RE100 urges Japan to increase clean energy capacity to 363GW by 2035

It recommends six policy steps to attain this.

Corporate renewable energy initiative RE100 has released its policy recommendations for Japan as it calls for the country to expand its green energy capacity from 121 gigawatts (GW) in 2022 to 363GW by 2035.

The recommendation consists of six steps “to create an enabling environment for renewables and align Japan with its 2050 net zero target,” RE100 said.

Among the recommendations, RE100 is pushing Tokyo to implement policies promoting transparent and fair electricity prices; improve access to Physical and Virtual Corporate Power Purchase Agreements; and prioritise grid upgrades and operational improvements.

RE100 noted renewables make up only 22% of Japan’s total electricity generation, the lowest share amongst G7 countries. Its members also ranked the East Asian country as the second most challenging market for procuring renewable electricity, citing high costs, limited supply, and procurement challenges. 

According to the group, its members currently meet just 25% of their electricity needs with renewables in Japan, lower than the global average of 50%. Policy barriers in the said country were cited as a hurdle to the economic potential of corporate renewable demand

“At COP28, over 130 countries, including Japan, committed to triple the world’s installed renewable generation capacity by 2030. Japan recommitted to this goal at the G7 meeting in April 2024,” RE100 noted.