Share of primary energy supply Japan FY 2021, by source

With 36.3 percent, petroleum had the highest share of primary energy supply in Japan in the fiscal year 2021. Fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas remained the largest sources for energy production.

Energy mix in Japan 

Following the nuclear disaster in Fukushima prefecture in 2011, nuclear energy was replaced by fossil fuels. Natural gas and coal remained the energy sources with the largest share in electricity production. Nevertheless, the share of renewables in electricity generation increased to close to 20 percent and the nuclear electricity share grew to around four percent. Since the archipelago lacks domestic reserves of fossil fuels, Japan is highly dependent on imports: Over 99 percent of the crude oil and gas supply was covered by imports, mostly supplied by Middle Eastern countries.

Energy policy and climate goals

Fossil fuel burning produces large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and is the main contributor to global warming. In recent years, Japan represented the fifth-largest carbon dioxide emitter worldwide. To reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, be less dependent on fossil fuel imports, and secure a stable electricity supply, the Japanese government currently aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable and nuclear energy. The country intends to be entirely emission-free by 2050. Nevertheless, there was international criticism that Japan is unlikely to expand its renewable energy share sufficiently to become carbon-neutral by then.