Japan

A Japanese expert urged the connection of Japan's grid lines to Korea, Russia, China, Mongolia, ASEAN countries and India.

China-based HC Solar Power formally set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan in anticipation of increased PV installation.

HC Solar Power, a China-based solar equipment manufacturer,

Japan will create a US$628 billion “green energy market” to push the development of renewable energy.

Kansai Electric resumed power generation of its 1,180MW unit 3 of the Ohi nuclear power station. Ohi unit 3 began preparing for startup on June 16, when the national government made a final decided to restart the unit. The reactor started up on July 1 for the first time in about a year and three months and went critical on July 2. The utility will raise the output of the unit stepwise while monitoring the plant state. Unit 3 is expected to begin constant rated thermal power operation as early as July 9. After going through adjustment operation for about one month, and if the inspection outcome is successful, the unit will shift to commercial operation. Kansai Electric Power president Makoto Yagi said on the same day, "We are pleased to be able to supply electricity to our customers after an interval of four and a half months" since all the 11 units of the utility's nuclear power stations had been shut down, and added, "We are taking the first steps toward ensuring safe and stable supply of electricity." Ohi unit with 1,180 MW is expected to start up on July 18 at the earliest, go critical on July 19, be connected to the grid on July 21, and advance to constant rated thermal power operation on July 25.

Japan will reduce power saving targets in its industrialised west after one of two restarted reactors reach capacity.

The government aims to cut electric consumption by between 5% and 15% until September 7.

Tepco aims to gradually restart the nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant beginning April 2013 to curb fossil fuel costs.

Japan has published its latest strategic energy plan, which includes a road map of energy-based economic growth and reformation of the energy infrastructure.

Contrary public opinion fails to deter the Japanese government from returning to nuclear energy.

Kyocera has inaugurated the first of two PV facilities built in a joint venture with SB Energy.

Kansai Electric began generating electricity from the mothballed 450 megawatt oil-fired Kainan No.2 unit despite restarting a unit of its nuclear power plant.

A private asset manager will take charge of the fund, which will receive an initial capital of US$19 million from the Tokyo Metropolitan government.

Japan’s continuing effort to diversify away from nuclear energy has led it to develop liquefied natural gas as an alternative.

Japan is ignoring the safety lessons of the Fukushima crisis, according to two prominent seismologists who  warned against restarting two reactors.

Japan's latest feed-in tariff has the potential to generate US$30 billion by 2016 for the local economy.