (EnerGia, Headquarters: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref.) announced on January 14, 2021 that it has invested in Live Smart KK (Live Smart, Headquarters: Tokyo), a venture company established in 2016 that provides smart home devices and service platforms based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to support customers’ convenient and comfortable living. The investment amount has not been disclosed. This is the fifth time that EnerGia has invested in a start-up company.
A smart remote controller developed by Live Smart can control a wide variety of home appliances and equipment. Through EnerGia’s IoT platform, the controller can provide users with various AI-powered energy management services, such as setting individualized preferences for air conditioners.
Smartphones and smart speakers have become essential devices for many people, and the smart home market is expected to grow in the future. EnerGia sees this growth as an opportunity for Live Smart’s service platform, which can improve user’s lives and energy efficiency, to grow significantly in the future. Therefore, the company decided to invest in Live Smart and will consider future collaborations.[1]
[Japan] Tokyo Electric Power and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Launched a Joint Demonstration Test for a Renewable Energy Direct Current Power System in Chiba City
On January 14, 2021, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO, Headquarters: Tokyo) announced that its partner company, NTT Anode Energy (Headquarters: Tokyo), has launched a demonstration test for a renewable energy direct current (DC) power system in Chiba City. NTT Anode Energy is a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT, Headquarters: Tokyo), a Japanese telecommunications company that offers smart energy solutions. The project will also collaborate with TN Cross (Headquarters: Tokyo), jointly owned by TEPCO and NTT, which provides smart energy management systems.
The demonstration test is part of their pilot project “Toward the Realization of a Smart Energy City for Chiba City” which was launched in April 2020. The project is studying the following items:
1) Supporting the development of backup power systems at evacuation shelters,
2) Promoting the use of renewable energies and improve disaster resilience by utilizing the DC power system,
3) Maximizing the energy value through the effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in both normal times and emergencies.
The project aims to achieve the 2) goal above in order to support Chiba city’s transition to a smart city that promotes the introduction of renewable energies and enhance the disaster resilience. According to NTT Anode Energy, this is the first project of its kind to provide DC power from private companies and municipalities to off-site third parties’ facilities, using their own lines.
The test will install and use a 59 KW solar power generation system with 36 kWh storage batteries at an idle area of land owned by NTT East (Headquarters: Tokyo[1]). In the event of a power outage, Shirai Junior High School, one of Chiba city’s designated evacuation shelters, will be supplied with renewable energy generated by the installed equipment. The project will demonstrate and verify the operational procedure and the power quality of the power supply system for shelters during emergencies; the power supply system by solar power generation and energy storage battery for communications equipment in normal times; and the utilization of the power system with solar power generation with storage batteries during disasters.[2]
[1] https://www.ntt-east.co.jp/en/aboutus/profile.html
[2] https://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2021/1570026_8711.html
[Japan] Japanese energy minister says nuclear critical to hitting 2050 net zero goal
In an interview with the Financial Times published on February 1, 2021, Japan’s Minister for economy, trade, and industry Hiroshi Kajiyama said nuclear power will be crucial for meeting Japan’s energy goals and that the energy shortages this winter have helped to shift public debate over the nuclear sector.[1] In October 2020, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan will aim to be net-zero emissions by 2050. Analysis by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has found that it will be hard to supply more than 60% of Japan’s electricity needs from renewables. The country’s lack of flat empty land for solar panels and its deep oceans that raise the cost of offshore wind “mean it is not as easy to introduce renewables as in Europe or North America,” said Kajiyama.
Prior to the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan's nuclear generating capacity provided around 30% of the country's electricity. However, most of Japan’s nuclear generation has laid dormant pending regulatory change and just 9 of the country’s 33 operable reactors have been restarted. Another 16 reactors have applied to restart and two reactors under construction are under review, but opinion polls show continuing opposition to the industry. Kajiyama, who has previously worked in the nuclear industry, said, "Personally, I think nuclear power will be indispensable." Kajiyama described Japan’s electricity supply as “touch-and-go” during heavy snowfall in January 2021, saying, “Solar wasn’t generating. Wind wasn’t generating.” The issue in a portion of customers experiencing high electricity bills due to tight energy supplies in the country and the subsequent soaring wholesale power market prices. “I’m trying to persuade everybody that in the end we need nuclear power,” he said.
[1] https://www.ft.com/content/47b189de-bb5e-409b-87b9-86405661fc03
[USA] National Academies report maps path to zero-carbon goal
On February 2, 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), a private, nonprofit organization of researchers, released a report that provides a road map for achieving a carbon-free economy by 2050.[1] The report estimates that by decarbonizing, the U.S. economy could add 1-2 million jobs and Americans could be paying roughly the same share of income for energy as they do today due to declining costs for technology. The report notes that the road map is "technologically feasible… But it is on the edge of feasibility” and that the plan may not be as feasible politically.
Under the road map, direct federal budget support for clean energy would total $350 billion over 10 years. The report identified 5 technology goals: 1) get to 75% of energy from non-carbon emitting sources by 2030, 2) reduce energy use by new buildings by 50% by 2030, 3)50% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030, 4) increase transmission capacity by about 40% by 2030, and 5) triple federal investment in research development, and demonstration (RD&D) of emerging technologies such as advanced nuclear reactors, carbon capture and sequestration, and hydrogen fuel. The report also proposes policy actions necessary to benefit affected communities, workers hit with job losses, and lower-income families. The report proposes a federal green bank which could provide funding for economic redevelopment. The report also recommends the adoption of a $40 per ton carbon tax, increasing by 5% annually, with rebates to protect lower income customers.
[1] https://www.nap.edu/resource/25932/interactive/index.html#tech-goals
[USA] Supreme Court to hear PennEast pipeline case on eminent domain
On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a 2019 ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prevented PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC from suing New Jersey to seize 42 parcels of state-owned land to build a 116-mile natural gas pipeline between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.[1] Under a provision in the U.S. Natural Gas Act (NGA), pipeline companies can use the federal government’s eminent domain power. After gaining approval for the pipeline from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2018, PennEast sued to gain access to land that is either owned or partially controlled by New Jersey. The 3rd Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia, found that while the AGA lets companies use eminent domain, it does not allow them to sue states to enforce that power. The panel cited the 11th Amendment of the Constitution, which limits the situations in which private entities can sue states without their consent. In recent friend of the court briefs, PennEast and other industry groups claim that the 3rd Circuit decision overturned precedent and would be disruptive to the energy industry.[2] The Supreme court will hear arguments in April 2021, with a ruling likely by late June 2021.
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-03/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-appeal-from-penneast-pipeline
[USA] Colorado regulators approve Xcel’s $110 million transportation electrification plan
On January 11, 2021, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) formally approved Xcel Energy’s $110 million “2021-2023 Transportation Electrification Plan,” which includes installing approximately 20,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at residential, commercial, and public sites across Xcel's Colorado service territory.[1][2] Xcel’s plan, which was first filed in 2020, comes as a result of a bipartisan bill passed in 2019 that directed Colorado’s electric utilities to file applications to enable the deployment of EV charging stations and support EV adoption. Colorado has set a goal of having 940,000 EVs on the road by 2030 and Xcel has stated that their plan is designed to help the state achieve that goal. Xcel's plan includes an emphasis on ensuring EV adoption for all customers, with approximately 15% of the program budget directed toward equity-focused programs. The approved plan includes a $5 million pilot to provide rebates to income-qualified customers to support low-income adoption of EVs. Through this pilot, Xcel will offer upfront $5,500 rebates for new EV purchases and $3,000 for used EVs for qualifying customers. Xcel’s plan also includes adding programs and rates to help manage the new charging load. According to Utility Dive, Xcel's plan will add about 67 cents to monthly customer bills.
[1] https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI_Search_UI.Show_Decision?p_session_id=&p_dec=28011
[2] https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miles-muller/colorado-approves-110m-transportation-electrification-plan
[USA] EIA: Wind and solar will make up 70% of new capacity in 2021
According to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) update on the latest inventory of electricity generators, wind and solar will represent more than two-thirds of new energy production to come online in 2021, while battery storage capacity is set to quadruple over the next year.[1] 39.7 GW of new electricity generating capacity is set to start commercial operation in 2021. 15.4 GW of that capacity will be solar photovoltaic (PV), making it the largest source of new capacity at 39%. More than half of new utility-scale solar PV capacity is planned for four states: Texas (28%), Nevada (9%), California (9%), and North Carolina (7%). 12.2 GW of wind capacity is scheduled to come online in 2021, putting it at 31% of new capacity with more than half of additions in Texas and Oklahoma. This is a decrease from 2020, which saw 21 GW of wind come online. 4.3 GW of battery power capacity additions are expected to come online in 2021 which will more than quadruple battery storage capacity. About 3% of the new capacity in 2021 will come from the new nuclear reactor at the Vogtle power plant in Georgia. Planned natural gas capacity additions are set at 6.6 GW, with more than 70% of these planned additions in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
[USA] Gov. Cuomo announces largest procurement of offshore wind by a state
On January 13, 2020 during a multiday series of State of the State speeches, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) announced the largest award of offshore wind contracts by a U.S. state as part of the state’s broader plan to scale up renewable power over the next decade.[1] New York selected Equinor and incoming strategic partner bp to develop two new offshore wind farms about 20 miles off the coast of Long Island.[2] Empire Wind 2 will provide 1,260 MW of renewable offshore wind power and another 1,230 MW of power will come from Beacon Wind 1. Equinor has not released expected commercial operations dates for these projects, yet. Combined with Equinor’s existing commitment to provide 816 MW of renewable power from Empire Wind 1—expected to come online in 2024—Equinor will provide 3.3 GW of offshore wind power to New York. According to Cuomo, the newly announced wind farms will bring $8.9 billion in investment and create more than 5,200 jobs. Cuomo also announce that New York will contract 23 solar farms and one hydroelectric facility in 2021, which will produce more than 2,200 MW of clean power. When the large-scale renewable and offshore wind facilities are complete, more than half of the state’s electricity will come from renewable sources, putting the state ahead of schedule for reaching its goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
[1] https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2021-Announcements/2021-01-13-Governor-Cuomo-Outlines-2021-Agenda-Reimagine-Rebuild-Renew
[2] https://www.equinor.com/en/news/202101-us-offshore-wind.html
[Japan] Kyushu Electric Power and SB Power Launched a Joint Demonstration Test for a Demand Response Smartphone Service for Residential Customers
Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden, Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) and SB Power, a retail electric provider which is a subsidiary of the SoftBank Group (Headquarters: Tokyo), announced on December 17, 2020, that they have launched a joint demonstration test for a Demand Response (DR) Smartphone Service for residential customers.
The demonstration test will operate in FY2020 through SB Power's DR service for residential customers. The service is an AI-based demand forecasting system which utilizes electric energy data that is obtained every 30 minutes from Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture). Kyuden customers who have registered to join the demonstration test will use an app called Beautiful Life Plus DR, which was designed by SB Power and customized by Kyuden. As an incentive for customers to save energy through the program, the participants will receive PayPay Bonus, an e-payment credit to be utilized for shopping. The platform was provided by PayPay, a mobile payment provider jointly owned by SoftBank and Yahoo Japan (Headquarters: Tokyo).
DR has recently become more critical in Kyushu Prefecture due to the increase in the use of solar power generation, and the new DR service therefore aims to help optimize the local supply and demand balance of electricity. Kyuden and SB Power hope that the service will assist Kyuden to reduce its supply costs, while also helping customers to save energy and costs.[1]
[Japan] Federation of Electric Power Companies Established the 2050 Carbon Neutral Realization Promotion Committee
On December 18, 2020, the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC, Headquarters: Tokyo[1])[2] announced that it has established the 2050 Carbon Neutral Realization Promotion Committee. FEPC is an industry organization of the electric utilities in Japan that supports the harmonization of electric development planning. The committee will consider and discuss solutions to overcome various barriers for electric power businesses to achieve Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal, which was announced by the Suga administration in October 2020.
The Committee will discuss five significant issues for achieving carbon neutrality: 1) Maximizing the use of nuclear power; 2) Making renewable energy Japan’s main energy source; 3) Promoting the development of low-carbon thermal power generation and decarbonization technologies; 4) Innovating new technology development (technologies include hydrogen, ammonia, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)), carbon recycling, and next-generation furnaces); and 5) Promoting electrification. Based on the discussions, the committee will create and publish a roadmap and action plan.
The major members of the committee include Hokkaido Electric Power (HEPCO, Headquarters: Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture[3]), Tohoku Electric Power (Tohoku, Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture), Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO, Headquarters: Tokyo), Chubu Electric Power (Chuden, Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Pref.), Hokuriku Electric Power (Rikuden, Headquarters: Toyama City, Toyama Pref.), Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO, Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Pref.), Chugoku Electric Power (EnerGia, Headquarters: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref.), Shikoku Electric Power (Yonden, Headquarters: Takamatsu City, Kagawa Pref.), Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden, Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Pref.), Okinawa Electric Power (OEPC, Headquarters: Urasoe City, Okinawa Pref.), Japan Nuclear Fuel (JNFL, Headquarters: Aomori Pref.[4]), Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC, Headquarters: Tokyo), and J-Power (Headquarters: Tokyo).[5][6]
[1] https://www.fepc.or.jp/about_us/outline/soshiki/index.html
[2] https://www.fepc.or.jp/about_us/pr/oshirase/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2020/12/18/press_20201218.pdf
[3] http://www.hepco.co.jp/english/company/corporateprofile.html
[4] https://www.jnfl.co.jp/ja/company/about/
[5] https://www.fepc.or.jp/about_us/outline/soshiki/index.html
[6] https://www.fepc.or.jp/about_us/pr/oshirase/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2020/12/18/press_20201218.pdf
[Japan] Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Issued its Green Growth Strategy towards 2050 Carbon Neutrality Action Plan
On December 25, 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) unveiled the Green Growth Strategy towards 2050 Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, which describes actions to achieve a carbon neutral society by 2050, a goal that was declared by Prime Minister Suga in October 2020.
The Action Plan describes comprehensive policies to achieve a carbon neutral society by 2050, including timelines, budgets, taxes, regulation reforms and standardization, and international collaboration. It identifies the current challenges and future actions for the following fourteen policy priority areas:
1. Offshore Wind Generation: Promoting the development of offshore wind generation;
2. Ammonia: Increasing the use of ammonia to meet Japan’s power needs and reduce CO2 emissions;
3. Hydrogen: Increasing the use of hydrogen to make it one of the major power sources;
4. Nuclear: Advancing nuclear technology studies on Small Modular Reactor (SMR), High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor, and Nuclear Fusion Energy;
5. Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Battery Energy Storage: Ending the sales of all new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2030 and expanding the adoption of EVs and battery energy storage;
6. Digital Transformation: Accelerating the digital transformation of the energy industry in order to improve operational efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions;
7. Ship Energy: Improving ship energy efficiency by utilizing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and exploring alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia;
8. Smart Transportation and Green Logistics: Promoting the adoption of smart transportation technologies and green logistics;
9. Smart Farming Technologies: Reducing agriculture emissions through the development of smart farming technologies;
10. Aircraft Efficiency: Reducing aviation's climate impact by adopting sustainable lower-carbon alternative fuels and efficient flight operations;
11. Carbon Recycling: Advancing carbon recycling technologies and facilitating international collaborations and partnerships;
12. Smart Home and the Internet of Things (IoT): Making use of IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and accelerating the introduction of solar power to optimize the energy usage;
13. Recycling and Waste Management: Improving recycling technologies and utilizing biogas; and
14. Zero Energy Building/Housing and Shared Services: Promoting the adoption of net Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) and net Zero Energy Houses (ZEH) as well as shared services in the public transportation sector.
In order to fulfill the goal of a carbon neutral society by 2050, METI aims to minimize the use of thermal power and to maximize the introduction of renewable energies, particularly offshore wind generation, battery energy storage and hydrogen energy. The Action Plan also prioritizes next-generation nuclear power technologies that are currently in the developmental stage while ensuring their safe usage. METI will collaborate with the related ministries and agencies to further discuss the action plan and its implementation.[1] [2]
[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2020/12/20201225012/20201225012.html
[2] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2020/12/20201225012/20201225012-1.pdf
[USA] U.S. federal government says SolarWinds hack hit fewer than 10 agencies
In a joint statement on January 5, 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Office of The Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the National Security Agency (NSA)—which make up the Cyber Unified Coordination Group (UCG) task force—said that the compromise of IT service provider SolarWinds in 2020 was part of an ongoing information gathering effort and was likely Russian in origin.[1] The massive breach started in March 2020 when hackers compromised IT management software from SolarWinds. The breach compromised an email system used by senior leadership at the Treasury Department and systems at several other federal agencies. According to the joint statement, of SolarWinds’ 18,000 customers, USG believes that “a much smaller number” were targeted following the initial hack. Additionally, USG said that fewer than ten agencies were targeted by the hack and the task force is now working to identify and notify nongovernment entities that may have also been affected.
The joint statement also outlined USG’s actions and the next steps of the investigation. The FBI will remain focused identifying victims, collecting evidence, analyzing the evidence to determine the group responsible, and sharing results with stakeholders. CISA will focus on sharing information quickly and has created a free tool for detecting unusual and potentially malicious activity related to the SolarWinds hack. ODNI is coordinating the intelligence community to ensure the UCG has the most up-to-date intelligence and is also providing information to key stakeholders. Finally, the NSA is supporting the UCG by providing intelligence, cybersecurity expertise, and actionable guidance to the UCG partners.
[1] https://www.cisa.gov/news/2021/01/05/joint-statement-federal-bureau-investigation-fbi-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure
[USA] Dominion and Duke release plan to dismantle cancelled Atlantic Coast Pipeline
In a filing dated December 16, 2020 but made public on January 5, 2020, developers of the now canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline—Dominion Energy and Duke Energy—proposed a plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for dismantling the project.[1] The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was an $8 billion natural gas project that would have crossed West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, but was cancelled in July 2020 due to delays from legal proceedings. The plan outlines a two-year timeline for decommissioning parts of the pipeline that were nearly complete and restoring effected land. It also defines where the developers intend on clearing felled trees and where they plan to leave the area alone. The plan includes abandoning roughly 31 miles of pipe that has already been placed in the ground. The developers noted that an additional 83-mile stretch of terrain has been cleared but have no pipe laid. According to spokesperson Aaron Ruby, Dominion will not release easement agreements with landowners to use their property.[2] Land seized through eminent domain also remains in Dominion and Duke’s possession despite landowners fighting the eminent domain proceedings in court.
[1] https://atlanticcoastpipeline.com/resources/docs/public_acp%20disposition%20and%20restoration%20plan.pdf
[2]https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/01/06/stories/1063721877?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire
[Japan] Japan increases monitoring as electricity market prices reach record high
According to Reuters, after electricity prices reached 103.1 yen ($1)/kWh on January 6, 2020, Japanese energy regulators say they have increased scrutiny of the electricity market.[1] Electricity prices on the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JPEX) have surged since December 2020 and are now at the highest level since trading started in 2005. Colder-than-normal winter weather has increased demand for heating. At the same time, many power producers have had to lower run rates or suspend operations due to delayed imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to Yoshiaki Kuroda, the director of market policy planning, the Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission closely monitoring trading on JPEX. So far, the commission has not found any improper trades. The Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO), Japan’s electricity grid coordinator, also stepped in to avoid power shortages in Tokyo and Osaka. OCCTO directed power suppliers to operate at full capacity and offer surplus supplies to the market.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/japan-electricity-idUSL1N2JH0YD