Electricity generation from renewable sources increased by 85% over the last decade, compensating for about 40% of the drop in nuclear power generation. The remaining difference (almost 10 percentage points) was met with increased gas-fired generation, while the share of coal- and oil-fired generation combined remained stable in 2020 compared with the 2010 level. Consequently, Japan was one of the few countries where the change of low-carbon power generation was lower than the change of electrification. As a result of the drop of nuclear power generation, the CO2 intensity increased by 30% between 2010 and 2012 and decreased thereafter, to almost reach the world average in 2020.
Stronger actions must be put in place to change direction and further accelerate electrification and decarbonisation in Japan. The 6th Strategic Energy Plan (METI, 2021), the announced pledge to strive to be carbon-neutral by 2050, new buildings sector standards, and subsidies for energy efficiency and for electric and fuel cell vehicles are some of the key instruments to achieve this change of pace. The challenges are nonetheless significant, with the need to strongly accelerate the electrification of the buildings, transport, and industry sectors (Table 5.10.A) The decarbonisation of the power sector is set to add to the challenge, as nuclear power generation struggles to increase to the planned levels and the country still relies heavily on coal- and gas-fired generation. The Kishida administration is aiming at increasing the use of nuclear power generation, reversing the prior policy to curb it, which had been in place since the Great East Japan Earthquake.