Japan could be energy independent by 2060 thanks to renewable energy, says Rystad Energy CEO

By Katya Golubkova

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan, a major buyer of coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), could become energy independent by 2060 thanks to the expansion of solar and wind power along with battery storage, President Jarand Rystad said. executive at consultancy Rystad Energy. .

Japan imports most of its energy resources, with the Middle East, Australia and the United States being its main suppliers. The government’s strategy envisages a reduction of LNG and coal to less than 40% of the energy production mix by 2030, compared to more than 60% currently. But analysts say Japan is moving more slowly than it needs to.

“Japan’s mentality is that we have to import energy because we don’t have energy ourselves. But with the development of renewable energy technologies, I think that statement need not be true,” Rystad told Reuters.

According to Rystad, Japan could be energy sufficient if it had 45% solar power, 30% wind generation led by offshore farms, 5% hydropower, another 5% biomass and e-fuel, with nuclear power providing the 15% remaining. , until 2060.

“All Japan needs is to continue installing as much solar as it did in the years leading up to 2020. As of 2014, you installed between 10 and 12 gigawatts at peak,” Rystad said.

Japan installed around 4 GW of new solar capacity last year, with its total solar capacity reaching 87 GW, the third largest in the world behind China and the United States.

Rystad said mixing agriculture with solar panels — which also provide the shade preferred by some types of crops — as well as solar roofs above roads, among other solutions, could help expand the use of this energy.

“The combination of offshore and onshore wind and solar, geothermal and biomass with solid backup from batteries and pumped hydro, should truly allow Japan to see energy self-dependence within 40 years, or by 2060,” he said.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova. Editing by Gerry Doyle)