Share of renewables in electricity generation Japan FY 2010-2019

In the fiscal year 2019, the share of renewable energy in electricity generation in Japan reached approximately 18 percent. Figures increased compared to around 9.5 percent in fiscal 2010.

Main energy sources for electricity generation in Japan

The nuclear disaster in 2011 affected the electricity market in Japan insofar that nuclear energy was replaced by fossil fuels. Natural gas and coal represented the energy sources with the largest share of the total electricity production in Japan. Since the archipelago lacks domestic reserves of fossil fuels, it is dependent on imports. This resulted in a declining self-sufficiency rate of primary energy, and an increase in electricity costs for homes shortly after the disaster. To be more independent of fossil fuel imports as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and electric power costs, the country's current energy policy aims to replace fossil fuels with nuclear and renewable energy sources.

Renewable energy in Japan

In 2019, Japan was one of the largest hydroelectric power generating countries. Hydroelectric power represented the renewable energy source with the largest share in the electricity production, followed by solar power. Since Japan is a mountainous country, there is a lack of space for other renewable power facilities such as wind farms. Wind power currently produces only a small amount of the electricity supply. Therefore, the Japanese government presently supports the expansion of offshore wind farms.
In 2020, the Japanese government announced its intention for the country to become entirely emission-free by 2050. Nevertheless, there has been international criticism that Japan is unlikely to expand its renewable energy share sufficiently to achieve this goal.