Solar and wind power generation in Japan

Could Japan produce all of its electricity from wind and solar?

Japan could produce all of its electricity from wind and solar for $86/110 MWh, which is competitive with current market prices. This includes the cost of transmission and storage needed to balance 100% renewable electricity. Japan could set an example for the world.

What percentage of Japan's Energy is solar?

In 2022, solar energy accounted for 5.39% of Japan’s total energy mix and 9.91% of its electricity generation. In both cases, solar power in Japan holds the largest share of all renewable sources. This is a drastic contrast to even a decade ago when solar energy contributed less than 1% of the country’s energy.

Does Japan have more solar and offshore wind resources?

This study shows that Japan has 14 times more solar and offshore wind resources than needed to supply 100% renewable electricity and vast capacity for off-river pumped hydro energy storage.

How much does solar power cost in Japan?

It is found that Japan has sufficient solar PV, wind, and pumped hydro potential to support 100% renewable electricity and even 100% renewable energy. Importantly, a wide range of scenarios yield costs in the range US$86–110/MWh which are competitive with current spot prices.

Is solar energy the future of Japan's Energy Strategy?

Solar energy in Japan is emerging as a cornerstone of Japan’s strategy to meet its ambitious long-term sustainability goals. The Sixth Strategic Energy Plan aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 with an interim goal of 36-38% of energy from renewables by 2030.

What percentage of Japan's electricity generation is renewable?

As a result, the share of renewables in Japan’s total electricity generation in 2021 was 22.4%, up approximately 2 percentage points from 20.8% in the previous year in Figure 1 and Table 1.