Japan could triple power from wind energy and solar power by 2030

Japan has the potential by 2030 to triple the amount of electricity it gets from renewable sources such as solar and wind, a Ministry of the Environment study showed.

Wind turbines developed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Hitachi Ltd., operate at the Wind Power Kamisu wind farm in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on Friday, July 23, 2010. Photo: Bloomberg

Clean energy — solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass and ocean energy — could account for 241.4 terawatt hours to 356.6 terawatt hours by 2030 depending on energy policies, according to estimates included in the study of renewable energy’s potential posted on the ministry website last Friday (April 3). The report didn’t provide total power output levels for 2030.

Japan gets about 116.1 terawatt hours from renewables, according to the report, which was compiled by the Mitsubishi Research Institute for the ministry.

Solar output may increase to 77.7 terawatt hours to 128 terawatt hours in 15 years from 15 terawatt hours, the report showed. Wind, including offshore, may rise to 41 terawatt hours to 64.6 terawatt hours from 4.8 terawatt hours.